Giving Thanks ----> Part Four (Total Cuteness)

 (I swear I don't have a favorite child.  I know I seem to post more photos of Ahmi than anyone, but it's usually because he is nestled snug beside me; always there, ready for a photo shoot.  I don't have to beg him to hold still, or fight with the inevitable motion the two older boys create for the camera.  All three of my boys are spectacular and bright, entertaining, sweet, and so very innocent.   I can't kiss one without kissing the other two.  They are such dear and precious creatures.  Enjoy their cuteness as much as we do.)

 

 

always being creative...he started a 'family picture dictionary' while we were away

 

 

 

River was rocking Ahmi and whispering shhhhhh

 

 

Ahmi LOVED his Aunt Kayla!

 

poser   :)

 

Daddy kisses

Giving Thanks ----> Part Three (Adventures)

During our holiday in Tennessee we decided simplicity was key.  Lives are so busy with work, school, and errands, that we wanted to break from any busyness and just cozy ourselves in.  There was a day that we ventured out on the town, and those moments are shared below.

 

 

family photo op at The Aquarium

 

little hanging Ahmlet

 

'Hey look...if that fish could talk, I bet he'd be a b*hole.'

 

THE LEGO STORE!!!!!!

 

a boy in his glory

 

Opry Mills Hotel...a night of marvelous lights and loads of fun for the kids.

(oh yeah, and ridiculous parking fees)

 

 

River only knew how to drive backwards in the peddle cars, and sweet and helpful Israel was trying to fix the broken one.

 

 

waiting patiently for their turn

 

special moments with Dad

 

 

Outdoor World is the coolest store ever.  EVER!

 

be afraid.  be very afraid.

 

off roadin' it

 

star gazing with family that we have missed so terribly...River was trying to grab 'the moom'

(our sweet nephew gave River his absolute favorite thing in the entire world...his motorcycle jacket, which as you can see, fits him quite perfectly)

 

 

Giving Thanks ----> Part Two (A Dash of Silly)

We had a lot of fun being our same, retarded selves.  There were much uglier pictures, trust me.  However, I deleted them before I double checked that they made it to my online stash first.  (Insert pouting here).  So these will have to do.

 

 

(The top picture is actually really sweet, and I am sad that I tossed the original since it was bigger and printable)

 

yes yes, that is my handsome husband

 

The dudes and their smooshy mugs

 

I am seriously thankful for my entire crazy family! 

Giving Thanks ------> Part One

Over Thanksgiving, we were fortunate enough to be able to head down to Nashville to visit with family.  We had a wonderful time that slipped from our hands a little too quickly.  Here are a few moments from Thanksgiving morning.

 

 

a sleepy boy

 

fresh breath from his 'too too' train toothbrush

 

and a sink bath

 

 

The morning was slow moving for the little warriors.  The adults rushed about the kitchen, chopping, simmering, and prepping.  There was food, blue skies, Mad Gab, walks, laughter, and food comas.

 

<-----see, food coma

 

There are plenty other pictures I will share from our adventures.  Stay tuned for massive amounts of cuteness and silliness.

 

True North

 

God is.

My orientation.

My center. 

He is my True North.

By orienting myself to His direction,

I find all other things.

I can gather my bearings,

follow His path,

and in the process learn to never again loose my footing.

Simplicity of Love

Isn't it amazing how confusing we can make love? 
You take the simplest, most obvious, take-it-at- face-value, kind of equation of someone loving us so much that they take our place in death so that we can live in freedom, for the sake of freedom and being close to Him, and SOMEHOW we turn that into an ugly bout of judgement, striving, rudeness, inequality, dysfunctional bondage, and obligation. 
What the?!  Seriously, how can we misunderstand love? 
We need to let go of our theology.  Throw dogma to the wind.  Stop breaking every word into tiny smithereens of justification. 
Just love. 
Just be. 
Let your heart melt with the intimacy of knowing who God is and letting all of that other crap go.  Don't trade precious moments in relationship for being right. 
Don't worry about the external governing.  Look to your heart, because the Lord has tucked His law there.  Let your spirit...THE SPIRIT guide you into understanding. 
Stop dissecting everything with your mind and open the interpretation to your heart.  The point is not in being perfect.  The purpose isn't to focus on what YOUR hands can do.  The only part your hands play in this, is to remain opened.  Stop making intimacy a labyrinth of craziness that no one wants to waste their time fumbling around.  Never making it to the end.  Never feeling the kiss.  Just experiencing the let down you have become. 
Take your complicated, ritualistic, superstitions from the equation.  Calm your heart and mind long enough to be still.  That is where you find 'the knowing.'  Don't worry about sounding wise.  Stop talking about 'Christian' things and just breathe Christ.  Choose love, and nothing but love.  Do this and see how easy it really is. Then forgive all of us who have made it seem otherwise.

My Kids are Funnier than Yours

The hilarity began when River was making eyes at our rotisserie chicken and then holding it up to his ear as if it were telling him funny secrets.  Then after dinner Israel laid on a boppy on the floor and pretended to be River's big baby.  River stuck a binky in his mouth to calm him, and even covered him with a blanket so he could go 'nigh nigh.'  It went a little too far when River tried to unzip Israel's pants while saying, 'Le poop, le poop, le poop.' 
'No....it's okay, I don't need changed,' said the baby. 

About 10 minutes later Israel bursts into a loud machine gun laugh while falling on the floor about to pee himself.  I walk around the corner to see River holding my breast pump (and very accurately placed) up to his chest and working the hand pump like it's job.   He said....'Mmmmm.' 

The boys are constantly trying to prank us as well.  I especially like the little restaurant bell on the floor right outside of our napping baby's room.  It was a nice touch when I tried to make a silent exit.  However, Ahmi is a great sleeper, so the joke was on them. 

Getting down and playing some fancy air trumpets while in their undies is another special imprint they left on the day.  Or River singing his hot dog song into his shoelace.  How about when River proudly picks the sock fuzzies from his fat little feet, exclaiming 'No nam....no nam!' 

There are dozens of moments like these every day.  I am so glad I have children who know how to be themselves, and who have a great sense of humor.  They are oddballs and total goofs.  Sorry, my kids are funnier than yours!

Outdoor Adventures

There has been some absolutely amazing weather lately that we have taken full advantage of.  Here are some of our latest adventures.....

 

 

 

laughing at Mama

 

say cheese

 

collapsing after a long and climactic chase

 

static electricity and the joys it brings....namely shocking Mom

 

Evil Knievil stuff...no big deal

 

sweetness

 

what Ahmlet did at the park

 

secrets

 

a long, beautiful walk at Johnson's woods (boys love to go anywhere a knife is acceptable)

 

River's 'walking stick'

 

helping River walk the log

 

snuggles

 

adventure

 

happiness and family fun

 

There are plenty of laughs without the sunshine, but these few weeks of warm weather restored something in our hearts.  An extreme gratitude.  For all of our blessings, for there are many!

 

What I Meant to Say Was....



 



In a whirlwind of dysfunction, there is always a story behind it all.  If you're willing to listen to that story, to lay down your stones long enough to really hear, you will find that what you really want to offer is an open hand.  You will finally be able to see past the exterior, past a persons behaviors, to see the root of hurt in their lives. And it is there, you will find yourself a much more compassionate being.

To the macho misogynist there could be layers of rejection instilled by a father. 
For the hopeless and hungover, there could be tragic memories that swallow them alive. The only fix, although fleeting, is a bottle.
To the arrogant, a little child who was repeatedly made to feel stupid. 
For those entranced by pornography and lust, there is a desperation for intimacy and connection that no one in real life has offered to them except the woman on page 27.
For the abusers, they could have been so badly abused themselves, barely escaping death, and really truly ignorant of how to be good to others.
And the women and men who have given themselves to rented love.  The motel walls mock their worth and remind them of the molestation they've endured since they can't remember when.

The common, fragile thread is the pain and feeling trapped.  Everyone longs for some kind of connection, some person who will study them like a work of art.  Someone who will love them while they're unlovable....because that's really what pulls us from such dangerous behaviors.  In all of the wrong that people act out, what they really meant to say was.....God, I need you.  But instead, they just keep living in desperation.  A desperation you shouldn't demean with your judgements, but a desperation that helps them rise up and utter the words they really mean to say.