pictures!

I have to show you the WONDERFUL pictures my sweet sweet friend Brooke took of us last weekend. Here's the link to her blog. What a wonderful photographer and precious spirit she is!

THANK YOU BROOKE!

a while

It's been a while. God told me He had a special present for me... a promise. I was so tickled. I got little "notices in the mail" letting me know that yes, my package was on the way. Friends agreed and were joyful with me. "Oh, praise Him, what a good gift this will be!" "I know!" I gushed, "I can hardly wait!" (I've hardly been waiting well, for sure.)

"Well, Lord, I know it's coming so I trust you," I'd pray. And I'd do another Tuesday, and hope that Wednesday would be the day.
Tears were shed when the "promised gift" still hadn't arrived weeks later.
(There may have even been one or two verbal "I-can't-do-this-any-longer fits.")

And here we are, making Christmas lists again, and I find myself looking back on so much of the same. I find myself needing my quiet time more than ever and yet wondering if that will be enough. Will those words mean much today?

And I sat. My sweet Father delivered this message to my heart.
Ephesians 3:19.
Lord, why do I do day after day? Waiting on promises? I want that gift so badly! You are the one that told me to look forward to it! Why must I do Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and another November and December and January and February (you know how I dislike winter!) and then hold my breath until Spring and then hope and then hope some more and...

Ephesians 3:19, He says.

To know (come to know...in a judicial sense, to know by trial, to learn, find out, to believe) this love that surpasses knowledge (present and fragmentary knowledge) - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

"So that you will BELIEVE by experiencing life with ME who I AM beyond what you see today.
You see, child, you would never begin to know the depth of my unfailing love, without days of experiencing it.
The past January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October have been about my love.
Today is about my love.
And when he comes home that will be about My love and just the sweetest drop of foreshadowing to the gush of love that is our Groom - the return of Glory, our Emmanuel once again."

with us.

Thank Yous!!!

My Dad and I were having a conversation about my maternal grandparents a couple of weeks ago. He said, "I remember when your great-grandfather once told me, 'Always remember to have an attitude of gratitude.' " And my Dad said, he never forgot that advice. I never knew this great-grandfather, but hearing his wisdom years later is part of a precious legacy.

So... as I start this week, finding myself wishing once again that I was a stay-at-home Mom who would wake up and make her kids breakfast, then take them to school, then come BACK HOME to tackle managing my household...

instead, I choose (inspite of myself!) to be grateful...

*That my computer that was going so slooooooooooowwww.... I mean, I had actual thoughts o having it worked on... and it fixed itself!

*That my garage door now opens and closes again - thanks to my stepdad!

*That John lives so close, and can chop wood and build fires and set up tents and roast the perfect marshmallow and/or hotdog and protect his kids from creepy sounds... for a wonderful bday party & campout! That after the campout that same Daddy made time to play "lightsabers" and legos with his kids. Thank you sweet, Lord.

*That 6 years ago this treasure of a friend was there for the birth of my precious boy. And has been my friend now for 10 years and celebrated her 28th bday this week. (love you katie!)

*And that I am a momma to some amazing kids, the daughter to Believing parents, and most importantly part of Abraham's seed and an heir to the King.

f

Free trip!

Well, pretty much free.

The kids and I had a great Saturday at the Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. It truly is fanastic to be only 2 hrs. from the ocean, AND it was "Teacher Appreciation weekend" there, so we got FREE tickets and things like this pic (that normally would have cost $20!!! - gasp)

They even gave me that little gift bag with a mug and coupons. I felt truly appreciated! :) Don't my kids look so old!? That handsome guy in the red shirt has a bday on Tues. He also currently would like to be a scuba diver when he grows up, so this was perfect for some pre-bday fun. We did the whole petting the stingrays thing... which wow! who knew you could hand feed them?

Then we spent the rest of the day here...

@ Myrtle Beach State Park. I spent $4 to park and the weather was gorgeous. We walked down the pier, had double scoops of ice-cream, played with other people's kids and made something that looked like a sand sculpture of a seaturtle. (what else do you do with collapsed sandcastles?)

AND, we made it back in time for the football game! ahhhhh. Really really great day.

Feelin like a Monday, but lovin these...

Alas, no working camera... not yet anyhow!

But, I'd like to potentially waste the next 5 mins. or so by sharing my top 5 most recent faves:

1. one-on-one kid time: football with Christian and shopping/doing nails with Belle

2. neti-pot... life changer

3. new 7 min. bedtime devotional with kids. We're only on day 3, but this is soooooo helpful with the consistency and application when my brain is sooo tired all three of us need some guidance.

4. NO MORNING DUTY. Also life-changing. I love the extra 15 mins. or so that this equals. Also, my babes are at the same school, so we're just not in quite the rush. Which, means most importantly that I can spend a little more time with my sweet Lord. How did I ever survive without Him starting my day!!!!? oh wait...

let's think back on those years - yeah, that explains it.

5. Getting my friend fix. Like I did 2 weekends ago with these fabulous ladies, who made my bday rock.

And this one who I got to see in back-to-back weekends. And three more wonderful phone calls with more favorites who I've been playing phone tag with for a month. Love love love my friends!

And, yipee tomorrow is Wed. and soon will be Friday and SATURDAY. And that leads me to #6:

I still heart Gamecock football. And confess that I'm thoroughly looking forward to this game:

bullets

• worked for a full week. still love my job. loved staying at home this summer better. BUT really love my job.
• can't wait to see friends this weekend.
• my kids really love school and I love seeing their sweet faces hop off the bus daily
• Belle has a haircut. How am I the mother of this giant child? She looks like 9!
• Christian now wears "styling paste" to school. he's cool like Daddy. ...I love his sweaty little head in the afternoons - so sweet.
• it's past my bedtime already
• hoping to have a working camera for a bday weekend post!!!!

Geez-looeeze, maybe i oughta update

Okay so I feel super snuggly and content.
Summer has been a joy to spend.
It's still my favorite.
I adore "playing" stay-at-home mom, but you know, something about fresh school (in my case - art) supplies makes it alright to head on back. That and I know the Lord hasn't told me to quit. So, here I am typing in short, uneloquent sentences.

Check back in. Maybe God will make me witty or wise. (Like he made Ellen funny that summer! -love that Ellen!) But for now, I'll try to post a pic of my kids looking like really cute here and there, or quote someone else less chilled out than myself.

I'm not lacking passion. Just soaking in contentment. And you know, how it is... in a great bath, or a deep cup of delicious coffee, or with your toes curled in sand on the perfect, not-to-hot, breezy day... there just aren't so many words, but a whole lot of AHHHHHH. So here's my big ole smile of contentment (chalk that up as a gift from the Lord), and my "Hi" to my blog-reading friends out there. See you soon.
p.s. Mel, as Chicago would say "you're the inspiration." yep, i read Leigh's comments. haha!
p.p.s. on a further random note, "Look Away" is still a really good song. haha. wow. goodnight.