Summer Adventures

I've done somewhat better with taking pictures lately.  Let me clarify.  I've done better with taking pictures on a real camera besides my phone and instagram, which makes it too easy.

We've had some fun vacations and visitors.  And both of these require good pictures.  Here is a review of our adventures through our pictures.

4th of July Recap

We always go to Compass Lake for the 4th of July and spend it with my family.  And technology continues to revolutionize our trips down there.  Everyone brought a gadget for down times.

We love our sun hats!

Great-Grandmama Jobie with Laura and Henry

May Comes to Visit

Laura loves to talk about her two cousins - Henry and May.  We had a special visit from cousin May earlier this month.  While her mommy and daddy celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary at the beach, we got to play with May for several days.

May sporting her dress clip here!!

Our silly goose!

Trying out all the toys

The balls were a big hit

Lake Trip

After so much rain lately, we were excited to see the sun come out for a glorious Saturday at Compass Lake with friends and their kiddos!

Don't you just love kids in their pajamas!

I think LB is giving them instructions here

Yummy breakfast before a full day in the sun

Good times

Kids were great!

Funny pictures are the best!!

Home Alone

What is every mom's daily dream and desire?  Perhaps its just a few moments to herself.

Last weekend I got more than I bargained for.  Grant was out of town for work and my parents took LB for a night, one last spend the night before my mom goes back to school this week.  (Yes its early for school! They are on a modified year-round calendar :)

Waiting for Granny to pick her up on Friday - how do you teach patience?

I was left at home all...by...myself....

For those of you who don't know me well, I'm a planner.  And its only gotten more intensified as I've gotten older.  When I found out I would have all this time on my hands I went to my Reminders App on my phone and started listing off all the things I could possibly accomplish.  I didn't want to forget anything!  (I also love lists!)

• paint third canvas
• wash sheets
• farmers market
• wedding gift
• update budget
• pay bills

And I immediately set up a girls night with dinner and a movie for Friday night.  I couldn't just stay at home all weekend!

Amazingly I felt pressure to make the most of every minute.  But when I felt that pressure creep in on Saturday I would just sit on the couch and watch a movie.  And I know paying bills and updating a budget aren't very exciting to most of you, but some (amy sharp) understand that it can be great diving into those numbers!  So, I accomplished the bottom four things on my list in addition to rearranging furniture in the sun room.

Furniture from Grant's grandparents - Love!

Overall I think I felt somewhat lost.  Don't get me wrong.  It was great.  But it was weird being home alone.  The best part of my day on Saturday was that night when I drove to the Log Cabin to meet my parents and Grant for dinner.  I missed my family.  I was so glad to be together again.

So I realized a lot from last weekend.  Time alone is good and healthy, but I'm good with small doses all along.  Most importantly, I dream and desire to spend time with my hubby and little girl daily.

At PCB earlier this year

Sometimes I Pretend to be Crafty - Part 2

This has been a slow moving project, primarily because it requires time.  This past week I made the most of two nap times to work on canvas 2 of 3.  (you can read about canvas 1 here)

After I finished the first canvas I felt like it was too white.  So, for the next one I thought I would go with a background enlarging the little flower from my first one.  Now I'm not sure if I like it or not.  It makes the versus a little bit harder to read.  So, I'm up in the air for what to do on the third canvas.

This is definitely a progression of inspiration.  So, I'll wait for the inspiration and another solid nap time to break out canvas 3.  In the meantime, I welcome any ideas from you!

Birthday Wishes

What is the craziest birthday request you've ever had?

Off the top of my head I can think of 4 that rank at the top of my list.  All of them included a plane ticket over some body of water and a spring break trip during college.  Many thank yous go out to my parents who indulged (and supported) my travels during those four years.

Most birthday wishes are directed at our parents and grandparents while we are growing up.  Then as an adult, some of those wishes change course and we send them to our spouse.  I received a extraordinary request this year.  Amazingly, not from my daughter or my husband, but from my mother.

My entire life I always heard that my mom wanted red-headed children.  Still to this day she gets giggly when she sees a red-headed child.

So for her birthday I died my hair.  I didn't go all out red.  My cousin Martha is a wonderful true red-head.  She carries it so well.  I think, a task not to be taken lightly.  And I don't think I could live up to it like she does.  So I compromised and went Auburn.  And I love it.  Very subtle, but in the right sunlight the beautiful auburn shines.  I'm very pleased.

My mom - well, she squealed and was completely giggly excited when I showed up to wish her a happy birthday.

Will I ever be able to top this gift?  Probably not.  Guess I'll just have to do a repeat every July.

Happy Birthday Mom!

The Before

And After

Sometimes I Pretend to be Crafty - Part 1

These are the beginning lines of the chorus to "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets. One of my favorite songs! I've been wanting to put them in the playroom and I'm finally acting on the idea.

This is just one of three to come. Getting my craftiness on!

Grace Based Parenting

I recently began reading my second parenting book of the year.  Recommended by and borrowed from my friend Tami (thank you!) it is called Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel.  

From just the early pages I felt a peace settle in my soul.  It is a peace from knowing that this is how I want to parent LB.  I want to parent with grace in the same manner that my heavenly father deals with me.  

Last night I read that the three most important gifts I can give LB are love, purpose and hope.  And that through these three gifts I can meet her needs for security, significance and strength. (pg 25)  I can even relate to these needs in my own life as an adult.

Parenting can be hard and often times a struggle to know what to do.  I am prone to try and "fix it" and in the end I agonize over situations.  It doesn't come natural, but I am learning that I must first submit to God for his guidance in all things.  And that I must "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.

Parenting is also the most rewarding journey I've ever been on.  Partnered with my wonderful husband, I know that through God's loving hand that He will not lead us astray as a mom and dad.

I enjoy visiting Sally Clarkson's blog.  And this post especially touched me today.  Check it out!

http://www.itakejoy.com/the-ministry-of-motherhood/

Add this Book to your Reading List

In one of my advertising classes in college I learned that there is a certain type of person in society that helps products fly off the shelves.  This person loves the item/product/website/whatever it is and raves about it to everyone they know.

I want to share with you about a book that is being published this summer by one of my best friends - and you must buy it!

I met Mikelyn Bolden back in 2005 when I was dating Grant.  Mikelyn's hubby and my hubby have been best friends since they were babies.  Naturally Mikelyn and I were thrown together all the time.  And I love this chick.  She is as genuine as they come.  And she has written a book!  Wow.  I love that she is not just going after, but chasing after her dreams using her God given talents.  And she is catching them one by one.  She inspires me to listen to my inner voice and to keep an eye out for God's nudges, prodding, and inspirations.

So, the book.  Yes!  It will be available for purchase this summer.  And in the meantime, go to her website and facebook page to check out more.  Trust me!  You will be impressed!

www.mikelynbolden.com

www.facebook.com/TheWaizChronicles