You know those days that just don’t go exactly right? They seem to fill me with an even greater amount f discontent. Like maybe the rose tinted glasses got knocked off, and you picked up the gray ones instead.
The kind of day that…
-piano lessons got postponed because I never got her the books
-I got a call from the coach asking why practice was missed
-There were no swim shorts for swim lessons
-The store I picked in a hurry to buy shorts was WAY over priced
-Once in the car we realize these wickedly expensive shorts have no lining. What?!? How are they even swim shorts then?
-I wished my hair was longer so I could french braid it
-I don’t even know how to french braid
-The floor looks dirtier than normal
-The 3 week long head ache comes back in the middle of Costco
-The girl can’t help but have 85 screaming fits (75 of those were in the middle of Costco)
-You feel the urge to yell “don’t judge me!” when you pop open the box of fruit snacks right there in the middle of Costco
So, I decided that “I was having a rough day.” Then, I just decided to park there. But then I asked myself why? Why stay here? Didn’t I just spend a 7 week long bible study realizing we are on a journey? I am not staying here; I am on a journey. After dinner was done, groceries were put away, Gabe was at bible study, and the kids were happy in front of the boob tube I spent some time on my face in front of the Lord. Father, it is so good to be in your arms. To be on a path that is bringing me straight to you. I know it is so easy to take a path to the left or the right, but help me to stay on the path to you. Some times there are caution signs along way. “Caution: baby with a crazy shrill scream up ahead!” But there is no turning back. That path takes me to you. Some times the path is hard with a double stroller, and 2 little men along side, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You wouldn’t have it any other way.
After praying and reaching out to my Abba Father, I did some reading on Peace and Joy. When a day has a sign marked “rough road ahead” it is so easy to be filled with pessimism, malice, anger…the feelings I so often let creep into my heart. Mark 7:21 talks about these hideous sins coming from the heart. It makes me sad to think I choose to keep those things there! My book said, “It’s pointless to try to overflow with hope if you’re busy pouring anxiety and fear into your life.” I underlined that with a big, fat, black line! If I pour IN the ugly things, how can I ever expect the good things to come OUT? So, I have 2 verses I am going to work on pouring IN today.
#1 Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.–(pour in the good stuff)
#2 Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. –(and the result!)
Of course, in the midst of the “rough day” great things happened, and because we were SUPPOSED to go to swim lessons I had my camera with me. I captured a few things that I wouldn’t normally have captured. These things brought me some hope and peace yesterday. Enjoy.
There is nothing really amazing or artistic about these pictures. They are just my people that God blessed with me, and I love living life with them. In this hugging picture, Olivea slapped Mahlon, and then she hugged him to say she was sorry. I love that he was so happy to accept her apology.
This is my normal view on the way out of Costco. Zeb trying to push the beast of a cart, Malachi ALWAYS is in charge of the soda, Mahlon has the receipt (which will get a happy face drawn on the back), and Olivea wishing the receipt was in her hands.
This hat makes me laugh. I really can’t stand this hat, but he loves it, and like I said it makes me laugh. It so big, and goofy looking. But he won’t believe you even if you tell him that.
I bought these bags for me today. I love that my items came home in cute bags rather than huge boxes that I can’t lift. When we get home, I unload the car, and then the little men bring the items into the house while I put them away. Let me know if you ever see something sitting beside my car (milk, crackers, juice..it happens).
Part of the reason we were running late for swim lessons was because this girl looked so cute today. She loves to get fancy. And today she even wanted a purse. Every girl needs cute tights, a Jane Fonda head band, and a pink purse to go to the sand box. I had to take a few a pictures….rather than get in the shower..Ya, that happens too.
Princess Olivea received some super cute hair pretties and a fun new bib in the mail from Auntie B, Uncle Tommy, and her cutie cousin. She says thank you so much! I heart hair pretties!
I don’t love this last picture. I had high hopes of taking her picture when she was less diva-like, and happily chowing down on a gluten free chocolate cupcake. But Daddy gave them their treat after lunch while I grabbed a shower. Bummer. But you had to see how cute this bib is. I love the little piggies.
Most of you know I took a photography class at the junior college last fall. I get asked a lot if I learned Photoshop. The answer is yes, kind of. I think it is like learning your numbers I can count to 100, but I know there are an infinite amount of numbers I don’t know. Luckily there is a photography genius that I call friend, and she can count to like a bagillion! I love how willing to share her talent she is. At this point, I am sure I lack any kind of photography “gift”. And seriously lack any kind of “vision.” But I am having a good time playing. But I wonder sometimes do I really need another hobby??
I thought I would post a before and after picture for you to see what I can do. This picture isn’t a huge success, nor does it really show how much I have learned. At least you can get an idea.
This is SOOC. (straight out of the camera, haha ya like that? I know some lingo.) I really liked his smile in this picture. What I don’t like…The dog in it, the hand grabbing out of nowhere, I also don’t like that I flashed him, but I have learned that my lens is pretty lame and doesn’t do well in low light. There isn’t anything I can do about that besides save up for a better lens. So, here is how I edited the picture. I took out the dog and the hand with clone tool. Then, I ran an action that blurred the picture, but I erased the action over Mahlon’s face so he wasn’t blurry. This action kind of darkens the whole picture, so I tried to change the brightness/exposure/temperature/ hue/saturation. Truthfully, I think I like the color of his face in the original, but I am wasn’t sure how to go back to the original. Do you ever get in over your head, and you aren’t sure how to get out? Anyway, then, I made his eyes have more contrast and I took out a blotch on his face. I think his eyes are uneven now. Sheesh, I am like a blind person at target practice! Lastly, I added a border. Everything looks better with a border. And this is what I got.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” ~ Romans 12:10
This is something that we are working on in our house. You know how sometimes you think everything is under control, but at some point it really has spiraled out control without even knowing when it happened? I know sibling rivalry is a normal thing. The first story of it was Adam and Eve’s children. And that was a murder story! There is almost nothing that grates on my nerves the way bickering and unkind talk does. My children (and myself) are needing the constant reminder that we don’t act this way to one another. In our anger, we must not sin. Psalm 4:4 Anger is not sinful in itself, but how we react to it most often IS. Monday was a particularly trying day in our home. I had plans for many chores, but as it was coming upon the time that Gabe would come home I had a decision to make. Hurry and get the chores done; or go outside and play with your people? I chose to lead by example. Honoring each other more than myself. Honor my children more than “the list.” So, the list waits, but I rode a scooter, and a made a better path in the backyard for riding bikes, took lots of jumping pictures, and just had a good time in the sunshine. How great it was to show them how important they are to me. How devoted I am to them. How I would rather pick the leaves out of the sandbox for them than get to the things that are on my “list”. I just hope that they learn to put each other before themselves, and to know how richly God blesses when we can learn to obey in that. (Blessings in Obedience) I pray that today you are filled with “Brotherly Love.”
Because I am SO not bored yet. I got to play pretend professional photographer today, and be a 2nd shooter at David’s newborn shoot. I think it is going to take days and days of taking his picture for me to get bored with it. Sorry! You’ll just have to bare with me. I love holding and squeezing him too. I have never been much of a baby holder (besides mine own that I never put down). I don’t know if it is because I know I have birthed my last child, or maybe it is just because he is so amazing, but hold him I must! How’s tomorrow guys??
Why I love being a mom…
sunshine+kids playing=an amazing way to fold the laundry!
I really can’t stand the laundry. It is one of my least favorite chores. I also am not a big fan of sitting in the yard watching the kids play. Having a friend to chat with while they play is one thing, but just sitting there so lonely is another. I get so bored. The same with laundry. BORING! But, I LOVE when I mix the two together. I am not sure how my neighbors feel about laundry being folded in the front yard, but we are already the nutty Christians who don’t celebrate Halloween. This can’t be worse than that right? We did get lots of smiles from the people passing by. I hope we could bring a little light to their day. I know sitting in the shining sun all of that time sure brightened mine.
Malachi is turning into quite the trickster on his bike. He even borrowed Zeb’s bike because it makes better skid marks. Then, an AMAZING thing happened. I hear the screeching of the brakes and PFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!! HE popped the tire! 3 years of skid marks between the boys, and the tire FINALLY gave out!
Could this girl get any cuter?
Yesterday was the day that Jo and David got to meet face to face. It was so wonderful to watch. He couldn’t get enough of him. He rubbed his head, pointed to his feet, looked at his belly button, and round and round he went. David was God’s beloved. I know that Jo feels the same way about him. You can tell by the way he looks at him. I look forward to see what God has in store for this budding brother relationship.
Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. ~ 1 John 2:10
More pictures are HERE.
Our nephew David Kenneth made his safe arrival into the world last night around 11pm. He weighed in at 8lbs 2oz. I got to meet him today when I brought his big brother to meet him for the first time. It was so sweet to hold a soft, squishy baby in my arms again. I heart him so much already. I am so over the moon that my kids are growing cousins by the bunches. I got to shoot the boys meeting each other, and I hopefully I’ll post those pictures later. But for now Enjoy!
Why I love being a mom….
Moments like this!
This is my nephew; he is waiting for the news of the arrival of his new baby brother. While we wait; we play. I love that he is close to us, and we can care for him while his mom and dad are doing the real work.
Olivea and The Nephew playing nakey baby after a messy lunch. And after hours of exciting play it was time for this…
We are praying for you Aunt and Uncle. We pray strength, endurance, patient, and perseverance! May this time be filled with the loving, peace of God! We can’t wait to meet our new little nephew.