Hiya! So you want to meet the true stars in my life story? Without them, I wouldn’t be in the role of my lifetime, so it’s only fair to introduce them to ya’ll:

Ancient

My first-born. The beginning of my heart walking around outside my body. The one who carved my heart-space bigger than I ever knew was possible. The sheer force of life energy that amazes me every day with his life spark, his centeredness, his wisdom, his courage. He is obsessed with Legos (LEGO, as he’d want me to write it the proper way) and is a budding and talented LEGO designer. He loves math, programming, drawing, writing fiction, drama, piano, and trying parkour moves on anything stationary. He loves humming, snapping, and would drink a 2-liter of soda in one sitting if given the chance. He knows himself better than most adults I know and has the crazy-good memory of an elephant. He’s also a hoot and maturing into a breathtaking sapling, filling our lives in ways we’d never imagined. I’m so grateful to God he has accompanied me through my journey as a mother from the start. The name Ancient fits him so well because: he’s the oldest of my kids, he named his robotics team Ancient Androids, and he had a wicked bad case of 40-year-old comb-over of a hairdo as a baby. Sorry kid! Age 13 in 2016.

Imperishable

Nature’s gift to me. My birth experience from heaven. He’s a gift to nature and finds nature a gift. He is at home in the world, at peace in the woods, sees the beauty around him, and is a nurturing soul. Imperishable is so steady, calm, soothing, and loyal. He and his older brother are like puzzle pieces that fit perfectly. He came out of the womb seeking the source of Ancient’s loud and dramatic voice. While I was the background sound of strings in his world, Ancient was the blasting trumpet and roaring tympani. And Imperishable has never taken his attention off of Ancient’s tune, adding his own unique chords and blasts to complement it. While he admires Ancient, he is confident in his own unique gifts. I just love how these brothers work together! He also loves Legos, as well as cartooning, reading, composing on the piano, and anything silly. He makes us laugh. Imperishable’s name fits to a tee: He once tipped over a slab of granite countertop on his foot and didn’t break a bone. Age 9 in 2016. But he has bones of a 13-year-old. No joke. That’s what his hand x-ray says.

Everlasting

Completed me as a mother. His was a pregnancy and birthing as unique as he is – he followed my mid-pregnancy loss and was my only c-section. He was a 1 in 2,000 baby who turned transverse at 9 months, poking a hole in the amniotic sac and leaving me “peeing” fluid as I walked across the street from the midwife’s office to the hospital. His record-long umbilical cord to me represents that he will go far in life. Whether that means to the tops of the Himalayas or as an inventor, I have no idea. But he dances to his own one-of-a-kind tune, oozes kindness, and is an unstoppable creative force. I literally can’t keep up with his constant 3-d creations, usually made of paper, tape, and craft materials, but often with blocks, Legos, boxes, wood, nature’s treasure – you name it! Even though I have grayed a lot since his birth, I don’t think it’s because of him. Well, maybe a little. 😉 He completes the trio of brothers and our family perfectly! Everlasting is a perfect name for him because his battery never seems to need recharging (unlike mine!), which is great because it’s not easy keeping up with his older brothers. Age 6 in 2016.

Why these names?

‘Cause I was inspired by the first Inspiration in our Virtues Tree fun that we were doing when I decided to go with code names for my kiddos Internet protection.

This way I’ll be called to remember that they are ultimately souls living eternal lives when I write about them wiping boogers on the walls and other good stuff.

And Ancient, Imperishable, and Everlasting make great names for babies of an elefant mama!

Ok, what do I name my sweet husband?

dada elefant? Not sure about that.

Rock? Whatever. I can just call him my husband, right? I don’t have three of them…

Anyhow, here he is:

Cute, huh? 😉 I instinctively knew he was the one before my brain had any clue. The only reason I can say this with 100% confidence is because of this conversation my mom and I had when I was 20 and home from college for winter break. He is the sweetest, most patient man I can imagine. He is kind and noble, just and steadfast, creative and intelligent, and so much more! I’m truly blessed to be married to him. He’s super-helpful (and sexy) with a vacuum wand in hand, makes the best scrambled eggs ever, and passes his Eagle Scout wisdom down to our kids in such gentle and loving ways. He reads so beautifully to them and fills them up wtih guidance in a way that only a father can. He cares so much about being a good father, it inspires me every day. We got married young, have grown up together, have had some bumps along the way and come out stronger, and I’m looking forward to growing old(er) with this man. Did I mention I’m blessed in the soulmate category? Seriously don’t know how I lucked out.

And, while I’m not sure how much I’ll honor their souls through my writing here, I can’t end this page without introducing you to those babes of ours whose lives skipped from the womb-world to the next world:

Malaika Mei, who first touched our lives between Ancient and Imperishable

and

Nuriyah Carmel, who joined our family between Imperishable and Everlasting

We are all blessed by these sweet souls in ways we don’t even fully realize. They are surely part of the leaven that leaveneth our lives.

I’m super grateful for the birds in our nest that transcends this one material world!

So, thanks for reading all about my sweeties.