Sunday, September 4, 2011

Brainwashed

We were in the cereal and granola aisle. The boys had their snacks, sitting side-by-side in the cart as I checked out sales on granola bars. Holden asks, "Can we get Reese's Puffs?" I mumble no and something about too much sugar. He then says (verbatim), "But something amazing happens when you eat Reese's Puffs!"
This is why I try to keep my kids away from commercials.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Giveaway!

Well, not a giveaway from me, but from my friend Maddie over at Thriftary! I'm excited to be entered, but even more excited about all the beautiful things she makes.


Monday, August 22, 2011

Kindergarten Begins

Holden's first day of Kindergarten went pretty great today!

After a quick shower, he chowed down on a healthy breakfast. It's brain fuel is what it is.
Then we were on our way!


The contents of his first ever school lunch:
Daddy giving Holden a talk about having fun and obeying and how if he was having trouble obeying, he could always ask Jesus to help him.
I intended on just drawing a heart on his hand that he could look at if he was lonely (to which he originally replied, "Mom! I'm not gonna be sad at Kindergarten!"), but after I drew the heart, Holden insisted I also write words.

Holden's hook for his bag and lunchbox.
Holden and his teach, Mrs. Whitley!

Can you spot my boy coloring away at his desk?
While Holden was busy learning, Turner made first day of school cookies with a little help from Mom. Turner got sad once today, around 8:45am, and told me I had to go pick up Holden and bring him back from Kindergarten.

So I'm feeling pretty happy about day one. Holden's first words to me after school were, "It was so fun!" I asked a million questions. I wanted details. With a sheepish hand over a grin, he said he ate his yogurt and Oreos first out of his lunch. He named lots of classmates: Faith, Jordan, Raoul. He said they read a funny book where the teacher turned into a bear. He said the playground was too hot to play on, so he found some shade under a tree that was so cool that he never wanted to leave. I asked him if he sat with friends under the tree. He said, "No, just Jesus. Jesus sat with me."

Monday, August 1, 2011

Faces of Indonesia



Sweet girls in the city of Batu.




Little girl in the red light district.



These kids were going to graduation.



Drinking out of bags.


Farmer


Christian family.


Auto Mechanics

Friday, June 10, 2011

Anyway

Written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend your years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Studying


Studying 100 verses for our Elevate final with Maegan...
there were more distractions happening than studying.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Holden is Five!

Happy fifth birthday, Holden! Let me tell you a little about yourself at age five...

You are a ball of energy, almost always with a huge smile on your face. Sometimes you and Turner will literally run circles around the kitchen island for considerably long stretches of time. When you feel an emotion, you feel it all the way. Whether it's the joy of laughing at a joke you made up or crying because you don't want Daddy and me to leave for Elevate, you are completely present in the moment.

You've recently developed a love for Peter Pan and Hook, which totally delights your Mommy! You love pizza and tofu, coloring (and have become really good at staying in the lines recently), swimming, church, your family, and Jesus. I will often overhear you from the other room saying to your brother, "I love you, Turner." You have such a sweet heart that truly cares about how other people feel.

And you genuinely loves Jesus. Your prayer each night goes something like this:
"Dear Jesus, thank you for this day. Help us fall asleep quickly. I love you, Jesus. Amen."
Then we ask you what else you want to pray for, and you start over, adding a "thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Turner, Phoebe, etc." right after the "help us fall asleep quickly" line. You have also started initiating having a quiet time in the mornings. You bring your Bible to sit next to me. We pray together to ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, take turns telling God the things we love about Him, read/talk about a Bible story, and pray again. I love that precious time together.

You never did love going to preschool all that much, but you learned so much! You can pretty much sound out any word and spell it phonetically. You were the very first in your class to learn your phone number and address (which I kinda credit to my cool song and rap). You're great at crafts and artwork--you really do have your PopPop's skill!

When you look back at being five, my hope is that you remember not the consistent, daily discipline, but digging in the backyard dirt, swinging high on a swing, cuddling with Mom or Dad during naps, becoming best friends with your brother, building forts with Dad in the dining room, taking weekend trips to San Antonio or Elevate retreats, and making a new home and new friends here in Texas.

I love you so much, with my whole heart, sweet boy.



Friday, April 22, 2011

365.345: Good Friday

I return from my two-week media fast contemplative and somewhat sober, reflecting on the gravity of Christ's cross.

This is maybe my favorite worship song ever, and so appropriate on this Good Friday. Take ten minutes to reflect on the cross today.

You're loved. Jesus loves you to death. Literally.

Friday, April 15, 2011

365.338: The Human Cannonball



Holden's class had a circus day today. He wanted to dress up as a human cannonball, so this is the outfit he put together:
Iron Man costume, bike helmet, elbow pads, and Buzz Lightyear wings. Naturally.
On the way to the circus room, the class paraded down the hallway.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

365.335: Treasures

This is what I found under my pillow tonight. Holden sneaks little treasures with him during his naps (which he takes in my bed). I mean, I must be his mother to overlook the disgusting fact that the spatula is dirty from making eggs in the morning and the shovel is covered in dirt. Gross, but still cute.

Monday, April 11, 2011

365.334: Venturing Home

What makes traveling three and a half hours home from vacation with two kids better?
Outlet Malls
Discovering adorable, sleepy college towns
Jimmy Johns
and Huge Playgrounds!
We found all three on our stop in San Marcos on the way home from San Antonio.


This is how Turner winks, plays pirates, or looks through a telescope.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

365.333: San Antonio Day 2

Our kids were a bit..."energetic" early in the mornings. Which is normal for us, but quite irritating to other people sleeping in the hotel rooms next to you. This is Cristie attempting to keep them quiet with her awesome story-telling.

There are always playgrounds to be found.



Holden and me at Market Square.

Montgomerys at Market Square.


The whole crew at the Alamo!


Apparently, Turner thought the Alamo was boring.


Sydney's 5th Birthday party at the hotel pool!