Thursday, August 25, 2011

Thursday Truth

It's been a good while since I've posted a Thursday Truth, and I really don't know why.  These posts are usually more reflective to what's going on in my spiritual life, but over the past months,
God has been dealing greatly.  I guess I just didn't know where even to begin. 

So how 'bout the basics, huh??



This excerpt from Proverbs 31 is by far one of my favorite passages in Scripture.  It was spoken by King Solomon, know to this day to be the wisest and wealthiest man who ever lived.  He was writing this to his sons (there were many) about qualities to look for in a potential wife, also knowns as the "Wife of Noble Character."  King Solomon had numerous wives and part of me wonders if these words of wisdom came from true life experience.  :) 

My favorite?  By far, verses 17 and 30 (highlighted below).  I pretty much fail daily on the rest of the qualities...workin' on it though!

"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?  She is more precious than rubies.
Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.

She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

(17) She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.

She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.

She makes her own bedspreads.  She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.

Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.

She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband praises her:

"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

(30) Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tuesday Ten

It's Tuesday Ten -- and reader beware -- this is photo heavy!  It's been a few weeks (maybe 3?) since I've posted a Tuesday Ten and we've got some catchin' up to do.

ONE:

A few weeks ago, I stitched up a little camo Bible cover for Harrison and since then I've been itching to do one for myself.  At one point, my Bible was pretty on it's own until a blue-ink-pen-wielding 21-month-old that I know got a little crazy.  But, no more.  Now it has a pretty fabric cover with a yummy ruffle and a ribbon tie versus the handles.  Plus, it totally feeds my love of gray and yellow. 


TWO:

Thanks to Pinterest, I found this great tutorial for making your own laundry detergent, but in the powder form.  I've made laundry detergent in the past, but the recipe was for liquid form, and eventually it was just a headache to make and then store such a large amount of detergent.  The powder recipe was ridiculously easy AND regular loads only take 1 tablespoon.  (Besides the more obvious benefit is that it's much less expensive than store-bought detergent.  Don't get me started on that...)

THREE:

Vacation Bible School 2011 is complete!  Because of MOPS Convention, we were only able to go for part of the week, but Harrison and Tyler still had the most fun.


Rainbow-Colored Hair for "Crazy Hair Day"

Rainbow-Colored Hair for "Crazy Hair Day"

FOUR:

Three of my very best girlfriends and I had the blessing of attending MOPS International Convention 2011 at the insanely beautiful Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN.  It was 4 full days of learning how to be a better wife, mother, leader and daughter of Christ...besides just really good girl-time!  By Sunday, I believe we were all itching to see our babies -- and their Daddy's too -- but everyone except me had a baby (or two!) in tow. 
Kendra (+ baby Elijah), me, Tamara (+ baby ?), Susannah (+ babies Ashlyn and Peyton)

Downtown Nashville
Music City U.S.A.
Friday night -- Mandisa in concert!
Saturday night -- Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman!

FIVE:

Beatin' the heat with popsicles...a true Summertime staple.


Wrong end, Briggy.


SIX:

Before finishing up the necessary school shopping, I attempted to clean out closets and go through hand-me-downs from Harrison when I found these cowboy boots!  Judging by the size, I thought they'd be a little too big for Brig yet, so I let him try them on.  Whadya know, they fit perfectly.  And that boy did not want to take them off!  Eventually, he did take them off, only to then carry them around saying "ma boos, ma boos"  (my boots).  I'm pretty sure his fat little legs squished into mini-sized cowboy boots is pretty muchly the cutest thing I've ever seen. 

SEVEN:

Ever wondered what country boys do on a lazy Sunday afternoon?  They get muddy...and the more mud the better!  This Power Wheel Rhino has been sitting around waiting on J to "fix it" for forever.  If you look closely at the second photo below, you'll see a tow rope coming from the front of the Rhino.  That tow rope is hooked to the back of the 4-wheeler (where I'm shooting from).  Harrison has appropriately named this contraption the "pull behind."  So simple and so country-fried -- emphasis on country -- but these critters have been loving that thing!  (Just in case anyone was wondering, the "pull behind" is J's brain-child...shock of the century, I know.)

EIGHT:

I'd been wanting to put together a vintage photo shoot for my boys all summer, and with school starting back this week, it was time to cross that one off my list.  So, we headed out on our property one morning this week with a few props and the camera.  The boys were great and did super for me!
Our Big Kindergartener
Sweet Brothers
This is my favorite -- it's getting printed big for sure
Love this crooked tree, but love the boy in the tree so much more
Sweet brothers...yet again

NINE:

While I was gone to MOPS Convention, the boys stayed with their B, who had all sorts of things planned.  They had fun in her pool, at the park, going to the movies and even a day at the Alligator Farm.

TEN:

It's not a Tuesday Ten if there's not something food related.  Yet again, thanks to Pinterest, I found this recipe for old school no-bake peanut butter chocolate oatmeal cookies.  
My best kitchen helper (and his favorite monster truck p.j.'s)

Yummmm.

Make it a great week...we sure are!




















































Monday, August 22, 2011

Memory Monday

This is a very special Memory Monday because it's Harrison's first day of Kindergarten!  Yes, that teeny 6-pound 11-ounce bouncing baby boy who seemingly was just snoozing on my chest and making sweet baby sounds is now big enough for kindergarten.  It's truly bittersweet.  As sad as I am to see him growing up (so very quickly), I'm ready to celebrate this next stage. 

So, let's take a look back one year ago at Harrison's first day of Preschool...


It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that this photo was an entire year ago...seriously seems like maybe 3 months ago.  And from what I hear from seasoned Mamas, the time really flies from this point.  I'll have a full "first day" post up in the next few days, so stay tuned!

One Last Summer Hoorah!

We spent Saturday at our church's annual "Family Fun in the Sun Day" celebrating the final weekend of summer break before school starts.  Though the heat was...well, hot...the kids kept their cool on a total of 4 water slides, lunch, snow cones and ice cream on our church grounds.  We headed home around 1:30 and both boys crashed in the backseat.  We all took a nap when we got home.  What is it about the heat that just makes me exhausted?? 

Special thanks to our awesome church family and the Children's Directors that give 110% every day for our kids -- We are so very blessed!

"Chillaxin out max and relaxin' all cool..." (Yes.  Fresh Prince of Bel Air throwback)

This picture cracks me up!  The look on Brig's face is terror, but Harrison's got that evil grin because he just pushed Brig down the slide -- they are brothers for sure.

Snow Cones!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Fun at the MOSH

A lazy Friday morning itching to get out of the house, we found ourselves at the MOSH.  I have to say this was my first time there in a very long time and the boys' first time, and we quite enjoyed it.  After our morning at the museum, we had lunch with the Thomas bunch at one of our favorite places to eat -- Cracker Barrell.

Playing in the Water Exhibit
Soaking Wet from the Water Exhibit
Logan, Meghan and Harrison
So interesting...

Water Balloons!

Harrison got a ginormous container of water balloons as part of a birthday gift from the Thomas family.  On a steamy July morning, I pulled them out and patiently filled 50 or so for the boys to play with.  I figured it'd buy me an hour minimum of play time.  What-ever!  Those things were g.o.n.e. in about 48 seconds!  Partly thanks to Brig, who just wanted to pick one up, pinch it til it bursts, repeat.  They still had fun and there are still hundreds left in the container to fill!

Independance Day

We celebrated July 4th weekend relaxing at the beach and visiting with family.  In the weeks leading up to July 4th, all of us except Justin had battled the stomach virus, and Harrison had it the worst.  Our weekend was great until -- true to form -- Daddy got the bug.  Needless to say, we just our trip a little short and headed home so Daddy could recover.  It was fun while it lasted!

Snow Cone with Cousin Gavin
Yummm
I made the boys 4th of July shirts and in all our busy-ness, I never actually snapped a picture of them in the shirts.

Pool Fun

Summer Family Portraits

Since getting my new camera back in December, I've been excited to take it to Sanibel.  It seems that every year we attempt to put together some family pictures on the beach on our last evening there, but it always falls through.  Either we head out too late and it's already dark or we're just exhausted and don't even feel like it.  Not this year!

For amateur portraits taken by myself (except the ones I'm in -- my MIL snapped those), I was very pleased and the boys did great.  Well, I never really worry about Harrison, but that Brig can give me a run for my money!

My Heart
Brothers
Mama's Boys
Best Buds
By far my Better Half
I may be partial, but this is the most beautiful child on the planet.
My Guys
Daddy's Clone