Theme Song

I thought this week would be bittersweet…and I was correct as our moving week has finally arrived. 

On Monday, we started ferrying furniture from our first little house to our new rental house.

As of today, our little house looks more like a shell and less like our first home.  Photos have been removed from walls, knick knacks have been packed up and we have seen countless dust bunnies fly and flutter around rooms as furniture has been moved. 

As we have packed and moved I have felt several emotions.

I have felt excitement as I know the move is because our little family is expanding. 

I have felt anticipation as I have unpacked and wondered what it will be like to be a family of four.

I have felt sadness as I think about my favorite aspects of our first house…the kitchen sink (where B still bathes), the front room…where we spend so much of our family time, the backyard, the front porch…the proximity to our favorite ice cream and breakfast spots.

I have felt overwhelmed as my heart has been flooded with memories while packing each room of the house.

I have felt uncertainty as I wonder how we could ever make another place feel so comfortable, so safe…so us.

While packing and moving, I have found myself humming the lyrics of this song.  I know the song has deeper meaning than moving away from your first house…but really feel like it has provided a good reminder for me.

The truth is, our house is just a house, it’s temporary…as is everything this side of Heaven.

I know I’ll cry when we pull out of the driveway for the last time…but am so grateful for this chapter in our family’s life.

Half Marathon

Last weekend, we headed south for a busy weekend of fun with C’s family. C had gotten tickets to a local concert from his sister, B, for Christmas.  In the time since Christmas, B had somehow encouraged/talked C into running a half marathon the same weekend as the concert. 

Little B and I didn’t partake in the concert or half marathon fun…but did enjoy going along for the ride.

B, Gigi, Papa and I cheered C & B on as they ran!

B was quite a fan of the sign’s that C’s mom made for us to hold along the race route…

B was very patient as we waited for C & B along the race route.

Around the end of the race, it was warm enough for B to take off his sweatshirt…

It revealed a little “sussy” for the runners and read:

“I think you can, I think you can, I think you can!” (In honor of one of our favorite “choo choo” books)

Maybe someday B will be joining in on all the running fun?

Happy Thursday.

Be blessed.

B’s Saturday…

First off, B finally wore his Camelbak.  But only after daddy put his on as well.

Then he also grabbed his TCU hat, but only after daddy wore his.

And he did a little posing as well.

I love this picture of the pup as you can see grass flying and both her paws parallel to the ground as she turns and burns to get a ball.

Since he has his backpack on he might as well do some exploring.

She would make a pretty good wide receiver, she would be right behind Austin on the Cowboys.

Never a bad time for some slide action.

Apparently he likes the echo and so he would pick up the toy and give a loud ‘TCU’ into it.

 

Honey of a Day!

Today has been just that in our neck of the wood!

B was able to start his day off with some good “Dadeee” time.

After breakfast, we got dressed and put on shorts (with long sleeves)!  I admit, the Minnesotan in me thought this was necessary on a beautiful day like today!

Later, B and Ella joined me on a couple errands…we returned our library books, went to the store, etc.  We enjoyed riding with the windows rolled down and the heat turned OFF!

After our errands were complete, we stopped at TCU to take a good long morning walk. This continues to be our favorite place to walk, there is so much to look at and so much to talk about. Ella seemed to enjoy getting out and B enjoyed having her along as a companion. 

After our walk, we enjoyed a quick lunch at home. After lunch I successfully burned the sugar cookies that I was slated to send to school with B tomorrow (B and I got distracted reading about choo choo’s outside on the porch swing)…but I chose to let it slide and hope that his class and teachers don’t hold it against me (really, I’m hoping that the frosting I was asked to send with disguise the crisp-ness of the cookies).

After lunch, we decided that Ella needed a bath.  B helped helped rinse the soap bubbles off of Ella. When we were done, we sent Ella (and ourselves) outside to dry (and play).

B’s little sandbox didn’t get much use while the house was on the market…so we are tried to make up for some lost time as Ella dried off in the sun.

As B played, he learned the lesson of keeping the sand inside the box as opposed to outside on the ground or on his momma.  Later, B learned that playing inside the box was just as much fun, if not more than standing around the perimeter.

After losing interest in the sand, B helped me comb Ella and then headed off to dream land for his afternoon nap. 

Now I have a quiet-half packed house all to myself…with laundry, dusting and vacuuming calling. I can’t complain…it really has been truly a honey of a day!

I am so grateful for all the simple joys that come through spending the day with our little guy.

Happy Tuesday.

Be blessed.

Day at the Ball Park

This past weekend, we were able to come up for air from all of our packing and enjoy some good time outside! 

B got to join C on his old stomping ground as we attended batting practice for the TCU alumni baseball game…I can’t begin to imagine the number of memories that must have flooded C’s mind as we walked up to the stadium…I also couldn’t help but wonder how surreal it must have been for C to walk up to the park with his little guy in tow.

I even found myself feeling pretty nostalgic as we walked up to the stadium…I can remember the days when I felt both excitement and nerves whenever I saw the flags raised over the field…because it meant it was game day…which meant TCU needed to win!

B was able to join C out on the field…he even got to walk through the inside of the stadium to get to the field!

Once on the field…B looked so little compared to the large scoreboard and adult-sized ball players.

The size of the field didn’t intimidate our little guy in the least bit…he made himself right at home as he paced alongside C and watched C  as he threw. 

C was gracious to toss a couple balls in B’s direction, B seemed to get quite a kick out of running after them…sort of like Ella retrieves her balls.

After batting practice, B excused himself from the field so he and I could explore the stadium and find seats to watch the first part of the game. C joined his former teammates in the dugout…he didn’t suit up, but from the look of things, seemed to have a fantastic time watching the game alongside players he used to spend a great deal of time with.

We only made it through the bottom of the second inning before naptime was upon us. Though, B seemed to be quite impressed by C’s glove and liked throwing his own “boool” as we walked back to the car.

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to be outside and together as a family.

Happy start to the week!

Go Frogs!

Be blessed.

Something I’ve Been Mulling Over…

Since B was born, I have enjoyed the opportunity of attending a large group weekly Bible study at our church.

This spring’s lessons have been about the book of Isaiah.  I have found myself humbled many times throughout reading Isaiah as the book is quite “meaty”. I often find myself needing to re-read passages to try to adequately understand what I am reading.

I never knew that…

-The book of Isaiah has 66 chapters…this mirrors the the number of books in the entire Bible itself…66.

-The first half of Isaiah has 39 chapters…the Old Testament includes 39 books.

-The second half of Isaiah includes 27 chapters…the New Testament includes 27 books.

-The book includes all the parts of God’s story…of HIS-tory…our sin, our need for God, God’s faithfulness, God’s justice, our need for a Savior and Christ’s second coming.

Really the list goes on and on.

A few weeks ago, I found myself mulling over a lesson about chapters 7-12.  Our study leader concluded with a reiteration of Isaiah’s life song of praise from Isaiah 12…

“Isaiah’s song of praise included 3 things:

1. Where he had come from (vs.1)

2.Where he stands (vs.2-3) -He trusts God and is not afraid, the Lord is his strength, the Lord is his song, the Lord is his salvation, the Lord is his joy.

3. What his future looks like (vs.4-6)”

Then our leader challenged us with this statement:

“When the lyrics of our life song match up with our delivery, then and only then, does our life become a living testimony of God’s faithfulness, and there is NO better way than this, to worship our Heavenly Father.”

Then our leader played this song:

I had heard this song by Casting Crowns before, but found that reading the lyrics, along with listening left quite an impact on my heart. 

I so desire for my own life song to whole heartedly sing to the God that made me…for the words and meditations of my heart to match my daily actions…so that I can sign the Lord’s name at the end of the day, knowing confidently as my head hits my pillow that I haven’t left anything on the table…that I have given my day to Him and tried whole heartedly to be His hands and his feet…no matter what the day itself held.

I have a long ways to go, especially right now as our family walked through this time of change and transition…but wanted to share how I’ve been challenged and encouraged.

Happy Wednesday.

Be blessed.

Thinking Spot

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Behavior “Boot Camp” has begun in our neck of the wood!

We are just now experiencing the need to “think” about making good decisions…our biggest struggle is with the word “NO!”.  Little B seems to enjoy saying “No!” and “No No Momma!” and has taken to running away when he is asked to do something he isn’t interested in doing.  These initial signs of willful disobedience have humbled my heart in a way I never imagined…I often find myself wondering “Who are you? and What have you done with my sweet and compliant little buddy"?”

It is so hard to believe that the rubber has met the road in regard to discipline.  I find myself  daunted by the task of of loving/disciplining our little guy consistently but know that the fruit of our labor will be great in that B will learn the heart habit of being respectful and obedient.

We found this little green placemat that B uses for his thinking spot.  The spot can easily be moved or packed up to provide B with as much consistency as possible.  The spot is gaining significance by the day…the first few attempts at sitting on the spot ended with giggling and laughing…though now, after several thinking times, B seems to be catching onto the idea.

I don’t have any incriminating photos on the thinking spot just yet…but just imagine a little boy with two sweet blue eyes looking at you…(to provide a glimpse of how hard this task of “training” seems to be).

Be blessed.

Something in the Water

Babies seem to come in batches.  There were several little ones born around the time B was born…and now, as we anticipate little A’s arrival, it feels like there are several little ones about to be born.

Three of the four woman in my Bible study (the fourth just had a baby last summer) are expecting…we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first any day, the next in march and then little A in April.

When we started our group, we were all fairly newly weds and in the throws of puppy/kitty parenthood, new home ownership, house projects etc. As of this spring, we will have five kiddos between the four of us…my oh my has life changed!

It is such a gift to be able to share this journey in our family’s life with other families who are in the midst some of the changes too.

Praise God for the gift of little ones!

Be blessed.

Sunday

This photo may sum our past Sunday up…

B enjoyed “throwing” his own little football  in honor of the big game (he so desires to be just like his daddy).

He tried to carry both balls in his arms several times throughout the day…as he carried the balls he would say “Fuuuutbl”…rough translation = “Football!”…this made C a quite proud papa!

Be blessed.

Mimi

This past weekend, we celebrated a big milestone in our neck of the wood...

C’s grandma…affectionately known by all as “Mimi” celebrated her 90th birthday!

Mimi’s children hosted a beautiful party/reception in her honor…B and his second cousin, E, were able to join in on the fun…B seemed to be most impressed by the delicious dessert spread that was offered…though I think he enjoyed the time with his Mimi as well!

Happy Birthday Mimi! We love you dearly, you have and continue to leave such a legacy for all of us. Your love for the Lord and for your family is incredible…we continue to be humbled by your example and grace.

Be blessed.

Stock Show

You can’t live in Cowtown and not attend the annual Stock Show and Rodeo!

So last weekend,  in true Cowtown spirit, (before it got cold) we packed up and headed to the Stock Show.  We decided that B wasn’t quite ready to truly enjoy the rodeo…so we simply explored the stock show and everything it had to offer.

We heard B “moooing” as we looked at and walked past the cows…

He tried to “oink”…

And even “baaahed” for the goats! (He wasn’t quite sure what sound a goat actually made).

Later, he took to steering his stroller in the direction he wanted to explore…

We couldn’t have picked a more beautiful day to be outside…I think it was about 75 degrees.  It was fun watching B look at all the different animals. Unfortunately, B’s parents were rookies at the whole stock show gig and didn’t know to look for the petting zoo, pony rides, etc…I guess we’ll chalk it up to leaving something on the table for next year!

Happy Thursday Y’ALL!

Be blessed.