Another Year Wiser

Another year under my belt. I don't even know what to say.  They say growing older and wiser go hand in hand, and I guess that's true.  But I think it would be more accurate to say that with many trials, comes great wisdom.  All in all, the Lord is good to me, and I am so blessed to celebrate this birthday with the ones I love.

And what does every middle-aded wise woman get for her birthday?!  Why, her very own selfie stick, of course!  Kayden and Cameron sure know how to pick the perfect gift to make me smile.

And this guy, my better half.  I'm looking forward to many more birthdays him for sure.

Zoo Day

Getting the most out of that family zoo pass this year!  Let's do this!

This little guy is about 9 months old and has just started coming out of his mother's pouch.  There was another joey there this time in the pouch and he kept peeking out from time to time.  

Can't leave without brushing the goats.

Nothing says successful zoo trip like being asleep before leaving the parking lot.

Baseball Star (in the making)

My boy is growing up, and this year, he decided he wanted to play baseball.  In case he becomes a raving big star, here's his very first picture in a baseball uniform, for comparison. 

Daddy even decided to become one of the assistant coaches.

Sam's first baseball team.  It was a slow start, but our little sluggers started winning some great games by the end.  Of course, they had no idea who won or lost, we went for ice cream afterwards either way.

Sam's fan section at the baseball award ceremony 

(at 1:00 in the middle of a Tennessee summer with no shade in sight, for the love of Daisy Duke)

My boy gets his first trophy.  He'd been dreaming about that all season long.

Very proud of all our baseball stars this summer!

First/last day of school

My the difference a year makes…

                      First Day of School                                                  Last Day of School

Sam was asked to be a part of the end of the year program at Barnyard Kids.  They needed an extra tin man, and he was perfect for the job.  Love this boy so much.

He practiced his dance moves for months getting ready for his part of the program.  I may be biased, but I dare say he rocked it and was the best dancing tin man I have ever seen!

The Parent is in the Elevator

About a month ago, I had the privilege of loading up with one of my soul sisters and taking a road trip to a women's conference out of town.  Featured speaker, Jen Hatmaker.  Y'all, I love her.  I wish we lived closer together because I would totally exhaust all efforts to be friends with her.  We would totally click; I just know it.  See, don't we look like we all belong together?!

Anyway, she was telling a story at one of the sessions about her son Caleb.  When he was small, somewhere around 4 years old, he developed this crazy, irrational fear of elevators.  It wasn't his life he feared every time they were faced with an elevator ride, but his little sister Sydney's.  Each time he was convinced surely this would be the elevator ride that took Sydney out.  Every situation included screaming, sobbing and persistent pleading not to get on the elevator, which was a bit embarrassing considering it was usually in front of a public audience.  One particular time when Caleb was mid hissy-fit, Jen stopped him and grabbed his shoulders and said, "Caleb! I am right here. I am the parent.  I am holding her fat little hand.  The parent is in the elevator!"

And suddenly, I wasn't hearing a story about Jen's boy anymore.  It was God speaking to me.

...because I am the ridiculous, irrational four year old.  

I have been living in quiet fear since Michael's heart attack in January.  The additional problems it revealed still remain unrepaired, and I worry about something more serious happening before those repairs take place.  The doctors all agree that if the anuerism were to burst before surgery, we'd only have minutes.  "Minutes" is not enough time to get to the help he would need.

While I haven't spoken these fears out loud, Michael knows.  He now begins every text or voice mail with "This is not an emergency, but..." or "Everything is ok with me, but..." Recently, I was outside jumping on the trampoline with the kids while Michael got ready to leave for work inside.  I know his routine and know he leaves the house by 6:40 at the latest. When I looked down at my phone and saw that it was 6:42 and he hadn't come out yet, I abandoned my children in the backyard and ran inside like a crazy lady, certain he must be lying in the floor gasping for his last breath while I was outside, unaware.  Ridiculous, irrational fear.

It was Jen's words, her story, but God used those words to tell me, "I am Right Here!  I am holding your fat hand, Jennifer!  The parent is in the elevator!  I can handle this; don't be afraid!"

There is a reason we are told 365 times in the Bible not to fear or be afraid...because we struggle with being afraid!  Praise God that he loves the ridiculous, irrational four year olds (like me) and lovingly reminds us that we are not alone.  There's no one else I'd rather have holding my hand through this uncertainty.  I don't have any idea how this will all end, but I do truly believe that God is good, all the time, and He loves me and won't leave me.  I'm uncertain, but He's still good.

So, I'm learning to calm down, because the parent is in the elevator.

Lucy Is 2!

Y'all, on my best day, I couldn't make this day up...

Lula-Belle loves her some Tangled (and Frozen), so we decided a Rapunzel party would be perfect.  And for the grand finale, I ordered fancy floating lanterns to release at her party, just like they do in the movie.  Hand-painted "Snuggly Duckling" sign made by Daddy, check.  All Lucy's favorite snacks, check.  Anamana's world famous birthday cupcakes, double check.  It was shaping up a little something like this...

...and then this happened.

Twenty minutes before the party started, Sam has a run-in with the Kabota, and he lost.  His white blonde hair was streaked red and his green "Pascal" shirt looked like it came from a crime scene.  Just trust

 me, this smile does not accurately capture his initial response.

But, Anamana and PawPaw cleaned him up, Daddy glued his head back together, and we proceeded to party.  Danielle to the rescue on bringing out the ipad with cartoons to distract him.  He sat next to his new turtle friend, so he could watch Ninja Turtles too.  Love me some super-parents.

(Please notice he wanted to continue wearing the Pascal shirt, regardless.)

And, those fancy lanterns I ordered...never came.  It's a good thing though, because it turns out they are illegal in Tennessee.  Moving on.  Plan B was to float "glowing balloons" by putting glow sticks inside the balloons. Good plan, right?! Nope. The balloons wouldn't float with the glow sticks in them.  Go figure.  We couldn't have watched them anyway since it was POURING down rain for Lucy's outdoor playground party.  100% chance in the forecast.  Fine time for the weather man to get it right.  So, we had a great balloon chase game under the covered front porch in the rain.  

 Did the birthday girl care that things didn't exactly go as planned?!

She couldn't have cared less.  We rolled up our pants and ventured out through the wet grass and mud and played and partied and ziplined anyway.

 Did I mention we all went home covered in grass and mud?

After the second downpour, we ran back inside for food and cupcakes.

Sweet birthday girl face

And, this girl.

Sweet Heather, who owns Captured Memories by Heather, was so kind to attend the party as our friend and photographer, so I could just be Mom this time and enjoy the party.  These pictures are amazing and priceless to me.  Thank you for capturing Lucy's special day so perfectly.  I look forward to many family sessions together in the future.

And, what would a Rapunzel birthday party be without lots of princess Rapunzel gifts?!

Rapunzel click clack shoes, these might be her favorite.

 Happy birthday, sweet girl.  You are well loved.

I'll leave you with our only family photo from the party.  Pretty accurate shot of who we are if you ask me.  It might not have turned out exactly as planned, but it was a pretty great day, anyway.