Another reason. . .

Here is another reason why I like summer soooo much, and dislike winter with an even greater fervency.  

 

And there are so many more.  That's just the white load.  hmph.

Grandparents... and the village.

 

Grandparents.  We have some really good ones.  I know, I'm a little bit biased, but really.  We have some really good ones.  About a year after the oldest little chief was born I had the opportunity to spend a week working in inner-city Memphis.  I left my oldest (and only at the time) with his grandparents.  I spent the whole week moaning and groaning to anyone who would listen- about how much I missed him.  And, make no mistake.  I did miss him.  However, during that week, the Lord spoke to me so clearly about a number of things.  Things I would not have heard had I been in my daily life, functioning the same as always.  One of those things came through a mother who lived in inner-city Memphis.  We were talking about mothering, schools, and children, life, and the Lord.  I had told her about my child, staying away for a week, getting spoiled by his grandparents.  She then told me something I will never forget.  "Grandparents are supposed to be spoiling the grandchildren.  It is NOT your job or mine to spoil our children, but it is the job of the grand.  They can build your child's self-esteem while you remember to put him in his place.  Both are very necessary."  I thought on it a while.  As a new mom, I hadn't had the chance to decide how I felt about the role of other people in our little family life.  Since then, I have looked back and realized what she said was profound in two ways.

First, it is not my job to spoil my child.  It is my job to love him unconditionally, to care for him, to consider his heart, train him up in the Word of God, live before him with a servant's heart, and obey the Savior as an example of life.  It is my job to correct him, to teach him what voices to listen to, and to remind him that He is also saved from death.  Being a parent is an incredible thing.  I love it and I take it very seriously.

However, it also planted something else in my heart that has become very central to my life.  I am not the only one meeting the needs of my children.  I have said for years (in jest) that it takes a village to raise a child and yet, I find myself suddenly aware of my own shortcomings.  I am fallen.  I am selfish.  I am tired.  I am only me.  So, at the end of the day, I am thrilled that when I fall short our grandparents will speak life over my children.  They will pray over them, they will love them, they will play with them.  And it is in those moments, when I can stop and hear the Lord, that He renews my heart.  He reminds me that I am their mother, that He can be strong in my weakness, and more than ever, He loves them more that I do.  And that's all that matters.

SO, for all of you who have been asking, I love our new blog title.  I love the fact that we desire real relationships with people, in real community.  Where we can support one another, love one another, and spur one another on towards the Lord.  My community is sometimes in my home, sometimes in Arkansas, and sometimes over skype (Go Egypt peeps) and facebook (shout out to my Seminary peeps!).  Whatever it looks like, I strive to live life with people who are longing for the same thing.  Wherever the village may take us and whatever it may look like.  Let's do it together instead of alone.  For we are all waiting for the same Savior to return, putting our hope that He will make all things right, and that He will judge and restore the earth.

"And so will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;
it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power." 

1 Corinthians 15:42-43

"All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. . . . They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily 

those who were being saved."  

Acts 2:44-47

Quote of the Day . . . .

SO, me and the oldest little chief were sitting at the bar doing homework.  I looked out the front window and the beautiful leaves were falling from the trees.  It was really amazing.  I told Benjamin, and he looked out the window, thinking for a moment.  He looked at me and said,

"It's pretty. (pause)   I looks like the leaves are having a war with the grass!!!"

Really, I am a woman living in a house full of men/boys. 

Things I saw today. . .

I am working hard some days to remember what the Lord sees.  I am convinced that sometimes we get completely bogged down in what we see, which is sometimes miserable and without hope.  SO, today, I thought about the Lord's eyes more and this is what I found.  (also maybe just some regular old funny-ness as well!)

A sweet sleeping baby. . .

A beautiful morning out my front window.  See, the sun
shining on the yellow trees in the background?  Amazing. . .

Homework:  NUMBER 26. itch (no matter what that looks like) 

Fall is all around.  Life is slowing down, but not going away forever. 
In their last days before winter, the trees are beautiful.

A week with the only great, great . . . an overview in pictures.

 

Well, we have had a fantastic week.  My grandmother's twin sister, my great aunt, and my kids only great-great remaining, came up for a visit and we have had much fun!  As you can tell, Bethany is getting so much bigger and she loves for her brothers to hold her. 

 

There was reading every night.  Both reading by the great-great and reading by the big boy!

  

There was a trip to the zoo, but sadly the camera battery was dead, so there are no pics of that fabulous event.  However, we spent the next day at a huge botanical gardens, Powell Gardens, where we saw all kinds of plants.  In this pic we were at the top of a silo, looking down on the vegetable gardens planted in the shape of a quilt pattern.  Two things this amazing woman knows a lot about- vegetable gardens and quilts.  :)

 

Samuel just being cute with his daddy.

 

And running through fountains.  What could be more fun?

All this to say, I have many thoughts about the times with my great aunt.  She is a precious one from the Lord, and we both have times of sadness as the memories of Gigi are so close.  I haven't the time tonight to process it all through, but I will say this much.  I am incredibly grateful to the Lord for placing ones in my life who are testimonies of His love and this woman is no different.  She has lived many years, and some of the most recent have been hard.  And yet, she is content in her spirit, patient in her heart, and kindness wells up from within.  I am blessed getting to know her better and look forward to every moment the future may hold.