Picture This

Borrowed Friends

Tball Again! 2014 Opening Game!

Here Kitty, Kitty!

Ace Hardware is a fun store with a vast array of items to purchase. 

Including this cute and slightly creepy cat.  

Mason and Marshal both wanted toys, and we said no. 

There was no need for any more plastic toys in our already toy-filled home.

You can have a bag of popcorn instead.

Free, another perk of Ace Hardware.

We got home, and Mason and Mac went down for a nap.

Marsh got to stay up - big boy.

Marshal, sheepish, comes up, quietly,"Mom, I have to tell you something." 

He then produces said creepy cat in his palm, 

and continues as FAST as his words could spill:

"Mason brought this cat home in his popcorn bag."

And there you have it! Thrown under the honesty bus by his brother. 

So when Mason woke up, he was given the opportunity to be honest, and he was.

He was solomn and contrite. And totally busted. 

Because he chose to be honest when whe asked what he did, 

his punishment was less than if he had chosen to lie and deny it.

BUT, we told him, 

part of his consequences included returning the creepy cat back to the store, 

telling them you stole it, and apologizing.

The next day.

It was a long and quiet ride. 

He said he didn't think he could do it.

I said I thought he could.

We sat in the parking lot for a while, quiet.

I reminded him, all he had to say was he stole it and was sorry.

I reminded him that stealing doesn't honor God. 

We walked in, and a group of employees were chatting together near a register.

"Can I help you?" A young man asked.

"We are here because we have something to tell you," I said.  

And Mason took the floor.

It took him a sec, and a whisper in his ear that he could do it.

"I stole this yesterday," Mason said, "I'm sorry."

The young employee looked shocked.

"Good job buddy. Coming back was the right thing to do."

We said thanks, and left. 

And we told him how very proud we were that he was willing to do the right thing.  

We told him thank you again for owning up to it, 

and not trying to lie his way around it.

We told him he was brave for going back. 

We told him to never, ever steal again. 

Creepy cat.

A popcorn stow-away. 

Picture This

Slugger

Pine Shadows

Just some more good 'ol fashioned family golf.  For a lifetime ahead of us, likely.

The Sweetest Gift on (The Day Before) Valentine's Day 2014

My heart overflows. Appropriately on Valentine's Day, I guess.  

Yesterday, I was driving the little boys to school and Miss Jodi's. It was the usual morning, packing lunches, eating cereal, the usual dose of chaos. As we were driving, all hearts were just kinda quiet. Surrender, by Planetshakers was playing in  the car.  Mason (4) asks, "Mom, what does surrender mean?"  I proceeded to tell him that surrender means to give things up.  How we give up, surrender, our hearts to Jesus.  How we surrender our hearts to Jesus to be saved and go to heaven, but we also surrender our hearts to him to know him more in our lives on this Earth too."  Some more quiet hearts. "Mom?" Marshal (5) says quietly - "I want to give my heart to Jesus." --- Oh my sweet boy.  If I could have captured that voice. I briefly wondered in my adultish brain, "Does he even fully understand what he's saying? Does he know how miraculous, monumental, and life-changing this moment is? Ha, and should it happen in the car?"  And just as quickly my heart was stirred, of course he doesn't fully understand, he has faith of a child - and this is beautiful. So I explained to Marshal that this is a very important decision, and asked if he wanted to pray. "Yes mama." And we prayed, he repeated words asking for forgiveness of sin. A five year old's prayer of repentance. A five year old's surrender to Jesus.  No sooner had we prayed amen, Mason says, "I want Jesus to forgive my sins!"  My Maso.  I again verbalize teaching, now directed to my middlist boy. Teaching again the importance of the decision, and asked if he wanted to pray. "Yes Mama." Another prayer of surrender, another innocent boy still recognizing his need for a savior.  It was the most beautiful picture I've ever seen.  They were inwardly compelled toward their need for a savior. It was as if all of a sudden it made sense.  The concepts and foundations they already understood: the cross, sin, God's love for us... All came together in their hearts with a deep need to surrender to Jesus.  I tell you what. That is powerful.  

The faith of a child -how much can we learn.  They didn't have to understand EVERYTHING to believe. They only understood the truth and simplicity of the gospel: our sin keeps us from God, but surrender to Jesus fixes that.  And that's more than enough.  Can it be that easy? Oh you better believe it's that easy. So easy it confounds the wise, I know. 

Marshal and Mason. From the day we knew of your presence in my womb, Mama and Dada have been praying for THAT day, YESTERDAY, February 13, 2014.  We prayed diligently that you would know Jesus at a young age. What a miracle.  What a miraculous God we serve. 

Surrender, by Planetshakers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3_5RD2usVw&sns=sms

"Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.  The land you have given me is a pleasant land.  What a wonderful inheritance." Psalm 16:5-6

"For it is believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."  Romans 10:10

Maso Prayers

"I pray for the Holy Truth"

"I pray for the kingdom of Jerusalem"

"In Jesus name we God, Amen"

"I pray for everyone in this whole town, that they would have houses"

Sweet boy prayers :) 

Another Tradition

Once again, Home Depot Day

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.

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

Mason's 4th Birthday

 

Spidey party at Papa and Grammy K's house!

Followed by....  BIRTHDAY AT THE ZOO!!!

 

 

Mason is silly!  He loves to play with his brothers, and loves superheroes.  His Pete is still his absolute best friend.  He is a strong boy - knows what he wants.  He is also very sensitive to the Lord.  He knows how to pray, and knows how to hear the voice of the Lord.  He loves family days and especially likes wrestling with Daddy. 

 

Mason, you amaze me every day.  You are already the joy of my heart.  I can't wait for life with you - to see how you grow and learn.  I'm so proud of you.  Happy birthday, baby.   

Halloween 2013

With the addition of each child comes so many blessings... and such a decline in creativity.  Marsh and Maso wanted to use dressups from their dressup chest (and apparently a plain white t-shirt). 

Lil' Mac has a handed-down little skeleton - but hey, at least he's happier in it this year.  And has a haircut.  We love church, for lots of reasons, but one of my favorite things is that it is a place where the boys LOVE to be.  Halloween is no exception.  This is where the party happens :)

School Time, Fall 2013

 

Another year! 

Marshal has Mrs. Terry, Mason has Mrs. Johnson. 

VVCS is amazing, thank you JESUS for such an influential school.