Lately...

Life lately has seen us swinging on the tree swing, running in the green grass, wrapping up a spring baseball season, starting swim team, listening to a seven-year-old's temporary lisp as we wait for new teeth to grow in...

watching a five-year-old become more confident in himself and have more joy for life (God Answers Prayers, People!), watching our new house take shape and become more complete (just a few more weeks until we move in!)...

wrestling with brothers, going a bit crazy, carpooling back and forth to school, becoming antsy for a myriad of reasons -- why can't school be out yet?when can I have my own room again?I'm ready for my own space!I wish he didn't have to sleep in the same bed as me! (ahem, those are all things the BOYS have said)... 

shopping for furniture, dreaming big dreams, workloads piling up, making an effort at healthier eating, giving up sodas and embracing green smoothies (I'm the only one who likes the green smoothie. However, if I call it a Monster, the youngest one usually 'shares' with me)...

impromptu photos of the boys, having my (big! expensive!) camera taken from me and turned on me by the middle boy, silly faces immortalized...

living in a multi-generational home, balancing being a daughter and a wife and a mom all at once, appreciating my husband and our marriage more and more, alternatingly wanting to squeeze my boys and wanting to throw them outside...

Life lately has been anything but predictable.
Life lately has been good.
Life lately has been hard.
Life lately has been...
blessed.

Why Easter Wrecks Me...

Easter is, and has been for many years, a season where I am absolutely overcome by what God CHOSE to do out of His redeeming love for us. I needed every ounce of willpower to hold it somewhat together and not come completely undone this morning in church as a sweet girl sang "Alive". (In fact, this same video was playing as she was singing. Un. Done.)



I have not seen the movie "The Passion of the Christ" because I am afraid the imagery will be too strong. A visual person by nature, just the thought of watching someone portray (an actor's version of) what Jesus endured has me in near tears. I don't know that I can see that, but some day I will hopefully have a day to watch it and fall apart, process it all, and fall apart again out of immense gratitude.

This past week, I spent considerable time (in the car, in the shower, at night when I was unable to sleep) thinking about what the week leading up to Christ's crucifixion was like, reading the Gospel accounts, and reading many blog posts and articles on this same thread of thought. My western-mind has had some sort of sanitary view of it all for far too long, and in recent years it's become His way of loving, shepherding, moulding, and in some ways breaking me by causing me to read and re-read the story of His journey to Jerusalem, His trial, His beatings, His torture, His death, and (Oh Joyous Day) His resurrection.

My Jesus has also been placing this on others' hearts, and they have articulated it so much better than I could have ever imagined doing. Here are a few other posts that have aided in wrecking me -- and filling me with so much more gratitude than can be expressed -- this week...

That Terrible, Horrible Good Friday -- Why was it ever called 'good' Friday anyhow? Except for the fact that we know it wasn't the end of the story. Except for the fact that it was prophecy fulfilled in order to bring us the hope of our own salvation.

Better Me than you -- THIS, READ THIS. If none of the others, read this. Please. I will forever have an image of Jesus looking at us, with so much love, and saying over and over... "Better Me than you, precious one."

An Invitation to Imagine -- from one of my favorite Bible teachers, a fictional account of Joseph of Arimathea.

My Second Greatest Hope for My Sons...

Dancing... because any doorway that has rounded steps in front of it is automatically a stage.

To the three little monkeys dancing in our home under construction...

My greatest hope is that you will at an early age come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and place your trust in Him -- and that faith would never waver.

My second greatest hope is that you will then strive to be as much like Jesus as possible -- learning from Him, having a relationship with Him through prayer and reading His words in the Bible, accountability with others who are also in pursuit of Him. May you put into practice what you (hopefully will) believe to be true, and may lasting effects of your relationship with the Lord be felt by generations to come.

So that your dad and I may not forget the importance of this hope, and for you to one day see why this is "kind-of a big deal" to us, please read this. It's a blog post that has greatly impacted me as your mama and given me a renewed sense of urgency (and patience at the same time) in teaching you about what a godly man should be. Your daddy and I love you so.

An Anchor...

A blog friend shared this song on her blog this morning, and it is so beautiful. It speaks to me on many levels this morning, but what hit me is this:

Change is a part of life. A big part. Most changes are for good, some are not, but in every change I find a part of me wants to go back -- back to what was familiar, what was predictable -- no matter if I'm excited about the change ahead or not. It's like my soul is still searching for a constant amidst the changing.

What I am just beginning to fully realize is that the Lord longs to be that anchor. That 'hope and stay.' He IS my constant, unchanging God. I have known this to be true for many, many years but somehow it's becoming true in my heart now. Maybe a new level of meaning. At any rate, He's been impressing it on my heart for the past few months.

Inspiration found in the bridge, at about the 2:30 mark. Enjoy...

See the Star that Shows the Way...

The stress of the Season caught up to me today.

It manifested itself in bloodshot eyes and tears that kept spilling

no matter how hard I tried to hold them back.

A temper that flared all too easily.

Knees that stood rigid instead of going down

and talking with the One who beckoned me to be still...

And so, reminded that it's His season and not mine,

just as every season is,

I'm letting the laundry, the gift wrapping, the to-do's,

the toys on the floor, the lunch that has yet to be made

(the boys can watch a recorded show for just a bit longer)

all. just. be.

Jesus. Emmanuel.

God With Us.

Let us turn our focus on you.

Let me look to you. Alone.

I re-read His birth story. That beautiful true tale.

Somehow we - I - forget that there was so much risk involved

Yet none at all.

What God has planned, so it will be.

Oh, how He loves us. Oh, that sweet love.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle -- the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

(from The Jesus Storybook Bible, a definite favorite...)

_________________________

My heart has been battling within me this Christmas with how to instill and impress on my children that this is a time to focus on Jesus -- that all the presents, Santa, the elves, the snowmen, and all the other holiday fun is just that, fun. We enjoy watching "The Polar Express" and every morning we have fun looking for Henry the Elf (of Elf on the Shelf). They know that Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus' birthday, and they know who Jesus is -- but do they KNOW Him? Do they get emotional thinking of how God Himself donned flesh, blood, and bones? And how He did all of this in accordance to every scripture? Just for us??

There are some things, presentations, and traditions that have really impressed the true meaning of this time on me that I would love to pass on to my boys. Some are for the now, some are definitely for the future, but I'm placing them here as a reminder to myself as well as passing along to friends who might be on the lookout for similar ideas.

The Jesse Tree - this is a "must" on my list of traditions to begin next Christmas. Regretfully I did not prepare my heart or all of these daily devotionals to begin it this year.

Star of Bethlehem - This presentation is one of the most powerful I have ever witnessed. It speaks to both my right- and left-brain, if that makes sense... It appeals to my scientific, intellectual and analytical senses as well as my heart and faith. 2,000 years later and the stars still proclaim His presence!

Behold the Lamb of God - I had heard of Andrew Peterson's fabulous Christmas music tour a long time ago, and had listened to the music. It's a beautiful compilation of the story of Jesus, starting back with Moses in the Old Testament. Our church recently did this whole entire program, and oh. my. It's truly an experience. Take a listen - you can hear the entire album online.

Twelve...

In twelve days, my oldest will leave me. For Kindergarten. I will no longer be a mom to three toddlers/preschoolers.

I am beyond thrilled and excited for this new chapter in Caleb's life. He is absolutely going to love all of the social interaction, the games, the crafts, the learning, the teachers, the routine, the bus... He's been excited all summer about starting Kindergarten. (He can't wait to 1. See his new classroom and 2. Ride the bus.)

We've had a countdown of sorts going on these past few weeks. Every few days, Caleb will ask me how many days are left until he goes to his new school. Today, when I answered "Twelve," it hit me -- that's just a few days away from being in the single digits. And that's just a few days away from being one week out. And that's just a few days away from The Day actually being here!We've tried to make the most of our summer with some new experiences for the boys. One more last hurrah will be taken tomorrow, when Ryan and I take the older two boys to Schlitterbahn waterpark in Galveston. Our days are now measured and planned around the school calendar, which is in some ways a new experience even though we've abided by the preschool calendar for two years now. We've gone "Back to School" shopping for some new clothes, a backpack and a lunchbox. We've pre-registered for Kindergarten. We've pre-ordered school supplies. We've got his Meet the Teacher night on the calendar, as well as our first Open House. As a former teacher, I remember how busy and crazy the first month of school was -- it will be very interesting to see it on the parent side now.
If the stinging in my eyes that threatens to turn into tears while writing this post is any indication, I'm totally going to be "one of those moms" who is wiping her eyes as she leaves the school without her child that first day of class -- and I'll probably repeat it when I drop each of my boys off at college, too. Hopefully it won't be the Ugly Cry! I truly can't wait to see how school unfolds for Caleb. I pray that he makes great friends early on, that he keeps his love of learning and discovery, that he's respectful to adults, teachers and peers, and that he just enjoys school.
I'm confident he will.

Long Days...

Our days are long in this season.

The sun sets around 8:30 in the evening and rises at around 6:15 in the morning. The heat and humidity are a relentless oppressive force. The lack of rain has all the greenery in a shade of brown or yellow and gasping for life. The fire ants have waged war on our yard. Our electric bill is downright scary even with our thermostat rarely dipping below 80 degrees in the house (yet the a/c runs nearly continuously).

Three little boys, ages 5, 3, and 1, are together all the time. Our school-year routine has been broken, and the freedom of the days has us in a time-warped loop where we don't realize what day of the week it is except that we know Daddy's not home, so it must be a week day and not the weekend. Ryan has been working (seemingly) non-stop since April, with the exception for a few precious hours on the weekends. He's understandably worn thin, and his stress level is a big concern for this wife. The boys are fighting more than normal and whining far too much. Exhaustion and proximity are snowballing even in these hot lazy days, and I daydream hourly of a beach getaway or a cabin in the mountains... away.

And Yet.

Yet there is much to enjoy in this season.

Popsicles dribbling down chins, slip-n-slides that water a rectangular patch of grass in the backyard, longer stretches of time where at least two boys play well together, a great recipe for iced coffee that has been a lifeline, a blog that has provided great encouragement and spiritual challenges right when I needed them, a long visit from a precious friend and her three kids.

Lego creations strewn about the house, only one child in diapers, help from friends and family, backyard barbecues and get togethers with friends (who have pools!), time spent with my cousin, the reliability of the show "Wipeout" to gain the boys' attention so that I can clean up something - the kitchen, the Legos - anything, fresh pineapple and strawberries ice-cold from the fridge, the promise of this 3-day weekend for us to spend with Ryan.

It is far too easy for me to whine and complain (hmm, like my boys?) about how things are going this summer - how I feel like I'm caught in a monotonous loop of hours that keeps repeating itself with small variations, how I feel isolated much of the time, how I feel depleted - yet I am reminded of ways I am cared for and my needs are met. We might not be jetting off to a fun family vacation anytime soon, or spending each day at the pool since 1 adult on 3 active littles isn't quite a safe ratio, or out and doing this-or-that due to finances, yet this is a season we are in. Sure, it's a hot summer and one that feels VERY long for many reasons, but it's also a season in life with three young boys who will all too soon grow up. Lord willing, there WILL be a season of travel, of exploring, of summers spent poolside.

For now, I have been challenged to grab my glass of iced coffee and watch another episode of "Bubble Guppies" with my three offspring - and let my mind wander in all the ways I've been blessed. It's in turning my thoughts to goodness and His provision that I will endure and even cherish this long season.

Week's End and a Look Back...

It's Friday evening. We spent dinner and some time afterwards with some great friends; now the boys are in bed and Ryan is playing some Lego Batman on the Wii and I am trying to edit a few more pictures from a recent senior session.

But my mind, it's a-wanderin'.
This week was anything but boring. It was emotional, it was hard, it was frustrating... It was one of those weeks that left you wondering which way was up, who's on first, and praying "Come Lord Jesus." Personally, I let myself get far too wrapped up in local events and my flesh wants to be hurt and angry when my spirit says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
Due to projected budget shortfalls and cutbacks in federal and state funding, our local school district (the one I taught for prior to my current job as "Mom") has made the tough decision to eliminate 550 teaching positions. Due to around 200 or so folks stepping forward and saying that they were retiring or resigning for other reasons, about 350 teachers were laid off from their jobs this week. A person from HR came into their classroom, often with a class full of kids present, asked to speak with them in the hall, told them that they didn't have a job next year, and then they went back into the classroom and were expected to finish the day and finish the year.

How the district handled it was wrong. Plain and simple. Budget cutbacks...necessary. Options weighed...surely. Decisions agonized over...undoubtedly. But to fire your teachers -- many of whom are stellar educators and loved by students -- in this manner just plain stinks. It hurts. It hurts the staff and it hurts the students.

As a result, many schools had students who staged walkouts in protest to their teachers being let go. Nothing will change the decisions that have been made, but students are acting out their frustrations (and their parents frustrations) by doing what they've been taught in exercising their First Amendment rights. (I'm not in favor of them doing this, by the way. However, for those who truly are protesting this and are doing it to support their teachers, I am a bit touched. There were a ton of kids who jumped on the bandwagon just to get out of class, though, and that's never a good thing to me.)

There are no easy answers or solutions to any of this but to pray that whatever the Lord has intended to come out of this as "good" that it would be evident very soon. I pray for the single parents who lost their jobs who now have to figure out how to provide for their families come August -- when no other school districts in the entire area are hiring, because many are in the same position. I pray for the students to find more constructive ways to handle their frustrations. I pray for all those who lost their jobs to be able to have the grace to finish the last seven weeks of the school year strong. I pray for the school board, legislators, administrators, and anyone else who has a hand or say in education funding to have the wisdom and knowledge of how to move forward in a positive manner and never let this happen again.
With all this talk of school budgets and teacher layoffs, why do I have pictures of airplanes and Space Shuttles? You may have heard on the news this week that the soon-to-be retired Orbiters have been given or assigned new homes. Houston -- the home of the Johnson Space Center, many astronauts, NASA, the control center when shuttles are in orbit -- you know, "Houston, we have a problem..." -- was not chosen for a final destination for one of these. We got two used seats instead. This seriously irked my even-keeled husband, who still would love to be an astronaut. Seriously.

I've read various theories on why other locations (ahem, New York City?) were chosen instead of Houston, but it still feels like a huge sucker-punch to the gut. Tears came to my eyes as I read my former roommate Lindsey's Facebook status the day it was announced. Lindsey is an engineer employed by NASA who has worked on the shuttle program since we graduated. Her husband is also an engineer with NASA who works in their robotics department. Both of them knew some of the astronauts who died in the Columbia as it re-entered the atmosphere in 2003. They know their families. They know a whole community of people who would love to have a relic of something this area has worked so hard on, for so long. Sad. Just sad.

Ryan and I toured the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum (part of the Smithsonian) while we were in D.C. last month. It was one of the locations chosen for a retired orbiter (the one you see in the photo above will be transferred to the Intrepid Museum in NYC. Grr.). They have done a fabulous job of displaying so many wonderful aircraft, and I have no doubt they will take care of their newest addition. I just wish that Houston was given the same opportunity -- for the sake of history.

Of Friendship and History...

Ryan and I were able to take a getaway trip together this past week. We returned home yesterday from six days in the Washington, D.C. area. It was so wonderful to be able to spend that time investing solely in one another. There were no little mouths to feed, no strollers or diaper bags to lug, no work emails or conference meetings to attend to, no early bedtimes to adhere to. We enjoyed our adventure together - there's truly no one else I'd rather travel with, partner with, and explore with than my Ryan.

While in the D.C. area, we were able to hang out with a couple of my oldest friends. One is Robin, who you see above. I was so excited to see her again - it has been at least 7 years since we last got together, and nearly 9 years since we saw her husband as well. Thankfully, through the craziness of blogs and Facebook, we've been able to keep in touch. Ryan and I were so enamored with her little guy, Elliott - you can't tell it in this picture, but he has the most amazing red hair and HUGE grin.
We covered a TON of ground in D.C. - starting with a Segway tour that my parents gave to us. We were a little concerned that we'd be the youngest on the tour... but that was not the case, and we had a BLAST! I highly recommend Segway tours to anyone - they are fun, informative, fun, interesting, fun, different, and fun! Our tour guide had a wealth of information and facts to share without being too dry or just droning on and on. We went all over the main parts of D.C. that morning and learned so much about some of the history of the city, as well as some "hidden" tidbits of knowledge that we wouldn't have discovered on this trip otherwise.
Some places we went while in D.C. are: The Smithsonian Museums of Natural History, American History, Air & Space, the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum, the National Holocaust Museum, Ford's Theater, Union Station, Old Town Alexandria, WWII Memorial, Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Archives, and so much more. {I'm sure my next several posts will be about various things we did on this trip!}
While traversing the streets and underground Metro system in the area, I couldn't help but wonder what that region looked like nearly 250 years ago as our country was in its infancy. So much history is wrapped up in and around D.C. - from the city itself, to surrounding areas such as Manassas, Annapolis, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, Baltimore, and even up to Philadelphia and New York. 250 years is a long time, but when I think a little further, it's but a drop in the bucket compared to other parts of the world and the history they would contain. Nevertheless, it's a humbling thought to think that you're walking some of the same streets that our founding fathers once trod... without the concrete.
Speaking of our Founding Fathers, being around their monuments (which I'm sure they would be possibly quite embarrassed to have their likenesses enshrined for millions to see every year) makes me want to read several of their biographies. We read quote upon quote from Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Wilson, Roosevelt, Kennedy, and many others -- many of which are very powerful and spoken with such strong conviction. Time has a way of adding to the legend of these great men, but if their quotes have any bearing on who they were in their day-to-day lives, we have a great legacy of strong Christian men at the helm of our nation. I pray that continues, but I also fear that our nation is losing sight of the Christian foundations we were built upon.

We halfway joked about it at the time, but it's probably not a bad idea -- maybe each person who is elected to office should have to take a tour of all the monuments and read every quote at least once a year while in office.

We missed the main part of the cherry trees being in full blossom, but we did see a few! Peak blooming should happen sometime around April 4th.
Ryan and I drove up to Baltimore, MD on Saturday to go to the Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium. Now THAT is an aquarium! I could have spent all day there. Part of me still continues to want to be a marine biologist when I grow up -- I admit, I was a tad envious of the ladies who were swimming with the dolphins during the dolphin show!
The last couple of days of our trip were spent with these two dear friends, Shawn and Kelli. Kelli is my dear friend and soul-sister, and we don't get enough time together at all but do all we can to get together if we're anywhere near one another. Shawn serves in the USMC and is currently stationed at Quantico, just south of D.C. We got to sneak away to Georgetown to tour the National Cathedral and share a meal, as well as tour Mt. Vernon the next day and play an impossible game, Pandemic. There were several cupcakes and cake balls consumed...
This trip holds many memories. While in the midst of so much history, I know that Ryan and I will always be able to look back upon this time and fondly remember the history that we were part of in those moments... special moments shared together and with friends.

Vows for Parenthood...

Sometimes I wish there were some sort of vows for parenthood. Something that you promised to your children, something to recite back to yourself when trying days and weeks occurred in the parenthood journey, something to remind you of WHY you're doing this. Doctors have the Hippocratic Oath and married couples have their marriage vows - both statements made publicly to describe and proclaim their devotion and determination.

It's been "one of those weeks" for me. I have tried to teach, then to discipline, tried again, and again, lost my temper, yelled, cried, asked for forgiveness, prayed with and over my boys, and repeated the process more times that I care to admit. I've been reminded to stay consistent - and I'm truly doing my best - but I'm just tired. The closest thing I have to a parenting vow are these verses, and I am clinging to the first one for dear life...

Proverbs 22:6 - Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Deuteronomy 4:9 - Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Deuteronomy 11:19 - Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

The biggest lesson to me in these verses today is that I am leading by example - by my words, actions and reactions, and by my choices. I fail daily in saying the right words and making the right choices (and acting upon the right choices) each and every moment. But, I pray that somehow I am doing something right... maybe it's in letting them all see that their Mama is weak, and needs a Big GOD to help her out.
The saying "parenting is heart work" is certainly true. Sure, I'm physically tired from caring for these three (incredibly cute) boys - but it's the emotional side of parenting that will bring me to my knees every day.

As February Soon Dawns...

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. --Job 1:21

We've had a dreary, overcast morning filled with quiet playtime and extended wearing of pajamas. As I've gone about gathering, sorting, and washing laundry as well as editing a few photos here and there, my mind has been quiet and reflective. This upcoming month will be filled with some highs and lows, some celebrations and struggles -- and I can't help but think of the verse above in the book of Job. The Lord certainly does give and take away, yet He always remains the same. I am so very thankful for that.

Yesterday I was able to go to my cousin Anne's home to spend a little bit of time with her and her two children, Bella and Trey. Well, they're more like two sweet dogs, but as any dog owner knows, they really are children to you. Anne recently moved to the Houston area, so it's been fun to have her around more often (just ask Caleb - he has quite a crush on Anne!!).

Trey (on the left) was recently diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer. He's not long for this world, so we were very intentional yesterday in getting some "family" photos taken. I love how big sister Bella (on the right) has her paw on his forearm... and that the tennis ball made it into that particular photo. Trey is in his happy place when he's playing fetch -- even hobbling on three legs! Soon he'll be able to run freely again, although he will be greatly missed.
It looks like February will also bring with it another major surgery for my dad. He's got another ruptured disc in his neck, so Friday, February 11th he will have surgery to remove the ruptured disc and fuse some more vertebrae together. On the up-side, we're all thankful that he's "been there, done that" before, so everyone has an idea of what to expect. I know he's looking forward to feeling the relief from the pain that he experienced last May after his first surgery.

The down-side is that February 11th is my parents' 34th anniversary.

Looks like Mom will have a doped-up date that evening. ;) Good thing he's quite the happy guy when he comes out of surgery! He'll tell you all sorts of good stuff that he wouldn't ordinarily say while he's coming out of anesthesia! (love you, Pop!)

February also means that I have a little boy who will be turning 5 on the 13th. Lately I've been kidding him that he's allowed to have a birthday, but he's going to turn four again. I've told him that he's not allowed to turn five years old. Of course, he doesn't like hearing that but finds it oddly hilarious -- saying through giggles "Moooooommm, I'm not three, so I can't be four again!" or "Mooooommmm, you're still kidding with me!" or "Moooommm, I can't be four and in kindergarten!" Sheesh, child, let's not rush the kindergarten thing. August will be here far too soon!

Oh February. Sometimes it's a great thing you're the shortest month of the year. However, may you help us to remember to hold the ones we love tightly, and remember that the bad days always highlight the good days.

I Had a Spare Minute...

My home is strangely quiet right now. It might not stay that way for long, but I'm relishing the moment. I've got a Christian rock station out of Wichita, KS streaming on my computer, the windows open to air out the house (on January 28th), and one little boy soundly snoozing while the older two are out with Gram for a little while.

Ahhh.

The noise level will soon rise, though, and I will be ready for it. Ryan is going camping tonight with a group of his friends, so it's me and the boys until sometime tomorrow afternoon. My sweet friend Erin (whose hub Ryne is also going camping) will be coming over for dinner tonight, and she's offered to help with bath time and bedtime for the boys in exchange for watching a chick flick and eating dirt cake once they're in bed. Um, yes please!! I am so looking forward to that!!

Shifting gears...

Here's something I never do, but I keep going to these sites to ogle. I'm also "fans" of them on Facebook, so I'm frequently seeing the new products they have out and adding to my wish list. I thought I'd share with y'all some material things that have caught my eye -- either because they're just 'cool' or the company itself is something pretty incredible. None of these are necessities, but they're fun to ooh and ahh over!

--The Vintage Pearl. I love the custom, hand-stamped jewelry they have out. The chunky love necklace is and has been a favorite for a long time. I'd love to go to their shop in Tulsa, OK sometime. They seem like a fun group of ladies!

--The Organic Bloom. You have to see these exquisite custom frames! Right now, they only sell to professional photographers (and yes, I'm considering opening an account... but I want to be sure I'd have a market for them first! I'd probably end up hoarding all of them for myself, and that's probably not the best business decision.) This is another company in OK that would be fun to pop into for a visit!

--Red Letter Words. If anyone feels the need to gift a "Two are Better Than One" in brown to me, I won't turn it away. :) I love the simplicity of these products, and the message conveyed. So fun.

--Photojojo! Store. OK, these folks have the corner on the market for FUN photog gear and equipment, as well as little trinkets and gifts for the shutterbug in your life. Next on my wish list? A chalkboard speech bubble. I'm helping with portraits and photos at our church's annual Father-Daughter dance, and I think these might be just the trick to get some dads loosened up and having fun in a photo with their girl(s). I can only imagine some of the sentiments they might come up with... ;)

Anyone else have a small company that they're fans of that they'd like to share? Let me know!

Tendrils...

It was time for haircuts for all of the Griffin guys.
Even for Toben. He's 14 months old now, and since I could pretty much gather all the hair around the crown of his head into a little ponytail, it was time for a haircut.
Don't think it didn't pain me a little to watch those sweet curls fall to the floor...

(don't you like the Edward Scissorhands-esque motion I've got going on? Ha!)

His hair is so fine and incredibly soft that the clippers wouldn't have worked well on his hair, so I cut it all using scissors.

You'll just have to wait until a future post to see what he looks like now... Both Ryan and I were a little preoccupied with bathing a boy or giving a boy a haircut or keeping a boy (and dog) out of hair clippings to take an "after" photo.

Speaking of photos... I've come to a conclusion that I do not post much at all anymore because I am incredibly (and most likely unnecessarily) picky about the quality of photo that I put on the blog. I realized this evening, while reading through some other blogs and wondering "how are they so good at documenting life?" that I am hung up on being as close to perfect as I can be. Yes, I am a self-proclaimed perfectionist. I come by it honestly.

What I remembered was this: Life is not perfect. I am not perfect. My family is not perfect. My photos are not perfect. {Thankfully my God is. Whew. But I'm not Him. Duh.}

So... Why not post things as they are? I spend a large chunk of my time each week editing photos for others, to give them a product that they are proud to display on their desks, walls, in their wallets, on their blogs, etc., and I will continue to edit many of my family's photos to enhance them as well. However, for a majority of photos you will find on this blog from this point forward, I will do my best to not make any bones about them not being 100% crisp and focused, perfectly metered, or altogether aesthetically pleasing. {Y'all, I'm doing this for me. I realize most of you don't give one owl hoot about photo editing...so just bear with me.}

When I go to a photo session for a client, I take the utmost care to watching my camera settings, and usually come away with many images the client is proud to have. At home, though, the boys might be doing something fun and I'm concerned about capturing them and tend to forget my settings on the fly... therefore I don't have the high number of crisp, clear images that I might in a session. It bugs me that all of this isn't fully second-nature, but hopefully it will get there someday. Maybe by the time they graduate. From college.

For now, this digital scrapbook needs some more regular attention. More straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) shots like the ones above are on the way, soon.

10.10.10...

I think dates that seem to line up like this have taken on a special meaning to me since T's birth last year on 09.09.09. (at 12:09, 6#9oz and 19in -- I think 9 should always be his jersey number in future sports) A few years back, my birthday was the date 04.04.04, which I thought was pretty neat-o. So, in honor or whathaveyou of this special date, here's ten random things to read about.

Kick up your heels and do a do-se-do because it's one amazing read! {sarcasm duly noted, right?}

1. The Pumpkin Spice lattes are back at Starbuck$, but my favorite coffee drink at our church's coffee shop is a white mocha. I've always had a penchant for this particular simple drink, but I recently started putting cinnamon in it and it has REVOLUTIONIZED the drink! My taste buds do a happy dance each time.

2. Ryan's phone 'honks' when he gets a text message, and it never fails to make me smile or at least smirk. It's a funny sound, like a clown car horn. I like to imagine it going off in a meeting, but I know that's not going to happen because he is very meticulous about putting it on silent for times like that. It's still funny to imagine.

3. I found a recipe for S'mores Brownies. You can bet that I will be trying that one out soon!

4. I have a dislike for professional football. College football? Okay. I can take it, and even enjoy some of it. But I have a hard time watching pro football. Uhg. Although the pink shoes, gloves, and mouthpieces have made me do a few double-takes this month.

5. I went with a group of girl friends this past Friday and had a 'girly' dinner at La Madeleine and then to the movies. We saw "Life As We Know It". Cute movie; the story was really good. I couldn't help thinking during the movie, though, that it would be much more enjoyable on my TV at home! I am spoiled with our flat-screen's picture quality. When I mentioned that last night at dinner, Ryan told me it made him so proud that I would comment about that!

6. The older two boys have been on a potty-word kick. Not cuss words, but potty words. They think it is hilarious to repeatedly say 'bootie' or 'poo poo' or 'doodie' -- even if two out of three of those terms are not used when we're really talking about bathroom business. It's on my last nerve, and I've tried numerous suggestions at nipping that little trend. Not much is working... I am so hopeful that it's just a phase that they will move past. It's just a phase that has hung on for far too long and worn out it's welcome that it never had!

7. Last year, the boys were all characters from storybooks. This year, they are going to be Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi from Super Mario Bros. (sigh) Oh yes, they are. Caleb has had this planned for months. He really wants Ryan and I to be the blue and yellow Toadstool guys, but I don't know that we'll carry it on to that degree. Fuddy Duddy, I know... My challenge is to figure out how to make the Yoshi costume. Mario and Luigi will be pretty easy, although I'm having trouble finding a long-sleeved green shirt for Luigi.

8. We have had fall-like weather for about two weeks now. WOW. I keep watching my red maple in the backyard to see if it will ever turn - get this - RED, but so far, no luck. The leaves are still green, so my hope is still alive!

9. Toben loves to walk, and is doing very well on his land legs. However, he has still managed to put a few dings on his big noggin. Right now, I believe there are three different bruises lining his forehead. Poor guy... Can I work that into his Yoshi costume somehow?

10. Is anyone else amazed that it's already October 10, 2010? That means that it's just over a month until Thanksgiving, and just over two months until Christmas. I'm smart, y'all.

And one to "grow on"...

11. Ryan's childhood friend JT just sent him a text message (made me smile when it honked) that said his wife was in labor and they would most likely have their baby boy by this evening! Yea! Another kiddo with a neat-o birthdate! What's really special about this is that JT's birthday was yesterday, and his daughter's birthday is tomorrow... so October 9, 10, and 11 are always going to be special days in their home!

Blog Neglect...

There's been a lack of verbage going on here on this little blog.

Hopefully that's not to be confused with garbage. But whatever.

What would you want to know about?

We finally had our first "cold" front that allowed us to enjoy days with highs in the 80's versus highs in the 90's or 100+'s. Eh, boring.

Caleb and Logan started preschool. Caleb goes on Tuesdays/Thursdays/Fridays and Logan goes on Tuesdays/Thursdays ... which gives me a total of 10 hours per week with just one little boy. Amazing how many errands can be run with one kiddo ... grocery shopping has become a much more pleasurable experience. Mundane.

I think I've messed up my back from picking up toys. Yep, that's my line and I'm sticking to it. It has nothing to do with picking up a 22-lb. boy often through the day or hauling so many bags to the car that a pack mule would be jealous. So what.

My new website for the photography bizzyness is up and running and I'm almost bashful to say that I really like how it turned out. I think my favorite 'genre' is maternity and newborns ... and I'm really looking forward to some newborns who will be arriving soon. I have so much to learn with photography, though. Maybe I'm the only one excited about this stuff. I can't expect others to feel the same, so why bother them with it?

I've had the travel bug for a LOOONG time. Any time I hear or read of someone's vacation, trip, excursion, or visit I get jealous and immediately want to go to wherever they were, no matter what part of the world. I believe the last time I boarded an airplane was 3 1/2 years ago, on our way home from Philly for our 5th anniversary. That's nice. But does it really matter?

I guess I'm fighting a lot of internal dialogue. Sometimes having a blog seems really odd to me, kind of like the little status updates on Facebook. Even though I really enjoy reading other people's thoughts and recollections about their life, I wonder if there is anything I put out there that is remotely interesting or noteworthy and not just a "hey, look at my life and how awesome it is" sort of thing. I wonder what the purpose of my blog should be. I wonder if it makes a difference, other than to help me keep a record of my little family and our events. If we are asked to "do all things as though doing them for the Lord" (serious paraphrase), am I honoring Him in this blog?

Anyhow, I suppose all this is to say that the blog has been neglected and void of "thoughtful" posts because I just don't have much to offer. I am open to suggestion, though!

Today's Letters...

My friend Robin posted about this blog a while back, and I must say, I have become a big fan. Her style of writing really cracks me up but also makes me think, and it's become something I look forward to reading each day. You really should check out their Tuesday Questions ...

Only Because I Will Forget...

I just have a few moments to jot a small list of recent items down before I forget them... no pictures today, but maybe soon.

• It's been a busy past couple of weeks. Swim lessons are going VERY well -- the boys are floating on their backs independently for short periods of time, learning water safety, and enjoying their time in the pool. Score! Today and tomorrow are our last days for swimming lessons.
• Toben had his 9-month well check appointment this week. Our little Littles is gradually becoming not-so-little anymore! Here are his most recent stats:

-- He weighs 18lb, 15oz (23%). At his four month appointment, he weighed 11lb, 11oz (3%) and at 6 months he was 14lb, 4oz (13%). He is now 28in tall, which puts him in the 39%. So, realistically he is still a small guy -- but he is VERY healthy.

-- He is eating Stage 2 baby foods twice a day, and is on formula. Toben and I somewhat came to a mutual weaning process about a month ago now; I just wasn't producing what he needed anymore, and it was a very easy transition for the both of us. Honestly, it was a bit bittersweet to be done with nursing (forever!) but I am thankful to "have my body back". We enjoyed it while it lasted those last 8 months!

-- He just started trying some "table foods" this week. He's had some baby puffs and tiny bites of sliced cheese, and both were met with some huge grins after the initial taste shock. He also enjoyed gnawing on a chilled piece of cantaloupe.

-- He cut his second tooth last Friday! Bottom right front (incisor?).

-- The child is CRAWLING. EVERYWHERE. Slowly but surely, he makes his way around! He reminds me of a wind-up toy with his halting motion.

-- The child is also PULLING UP on EVERYTHING. Slow down, baby! Two teeth, crawling, pulling up, trying new table foods - all in one week!!!

• I've already purchased tickets to see Toy Story 3 this weekend. Are we suckers or what? Can't wait. The boys are going ballistic every time a preview is on TV. It's going to be madness. Madness at 10am Saturday!
• This will be our second week to drive downtown for lunch on Friday with Ryan before coming back out for swim lessons. Maybe we can make this a weekly habit? You'd like that, wouldn't you Ryan? The boys love all the escalators and elevators (or as Logan calls all of them, alligators) at Ryan's office building.
• Between Caleb and Logan, our refrigerator door seems to be open more often than it's closed. At least they're not drinking straight out of the milk jug. Yet.
• I realized recently that lately my camera has been used more for client sessions than for my own family. I will seek to remedy that ... or at least find a decent balance. The boys tend to run and hide from the camera, though. Sigh.

I hope you ALL enjoy this Father's Day weekend!! A special shout-out to the special dads in my/our lives... Daddy/Ryan, Pop/Gary, Papaw/Mike... Three Cheers to You GREAT Dads!! :)

Be Quick, but Don't Hurry...

I've enjoyed reading numerous commentaries this past week about the legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden in the wake of his passing. He's left an amazing legacy (and a TON of quotables) behind -- many that speak a ton of truth to many areas of life. In some ways, he reminded me of a modern-day Solomon with some of the quips and quotes he used.

I had heard the quote that I used in the title of this post before, but never knew where it came from. It reminds me so much of so many things, but right now it shows a great reflection to my thoughts about this little guy (really, all my boys). Toben is nine months old today!

"Be Quick..." -- Toben, your dad and I are so anxious to do so many things with you and your brothers. Family vacations and trips: to the lake, to Disney World/Disneyland, camping, Six Flags, another country. Sports: spending countless weekends and evenings at a baseball/soccer/football field or swimming pool. Church: seeing you and your brothers accept Christ as your Savior, and watching Dad as he 'dunks' you, and then watching you grow in the Lord. School: seeing how you boys grow and learn, both in knowledge and friendships. So much more, Littles. So much more to look forward to.

"...but Don't Hurry" -- We want to soak in each stage of your childhood, and that of your brothers as well. There is something so unique and so fun about where you're at right now -- just on the verge of crawling, babbling more and more (Dad insists that you said "da da" last week:), cutting your first tooth this week, pulling up to a stand on objects like the coffee table and the couch, lowering your crib mattress because you were 'caught' nearly standing in it after nap time, your infectious giggle and laughter that is so carefree and so easy. Maybe it's because you're our 'last one' but I want to enjoy you as YOU, right now, all the more.
Happy Nine Months!

(I so wish I could have gotten some better smiles this morning... I think we're about to have a tooth explosion with this guy!!)

Thankful Thursday | a Memorial...

I love reading through Pioneer Woman's website. She's witty, clever, cooks delicious meals and desserts, and takes some dang-awesome photos.

She also has something like a million readers. Maybe more; I don't know how many, but it's wayyyy more than this little blog will ever see!

Take some time and check it out if you've never seen her blog/website. You won't be disappointed.

However, I'd like you to check this part of her site out first. In remembrance of all those who have gone before us, securing our freedoms in this country that we enjoy today, PW is hosting a photography contest celebrating various wonderful homecomings of all our boys/girls in uniforms. Grab a Kleenex, though. You'll want about twelve of them for sure.

Be sure to click the link for her Flickr group dedicated to this assignment. Again, you'll need some Kleenex as you click through the pictures ... but through the tears, look for a contributor with the name "kellicampbell." Holla!! My sweet friend knows - KNOWS - how to capture the emotion, anticipation, nerves, and joy (oh the JOY) of a good homecoming. I guess maybe having gone through it a time or three herself helps in that arena. ;) (click on the "more" tab underneath the first twelve photos that initially come up to see more photos...)

These photos really served (and continue to serve) as a good reminder of why we have a Memorial Day. I cannot even begin to put myself in the shoes of those who watch their fathers, sons, husbands, daughters, moms ... their loved ones ... walk out the door to a deployment, not knowing if they'll be able to see each other face-to-face again. I can't imagine the faith they have; it's something they just do. Thank you to those of you who have walked this road, and double thanks to those of you who have been the loved ones walking out the door and placing yourself in harms way to fight and protect our freedoms.

A precious reminder...

"The tomb is empty not because it was never full. No. Jesus died and was buried. He lay in the tomb, filling it. Had he stayed there, our lives would be empty. Vain. Without purpose. But because he rose from the dead and left that tomb empty, our lives get to be full. What good news!"

You can read her whole post HERE. Very, very good thoughts -- Thank you Jesus for Your love, for Your sacrifice, and for Your victory!! Thank You for the LIFE that you give. Thank you for filling us with Your love.

...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. -- John 10:10

Happy Easter weekend, everyone!