There are several reasons I enjoy fall
Mostly it's the weather change
But it's also;
Napping to football on Sunday afternoon cradled in my husbands lap
Sweat free family walks and bike rides
Colored leaves
Crunching acorns in the drive that tell me someones here
Spiced apple cider
Chillie and frittos and sharp cheddar (and it has to be sharp)
Picking out Halloween costumes and candy
Pumpkin-spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake, and pumpkin pie
The clothing possibilities that comes with layering
Jeans
The pumpkin patch
Baking Thanksgiving pies
And the Christmas countdown

A fast 5

This birth-day in comparison to the day of your birth was;
Fun-filled - I wouldn't call labor fun
It was directed by you - exactly like your debut
Your laughter was contagious and unconfined- tears were the only thing we shared on the day of your birth
Today was seemingly painless, minus the nagging twinge I feel for the loss of your tiny-ness and dependence on me
I spent a considerable amount of time hunched over your tiny body begging God to heal and protect you then - today I just thanked Him for the healthy growing boy you are
I got to hold you for the first time - at bedtime you asked me to sleep with you for 1 minuet (which turned into 10, and you hugged me and teased me that now you might be too old to give me hugs - I convinced you, a boy is never too old to hug his mom, and another hug followed)
Tonight you said "I love you mom"

It seems like yesterday.  That long day of labor at the hospital, surrounded by family and visited by friends.  And than another long week would follow as we prayed for you, and waited for you to be well and ready for us to bring you home.  But that was five years ago - how you've grown, and so have I.
Love you Ethan!
Your hug-able mommy forever
Me

Birth-DAY, told in pictures

Birthday Morning (Kerplunk)

Birthday pancake (cinnamon-chocolate chip)

Birthday haircut (spiky just like daddy)

Birthday lunch (God is great, God is good, thank you for our...nuggets)

Birthday root beer

Birthday Play

Birthday ice cream

Birthday presents

Birthday pranks

Birthday bouncing

Birthday gaming

Birthday bed-time snack

Birthday hygiene


Birthday Bible reading

G-fam

I was blessed with a "second-family" as a child
And again as an adult
Their friends, but ones who we grow beside
Whole family growth
This was a G-family filled weekend
We've been missing them since school started
I can't believe our kids are in school
And that this week my oldest turns 5
5!

For the love of second families, aging, ear piercing and a cup-runneth over blessed weekend
Me

Brothers, Baby bottles, Beauty Rest and Lots of...

For the grand-total of 2.5 days I was responsible for 4-children

- that's two more children than hands!
We acquired a pair of brothers, from my brother while he and my sister visited the Windy City for the Tool-show, which Jacob made several puns about
-that's my guy, I just laugh with him!

The brothers like, my pair are 15 months apart, one is spunky - the other chill
-I give a cyber-pat on the back to myself, and every-other mom of multiple children-less than 2yrs apart out there, what were we thinking 

They are both in diapers, and for some-reason my two think diapers are both gross and hilarious

My diaper skills were tested but I came out unscathed
-I almost forgot how great potty trained children are (note: trained, past tense -as in done training because that part is not so great), 

One is lovingly nick-named "the stinky monster" - the other "sweet boy" (a'la E and C)

One drinks from a bottle - the other anything he can get his hands on

-I remembered how much I dislike formula; the smell, the sticky residue that clings to my counters, and..I can't think of why else, but the smell alone should be enough.  
My broom and pick up skills may have been perfected
-Additionally, my floor would like to thank the maker of sippy-cups, lids and straws - whoever you are

It was a lot of work
My husband pitched in a lot 

We had a lot of fun

We didn't get a lot of sleep

I drank a lot of coffee

And I pose a question how does the mom of four shower on a regular basis?

For the love of nephews and a lot more good times to come
Me

Crayon on the wall

Fact- The dinning room doubles as art room
Fact- My children didn't always color on paper as directed
Fact- Sometimes my life resembles the trim scratched, scared, and imperfectly colored with crayon.

As I meticulously painted, I had a God moment.
He's the painter, and my life is the trim
He's patient applying coat after coat
Covering up the misapplied crayon, and the scrapes.
And I'm so thankful
I don't deserve it, but He makes me beautiful and everyday is new.
Thank you Lord!

Carpenter ant

As I sat watching paint dry, literally, piening over the 1" angled brush I passed up at the Home Depot
An ant waltzed through the wet trim, and I said to him
"Ant for having a name like carpenter you're not being very mindful of the drying paint"
He didn't answer
I didn't smash him,
But I did get all the trim, molding and casing painted today.
For the love of bugs and productivity
Me

Kids say the....

"Wow mom, you look better than normal" - Ethan

"No, no, no, I'm not princess - I'm Vicki" - Charlie (but did you really need me to assign a name to this one!)

"Mom, I already know that, why do you keep telling me!?" - Ethan (I'm afraid this will not be the first or last time I hear something similar)

"Mooooommmm, Why do you keep telling me you love me" - Charlie (apparently not a "words" love- language recipent)

"Memaw, Briggs isn't my cousin anymore - he's my friend now" - Ethan (friend being an upgrade)

"Mom, lets close our eyes so they can't see us" - Chalrie

Fashion 101

Ethan...Hey mom, can I wear these.
Me...no
Ethan...is that a rule
Me...yes, a style rule
Ethan...ok, I'll wear my light up shoes

Not sure that light up shoes fit into the category of styling fashion, but when you're 4- I guess it's ok! 

Dropped it

The ball that is
You see you turned 23, 10 days ago
So, Happy 23 and 10 days!
You've been far away, and not so far away this year
We've talked more than [I think] ever
I'm glad you want to talk to me
Sometimes you make me feel old
Sometimes you make me feel wise
Not sure that I'm either yet
You've found someone new, dare I say your forever someone
She's good for you, really good
And I may be wondering when down on one-knee/rock moment is, but I we don't have to talk about that
Unless you want to
So when did you say that moment was coming
Are you laughing at me yet
So in your 24th year I wish for you
Joy in the moment
A new pair of shoes
More Monopoly
Less miles on your truck, but the same amount more M-time
Love like you never knew possible
Forgiveness
Smiles and Happy tears
And
I may secretely be praying you get your own Charlie-girl (but not this year)

Love you littlest brother!

Reality is...

~NOT found on MTV, E, Bravo or The CW, although ABC's Wipe-Out is pretty dog-gone real-funny
~Most people in the world are not famous
~Famous is a very relative term
~Making the hard decision
~There are consequences for your actions
~Seldom glamorous
~Being okay with you, just you
~Making a budget, and spending only what you make (and yes it's as fun as it sounds sometimes)
~I've made mistakes
~If you're reading this from the comfort of your American home that you're blessed beyond blessed
~Not always "fun"
~Your body changes after you carry and birth a baby, additionally you'll never get the flat stomach back you might have been so proud of
~Life is messy, and requires lots of forgiveness and grace
~I'm forgiven
~We're called to a greater purpose
~It's not about me - and I'm totally good with that (most days)

Like a weed (in the best possible way)

Reading Sara Trollinger's Unglued & Tattooed as part of my House of Hope ministry preparation
Has been eye opening, difficult, and at times makes me physically ill.
Like I have to put it down or I'm afraid I will vomit (and I'm only through the second chapter).

Speaking of vomit, a bag of it leaked on me, my fun yellow purse, and Trollinger's book as I dared to hold it arms length out the window as we trekked up the winding road home from the lake.
I have my brother to thank for the root beer filled belly of my 4 year old.

Anyway.

I look at my beautiful, head-strong, passionate, imaginative Charlie and I can't picture 13, or 17 or 19
Except I can, and my stomach churns
And so I pray for a "Caleb" to come along side me and say
"We can do it -Yes, God can accomplish this work"
Because I know God has also called me to balance, and my children need my investment in them
And although patience is a virtue it's not one I naturally possess in great quantity
So I pray and I wait
And in the wait :
I'll keep reading because knowledge is power, and I'm going to need a strong stomach
And I'll pray some more, because He's listening and has the answers
And I'll continue in my devotion time, to know Him better
And I'll  finish my prayer card, so my thoughts and prayers are rooted in scripture

So my faith is growing like the proverbial weed
I'm filled with excitement and anticipation of how God is going to move.
And praying his movement isn't prefaced with a time of wandering in the dessert before He knocks down the walls.  Guess that would really grow my patience!

For the love of rooted growth, and patience in small doses!
Me

Confessions of a working mom

Let's face it, all moms are working
And if you disagree;
1. maybe you should adjust your view, and
2. you're wrong
I just happen to work both in and out of my home
Now back to the subject at hand, which is also numbered
1. I cooked dinner only once this week (and that was because I was scheduled to take dinner to a new mom) -FAIL
2. This was my one shift week
3. It's budget week (guess that's not really a confession)
4. I'm contemplating a two-year plan that will radically change my "work" and schedule
5. Chick-Fil-A was dinner twice this week - FAIL, but YUM
6. The clean laundry is piled, not so neatly, in a laundry basket hidden in the basement - FAIL
7. I don't iron - Is it a fail if you just don't?
8. I wash both colors and whites at the same time (on the cold cycle, of course) - FAIL
9. Laundry is my nemesis (see #6 through #8)
10. Jacob irons his dress-shirt in the wee hours of the morning himself (see #6 and #7) - AWESOME HUSBAND

I'll gladly fail at these things weekly;
If it means I get to play with the kids at the park, and the pool.
If it means I can volunteer more, and kiss my afore mentioned awesome husband more.
If it means I have more time to give back to God in devotion and prayer.

So here's to another week filled with pulling this mornings wrinkled outfit from a basket, in-frequent cooking, and more failing :)
For the love of quality time,
Me