Happy Father's Day

The kids put much love and thought into their gifts for daddy.

Father's Day

Found my little man working on something for his daddy tonight. He said his daddy taught him what love is, so he wanted to write it down so dad would know he was listening. His daddy is a great example of what love is if you ask me.

This Is My Life

I never dreamed my life would be what it is. If you would have asked me 15 years ago about all the little things that make our family quirky I would have said, "No way!" But this is my life, and I LOVE it (most every day).

We are thrift store junkies. It's a thrill for us to find awesome deals on things we need and even some things we don't. Just this week my love bought a set of golf clubs for $20. They are a nice set that normally would cost a couple hundred dollars. He is so excited to not have to borrow clubs anymore when he wants to play. He's come a long way in 15 years. Walking into a resale shop 15 years ago for him was unheard of and if you did get him in he started itching all over. Oh the tricks our minds play.

We have a love that just came about in the last couple of years. We have 36 babies that we love. They come in the form of 34 hens and 2 roosters. I never dreamed I would have to say, "Take the chicken outside. Or quit kissing the chicken." And oh for my love who was a pure bred city boy...well things have changed. Goodbye Seattle. Hello Small Town Arkansas! I must also mention that the school mascot where he teaches is none other than...drumroll please...a Hillbilly.

That's just a few of the things neither of us would have ever thought would be happening in our lives. But this is our life and we love it. How is yours different than you expected?

Love Is Not Irritable: FAIL

The first day of summer has finally arrived.  Ahhhhhh... We are all home.  I'm ready to spend time with my favorite people.  So, the day started like this:  I woke up early and went for a walk/jog.  Then, I came home and studied my devotion for the day.  I'm working through a 6 week study on I Corinthians 13.  The verse I was studying in depth today...

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude.  It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful.

And the question is...Is there anything that needs to change?

                                  What is the Lord leading me to do as a result of this passage?

Well of course I need to change the fact that I am irritable and honestly can be resentful at times.  That's it God.  That's what I'm going to change.  The Lord is leading me to speak kindly to my family.  Ok, let's do this!  I'm all in today.

-one child is on the wii

-one child is on the ipad

-breakfast dishes are still on the table

-chairs are not pushed in

-dirt has been walked throughout the kitchen

-the boy has talked or been drumming on things since her arose from his slumber

-an empty coffee cup rests on the floor beside the couch

-toys are covering the floor of the room I had perfect at bedtime last night

-laundry that I washed and folded is sorted and still laying all over the loveseat

-suitcase from kids weekend trip is still full in the bedroom floor

-dirty socks are on the living room floor

-shut the door has already been said 5 million times today so I'm exaggerating a little, but it certainly feel like 5 million

The list goes on, and on, and on...

I am IRRITATED!

And I'm a little resentful of the fact that I try so hard to keep things in order to make our lives a little more simple and NO ONE seems to care.  By 10 am I am quoting I Cor. 13:5 in my head and reminding myself what I told God this morning.  By noon I was nagging everyone in my house.  By 6 pm I had lost all sense of control so I sent myself to my bedroom for the rest of the night.  I went to bed angry while everyone else sat and watched a movie together.

We are now starting the second day of summer break.  I slept well last night.  I woke to laundry still piled on the loveseat.  There was no I'm sorry to greet me.  The boy hasn't stopped talking since he got out of bed.  Life continues today as if nothing ever happened.  So, here we go again Lord.  I'm working on it.  I really am.  Please, help me do better today.

Scripture Application

My dear oldest child--I love the way she thinks.

Her memory verse from Wednesday night church activities was: He who can be trusted with little can be trusted with quite a lot.  On the way to school this morning that great mind of hers was working.  She asked me, "Mom, do you think if daddy had a really nice, brand new car that he would take care of it and keep it clean?"  "I don't know," was my reply.  She giggled and said, "He who can be trusted with little can be trusted with quite a lot.  Nope, I don't think it would matter."  We enjoyed quite a laugh at daddy's expense.  Sorry, we love you in spite of your sloppiness. Daddy.

Name Confusion

We went out to dinner tonight.  Ahhhh...no cooking for mom. Yippee!  As we sat at our table talking my big girl started questioning my little diva about who she loved.  The answer was the typical daddy, mommy, sissy, bubba...  Then, oldest said in all seriousness, "I love John Boe."  We looked at her a little puzzled.  Then she said, "I love John Boe and Jane Boe."  That time I got it.  I began laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my cheeks.  My sweet love looked at me questioning.  I had to catch my breath.  He said, "I don't get it.  Who are these people?" 
John Doe and Jane Doe

We had ourselves quite a laugh.

Little League Parenting

Preseason baseball tournament started last night.  I love watching my boy play ball.  I have never enjoyed watching baseball.  But I LOVE watching my boy.  But I must be honest.  I was not looking forward to last nights game.   In fact, I was very tempted to stay home. Have a really turned into one of those little league parents. We've got some very nice boys on our team.  But athletic ability isn't quite there.  I know think I know why this happened.  I really think God is trying to teach me something.  I've already been struggling thinking about what the other boys at school would say when they "kill us" in baseball.  I've already been struggling with my attitude when they talk about how their team has four all star players or how good they are.  I know it's not about winning.  I know it's not about being the best ball player.  In fact, the sermon Sunday was about Passion and Purpose. " Is you purpose to raise your kid to be the best ball player in the league or is it to raise your kid to love and serve the Lord with everything in him?"  Ouch, that hurt.  It hit me right between the eyes.  So, as I struggle with my attitude throughout this season I know my purpose is to teach my child how to show love in every situation.  My purpose is to teach him about attitude.  My purpose is to teach him that when others say unkind things our reaction should be that which would be pleasing to our King.  It's not going to easy.  I must watch my every expression and word.  I know he is watching and will learn by witnessing my every move. 

My tough baseball player is full of love.