A Letter to my Students

Dear Former Students (though it would be more appropriate to say honey, sweetie, or baby, right?), First, I know you read my blog. You don't have to be sneaky about it anymore! :)
As I sit here with my sweet girls, watching one snooze away on the monitor and one playing with her princess stickers, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness. I am so very thankful that I didn't have to get them up at 6am this morning and drop them off at daycare. I am so thankful that I didn't have to cry all the way to school. I am so thankful that I didn't have to wear sunglasses to this morning's meeting because my eyes were so swollen, and if I answered anyone's questions about why I would lose it again. 
Also, I am so grateful that even though I did not have a first day of school today (by the way, it's my first one to miss in 27 years), I will always be a teacher. I am grateful for a profession that is a calling rather than a job. I am grateful for a calling that has allowed me to hear your stories, read your stories, and help you write your stories. I am grateful that you indulged me just enough to find something endearing in even the most mundane of activity. I am grateful that you always took the time to ask about my day, my family, and my thoughts. I am grateful that you knew that the best way to get me off topic is to ask about my girl. I am grateful that you knew that you could come in my room anytime, and I would be happy to see you. I am grateful that you emailed me while my baby was in the NICU to tell me that you were praying for us. I am grateful that you worked hard for me. I am grateful that you bought in to the idea that if you can just learn to write well, you can write for any audience, occasion, or purpose. I am grateful that you taught me more than I ever taught you. I am grateful that you allowed me to feel like a mom long before I was one. I am grateful for each of you--for your hearts, your laughter, your silly (and sometimes endless) questions--a great practice for motherhood, by the way, and your talents. 
I'm also teary today. I'm teary because I won't be sitting at my clean desk today staring at my neatly sorted folders, and praying over the names of the students that are about to walk through my door. I'm teary that those of you that are still at Smith can't come by and tell me hello today. I'm teary that those of you that started your first day of college today couldn't come by and tell me bye last week while I was working in my room. I'm teary because my big kids that are juniors and seniors in college can't email me to my school account to tell me how wonderful they are doing in their English classes. 
However, I am grateful because you are the future. You, with all of your passions and your quirks, are the ones that will be teaching my children. You will be the ones that will love on my children while someone else loves on yours. You are the ones that will change this crazy world for the better. 
Be a light. Be His light. 
I am forever proud of you, and I am forever grateful for the impact that each of you have had on my life. 
It hasn't always been easy, but it has been a lot of fun. I hope you had a PERFECT first day of school today--no matter where you are! :) 
My love, Mrs. Barton  P.S. Guess who rocks the Barton Bump now? 💜

Our Girls Lately :)

I have been taking lots of pictures of the girls lately! :) 

Avaree loves to help me give Felicity a bath! :) I forgot how much fun it is to bathe a baby that loves her baths! :) Avaree barely needs any help now, so it's lots of fun to sing and smile at Felicity, while Avaree and I bathe her together! :) (Obviously, this is pre-sickness!)

 I'm pretty sure I have the best view in the world. 

 Felicity loves, love, loves having Avaree around! They couldn't get near each other for 8 days straight, and that was hard. 

 Felicity has gotten so strong!! She loves to play, and she is soooo interactive! Her little smile can light up a room! 

 I love pictures of sleeping babies! :)

 ...and of a sleeping baby with her Daddy! 

 :) They both had a lovely nap! :)

 Felicity playing on the floor in her room on her Miss Pat blanket! :)

 Don't you think she looks into your soul? 

 beauty. 

 ...and naked booty pictures! :) I have some of Avaree at the exact same age doing the exact same thing! :) Look at those little rolls!!!!!!!

 sweet baby doll!

 ...and a little drool to go with those rolls! LOVE!!!!!!!!!

 She has the softest features. Oh how I wish I could pause time. 

And my favorite big girl having a Dance Party! :) 

We have dance parties at least once per day!

 Look at that happy face. 

Everything Felicity does, I catch myself thinking about Avaree at that age.
Oh how I wish I had been able to witness her every stage like I am able to with Felicity.
Someone asked me the other day how many naps per day Avaree took when she Felicity's age, and I just started crying. My answer was, "I don't know." She was born in September, and I went back to work after 8 weeks, so when she was four months old, she spent more time with Mrs. Donna than she did with me. (And praise the Lord that she was with the sweetest, most loving woman on the planet!)
My heart so longed to be with my baby, but that wasn't His plan at the time.
But now, as of this week, it is His plan.
I got my last paycheck today.
Now we step out on faith, and now I get to be with my babies all day.
Is there any greater gift?
Sometimes the thought just pierces my heart with gratefulness.
We are so very, very blessed.
I can't believe that I am living my dream.
I love my girls, and I hope they always know that.
Can you even believe that God loves them even more than I do? What a sweet truth. 

My Sweet Girls

My girls have been so sweet to each other lately. I just love capturing them together. :) Enjoy.

 In the picture below, Ave is signing "Jesus Loves Me" for sissy. Last night before bed, Avaree kissed her hand and then touched her heart. Then she kissed her hand again and touched my heart. Finally, she kissed her hand again and put it over sissy's heart and grinned. I just watched her, and then I told her how sweet the kisses were, and she said, "Oh, they weren't for you, Mommy. They were for Jesus. I blew him a kiss in my heart, and your heart, and sissy's heart." #meltmetothecore 

She is so sweet. 

 Sissy love!

 Sweet loves.

 Love Ave's smile here! :) I can't remember what I did that made her laugh, but she was belly laughing. The other day we were out a restaurant, and several people came by complimenting us on how good the girls were. My heart was already swelling, and then we had the following conversation:

Ave: Mommy, do all of these people have Jesus in their hearts?

Me: Well, we just don't know, baby. That's why we have to shine Jesus' light wherever we go. 

Ave: Well, let's go tell them about Jesus. 

#outofthemouthsofbabes

 I think they are so beautiful.

 Love this belly laugh, and I love that sissy is just completely chill in her big sister's arms. Ave asks to hold her at least once or twice every day. :)

 Sometimes she gives me the "oh, help me" look, but usually she is happy as a clam! :)

 my beauties

 ...and we snuggle EVERY morning! :) Love them so much!!!!!

 Felicity is the strongest three month old that I've ever met. She can already sit up in the bumbo, she keeps her head up all by herself, and she can put all of her weight on her legs and stand for extended periods of time (with me holding her hands, of course)! :)

 I love their different personalities! :) It's only hard at bed time! ;)

 God made this one a fighter! :) She is amazing--just like her big sister! 

My prayer is that my girls will grow to learn the depth of God's love for them. We pray every night that the Lord would steal their hearts from this world. Oh how I love them. 
3.5 years and 3.5 months. My heart is full.