as promised take 2.

Yes, this is really my life.
Yes, we're working on his whining.

Stetson James.

My Brand New Nephew.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

Forever Young.

I saw a segment on Dateline about this group "young @ heart." I think they're amazing.

Matthew's video greeting (take 1)

Take 2 coming soon...

my deepest condolences

To the Chapman family. They lost their youngest daughter in a tragic accident yesterday. She was a beautiful little girl from China.

Peace and comfort to them in Jesus.

Good Idea, Martha.

Eco-Chic Plastic Bag Dryer.

life lessons from this week.

1. When I'm pushed to my limits I will confront. It's what I do.

2. I'm officially obsessed with adoption.

3. It's difficult to explain the process of "fixing" (neutering) a dog to children without completely telling them about the birds & the bees.

4. Everyday I am given the opportunity to forgive.

5. Traditional elementary education leaves much to be desired.

6. A year goes by really fast when you're an adult.

7. I need coffee.

8. My children have mastered the art of jedi mind tricks.

9. I will never stop missing my grandmothers. never.

10. Fruit roll-ups are the devil.

He Did It! And yes a bribe was involved.

Mathew had his Kindergarten evaluation and he did great! He had to tell the teacher his name, address, phone number, birthday, recite the alphabet, numbers, and to some other little things. He doesn't really enjoy talking to strangers so I had to bribe him. He's had his eye on this Kung Fu Panda from the DreamWork's movie that's about to come out. He calls it the "DreamWorks Come True Panda" I hate to correct him because it's just so cute!!!!

Mother's Day.

I got a new cell phone.

An addition to my apron collection.

A beautiful handmade gift from Alexandria.

It was a lovely day.
The boys kept bringing me flowers from the front yard.
We had a yummy lunch,
and I felt very loved and appreciated.
Who could ask for anything more?

Living Vicariously.

Congrats to Hannah who got to doula last night. I felt a part of things as I was being briefed over the phone and it turned out to be quite the birth story, including the ultrasound being wrong about the girl diagnosis!

I love good birth stories.


For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29

Alexandria's First Choir Concert.

The way Matt sees it....

Today Matthew and I were walking out of Target when we saw a old man with a cane
Matt announces "that man is REAALLYY old." I shushed him of course and explained that
what he is saying may hurt the nice man's feelings. Matt said "yeah, because he's sad that he's old, and I'm really sad too." I told Matt that it's not sad to be old, that he probably has great- grandchildren and a nice family. He explained that "some people think it's sad to be old." Ok, he got me on that one :)
About an hour later we saw another old man, Matthew picked the conversation right back up
and said "It is sad to be old because it's very sad when people die."

I wish you can see Matt's facial expression when he is explaining something. His eyes grow to twice their size, he points one finger in the air and speaks in a slightly higher pitch while stretching his words way out...it's pretty cute!

I remember not feeling comfortable around old people when I was a child. I really thought they were just about to die and it made me sad. One man in particular was a friend of my parents named Jim Shaw (he was only in his late 50's but he had white hair and full white beard). He looked so very old and I had such anxiety about his impending death. I mean I was really worried about it whenever I was around him. Happily, he had another 25+ years and just recently passed away.

"Somewhere between
happy and sad
she thinks about life
and death
and what makes the world go around...."