Focus on the Friends - Erin

Meet my friend Erin.  She is my Diva friend.  And not in the way the wannabees of today try to be Divas.  She is a TRUE diva... the kind that is beautiful, confident, smart, AND genuine.  Take THAT. 

Erin is a kindred spirit.  Having also been a youth pastor's wife, she has a way of just understanding.  She also has small children, so she gets that too.  I remember before we both went back to working full time, she would come over and be with me and a newborn Mac.  She'd bring KFC, and we would talk for HOURS while the kids played.  I was grubby, tired, emotional, and my house was a wreck.  And she didn't care.  She would encourage me to not be hard on myself, and to not compare myself to Michelle Duggar (although I still aspire...) 

She is an amazing mom, wife, and teacher.  She loves Jesus, and has a deep heart to influence the world for him. 

I love you Erin.  Thank you for being my friend. 

Another Tradition

Once again, Home Depot Day

10 Things I Love About My Boy: Mac

1.) You have the FUNNIEST sense of humor (with associated faces)

2.) You are my baby

3.) You don't say much, with words anyway

4.) The way you always want mom and dad to lay by you - and point assertively to your pillow

5.) How you don't take anything from your brothers

6.) The way you sleep walk into the living room most mornings

7.) How you LOVE to snuggle

8.) How you're our only boy that would pick a car over a ball

9.) How well you keep yourself content

10.) How you love to run, causing your cheeks to jiggle

Love you baby. You keep us laughing. You are so special.

Chillin' with Dirty Knees

What does a good dad bring to a family? 

Security

Hope

Education

Peace

Fun

Laughter

Discipline

Adventure

Selflessness

Curiosity

Sports

Wisdom

Direction

Coffee, fun, and dirty knees.

Mac Vocabulary

Mac's Vocabulary List:

Mama

Mom

Da

Dad

Dada

Momo

Maa-May (Mammy)

Papa

Br-bar (breakfast bar)

Caaaaw (car)

Ball

Boogie

Yes dad

Tank coo

Dink

Hi

Bye

Top! (stop)

Shhhhhh

I .... Wub... You!

Huh?

No

Ya 

Coo-coos (The Croods)

Picture This Christmas 2013

Letter to Mason

 

Hey Cutie.  My Mason.

 

You are BEAUTIFUL.  Inside and out.  I love when you snuggle up and wrap your skinny legs around me.  You are very articulate.  Most recently you told me "Mom! I fell.  I fell right on my eczema!"  You are quick to make things right.  You are willing to say sorry, without being prompted.  You run fast.  Today you got a citizenship award at school.  You care about others, and you're a good friend.  I'm so proud of you.

 

Always remember two things, ok?  First?  You are my greatest gift.  Second, no matter what you face in this life - the good, the bad, and the ugly. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Ps 136:1

You always be my peanut.  My sweet middle-ist  I love you baby.

Mama

Letter to Mac

Dear Macky-

Hi buddy.  You are amazingly amazing.  You crack me up.  I love that you are, and always will be, my baby.  You are not one for words... but you definitely get your point across to us.  You love to snuggle, my favorite is when you come in and snuggle me in the mornings.  You are an early riser.  You LOVE cars.  Cars of all shapes and sizes.  Cars on movies.  Cars on the road.  You make the funniest faces, and keep everyone laughing.  I love kissing your chubbiest of cheeks. 

You love the men in your life very much.  You would rather sit on daddy or papa's lap ANY DAY.  You run and laugh, and chase your brothers.

Buddy, I'm writing you this because I want you to know two things.  First, you are my greatest gift.  Second, I want to remind you of something else. No matter what you face in this life - the good, the bad, and the ugly. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Ps 136:1

Sweat pea, I can't tell you enough how much I love you.

Your Mama

I never knew! And a letter to Marsh

Today Marshal rode his bike.  A big-boy bike without any training wheels.  I've nevery really appreciated the significance of this event when heard about from other parents ... "Riding a bike? Big deal."  Um.  Uh.  Yeah, big deal.  Some how it shot him out of the little boy stage, right into college.  Ok, maybe not that bad.  But man, is he grown up!  I'm so proud of you Marshy!



Marsh - I want you to know something.  Something IMPORTANT.  I love you buddy, so much.  I see so many amazing qualities in you already.  You are kind.  Kindness is mommies favorite attribute, I'm so thankful you're so good at it.  You think a lot about others, and don't like them to be unhappy or hurting.  I'm sure God put that in you for his purposes.  You are also very competitive.  Haha.  You love to play hard and win.  Mommy and daddy feel the same way.

I want to remind you of something else.  No matter what you face in this life - the good, the bad, and the ugly.  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever."  Ps 136:1

The secret to life.  I love you.  You are my greatest gift. 

Mama

Focus on the Friends - Destiny

Meet my friend, Destiny.  I don't know that I've ever known such a sacrificial woman.  She is truly willing to be there, wherever, whenever there is a need.  She and her husband, Tell, have spent many hours, days, nights, with my boys. 

When I was finishing NP school, she would drive down with me and my then newborn Marsh, spend the night with us, and keep Marsh close by me during class, bringing him to me to nurse.  THAT'S a friend. 

I remember her making a spur-of-the-moment trip to Phoenix to pick me up (driving at night, her least favorite) because she knew I'd not want to ride the shuttle by myself in the middle of the night (a subtlety my husband was choosing to overlook).  She's sensitive to what I'm going through in life, and is always there to encourage me, love me, and give me coffee.  (Most recently, flowers too.)  She gives REALLY good presents.  She picks brown, and I'll take the same in olive.  She has a deep heart for others, and her fruit in ministry is evident. 

I love you Dest.