Monday, June 28, 2010

26,749 pictures of us at the beach

So, we spent last week at the beach. Enjoy the only picture you will see of me.

I'm pretty sure he and God are talking.

Manny met (and therefore I met) at least a dozen strangers. We have no idea who the little girl is on the right in this next picture but she LOVED playing with Manny.

Free babysitting for us. Free entertainment for her. Win-win.

Josh found a mangled crab leg. And then he gave it to the children.


This is what I get from Isaiah now when I ask him to smile. Uhhh....

Who's child is that?


This is what Josh calls being awesome.

(He still maintains that awesomeness is his superpower.)

My view. Not too shabby.

Cousins.



People have asked if they are twins. We say they might as well be.

Manny enjoyed passing his time by bending in half and dunking the top half of his head in the water. I have never seen so much sand in a person's hair.

Well, this.... this is who I married.

Watching a hermit crab who never had a fighting chance once they started "loving" it.

Scar face.

The Tatt.

Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Jar love

I just read this post over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia (you should see her pictures!) about saving your glass jars, and it fanned even more into flame my new love for re-used glass jars and bottles.



I.

LOVE.

it.


Like you, we have all kinds of jars coming through our house on a weekly basis....applesauce jars, spaghetti sauce jars, wine bottles, salsa jars, pickle jars, etc. But it wasn't until I wanted to make these.....

...that I started thinking of new uses for them. So far, I have used them as vases, drinking glasses, wine cork holders, iced coffee containers (thanks, Kelly!) and outdoor candle holders.



I think I just love how they whisper of a time not that far out of reach...a time I really want to get back to....



where folks beat the heat on their front porch with neighbors and iced tea in mason jars...


where almost everyone had a lush garden and spent long afternoons canning their bounty so they could share and save for the winter...


where neighbors and friends traded the goodies they grew...


where food was fresh, earned with hard work and usually traveled less than a mile to your table....


...where neighbors really shared life...


and where materialism, the latest catalogs and new stuff didn't compete with a cup of tea and a home baked treat shared at the table with a dear friend.




Sigh.


I know a few people who live this way now, and they really make it feel like this kind of simplicity is in reach.



Another thing I love about reusing glass jars is that it's free (cause you would probably ditch it otherwise), and it takes very little effort. Just soak those bad boys in hot, soapy water and peel off the label. Josh used WD-40 and it took the leftover adhesive right off.


Gotta love a man toting WD-40!


So what about you? Do you reuse them? I would love to hear about anything else you reuse too. Share the knowledge, people!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Her day

The wedding was beautiful! Doria was a beautiful bride, her man was so handsome and I think they're very happy. :)


Here are some of the pictures I took with my camera on the wedding day. They aren't the best so I can't wait to see the professional ones!


Sadly, this is the best one of her and I together.


Not my favorite picture of me, but you can
see how handsome my men were.
(and I do have more than 3 fingers...what in the
world?!)

Me and the cutie who decided to walk to the
end of the aisle and then lay down on the floor in complete
obstinance. Isaiah, on the other hand, did fantastic
taking care of his "big boy job." I just didn't get a
good picture of him. :)

It's official!

First bite of the day and my brother and I MADE her.
Yes, she's eating in the bathroom.

We opted to do our own hair.
Pretty good, eh?

We made sure that nice view of my scalp was
covered. Don't you worry.

The groom's family and sweet flower girls.

What a precious moment.

I tell you, that lilly must be made of steel
after all the work it took to get it to stay in
her hair.

Her something blue.
We all wore Toms...mine and the flower girl's
were glittery and sparkly...LOVED it.

The bride and her mommy.


A quick prayer with the pastor/our
Godfather.
(my aunt is steaming her dress since it arrived the mail while
we were AT THE REHEARSAL! Long story...)

Look at that beautiful family!
(I promise Trinity really is very happy about it!)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Two cutie-pies and a sprinkler

Remember when we were kids and there weren't these fancy-schmancy blow-up pools with obstacle courses, rainforests, exotic animals that sprayed water on you and huge slides?


(I actually really want one.)


Nope. We were content running around naked, chasing each other in the back yard with the hose or jumping through the sprinkler. Who cared if we got chiggers?


(please tell me my sister and I weren't the only ones.)


Today, I introduced the boys to one of my favorite past times.


It
was
a
BLAST.
(taking care of a few manly chores like
washing the bubble mower.)


(rocking the jeans diaper....hey, girls! :) )






Wednesday, June 09, 2010

On a completely unrelated (and incredibly sarcastic) note...

Several of these made me wheeze and cough with laughter.


I guess that tells you something about my sense of humor. :)



(Please don't avoid me now. I still care about people's feelings.)



Some Useful Condescending Phrases


  1. Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
  2. The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.
  3. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.
  4. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
  5. I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don't care.
  6. I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid.
  7. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?
  8. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.
  9. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
  10. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
  11. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.
  12. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
  13. No, my powers can only be used for good.
  14. How about never? Is never good for you?
  15. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me.
  16. You sound reasonable...Time to up my medication.
  17. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.
  18. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...
  19. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.
  20. Who me? I just wander from room to room.
  21. My toys! My toys! I can't do this job without my toys!
  22. It might look like I'm doing nothing, but at the cellular level I'm really quite busy.
  23. At least I have a positive attitude about my destructive habits.
  24. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
  25. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
  26. Someday, we'll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject.


Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Beloved

It's the week of my sister's wedding so that hopefully explains why I haven't been on here much. After this weekend, thing will start to slow down a little.


I have some really ADORABLE pictures of the boys in their tux's. (Spoken like a true mother, right?) Hopefully they'll both make it to the end of the aisle emotionally intact....heck, me too for that matter. I also, though our dumb computer still won't turn on, plan to do my garden update soon....I know, I know. It's obnoxious how many times I've said that now.


But, I just wanted to take a moment to share something with you. There is much on my heart today. It's been a heavy time for our family for several reasons and I've just felt kinda sad today. These two songs were what I needed to hear....to be reminded that I pray to the King, the One who sits on the throne and holds this all in His hand, the King that rules every nation and chases wrecklessly after my little, sinful heart, the King that calls me His beloved bride.... and even those I need to forgive.


Oh, how quickly I forget the sweetness of being loved by a King.


Beloved

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need

Give me your life
Lust and the lies
The past you're afraid I might see
You've been running away from me

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
It binds you to me
It's a mystery

Love of my life
Look deep in my eyes
There you will find what you need
I'm the giver of life
I'll clothe you in white
My immaculate bride you will be
Oh come running home to me yeah

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
and Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
and it binds you to me yea now now

Well you've been a mistress, my wife
Chasing lovers it won't satisfy
Won't you let me make you my bride
You will drink of my lips
And taste new life

You're my beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
Our Love it unites us
it binds you to me

You're my beloved
Forever we'll be
Our love it unites us
And it binds you to me
It's a mystery


~Tenth Avenue North


*I added this to my playlist....go listen!




I'm Singing


Only one name lasts forever
Only one fame stands alone
Only one key has an anthem
That goes on and on and on

And I'm Singing to the God who brings redemption to the nations
Kings and oceans bow to Him in praise
And I'm Singing to the God who wrote the book on our salvation
To the One who covers me in grace
I'm Singing

Only one word in the beginning
Only one truth will prevail
Only one love brings you freedom
Only one Man took the nails

And I'm Singing to the God who brings redemption to the nations
Kings and oceans bow to Him in praise
And I'm Singing to the God who wrote the book on our salvation
To the One who covers me in grace
I'm Singing

Praise, Praise to the Savior
Praise, to the Lamb Of God
Praise, in all of His splendor
Praise, for saving my life

And I'm Singing to the God who brings redemption to the nations
Kings and oceans bow to Him in praise
And I'm Singing to the God who wrote the book on our salvation
To the One who covers me in grace

And I'm Singing to the God who brings redemption to the nations
Kings and oceans bow to Him in praise
And I'm Singing to the God who wrote the book on our salvation
To the One who covers me in grace
To the One who covers me in grace
I'm Singing...


~Kari Jobe

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

The weekend recap

(those are not our kids. I have no idea who those kids are.
for explanation, read the end of this post.)



Our little family just got back from our annual Memorial Day weekend at the beach.


It was lovely.


I remarked several times about how nice it was watching our boys play on the beach now that we're not trying to contain an infant in a little tent, change diapers in said little tent (NIGHTMARE), constantly slapping sand out of their hands and away from their mouths and spontaneously throwing water directly in their eyes when a grain of sand looks threatening.


Now, they've earned a little freedom. Manny enjoyed eating whatever he could find on the beach. Even the little mussels (shell included) proved to provide a little nourishment at one point (no, we didn't mean for that to happen). Isaiah is now able to run free from our chairs to the spot in the sand where he's playing near the water. We feel fine about it because of his healthy fear of the water, the fact that we always pick a spot near the lifeguard and we can always see him.


But one little tip for ya'll at no extra charge: if your lifeguards offer little plastic bracelets with their stand number on it for the kids, take them! About 5 minutes after I put Isaiah's on him, he disappeared. It was an awful and LONG 3 minutes before I found him again...way down the beach.


My father-in-law was up in the loose sand at our chairs and I was a ways in front of him with the kids, playing and watching them (our nephew and neice were there too). I had sent Isaiah up to him for a snack. He went, got his snack and my father-in-law sent him back to me...again, I was directly in front of him. Somehow, Isaiah got disoriented and instead of walking straight to me, he took a hard left and started walking through the crowds. Both my father-in-law and I were dealing with other kids and didn't see him make that turn.


I took off in one direction and Josh in the other. After walking for what felt like a really long time, I saw his poor little frame walking slowly through all the sunbathers, looking from side to side and calling "Mommy? Mommy?" I had just had that awful thought of "what if I never see him again? What if I never get him back?" I prayed and there he was. He said, "Mommy, I was starting to get worried. I didn't see you. I didn't know where you were."


I held his hand for a long time. We talked about what to do if he ever gets lost again, rehearsing his full name and ours and how to look for the yellow flag and big, white chair.


The Lord allowed us to find him, and we are really grateful. I can't imagine what parents of real missing children must go through. I don't think it's a coincidence that a few days before we left to go to the beach, I sat and read every detail about every child and studied the faces that came on the little "Missing Children" insert in my mailbox. I never do that. They are a group I've never thought to really pray for, but I think I'll start.


But other than that little incident, we had gobs and gobs of fun spending hours playing and relaxing in the perfect weather, going out to eat and just being there. My nephew now thinks I have ninja skills. And I do.


One little thing I should mention is that when we got home last night, we realized that our computer will no longer turn on (!!!!). I'm using our little laptop, but the other computer has all our pictures on it so I can't do my garden post yet. So sad! Hold on to your pictures because we're working hard to get it back up and running!


I'm really looking forward to doing it....especially since our little garden grew like CRAZY the few days we were gone. I think it was glad to finally get rid of me with my constant hovering and weird staring all the time.


What's that thing about the watched pot again? :)

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