a few pics …

here are some pictures from our walk the other night. both boys were sporting their new shades and both boys spent most of the walk snoozing and sweating!!! nothing like sleeping in the sun!

I LOVE this picture. My boys are the LUCKIEST boys alive. They have all these men in their lives that love them and support them and will be some of their greatest fans in life. I’m one proud momma!

And then lastly, this is one cute boy that I want to show off!!!

kids with Uncle Tim

Last week when we were in TEXAS the boys got to spend some time with their Uncle Tim while they were at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. They love Uncle Tim and he adores them as well. He is a fabulous photographer and was playing around with his new lens and happend to snap a few picturs of my boys.

Here are the disclaimers …. Yes I was there and should have made sure that Big Boy had his nose whiped, but oh well. Yes we do normally fix Little boy’s hair but it was vacation and what the heck his hair was free for a few days!!!

I look at these pictures and can NOT believe that I have two beautiful little boys that are such a blessing to Aaron and I. They bring so much joy to our house that I can not even explain it. It is hard to believe that within four years of moving to a brand new state with no jobs and no idea what we were doing we have two kids, a house, a lawn mower and life is good! Thank you Jesus for too many blessings to even begin to name.

I LOVE MY BOYS!

Family in Chattanooga

I just found this post that I had apparently begun in December and never posted. I love my family!

Great wedding weekend!

I LOVE weddings. I LOVE to see two people become one. I LOVE to see two people so in love finally get to be together all the time. This weekend we had the joy to be a part of the union of Chad and Stephanie. Chad is in the band and they have dated long distance for four years! Isn’t that amazing that they stuck it out, both graduated college, and kept their relationship pure for four years. I am a proud friend.

Aaron performed the wedding and I think he did a fabulous job. He spoke from his heart and loved them and encouraged them in their journey that lies ahead of them.

Here are a few pictures from the rehearsal dinner which was at Cafe Adobe. We had so much fun hanging with friends and singing karaoke! What a fun night!

the pattern of the designer

This morning as I was reading my devotional book I flipped through the pages and found where I had written the birth of our youngest son in this book. That day in this book might be the best devotional I have ever read. It was the timing that made it so wonderful. It was as if the author of this devotional knew that my Little Boy would be born on that day and that I would need to hear these words whispered to my soul. Isn’t God good!

Our youngest son was adopted at birth. Our journey from paperwork to baby was about 15 months long. We prayed and prayed for our child that God had already pre-destined to be our child since the beginning of time. We prayed for his first mommy, we prayed for his arrival, we prayed for his spirit to be sweet, we prayed for us to be prepared to accept a child that we didn’t create, we prayed for him to bond with us as his new parents. Our prayers were constant and they were without ceasing for this child that we knew nothing about.

The waiting game was hard. One of the hardest things I have ever been through. If you have been down this road you know the feelings that I’m speaking of. Some of you that read this are on this journey right now and you are waiting and wondering. Some of you are wondering if you will ever have a baby. Some of you are wondering if you will ever get your baby home from their country. Some of you reading this have felt God tugging at your heart to pursue adoption and you haven’t moved yet.

My emotions during our 5 month waiting to be chosen time were all over the place. I was a wreck and wanted our baby then! God’s timing is so perfect and I have realized this in more than one occasion in my life. To be able to look back on the past and see how God was working is a cool thing.

Here was the devotional from the day our little joy arrived on this earth. Please allow this to encourage you as you wait for your baby. Allow these words to resonate in your heart. Allow these words to bring you comfort in the pattern of the great designer of the world.

HEAVEN’S COLOURS
LOOKING BACK YOU WILL SEE THAT EVERY STEP WAS PLANNED. LEAVE ALL TO ME. EACH STONE IN THE MOSAIC FITS INTO THE PERFECT PATTERN, DESIGNED BY THE MASTER ARTIST.

IT IS ALL SO WONDERFUL!

BUT THE COLOURS ARE OF HEAVEN’S HUES, SO THAT YOUR EYES COULD NOT BEAR TO GAZE ON THE WHOLE, UNTIL YOU ARE BEYOND THE VEIL.

SO, STONE BY STONE, YOU SEE, AND TRUST THE PATTERN TO THE DESIGNER.

You see, God is the designer and he is fitting each stone together to make his perfect pattern. Be encouraged. Be encouraged. Be encouraged.

I might be the lucky one …

Are there any other mom’s out there that sometimes are jealous of their husbands?

Hear me out here …

My husband travels a lot for a living and while he is gone he eats out for every meal. Me, I’m cooking spaghetti and making PB & J sandwiches while he dines out.

He gets to sleep through the whole night with no babies waking up with runny noses, or wet b/c they’ve peed all over themselves. He doesn’t have to change sheets or diapers in the middle of the night.

While he is gone he gets to mingle with lots of adults and most of the time has great conversations. I am happy to just get through the check out line at Target with out having to explain to the clerk why my children are yelling …. they are tired, of course!

While he is gone he gets to dress nice and look presentable. Today I wore the same t-shirt that I slept in last night all day long. I haven’t combed my hair yet today and didn’t even attempt any make up.

While he is gone the most he has to clean up is to put his clothes in the same area as his suit case so the housekeeper can clean up around him. Here at the house I cleaned two bathrooms today from top to bottom, cleaned up the kitchen three times today, and washed four loads of laundry.

While he is gone he only has to worry about cleaning his own body parts. Here I’m responsible for two little boys to smell clean for school tomorrow.

Okay, I know this sounds like I’m complaining, and actually I think I am. Let me explain though. Normally when my hubby travels he is only gone about 3 – 4 days at a time. Today this makes night #7 that I’ve been doing this on my own. I’m tired. I’m tired. I’m tired. The boys were actually in bed and asleep before 7:05! The sun isn’t even down then!!!

If you keep up with my blog you know that it is not unusual for me to have these “down” days and then God ever so gently helps me get back on track. Most of my conversations with Aaron on the phone tonight were of me complaining about him being gone for so long and me holding down the house all by myself. After that as I was bathing my boys and sulking in my loneliness I thought of all the soldiers wives and husbands that literally do it all alone for months upon months at a time. I’m complaining about SEVEN days! Once again, I am sulking for nothing. I do have it really good.

Then the next thing that happened was when I was reading books with the boys tonight. I love this time. It is literally one of my favorite times of the day. Lately Little Boy has been very irratable at night. From about 4 until bedtime he only wants me to hold him and I just can’t do that the whole time. BUT while we are reading I can hold him forever and he is so happy in my lap.

They each picked out their books to be read and all was well. Then we got to Big Boy’s book and I sighed because I LOVE this book, but hardly ever read it without tearing up. Here this may ring a bell …
I’ll love you forever
I’ll like you for always
As long as I’m living
My baby you’ll be.
Of course as I got to the end where the son is rocking his mama the tears began to flow.

That is when I realized how lucky I am to be the one at home with the boys. Aaron may get lots of other perks that I don’t get now, but I think that I have the best deal.

I get all the kisses.
I get all the hugs.
I get to snuggle with my babies.
I get to lay on the floor with wonderful smelling boys in their brand new jammies.
I get the run and jump into my arms hugs.
I get to hear “mom, i like your shirt” 15 times a day.
I get the head of Little Boy resting on my chest as I rock him.
I get to listen in on the conversations that Big boy has with his toys while playing.
I get to see Little boy swing on the swing by himself for the first time.
I get to smell that baby morning breath every day.
I get to hear “i love you mom” over and over again all day long.
I get to read books to my boys every night.
I get to listen to sweet, innocent, heart felt prayers from a 3 year old!

You see once again, God has adjusted my thinking tonight and for that I’m greatful. Still very tired. But, oh so grateful!

Shrek

Big Boy wasn’t sleeping today so to keep him from waking up his brother I allowed him to lay on the couch and watch SHREK, that I had on TIVO from the other day, while I cleaned bathrooms.

I would come in when I heard a commercial so I could fast forward since I’m not really into my three year old being subjected to commercials that at any moment could have something inappropriate for a three year old.

So, as I was sitting here after one commercial I started watching the movie with him. It is super cute and I hadn’t seen it since it came out. As I was watching I heard “shut-up” three times, “butt” once and “a**” once too. I know that it was clearly referring to the donkey as an a**, but still not appropriate for my 3 year old.

So, I convinced him that after he killed the dragon and got the princess out the movie was over. I can’t believe that he heard these words, and hope that he didn’t really “hear” them. Wow, I had no idea that a movie would have a** in it that was PG.

This is why I stick to what is on our TIVO for the kids to watch. NO commercials and I regulate what they see, which is mostly recorded off of PBS.

Okay, now that Clifford is on I’m back to cleaning the bathroom! I think I’d rather watch Clifford!!!

new swing set

Look what we got on Saturday!

Kent and Shawnah so graciously brought this over to us. Their neighbor was getting rid of it and they immediately thought of us. My boys LOVE it! I am loving having a back yard to play in with my boys! They have so much fun out there and in fact we were out there at 8:30 this morning!!!

I sit with my coffee and my new book and they kids play until they get run down! It is just what little boys need to do!

So, thanks Shingleton’s and Margo!!!

Blah to me on Mother’s Day

First let me say a HUGE Happy Mother’s Day to my wonderful mom, Nancy my mother-in-law, my Grandma in San Diego, and my Mimi in Texas! I love you all!

Second I want to tell you how I got a HUGE slap in the face today from God. Ha ha! You know the moments where you feel as if God just says to you, are you kidding me? This morning was fine as I got the kids ready for church by myself and we arrived just in time for me to teach my kindergarten and first grade kids in Sunday School. As they were all making mother’s day cards for their mommy’s I started feeling sad that I didn’t get cards from my boys today. Neither one of them wished me a Happy Mother’s Day, or made me breakfast in bed and that is probably because they are 3 and 1, but still I was feeling sorry for myself. (I did get cards from school though on Thursday!)

Then after church everyone was headed out to restaurants to shower their moms with praise and a day off from cooking. Me, well I was headed home by myself to make hot dogs and left overs for my sweet boys and myself. As I drove home I felt cheated on Mother’s Day. I felt as though I wasn’t being praised and I wasn’t important.

After I put the kids down for a nap I headed out to mow the lawn. Now mowing the lawn didn’t upset me, because actually I enjoy mowing the lawn. I get free sun, a slight workout, and time alone to think! Well, thinking I did.

As I was having my pity party to God about being alone on Mother’s Day and not having anyone to take me out it was as if he started whispering little things in my ears. The first was thoughts of Naomi and Ruth from the bible. This was our lesson today in church and I remembered how Naomi lost not only her husband but also her two sons. I bet she had a few lonely Mother’s Day’s to celebrate alone. She endured and persevered and God blessed her. Shame on me for feeling sad when I have the best hubby in the world, who is constantly praising me as a mom, and lavishing me with gifts and his time, and I have two fantastic healthy boys that love me more and more every day.

Then I remembered my friend Allison posting about her friends in a car accident this weekend. Not only is this mom in the hospital in bad shape but she is dealing with the fact that her son is hours away in another hospital not responding and probably not going to make it.

Then I think of all the women who LONG for a child and for some reason or another can not have one. Their hearts are broken and longing for a life to grow inside of them.

Then I think of all the moms that have lost children. I can not even imagine this tragedy happening to a mom. I pray that these women are comforted in the fact that God is good and just the same way as he provided and protected Naomi he will do the same thing for them.

I also think of birth mothers who have placed their children with new families. I am sure they think of these children often and have a special place for them in their hearts forever.

So, my lawn mowing today was very enlightening to me. God was gracious to gently whisper in my ear that my moaning, groaning and complaining was not necessary. Although I didn’t get showered with praises today by anyone, I know that my hubby and children adore me and I am thankful for all that I have in this life.

(As a side note, Aaron did shower me with gifts before he went out of town, so don’t think he forgot!!!!)

SPUR on TV

A few months ago Spur58 got the privilege to perform on the cable tv show SOUNDCHECK that is on DAYSTAR. I personally do not get that channel (bummer, I know!) so I won’t be able to watch it, but I want you to watch it if you do get the channel! Actually you may want to TIVO it b/c I think it comes on pretty late! And I think the lead singer is extremely HOT!

Here is the scoop:
SPUR58
Friday, May 18th at MIDNIGHT!

On another note … have you guys headed over to SAVE THE SLOTH yet? They have weekly challenges that I know will be great for you! I have been keeping up with them and they are on my mind constantly throughout the week and have caused me to think more about my surroundings and notice people around me. They want us to wake up and breath again. To wake up to what is really around us.

I challenge you to take the challenge! You won’t regret it!