Thirsty

"God is the kind of God who will be pleased
with the one thing I have to offer
— my thirst...
When we hope in God
we glorify God as the fountain of deep and lasting joy...
God is delighted not by the resourcefulness of bucket brigades,
but by the bending down of broken sinners
to drink at the fountain of grace.”
~John Piper

Her love dance

Her Daddy's love is only a speck of the love her heavenly Father feels for her (and us). It's unfathomable! She (we) are lavishly loved.

(Pictures from Lydie and Andy's date night...a trip to the Disney store. The last one is her little dance that she does when her love tank is full which is multiple times a day. We are so much alike.)

Barnacles in the kitchen

We just made some Rice Krispy Treats and a flower arrangement. A family we met at a graduation party invited us over for dinner tonight. When you are born and raised in the south, you can't enter a house for dinner (with a clear conscience) without bringing something! So these little things are what we chose as gifts for tonight. I love to work on "projects" with Jaybird because he always says the most quotable things! Here's today's quote:

(We were stirring the dry cereal into the sticky marshmallows) "Look at the way they stick, Mom. They are just like barnacles!"

Between the laughter and the contest to see who could catch the most flying marshmallows in our mouths, a little thing turned into a big memory. Sure do love these days!

Infinite joys

I desire to be a mother--
if only to give food to the craving activity of my soul...
Maternity is an enterprise in which
I have opened an enormous stake...
Motherhood will develop my energy, enlarge my heart,
and compensate me for all things by infinite joys!

--Honore de Balzac, Memoirs of Two Young Married Women (1894)

Pictures of a wonderful week. I enjoyed the company of my little ones so much!

Am I a push-over?

My Toot keeps me on my toes. He has performed many a "science project" around the house over the years. Some could have been life threatening like trying to make instant oatmeal by putting the entire package in the toaster (age3). Some have been unattractive, but not harmful. Like when he dug half a dozen holes in the front yard just to "test the shovel" (age 5). And others have been just plain funny, like when he has taken apart house hold objects just to "exercise the screwdriver". And he has concocted more magic potions than I could document in a cookbook.

Today he had two little adventures worth documenting. The first is a repeat offense. He cut his hair. No biggy, we just got a hair cut yesterday and he chose a lock of hair on top of his head. But, why? And the other was a little more radical. He stuck a kitty in the frigerator. I have no idea why, but his reason was "to cool her off. I was going to get her in a minute." And then, he always says, "I am so sorry, Mom. I just wanted to find out....)

The big problem is I love his curiousity. I have got to be more firm with him, but it's a real struggle for me because these moments in the day CRACK ME UP. He is so affectionate and easy going. And besides, it's really hard to keep a straight face when you're looking into these eyes...

Note the new hair cut. He insisted on a "spike in the front". It suits him!

Sweet summer

We are enjoying summer immensely. I can hear the crickets and frogs outside in full swing. I can see the fireflies through the window, filling the yard with sparkles. I still feel the sand under my fingernails and the sting of a little too much sun from the beach. I love this season! Tonight for dinner we ate tacos, and fresh corn on the cob and strawberries- a perfect summer meal. We have had so many different fresh veggies this summer to eat, between our garden and a friend's. I love late nights and sleeping in. And tonight, I laughed at how dark skinned and light haired the kids have become over the last few weeks from endless days at the pool or beach. It's all so good and I am so thankful!

We spent the day doing yard work and running errands. (We were running errands for 6 hours, to be exact!) So tomorrow we will take a trip into the city and see the aquarium and the big park. No exact time frame, no where to be- ahhhh, it feels wonderful!

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;

and the landscape lay as if new

created in all the freshness of childhood."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Happy birthday, USA!

We enjoyed a quick, four day trip back to the beach for the fourth. We had 27 family members altogether. Our fun included snorkeling at Shell Island, swimming, a shrimp boil party, and fireworks. We enjoyed staying in the same condo with my brother's family so much! Every minute with aunts, uncles, and cousins adds to a treasure trove of memories! I am so thankful for the wonderful country we love and the freedom we enjoy!My children with my brother's

Jaybird (8), Anna (6), Ross (8), Greyce (3), Toot (6), Lydie bug (2)

Enough food for an army!
Lydie and I (That's a band-aid on her head. She got a deep gash when she took a bad fall playing on the patio. Thankfully, no stitches.)

Girl cousins. Unfortunately, the boys avoid the camera like the plague!

A rare kissy mood. Lydie has been rubbing off my kisses lately. :(

Our little family