Some of you might have received this email in the past but it really hit home with me this morning. Marcus and I split the night into two shifts to take care of two little girls with nasty coughs and runny noses. Hope everyone is still "up" for the job!
POSITION: Mommy, Mom, Mama, Ma, Mother
Daddy, Dad, Dada, Pa, Pop, Father
JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging, permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars andcoordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE : None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
And I might add, you finally understand how Jesus could die for lost sinners~because you would die willingly for your children.
I made the girls a "Sweet Heart Sisters" Valentine's Day lunch. From Sara's expression, I'm not really sure what she thought of it.
After the girls ate, they opened their Valentine's Day cards and the little gifts Marcus and I gave them. Emma was excited to see the money in the card from MawMaw and PawPaw. She quickly tried to put it in her pocket...except she didn't have the best aim!
Sara helped Emma pick out her Valentine balloon after Emma's school party. Ms. Donna was so sweet to give each child a balloon. The girls loved it!
I don't remember why Sara had this little hat on her head but I thought it looked really cute...and funny!
Emma has been learning about community helpers for the past several weeks at school. Here is Officer Emma in her police hat and badge! Her class has taken a ride on the Bay Town Trolley, had a visit from the fire truck, learned about dental health from a local dentist, and a helicopter landed in the preschool parking lot today! 
Happy 100 Days of School!
Not only do the girls walk around in their boots all the time, now they take turns wearing these "princess slippers" that were part of a centerpiece at one of the baby showers before Emma was born.
