One of my favorite people...
I walked into her new apartment one morning with my little sis Reaghan. I think I was about 20 years old. She and her husband had just moved into town from Denver and didn't know many people. Twin boys crying... one of them just starting to walk... and my dear friend Wendy, about to pop with baby #3, sitting on the couch, legs crossed under her... eating a giant plate full of cold, leftover Chinese food. (I would later realize that I was pregnant with Adeline as I stood in my kitchen eating cold Chinese leftovers one morning... as I immediately flashed back to Wendy on the couch that morning. Who needs a pregnancy test?)
We were acquaintances at that point... My sis and I watched the boys so Wendy could go to her Dr. appointment. Baby girl Chloe was born a short time later. It's hard to believe that over 10 years have passed since then. It's beautiful to look back and see how God knits hearts together. Desperate hearts. Wendy, a desperate mom of little ones... and me, desperate for fellowship and guidance during some of the most difficult years of my life.
I fell in love with this family... especially Chloe, who would be my flower girl just a few years later... and eventually one more... 'baby Jessica'... which would instantly turn me into 'BIG Jessica'... a nickname that I will only tolerate from the Callaway family.
I remember Wendy letting me whisk Chloe away for dates when she was just several months old. I remember thinking... "Wow, I can't believe she's just letting me 'play house' with her baby?" Of course, now I get it. It's a beautiful thing when someone comes along and falls in love with your kids... and wants to spend time with them. I imagine it was a relief for her to have help and see how much we loved those kids... but at the time I was just thinking... 'wow, she's being so nice to let me take Chloe on a date!'... (Ahhh... to be 20 again!)
When I would spend time at her house I would try to 'help out' sometimes. I would walk around and gather the piles of diapers from random places. I would think... man, wouldn't it just be easier to throw them away when you change them? There was never a sense of 'judgment'... just more like a passing thought. Of course, since I've become a desperate mom, I chuckle to myself and think of Wendy every time I trip over a random pile of diapers.
I also think of Wendy every time I sweep my kitchen floor. I would sweep up her kitchen every once in a while... and think... 'hmm, it wouldn't get this messy if you did it every day.' Oh the embarrassment I feel every time I sweep up loads of dried play dough and macaroni off of my floor! I'm so glad it was just a fleeting thought back then... otherwise I would've made a complete fool of myself by suggesting to an overwhelmed mom that she 'sweep the floor' everyday. Of course, I later learned that she swept it several times a day, in fact. Apparently toddlers keep pocket loads of dried up macaroni, apple peels and stale cheerios to decorate the floors with hourly... I imagine them twirling and throwing handfuls up in the air (flower girl style) when my back is turned.
I seriously have flashbacks of her kitchen floor every time I sweep my own... which is several times a day.
As I look back over our time spent together... I never remember her seeming 'stressed out'. Even when she potty trained all 3 little ones at the same time. She simply covered her carpet with a huge tarp, set up 3 potty chairs and read books to the kids all day. I remember her being worn out and tired... but I don't really remember ever hearing her complain. It's only sinking in to me just now, as I'm an exhausted mom of little ones, what a wonderful mom Wendy was... and is. Apart from my own mom, I can only name two or three people that I want to be like... and she is at the top of the list.
I think of her often in the midst of my crazy days. I'm amazed at how wonderful she made 'desperate motherhood' look. She not only loved and sacrificed for her children... but she seemed to genuinely enjoy them... even when life was crazy or overwhelming... tarps on the floors and piles of diapers... dirty floors, homemade chicken nuggets, sippy cups... peanut butter and chocolate chip sandwiches... beautiful children... and loving, exhausted momma... I remember so much, but mostly I remember the joy and peace in her home...
And just a fresh reminder of the kind of friend and mom Wendy is... I woke up this morning, thinking of her on her birthday... and there's a package from her and Chloe on our kitchen table. A stuffed animal for each of my children and a sweet note and picture... not to mention a beautiful necklace made by my favorite flower girl herself! They're the best...
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people... Wendy Callaway. I'm so grateful that the Lord knit our hearts together years ago. I'm thankful for the few short years we lived in the same state... and I'm still a little bitter about the many years we've had to live apart. You gave me such a beautiful example of motherhood and a glimpse of hope that I still look to when I'm feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Love you friend!
(Big) Jessica;)
We were acquaintances at that point... My sis and I watched the boys so Wendy could go to her Dr. appointment. Baby girl Chloe was born a short time later. It's hard to believe that over 10 years have passed since then. It's beautiful to look back and see how God knits hearts together. Desperate hearts. Wendy, a desperate mom of little ones... and me, desperate for fellowship and guidance during some of the most difficult years of my life.
I fell in love with this family... especially Chloe, who would be my flower girl just a few years later... and eventually one more... 'baby Jessica'... which would instantly turn me into 'BIG Jessica'... a nickname that I will only tolerate from the Callaway family.
I remember Wendy letting me whisk Chloe away for dates when she was just several months old. I remember thinking... "Wow, I can't believe she's just letting me 'play house' with her baby?" Of course, now I get it. It's a beautiful thing when someone comes along and falls in love with your kids... and wants to spend time with them. I imagine it was a relief for her to have help and see how much we loved those kids... but at the time I was just thinking... 'wow, she's being so nice to let me take Chloe on a date!'... (Ahhh... to be 20 again!)
When I would spend time at her house I would try to 'help out' sometimes. I would walk around and gather the piles of diapers from random places. I would think... man, wouldn't it just be easier to throw them away when you change them? There was never a sense of 'judgment'... just more like a passing thought. Of course, since I've become a desperate mom, I chuckle to myself and think of Wendy every time I trip over a random pile of diapers.
I also think of Wendy every time I sweep my kitchen floor. I would sweep up her kitchen every once in a while... and think... 'hmm, it wouldn't get this messy if you did it every day.' Oh the embarrassment I feel every time I sweep up loads of dried play dough and macaroni off of my floor! I'm so glad it was just a fleeting thought back then... otherwise I would've made a complete fool of myself by suggesting to an overwhelmed mom that she 'sweep the floor' everyday. Of course, I later learned that she swept it several times a day, in fact. Apparently toddlers keep pocket loads of dried up macaroni, apple peels and stale cheerios to decorate the floors with hourly... I imagine them twirling and throwing handfuls up in the air (flower girl style) when my back is turned.
I seriously have flashbacks of her kitchen floor every time I sweep my own... which is several times a day.
As I look back over our time spent together... I never remember her seeming 'stressed out'. Even when she potty trained all 3 little ones at the same time. She simply covered her carpet with a huge tarp, set up 3 potty chairs and read books to the kids all day. I remember her being worn out and tired... but I don't really remember ever hearing her complain. It's only sinking in to me just now, as I'm an exhausted mom of little ones, what a wonderful mom Wendy was... and is. Apart from my own mom, I can only name two or three people that I want to be like... and she is at the top of the list.
I think of her often in the midst of my crazy days. I'm amazed at how wonderful she made 'desperate motherhood' look. She not only loved and sacrificed for her children... but she seemed to genuinely enjoy them... even when life was crazy or overwhelming... tarps on the floors and piles of diapers... dirty floors, homemade chicken nuggets, sippy cups... peanut butter and chocolate chip sandwiches... beautiful children... and loving, exhausted momma... I remember so much, but mostly I remember the joy and peace in her home...
And just a fresh reminder of the kind of friend and mom Wendy is... I woke up this morning, thinking of her on her birthday... and there's a package from her and Chloe on our kitchen table. A stuffed animal for each of my children and a sweet note and picture... not to mention a beautiful necklace made by my favorite flower girl herself! They're the best...
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people... Wendy Callaway. I'm so grateful that the Lord knit our hearts together years ago. I'm thankful for the few short years we lived in the same state... and I'm still a little bitter about the many years we've had to live apart. You gave me such a beautiful example of motherhood and a glimpse of hope that I still look to when I'm feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. Love you friend!
(Big) Jessica;)
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