The Joy Dare

I'm stepping out a limb here and using my little corner of the world wide web to keep me accountable.  As I've written before, Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts" has truly changed my life.  In reading Ann's story -- where she set out to name 1000 gifts/graces/blessings -- the Holy Spirit started to work in me that I needed to do the same. 

So, I'm accepting this dare to live fully with The Joy Dare.  Technically, it started in January, but I'm behind -- imagine that.  BUT, I'm starting today, March 1, day 1.  

If you want to join me, hop over to A Holy Experience and be blessed!  

Today's dare...3 gifts at 3 p.m.  

(It's 2:50 p.m. as I type this and for once I'm on time!)

1.  A quiet house in the early morning.

2.  Hot coffee and the Word -- perfect combo.

3.  Harrison singing along with K-Love radio in the mornings headed to school.

Happy Fall Y'all!

(Yes, once again, this is my quest to catch up...going back to Fall 2011)

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

-- Ecclesiastes 3:1

I love the fall.  Something is different in the air -- the way the breeze blows, a crisp smell in the air.  And with a new season comes old traditions along with new fun. 

Here's a little of what we've been up to...

Friends of ours host a costume party every year and it's something we always look forward to.  Everyone's costumes are top secret and it's hilarious to see what folks come up with.  Justin came up with the Shrek and Princess Fiona idea and I gotta hand it to him.  Both of our outfits came from a thrift store (totalling less than $8) with the exception of Fiona's wig and Shrek's green paint.

(Disclaimer:  I had Harrison take this picture.  And I was obviously too busy telling him what button to push to even strike a pose.  Besides the fact that Shrek's eyes are closed.  Fail.)

I tagged along with Harrison's kindergarten class to a field trip to our local pumpkin patch, which was followed by his class' fall party.

By far my boys' favorite thing about fall is our church's annual Fall Festival.  It's a big deal round these parts complete with bounce houses, games, candy galore, and insanely good fair-style food.  Cotton candy, corn dogs, funnel cakes, jumbo pickles... MY favorite part.

And the finale of fall -- Trick or treatin'!

My "monster truck race driver" and mischievous monkey

So very sleepy but not givin' up the sucker just yet!

And we did some pumpkin carvin' of our own.

Since I'm so far behind on blogging, fall 2012 will be here before we know it.  Hopefully I'll have those posts up sometime before 2013!

Field Trippin' at the Fair

The county fair is sorta a big deal in these parts.  Harrison's class took a field trip to tour the fair and, naturally, Mama tagged along.

The kids got to see a magic show, tour the exhibits, and see the animals. 

Welcome Baby Kai

The boys welcomed a new cousin back in October, little Kai aka "bay bay" as per Briggy.  We let Harrison skip out from school and made the drive to St. Augustine to meet him. 

They are smitten.  :)

Just Some Good Ole Boys

"...never meanin' no harm..."

Who knew a few quick shots in the front yard before church could turn out so cute??

Kindergarten -- Here's comes Harrison!

**This is the first of many catch-up posts and at this point, we're halfway through the school year.  Still bittersweet to see these pictures and the milestones my boy has crossed.**

Check out this big kid on his first day of Kindergarten!  He was up with the sun first thing in the morning, dressed, breakfast, and on pins and needles to go.  We paced ourselves to allow for a rush of cars at the school for his first day.  I wanted to park and walk him in (and snag a few pictures) and watch him react.

Even with my careful planning, Harrison was the first in his class that morning.  He met his teacher again and handed her her gift along with a hug.  She showed him where to put his things and he settled at his table to work on a morning paper.  He got right to work, so I kissed him and scooted out.  As I pulled away from the school, I choked back tears -- not because I was sad, but happy tears to see him growing and excited for this next stage in his life. 

And as part of a new tradition, the "Back to School Fairy" left a surprise on the front steps.  A snazzy Lightning McQueen thermos and Tow Mater Pez candy.

Bags and lunch are pack...and a little gift for teacher

He picked out his own outfit -- Daddy was proud!

In front of his new school

 Welcome to Kindergarten!

Because of staggered start dates, it was a few days before Harrison got to go back and finish up his first week of kindergarten.  He was a champ riding the bus home and we were excited to hear about his adventures!

And just for kicks, here's a quick glimpse of Harrison's first day of preschool a year ago...

Back in the Groove

It's been entirely too long since I've dedicated any significant time to this little blog and oh how I've missed it.  BUT - it's a new year and with it brings changes.  One goal of mine for this new year is to get back into routinely blogging...not because anyone really cares about the little tidbits that happen in our world, but because this blog is for my boys; a kind of virtual scrapbook of sorts. 

So I'm going back a ways, like 6 months ago, to catch up -- consider this your warning.