Your kids are covered in watermelon juice!
It is time for sunhats and fishing poles.
And your children are proudly sporting pigtails and flippers!
I have a feeling that this summer is going to be a LOT of fun!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Today
Today was an emotional day. I used to get frustrated at how very "emotional" God made me. I viewed it as a weakness. A flaw. Since becoming a mother, God has given me a new appreciation for the range and intensity of emotions that He has given me the opportunity to experience.
My other "intensely emotional" friends (you know who you are) will appreciate the range of emotions that I felt today. Here are just a few.
Anticipation- summer is so close that I can taste it.
Appreciation- I really love my job- especially as the year draws to a close, and I get to reflect back on the past year. I am so blessed to work with some families who have gone out of their way to make me feel loved and appreciated.
Sadness- I attended the funeral of a beautiful young woman today. She lived her life in a wheelchair, yet exuded the love of Christ. As I watched her mother say goodbye to her daughter, I was overwhelmed with sadness. I sat next to another sweet friend who buried her 11 year old daughter just a few short years ago. A mother should never have to live through this kind of sadness. My heart aches just imagining it.
Joy- I know that this young lady is whole again and that she is dancing with Jesus! It was so peaceful to be at the funeral and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is with her Heavenly Father and feels no more pain.
Pride- Mike officiated the funeral. I was praying for him the whole time because it was such a powerful and emotional service. He was amazing. The Holy Spirit spoke through him. He was passionate and eloquent. I sat back and marveled at this incredible man who loves others so deeply and loves the Lord with all of his heart.
Happiness- Evyn is super ticklish. Carter has a hilarious imagination. Spending time with the two of them simply makes me happy.
Mike lovingly tells me that God made me "passionate." I think that it is his gentle way of acknowledging that I have a tendency for extreme emotion. But I am also reminded that it is a gift to be able to really feel and experience all of the emotions that life has to offer. Today I laughed and I cried. And I am thankful for both.
My other "intensely emotional" friends (you know who you are) will appreciate the range of emotions that I felt today. Here are just a few.
Anticipation- summer is so close that I can taste it.
Appreciation- I really love my job- especially as the year draws to a close, and I get to reflect back on the past year. I am so blessed to work with some families who have gone out of their way to make me feel loved and appreciated.
Sadness- I attended the funeral of a beautiful young woman today. She lived her life in a wheelchair, yet exuded the love of Christ. As I watched her mother say goodbye to her daughter, I was overwhelmed with sadness. I sat next to another sweet friend who buried her 11 year old daughter just a few short years ago. A mother should never have to live through this kind of sadness. My heart aches just imagining it.
Joy- I know that this young lady is whole again and that she is dancing with Jesus! It was so peaceful to be at the funeral and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is with her Heavenly Father and feels no more pain.
Pride- Mike officiated the funeral. I was praying for him the whole time because it was such a powerful and emotional service. He was amazing. The Holy Spirit spoke through him. He was passionate and eloquent. I sat back and marveled at this incredible man who loves others so deeply and loves the Lord with all of his heart.
Happiness- Evyn is super ticklish. Carter has a hilarious imagination. Spending time with the two of them simply makes me happy.
Mike lovingly tells me that God made me "passionate." I think that it is his gentle way of acknowledging that I have a tendency for extreme emotion. But I am also reminded that it is a gift to be able to really feel and experience all of the emotions that life has to offer. Today I laughed and I cried. And I am thankful for both.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
It's beginning to look a lot like SUMMER!
Carter had his end of school party yesterday, complete with face painting!
We are really enjoying having a park as our front yard. Lots of time is spent playing soccer, feeding ducks, and walking the dog. Oh, and laying in the grass!
Danny invited us over for our first swim of the season today!
It is next to impossible to get a picture of all five of them looking the same direction! They played so sweetly together and had a wonderful afternoon!
I am so excited about two whole months off to soak up these kiddos! Summer time is the best part of my job! :)
We are really enjoying having a park as our front yard. Lots of time is spent playing soccer, feeding ducks, and walking the dog. Oh, and laying in the grass!
Danny invited us over for our first swim of the season today!
It is next to impossible to get a picture of all five of them looking the same direction! They played so sweetly together and had a wonderful afternoon! 
I am so excited about two whole months off to soak up these kiddos! Summer time is the best part of my job! :) Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Stupid volcano.
Mike is in Morocco on a mission trip. Those of you that know me well, know that I might be a smidge codependent and might have a tendency to be a tad dramatic about being away from Mike. I have said before that it is a blessing and a curse to be married to your best friend and I stand by that sentiment.
I have actually managed to hold it together with remarkable strength (for me) this trip. I have really made an effort to pray that our time apart would be fruitful for eternal purposes and have deliberately chosen to spend my time praying for Mike rather than moping about him being gone. I even did OK on Mother's Day. Fast forward to today.
That stupid volcano in Iceland decided to spit out some more ash and apparently leave its ashly cloud of frustration hanging directly over Morocco. Really? Mike is indefinitely stuck in Casablanca. This does not bless my heart.
I got a little teary at work when I found out about the delay, but even held it together for the most part then. I dealt with a landlord issue and was reminded that I don't know near enough about how to handle the business of life without Mike around. Then I had supper with a friend, and got a little emotional, but not too bad. Evyn fed herself refried beans so I came home and had two bean covered kids in the tub when we had another bath tub "incident." While cleaning that, my power went out. This means that I have no fans or cool air and it was hot today. This also means that my laundry is stuck in the rinse cycle. I went outside with my female determination to find the breaker box and fix the problem to discover that the dog chewed the top of the sandbox. At this point, I am sweating, frustrated, emotional, and certain that this will be the night that someone hides in my closet and waits to kill me because the alarm won't work with the power off. So, I did what any rational human would do. I stood in the yard in my flip flops and pajamas and cried. An ugly cry. The kind that you are glad that nobody else is around to see. Then I called my mom because there are some things that only a mom can really understand. Finally I called the power company (and for the record I did not even know which power company we use) and verified that there was a power outage and not some evil ploy to cut my power lines and sneak in and kill me. This was my day.
In addition, my mom gave Carter two pet worms that I thought would die a long time ago, but they are still alive and healthy. This has nothing to do with the rest of the story, but I am going for sympathy here.
In light of my big pity party today, I thought that I might be well served to make a top ten list of my blessings. So, here we go.
10. I have really good friends- friends who bring me chocolate and let me cry, friends that meet me at Rosa's and let me share my heart over nachos, friends who text me to tell me that they are praying for me this week, friends who fill my days at work with sunshine and laughter, friends who I know I could call for anything! Amazing friends, and I am so thankful for them.
9. I have a church FAMILY. Not just a church that I attend, but an actual family. People with grown kids of their own who take us to dinner and insist on buying dessert because Carter wanted a "cherry on top." People who marvel at my kids like they are their own. That kind of family. Amazing.
8. I got to have coffee with a woman that I dearly love and respect. And she poured life and wisdom and encouragement into me for over an hour. I walked away feeling loved and richly blessed.
7. I have two precious brothers. They are funny and kind and would do anything for me. We spent a night together at Gatti's and while that is not my restaurant of choice, I had a blast hanging out with them.
6. Brigitte called me on Sunday. Very little lifts my spirits like Brigitte. I do not deserve a friend like her!
5. Technology is amazing. I have gotten to email Mike, FB with Mike, talk to Mike on the phone, and Skype with Mike. I am so thankful for a world that feels connected even when we are far apart.
4. My parents never cease to amaze me. They have gone above and beyond this week. They are eager and willing to help with the kids, call to check on me "just because," love Mike almost as much as I do, and remind me how very blessed I am to have been born into their lives.
3. Carter and Evyn. Where do I start? Carter has slept in my bed every night since Mike has been gone to "keep my company." Evyn is super affectionate and has been rather low key this week. They both fill my heart with awe and wonder and love. I am honored to get to be the one to tuck them in at night. As much as I would love to travel with Mike right now, I am thankful for this season in my life. I would not trade it for anything.
2. Mike. Not very many girls marry someone that they cannot live without. I did. And he loves God even more than he loves me, and he loves me a lot! I am blessed. I am so proud of him. I keep reflecting on what a gift it is to anxiously await the return of your best friend.
1. I serve a God who stands in the gap for me. His love is pure and sweet and good. He is more than enough. I have felt His presence in a very tangible way this past week. And I am so thankful His banner over me is love. I have felt it.
So, there you have it. I am hopeful that Mike will be home sooner rather than later. But for now, I am intentionally focusing on the blessings and making every effort to forget about the volcano, bathtub, power outage, and worms. . .
I have actually managed to hold it together with remarkable strength (for me) this trip. I have really made an effort to pray that our time apart would be fruitful for eternal purposes and have deliberately chosen to spend my time praying for Mike rather than moping about him being gone. I even did OK on Mother's Day. Fast forward to today.
That stupid volcano in Iceland decided to spit out some more ash and apparently leave its ashly cloud of frustration hanging directly over Morocco. Really? Mike is indefinitely stuck in Casablanca. This does not bless my heart.
I got a little teary at work when I found out about the delay, but even held it together for the most part then. I dealt with a landlord issue and was reminded that I don't know near enough about how to handle the business of life without Mike around. Then I had supper with a friend, and got a little emotional, but not too bad. Evyn fed herself refried beans so I came home and had two bean covered kids in the tub when we had another bath tub "incident." While cleaning that, my power went out. This means that I have no fans or cool air and it was hot today. This also means that my laundry is stuck in the rinse cycle. I went outside with my female determination to find the breaker box and fix the problem to discover that the dog chewed the top of the sandbox. At this point, I am sweating, frustrated, emotional, and certain that this will be the night that someone hides in my closet and waits to kill me because the alarm won't work with the power off. So, I did what any rational human would do. I stood in the yard in my flip flops and pajamas and cried. An ugly cry. The kind that you are glad that nobody else is around to see. Then I called my mom because there are some things that only a mom can really understand. Finally I called the power company (and for the record I did not even know which power company we use) and verified that there was a power outage and not some evil ploy to cut my power lines and sneak in and kill me. This was my day.
In addition, my mom gave Carter two pet worms that I thought would die a long time ago, but they are still alive and healthy. This has nothing to do with the rest of the story, but I am going for sympathy here.
In light of my big pity party today, I thought that I might be well served to make a top ten list of my blessings. So, here we go.
10. I have really good friends- friends who bring me chocolate and let me cry, friends that meet me at Rosa's and let me share my heart over nachos, friends who text me to tell me that they are praying for me this week, friends who fill my days at work with sunshine and laughter, friends who I know I could call for anything! Amazing friends, and I am so thankful for them.
9. I have a church FAMILY. Not just a church that I attend, but an actual family. People with grown kids of their own who take us to dinner and insist on buying dessert because Carter wanted a "cherry on top." People who marvel at my kids like they are their own. That kind of family. Amazing.
8. I got to have coffee with a woman that I dearly love and respect. And she poured life and wisdom and encouragement into me for over an hour. I walked away feeling loved and richly blessed.
7. I have two precious brothers. They are funny and kind and would do anything for me. We spent a night together at Gatti's and while that is not my restaurant of choice, I had a blast hanging out with them.
6. Brigitte called me on Sunday. Very little lifts my spirits like Brigitte. I do not deserve a friend like her!
5. Technology is amazing. I have gotten to email Mike, FB with Mike, talk to Mike on the phone, and Skype with Mike. I am so thankful for a world that feels connected even when we are far apart.
4. My parents never cease to amaze me. They have gone above and beyond this week. They are eager and willing to help with the kids, call to check on me "just because," love Mike almost as much as I do, and remind me how very blessed I am to have been born into their lives.
3. Carter and Evyn. Where do I start? Carter has slept in my bed every night since Mike has been gone to "keep my company." Evyn is super affectionate and has been rather low key this week. They both fill my heart with awe and wonder and love. I am honored to get to be the one to tuck them in at night. As much as I would love to travel with Mike right now, I am thankful for this season in my life. I would not trade it for anything.
2. Mike. Not very many girls marry someone that they cannot live without. I did. And he loves God even more than he loves me, and he loves me a lot! I am blessed. I am so proud of him. I keep reflecting on what a gift it is to anxiously await the return of your best friend.
1. I serve a God who stands in the gap for me. His love is pure and sweet and good. He is more than enough. I have felt His presence in a very tangible way this past week. And I am so thankful His banner over me is love. I have felt it.
So, there you have it. I am hopeful that Mike will be home sooner rather than later. But for now, I am intentionally focusing on the blessings and making every effort to forget about the volcano, bathtub, power outage, and worms. . .
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Who took my baby?
And left this precious little girl in her place?
Do you ever have a day where you look at your child and just marvel at how much they have changed? All day today I kept looking at Evyn thinking that she has grown up so much in the last few weeks. I mean, look at her!
Exactly one year ago she looked like this!
She loves to read books, and this is her very favorite blanket. She carries it almost everywhere with her. And she also now proudly displays her "button" on command. She knows eyes, ears, mouth, fingers, and button. Precious, I tell you.
She is also super sweet when she makes animal noises. Below she is making the "elephant" sound complete with arm motion. She also knows monkey, dog, cat, fish, cow, sheep, and rooster.
We took this picture especially for daddy- in case he got to check the blog while he is in Morocco. Evyn keeps walking up to his picture saying "daddy" and Carter lovingly tells her that daddy is in Morocco and we are in Lubbock, Texas. We got to webcam with Mike tonight and the kids LOVED seeing him. We can't wait for him to come home!
And last but not least, this picture cracks me up! Evyn woke up one morning with her hair looking like this. She completely looks like she walked out of the movie Hairspray. Have I mentioned how much I love having a little girl?
Do you ever have a day where you look at your child and just marvel at how much they have changed? All day today I kept looking at Evyn thinking that she has grown up so much in the last few weeks. I mean, look at her!
Exactly one year ago she looked like this!
She loves to read books, and this is her very favorite blanket. She carries it almost everywhere with her. And she also now proudly displays her "button" on command. She knows eyes, ears, mouth, fingers, and button. Precious, I tell you.
She is also super sweet when she makes animal noises. Below she is making the "elephant" sound complete with arm motion. She also knows monkey, dog, cat, fish, cow, sheep, and rooster.
We took this picture especially for daddy- in case he got to check the blog while he is in Morocco. Evyn keeps walking up to his picture saying "daddy" and Carter lovingly tells her that daddy is in Morocco and we are in Lubbock, Texas. We got to webcam with Mike tonight and the kids LOVED seeing him. We can't wait for him to come home! 
And last but not least, this picture cracks me up! Evyn woke up one morning with her hair looking like this. She completely looks like she walked out of the movie Hairspray. Have I mentioned how much I love having a little girl?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The desires of my heart.
I have days when I can't get over how blessed I am. I love Psalm 37:4- "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." God has been so faithful to give me the desires of my heart, and the three that consistently top my list are Mike, Carter and Evyn.
These two are starting to really play together- not just in the same room but actually doing things together and interacting with each other. I love watching them exist in their own little world. Evyn wakes up looking for "Bubba" and Carter is still so patient and gentle with his sister. Moments like this make me super excited about summertime!
These two are starting to really play together- not just in the same room but actually doing things together and interacting with each other. I love watching them exist in their own little world. Evyn wakes up looking for "Bubba" and Carter is still so patient and gentle with his sister. Moments like this make me super excited about summertime!
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