Watch out David Beckham!

So we have participated in our first team sport. What fun! It's called Bitty Soccer, we met 6 times over three weeks, we had 2 practices, 1 scrimmage, and 3 games. Then it's over! Not too much and just enough. I must admit I was a very proud mother. John and I watched as Benjamin kicked harder and with better aim than any of the others! (Well, maybe.) As we were walking out I was talking to another mother and we were debating this question. I want to pose it to all of you all out there and see what you think and what your experience has taught you. In life, I want him to learn to do things with excellence. To play to the best of his abilities, to not take advantage of the opportunity he has been afforded, and to grow in his skills and abilities. He really does have some athletic ability. I also want him to gain from team experiences, learning from others, and working together, depending on others. How do you balance that with love and humility? I want to encourage him but not push him. Challenge him but not stress him out. I don't want to be "that mom." You know? Anyway, we couldn't come to any valuable conclusions, so if you have any ideas let me know. Oh to raise sons in the 21st century. . . .

We thought this was really funny and should be shared with all we love and love to entertain. :) Summer has arrived in full force and we are most definitely excited. Love to all!

To the train!

Well, for a quick update we finally made it to the train at the zoo. This time it was a family affair, mothers get to ride free on Mother's Day. :) Sadly, of course, it didn't turn out to be quite as exciting as we had once thought. It was really fun and even better since we got to ride the tram too. We saw the tigers, cheetah's, kangaroos, and gorillas. What fun! Benjamin is already asking about when we get to ride again (and yes, it was that short of a ride!) Oh well, it's just one more proof that Jesus coming back will be really exciting, even more that the train at the zoo.

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first!"

Amen and amen!

More Arkansas Friends!

Though I don't have all the pics yet, I thought I would go ahead and share about the fun we had this weekend and the power of long-standing relationships. The Lord has been so gracious to give me wonderful friends, even ones who will stay around through all my craziness and wild-eyed Jesus talking. Blair Luper Wood is one of those who came into my life in 10th grade, as a sophomore in high school, and now as a wonderful mother she and her family came for a visit. Blair, Brian, Kate and Davis came up late Friday night and we had about the funnest day ever on Saturday. We went and ate pancakes and the International House of Pancakes (not prayer!) and then went to this great farm/playground/picnic place with a fishing pond. Check it out- Deanna Rose's Farmstead

Nonetheless, we had a ball and can't express how wonderful it is to be with old friends, but also how wonderful it is to be united in heart through this crazy ride called motherhood. Blair, it's a pleasure to be on it with you. You are great at what you do!

Arkansas friends. . .

Okay, so a couple of weekends ago, the boys and I went to Fayetteville and John went to a conference in Minnesota. While we were there, my mom was in charge of keeping a dear friend, Baby Josiah. Josiah is the son of my high school friend MeMe Hagers (and her husband Jeff). Anyway, it was hilarious watching the boys interact and I thought I would show you a choice picking of the weekends activities.
First we were a bit sad.



Then we had a great time! (in our matching pj's of course)



Then Samuel wanted to sit REALLY close, but our new friend didn't seem to mind too much.



By the end of the weekend, we all had lots of fun in the bath!



And we were a little bit tired after all the fun. . .



Nonetheless, I am ever grateful for my dear friend MeMe and love her more than I did the day we met, as long ago as that was. Though we live far apart, it was wonderful to get to spend time playing with and holding her baby. Though our hearts are joined in the Lord and motherhood, it still makes a difference to get my hands on that sweet one. I feel like I know him better now, and maybe he'll learn a bit more about his LiLi. Sweet friends. . . .

Are we big enough yet?

Before
After


Well, it appears that my youngest has taken the next step into toddlerhood. I am not sure which was a bigger deal. He slept through the night (until 6:30) in his own bed last night. He went through two outfits today because he had such fun playing outside. OR He got his first haircut today. Though it was sad for me, it was not as bad as Benjamin first (I was deathly afraid that his curls were going to get cut off and never come back!) Samuel was not all that enthused with the process, but I think it went really well and he looks just great. Thanks Deanna!

Fun in the mud

So, here we were this afternoon, not having all that much to do. Daddy wasn't coming home at the normal relief time, since he's in Minneapolis. We decided to have some fun and though I should have probably changed him into something less cute, or at best removed his shoes, he had an amazing time! I have been fighting him out of the mud for the last week with all the rain, and today we all cut loose! We played, had baths at 5:15, ate dinner, read books and were all in bed by 8. It's an all out record when daddy's not home. Oh well, I thought you would all enjoy-

The zoo or the return of Christ?

Today after church John and I shared a very exciting surprise with Benjamin. Today was a special "boys day." But even more special because it was only for Benjamin and Daddy, not even Samuel or anyone else could go with them. And to make it even more exciting, they were going to go to the zoo. And to make it even better, they were going to the zoo just to ride the train. Now you must know that every time I take the kids to the zoo Benjamin just about has a heart attack walking across the tracks, and waiting for it to come. He thinks it is about the coolest thing in the world and he has never yet ridden it. Well, today in the car he said about the coolest thing. He immediately freaked and began shaking in a strange, happy, seizure kind of way while still staying in the car seat and attempting to spit out some words. By the time we figured it out, he was saying that this was as exciting as when Jesus comes back to the earth. At first glance it seems that statement might be a bit blasphemous, but after thinking about it I am thrilled that the only thing that he could correspond to his excitement of the train was the return of the Christ. Next time we'll talk about how Jesus is probably a little bit better than the train at the zoo, but until then I am grateful that he is excited at all.

Church this morning. . .

We had a great service this morning. Well, at least I am pretty sure we did. Samuel attempted to go to his class for the second time and we just didn't make it more than about 10 minutes. I must say, I love that I go to a church that calls the mommies. There are at least 5-10 mommy numbers that pop up on the screen every week and it makes me feel much better to leave my children in hands that understand the power of the mommy. I call it the mommy factor. We didn't really see this factor come out in Benjamin, more often than not we still see the daddy factor in our eldest. But not in sweet Samuel. Sometimes no one else can ail the saddened heart. No one else can make it better, and for some reason, no one else can understand how sad he is except for mommy. I know, I'm the last to admit it, but I love my boys more than life. I always thought that mommies with crying babies had it the hardest. I am beginning to see that there is something powerful in the connection I have with my son. I have envied after that connection between Benjamin and John. I have loved watching it grow and develop. I can't wait to see how Samuel and I grow in love as he grows into boyhood. But for now, I will take him back into church with me, sit eating peanut butter crackers, and know that for the moment, Mommy was able to make all things in the world right again. Someday this too will pass and hopefully he will cling to the One who will truly make all things in the world right.

The Singing Sensation. . .

Okay, so we all know how much I long to brag on my children and here's another opportunity. I heard, before having children, that the Lord uses these little people to teach us about himself. I sometimes get so caught up in how to teach them about the Lord that I forget it goes the other way too. Last night was a mighty example. We either sing songs OR read a book before we go to bed, and last night Benjamin wanted to sing songs. Well, as with most things in life right now, he wanted to not follow the "rules" but do something out of the ordinary. He wanted to sing Christmas carols. After some persuasive talking, daddy and I decided that Christmas in the spring may not hurt anyone. Especially when one sings with such gusto. I have once again been reminded that sometimes the things that I think are important and necessary don't really matter. Before the Lord, it's the state of our heart that matters, and I think my little boy has it down. Thanks Benjamin for the reminder.