A Walk Down Memory Lane & the Lake

B and I recently enjoyed walking around one of my favorite lakes with my childhood friend, C, and her son, T.

C and I met in the third grade after her family moved to town.  We lived a couple blocks away from each other. Our history as friends goes further than really any other friend I know. We walked to school together, played with our American Girl dolls, wore matching clothes on the first day of 4th grade, rode bikes, played sports, had sleep-overs, puff painted sweat shirts, were in girl scouts, went to girl scout camp, made friendship bracelets, went to church camp, played at the cabin, rode the tractor and later on into middle school and high school ran and skied together.

It was C who introduced me to country music way before Texas had even crossed my radar map and later we both became Horned Frogs (though our decision to attend TCU was not based on the other’s choice).

Our paths didn’t cross much in college, but it was always nice to see a familiar face in such uncharted territory.  Since college we have had the honor of being in each other’s weddings and have now both entered motherhood (though in fairness to her, she has about a year and a half on me).

Life has changed greatly since the days of meeting between each other's houses to ride bikes or walk to school…but it still is sweet to meet up every once in awhile to catch up.  It is pretty surreal to be walking while pushing strollers, though T & B make fantastic company!

C, it was great to see you and T. Thanks for the walk!

Happy Tuesday.

Be blessed.

Another Attempt with the Spoon(s)

B is continuing to show interest in self feeding, though more food ends up on his bib and the floor than in his mouth.

These photos capture him using a double spoon method…

 

I am grateful for our long sleeved bib!

Be blessed.

Just Because…

Happy Tuesday.

Be blessed.

More Tidbits

From my current read Grace Based Parenting by, Dr. Tim Kimmel

 (image taken from Amazon.com)

This is what stuck out to me in chapter 5 which is a chapter about instilling hope in kids’ hearts, really I could type the entire chapter to share, but to save my fingers from the work of typing this is what stood out the most..

“God comes alongside us when we need it, not just when it fits best into His schedule. How we respond to our children’s needs-especially when they are helpless to do anything to meet those needs-gives them a living example of what God wants to offer them in a larger realm in their lives.” p. 102

“Children must realize that they will run into some challenges bigger than their ability to handle them. That’s where they need to be encouraged by our example to put their hope in God. They need to see us turning to God with confidence when we are afraid, out of energy, out of ideas, or out of money. they need to see how we have trusted Him to overcome our helplessness in every situation. Remember: When they were young, they learned hope by trusting in us- instruments of God’s grace- for the big things and the little things of their lives. They can learn an even greater hope as they grow up by watching us trust in God for the big things and the little things in our lives. When they encounter the issues that even we, their parents, can’t help them though, our example makes it a lot easier for them to put their hope in the Lord.” pp.107-108

“Our children are going to have to know how to work hard, get along with difficult people, solve confusing problems, handle money, repent, forgive, take good care of their bodies, minds, and spirits, fear God a lot, fear their fellowmen a little, laugh at the right time, cry at the right time, and bring out the best in the people closest to them. This doesn’t happen by accident. Our children’s childhood provides ample time for us parents to build assurances into them that they have been given all they need to take on adulthood with confidence.” p.22

It is so humbling to think about the responsibilities that we have been entrusted with as parents! I continue to be so grateful that we don’t have to walk through it alone, praise God for His Word and how it works to guide and encourage.

Happy Monday.

Be blessed.

23 Summers and Counting

 

I think this photo was taken our second summer up at the cabin.

This photo was taken our 23rd summer at the cabin.

A lot has changed, we have all aged several years along with the cabin (which was built around 1918).

This year’s photo is a pretty bitter sweet photo for a couple reasons…

1. My brothers and I are missing our significant others

2.This is the last photo that will ever be taken of all of us in front of this cabin

It is exciting to think about all the memories that are waiting to take place in the new cabin.  It will be so great to have space to spread out, to have bathrooms that can accommodate more than a couple people, to be able to do laundry, dishes and showers all in one day, to have floors that are level and windows that open and close, to have a refrigerator that doesn’t hum and front doors that don’t slam… but truth be told it is a little sad to think about going to the lake without experiencing some of these quirks, as we have become rather accustomed to them over the past 25 summers spent at that cabin.  So many memories have taken place both inside and outside of these four walls…it really is one of my favorite places in the entire world!

I am left wondering what our 33rd, 43rd and even 53rd summer photos might look like?

Oh happy memories!

Happy Sunday.

Be blessed.

Weekend with Uncle J

We recently had the opportunity to see my brother, J, for a quick weekend trip at one of our favorite places in the whole world.

Here:

 

B showed J how he loves to drive the boat.

   

B watched the water splash along the side of the boat.

We all enjoyed watching the moon as it crept up from the horizon across the lake.

 

After it got dark, we enjoyed a campfire.  B ate a graham cracker in his swing as we all roasted marshmallows and made s’mores. 

A little side note…I know that the grass is always greener on the other side and it is easy to romanticize what life might be like if I lived close to family, but still wish that time spent with my family together didn’t have to be spent in little snippets here and there.  However, I will take whatever  little snippets I can get, even if they are a little bitter sweet!

Thank goodness for snippets…especially snippets of time that happen at the lake!

Be blessed.

Multi-tasking

This is B attempting to multi-task.

1.Sweeping with the dust pan

2.Driving Little Tug

3.Drinking from a sippy cup

Be blessed.