my buddy...

Anybody remember this guy?? I am sortof a freak when it comes to remembering stuff like this (shout out to this girl)... I mean, for example, the skip it jingle, rainbow brite, popples, teddy ruxpin, big wheels, the theme song to Care Bears, Lite Brite and the ever awesome My Buddy and Kid Sister. If you were a kid in the 80's, you should still know every word and the tune to the below jingle...

“My Buddy, My Buddy,
Wherever I go, he goes.
My Buddy, My Buddy,
I’ll teach him everything that I know…

My Buddy and me
Like to climb up a tree.
My buddy and me
We're the best friends that could be.

My Buddy, My Buddy
My Buddy and Meeeee!”

Now, yes, I am the first to admit there is a slight resemblence to Chucky and actually dolls (and puppets) kindof creep me out...BUT, the catchiness of the jingle just got in my brain and lately we have been referring to the beaubaby as the "beau buddy" sometimes...even singing the song inserting his name...see below example.

"beau buddy, beau buddy,

wherever I go, he goes..."

Dang that catchy jingle.

Of course...I think MY buddy is way cuter...and a lot less creepy. :)

In sickness and in health...

Five weeks today of our little family being sick. Colds, eye infections, violent virus, fevers, coughs, ear infection and now bronchiolitis. I must admit I have been feeling very tired, beat down, and frustrated. I even have had thoughts of why can't we catch a break, why can't I keep them well, why I can't get a shower :), why my work schedule, recent new workout routine, errand running, and hangouts are being disturbed, etc. The last 5 weeks have been a very hard, probably one of the harder I have up to this point, but yet a clarifying time. As through all this Christ is showing me my selfishness, my total lack of control, my need for Him, and my need to be still. I have no right to expect and no promise that my little schedule and my little life is always going to be perfectly undisturbed...in fact, the opposite...These are all things I know in my head. But how do they work out in my life? How do I take the Almighty God and not have Him be a compartmentalized part of my life, but throughout everything in my life, even this? Hard one. One I have been struggling through with friends and family. One Skip and I are working on -- how we raise our family. I am not the most disciplined person when it comes to reading the Word and having "quiet times". But I am discovering that is not "it" anyway. The past 5 weeks, He has driven me to Him, and He has shown me my sinful desires...again. It all sortof culminated for me at a point when I truly didnt know what to do one day i was home from work with them sick. I just wanted to curl up on the couch and nap. But instead, I opened Psalms. I turned off the tv. I prayed. I think He is faithful to strengthen your desire for more of Him the more you are with Him. I truly want to want Him, to fight the things that pull me in the other direction. And man, the flesh is strong. I want to understand that in all this illness of the current moment, I am blessed beyond measure,...to change my thinking. To think of orphans, Haiti, all the sickness and horror in the world and be not only reminded of my sin and what a blessed life I lead, but also of the call I have to live out the gospel in my life -- to keep working towards what that looks like here in this place, this bubble we live in. Of course, I cannot do any of this...only Him working in me, which is a constant process. Sanctification. I will continue to stumble, struggle, and plod along sometimes...

Psalm 23. "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not be in want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures, He restores my soul..." This is what I read today and "restore" is my second word of the year. Refresh and restore. As I am worrying about my baby girl's fever right now, crying because I am so tired and just need a good cry, I pray he brings us all back to health...and I hope that through this, He teaches me more about myself, reveals more about Himself. Stirs me to want Him more in sickness AND in health...and to find my joy and restoration in Him.

P.S. I wouldn't mind getting back to the gym either :) I miss the elliptical.
P.P.S. Major props to my husband for his help, patience, flexibility and care through all this too. It takes an amazing person to not only put up with my moments of insanity in weeks like this, but to get snot on his shirt, thrown up on, and get down in the trenches with me...thanks, love you babe! :)

my sweet baby girl...

Time for a Reesie story...there are so many. everyday she does funny things and says new words, and has some major sass going on, puts her hands on her hips and everything. So cute. (I know it probably won't be so cute in 10 years) Anyway, she loves to spend hours setting up tea parties, playing beauty shop, dressing up like a princess, and dancing. She is singing every hour of the day she is awake. Always smiling. I am definitely in love with her :)
So the other morning, before she woke up, I went in and crawled in bed with her...she likes to "cuddle". She woke up, rolled over, put her little hand on my cheek, and said with all the conviction and sweetness in her little body, "Mommy, you are beautiful." Talk about heart melting. It is so sweet to see what this innocent little child sees, not swayed yet by the world's definition of beauty. Very refreshing.
Then today, we were attending a tea party in her room and she said to me, "Mommy, I am going to go get married in my closet", then disappears into her closet with her crown, purse, play jewelry and butterfly wings. Oh how I love these moments...(They help when the whining, throwing up and moments like that come :) )
My prayer continues to be for her health, safety, happiness, growth, and above all, her salvation. I pray that skip and I continue to develop in our love, patience and joy with her, and that we are constantly looking to Christ for her and that she is able to see Him in us. I am far far from perfect and never will be. I lose patience and get frustrated. I make mistakes every day as a parent. I am a sinner. But I continue to ask for forgiveness, seek Him, and petition Him to keep purifying me to make me more like Himself.
So I hope you all get the opportunity to hang out with Reesie and beaubaby because they are both the best and cutest ever! Of course, I might be a tad bit biassed. :)

a soul, refreshed.

i love the word refresh--"to provide new vigor and energy through rest, food, etc., to stimulate, to make fresh again, reinvigorate or cheer." there are many things that are refreshing to my soul : church, curling up on the couch with my favorite blanket, thinking of childhood memories, a fire in the fireplace, a good Alias marathon, rain, a date night with Skip, time in the Word, a good photograph, a Sunday afternoon nap, breakfast with my daddy, a hug from my mom, Reese singing in her sweet little voice, hearing Beau laugh, writing a letter, getting a letter in the mail, the smell of Gain laundry detergent, a new pair of jeans, helping someone in need, a friend calling just because, reconnecting, a girls night, a clean house, some good mexican food, sitting at Starbucks by myself, being alone in the mountains, a beautiful sky, laughing a for real laugh, winning a game night, ..I could go on and on. But for sure one of my top 3 soul refreshers is time with a dear friend. And I mean genuine, honest, happy, sad, nitty gritty, TIME. Time looking each other in the eye, talking about life, talking about the Lord, being transparent with each other, admitting hard things, encouraging each other, sometimes crying, alot of times laughing, spurring each other to grow, refreshing each other's souls...This past year I had a lot of lonely moments missing those kinds of moments. there are a myriad or reasons why we often let too much time go between these meetings...working full time, kids, laziness, selfishness, pride, etc, and relationship with Christ also has a direct effect on this as well. but i continue to fight against those things. (please don't send me hate mail for this...but i think facebook can be one too if we're not careful...very good "virtual" relationship creator...why do people need to know where each other are all the time and what we are doing? Its kindof silly. Im actually not a big fan of what it creates among people. Not saying its totally evil or anything. moderation. but I am thankful that we do not have internet on our phones!) Ok, now that we are past that soapbox :) Anyway, lately, now that I am working part time, spending more time with my kiddos, praying that the Lord would renew my heart and mind, resting in Him...He has faithfully given moments like this. Times like this. Conversations like this. these types of relationships are rare and few, they take pruning, cultivating, love and effort. thank you to the people out there that refresh my soul...through your words, through your silence, through your ministry, through breakfasts, lunches, dinners and coffees, through your gifts, through your help, through your advice, through having fun together, through your laughter, through your hugs, through forgiveness, through your notes and cards, through how you challenge me, through your Christ-likenss, through living life alongside me. i love you. my soul stands refreshed.

I won!

We all know how I love winning. I was given the "over the top" blogger award from my dearest Emily to help me keep my blogging resolution...so I am faithfully answering these questions with one word answers. Fun!...(and kind of hard :) )

1. Where is your cell phone? lap
2. Your hair? wet
3. Your mother? strong
4. Your father? hero
5. Your favorite food? Mexican
6. Your dream last night? work
7. Your favorite drink? dr.pepper
8. Your dream / goal? Europe
9. What room are you in? Living
10. Your hobby? organization
11. Your fear? insignificance
12. Where do you want to be in six years? mothering
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren't? confrontational
15. Muffins? yes
16. Wish list item? rangerover
17. Where did you grow up? arlington
18. Last thing you did? shower
19. What are you wearing? Pj's
20. Your TV? Alias
21. Your pets? never
22. Friends? life
23. Your life? Sovereignty
24. Your mood? tired
25. Missing someone? alexanders :)
26. Vehicle? corolla
27. Something your not wearing? socks
28. Your favorite store? Target
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. What was the last time you laughed? tonight
31. Last time you cried? church
32. Your best friend? skip
33. One place that I could go over and over? NYC
34. One person who emails you regularly? bosses
35. Favorite place to eat? saltgrass

I pass this award on to:

-Jenn: because, bullseye.

-Andrea: because, game show soulmate.

-Jenna: because, pickle chips.

-Julie: because, just because.

New Year's Blogging Resolution

I have decided that this year (I kindof hate labeling things as resolutions because I don't really like resolutions per say...but, the new year is a good fresh jumping off point to get things going that maybe have been put off)...anyway, I have decided that this year I am going to get back to blogging. True blogging, not just pictures. i love writing so much and I want to spend more time doing things like writing instead of DVR overload. Don't even know if anyone is out there anymore, but, I'm going to write anyway. I know you are dying to know what was in my car when I cleaned it out, my opinion on crock pots, and how I feel about turning 30 :) But seriously, also I want this to be a journal of sorts of my thoughts, experiences, family, and what the Lord is doing in my life...if for no one else but me. So...here we go. Somebody out there keep me accountable...Mom. :)