Play Ball!

As hard as I try, it's still difficult for me to imagine that Harrison is old enough to participate in team sports.  He is growing up and making that transition to "big kid."  It's frightening and exhilarating all at the same time. 

With some encouragement from Daddy, Harrison decided that he wanted to try baseball this year.  We went for sign-ups, paid our fee, and waited for a practice schedule.  Patiently waited.  "Did you know anything about my baseball, Mom?" became a daily question.  Until finally we got a phone call welcoming Harrison to the Dodgers and when they would start practice.  

We're now halfway through the season, and their team has done really well with only 2 losses.  Fitting practices and games into our already busy schedule has been interesting, but seeing the shear joy and pride on Harrison's face is completely worth rearranging things.  Oh yeah, and I've learned that I might be a little competitive...maybe a little.

Ridiculously handsome in that uniform

3rd base and ready

Hustle boy!

Baseball ready to run for home

Heartbreakers

These two Romeo's sure have my heart!  I'm thinkin' maybe it could be the coordinating Valentine's Day shirts??! 

Valentine's Day 2012



Spring Has Sprung

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”

-- Revelation 21:5a

Here in North Florida, we generally start getting our first taste of spring around mid-January.  And oh, it is a glorious time!  The Lord knew I needed to be a Florida girl because I need my sunshine.  After weeks and weeks of bitter cold and gray days, spring is a welcome change.  Seems like the sun shines a little brighter, brand spankin' new bright green leaves form on the trees, and even the sky is bluer. 

As I'm writing this, we nearing the end of April (already) and will be in the throes of summer very, very soon.  But until then, we're lovin' the spring and our country-fried version looks something like this...

Warm sunshine...

Wagon rides...

Gettin' a little mud on the tires...

Small tires too...

Even this dirt daubber...

Afternoons outside that call for crazy get-ups like this...

And blue-eyed boys.

The Joy Dare -- Day 6

"Have you never heard?  Have you never understood?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.  He never grows weak or weary.  No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint." 

-- Isaiah 40:28-31

What a day.  Even such, continuing on with this dare to live fully.

Today's Joy Dare...

A gift bent

16.  Bent heads in simple prayer at the supper table.

A gift broken

17.  The reminder that this life is temporal, and though we are broken-hearted,

our hope is in You.

A gift beautiful

18.  Sanibel sunsets that sing of His glory.

The Joy Dare - Day 5

Today's Joy Dare is...

Three gifts found

13.  Rocks, coins, and "treasures" found at the bottom of the washing machine from little boy bluejean pockets.

14.  Finding rest at the end of a long, productive day.

15.  Finding a tiny, perfect empty bird's nest as a reminder of God's provison. 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.  Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

-- Matthew 6:25-27

source

The Joy Dare - Day 4

Today's dare to live fully...

Three gifts hard to give thanks for

10.  Financial struggles -- trusting on God to show out

11.  Challenging relationships that force humility

12.  Health circumstances out of my control -- requiring full reliance on the Great Physician

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way,

consider it an opportunity for great joy.  

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,

you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." 

--James 1:2-4



The Joy Dare - Day 3

Today's dare to live fully...

Three gifts wore

7.  Catching a glimpse of Justin's worn and scratched wedding band, the one that's rarely been taken off his finger since the day we said our vows.

8.  My family's basic needs of clothing are met...and then some.

9.  The gift of God's armor that we wear daily... ^"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."  --Ephesians 6:11

H's favorite Armor of God pj's