Westside '98

Saturday night was monumental! Joshua had his 10 year high school reunion! Wow- we were sad but laughing at the fact that we've been looking forward to this and anticipating it for over a year and now it has come and gone. It is hard to believe! It was like a photo shoot- we smiled and took pictures for everyone's cameras all night long. It was a blast! My favorite part was seeing Josh's high school pictures on the big screen! Oh my has he changed!

Panama City Beach '08

We had the best time at the beach! None of us wanted to come home. Joshua and I both expressed that we've never had a more relaxing vacation. Jason and Andrea were extremely hospitable and spoiled us rotten. The weather was incredible and we ate good all week long! Grey absolutely loved the beach. He ran in and out of the water over and over. Joshua was such an amazing dad...he played with Grey for hours. I am so proud of him. He can't contain his love for Grey. Not to mention his love for me...he told me one time that he wanted to be all that God wanted him to be, for me (wordy). Well, he is. He is a reflection of true love to me all the time. I am constantly caught off guard by his generosity and service to me. I am so thankful for a husband who loves the Lord and reflects His goodness. Okay, the pictures:

Out of control

God is convinced he is going to teach me how to live out of control. It is a wonder he hasn't given up on me! I want so much to be able to let the rest of my life fade away and simply live out of control moment by moment as He directs. My flesh, on the other hand, gets tired of being a "christian". It just wants to live out of control too, but you know what I mean... I need rest in Christ. I am always trying to figure everything out for myself. Just when I thought my life was starting to smooth out, I am thrown for another loop, hence God reminding me that I am not in control. I am so thankful that He is, even though that is not something I can feel. It is funny how my life might look the same to the people around me, but so many things in my mind are changing. I don't want to look the same anymore. I want God's glory, however he wants to bring it, to show on my face. I want to be changed. How do you give up all that you have to live for him? I'm ready to know.

Shake the Toddler

Whoo, I am so happy for bedtime some days. Grey dropped to one nap a day but it is all he and I can handle! I consider myself a well informed loving mother...actually I love being a mom and think Grey loves having me as his mom! haha However.....(drum roll) there are moments when I want to shake the toddler! I never had that temptation when Grey was an infant despite all the warnings, etc...I need a warning now. My child tells me what cup he wants to use, what shirt he wants to wear, what chair he wants to sit in, and and (listen to this!) which direction to go on the road...yes from his car seat in the back seat. I did say CAR SEAT, didn't I? My not even 2 year old is telling me how to DRIVE!!!! Can someone tell me I'm normal please? I should be thrilled that he is exploring and branching out- using his personality and curiosity...but I'm not. It is so exhausting. He so sweetly requests with manners that I read him a tory...20 times a day. The s is left off intentionally :) He is absolutely irresistible...why can't he just be content to watch tv like those bad kids! ha The funniest thing to me is wherever we are (church, etc) if we have to sit on the potty, I can recite our potty book by heart and so can he....it works like a charm...He can pee anywhere! Well, this sums up my deep feelings of the day. Despite my selfish, tired impatience, when we are taking a bath and Grey's eyelashes are heavy with water, he looks up at me with a sloppy grin and my heart falls in love all over again. Lord, when I don't get enough sleep please give me a gentle spirit. You are always loving toward us.

All About Grey

Grey has really become a "big boy" this Summer. He is doing great using the "potty" but never forgets to ask for his M&M. He is speaking in full sentences, which is so funny to listen to...Daddy and Mommy are watching what they say! Grey is practicing sharing and will say "be nice". He confuses mine and yours so he just says them together, "mine,yours", then of course he keeps it, even though we established the item wasn't his! ha Our favorite is "hold you" and "come here"...absolutely irresistible. I loved the morning at church when God showed me that when I ask Him to "come here" like Grey does, he finds me irresistible too. What a comfort that we have such a loving Daddy in Heaven. It doesn't matter how sleepy I am and lazy on the couch, when Grey grabs my finger and says "come" I am up and going wherever he wants! Yes, he is spoiled with tons of love. Now Grey is beginning to say "different" when I pick a shirt or a drink for him...whatever it is, he wants to pick. Grey had his first haircut 2 weeks ago. It was not fun. He screamed the whole time...looks cute though and the curls DID come back! I am relieved. Well, as my timing goes, next time I blog I will probably be putting 2 year old birthday party pics on here! Life is so much fun!

My poor baby was so sick. It made me so sad!
Here, he is loving life with Elmo!
Swimming in his awesome backyard...fence complete!
Bode and Grey attacking Josh!
Helping Mommy water the plants.

Searching

There is so much to say, I don't know where to begin. My thought is...God. He is all encompassing and mesmerizing. I can't relent in my search for Him, yet sometimes he seems so out of reach. I am in awe how He is able to grab my attention even though my deep desire is never quenched. I just want to be immersed in His presence. I can't find contentment right now. He is everywhere and sometimes He is no where that I look. Why is it that I look in the wrong places first? I can search all that is around me and in front of me but it is in the quiet that I meet Him. Then I say that I can't see Him or feel Him but then I look at my life and He is there. My emotions fail me, but He is there. Strong. Faithful. He is always there. Why has He stripped me of all that I serve? Does He want to meet with me? This is my all time favorite verse/story in the Bible...probably because it find myself alone in desert often (by my own doing usually). "Therefore I am now going to allure her: I will lead her to the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth". Why do I always beg to get out of the desert when it is in the desert that Christ speaks tenderly to me? I hope that He will one day allow me to sing again. The next time that I sing it will be with my heart. There is no other way to worship Him. "God, rock my world"

Sweet Spring Days

I can't get enough of these perfect Spring days. Neither can Grey. He wakes up everyday wanting his shoes so that he can swing and ride in his car and play football. What a blast!!! We are in the process now of building the fence so that he is safe. I can't wait to be lazy. He got new sandals and he wants to sleep in them. Shoe shopping was hilarious. He didn't like Mommy and Mimi trying on without him so we went to his section where he picked out his own and told me to take his off and put the new ones on! I have a friend!


All the moms at Grits and Groceries!!! So much fun to be with the gals. Let's do it again! When I got home my husband had wonderfully surprised me with a fully landscaped garden leading up to my front door. I couldn't ask for more. He loves me!