Today

My heart hurts. I wouldn't normally post something like this but I cant think of any other way to get the thoughts out of my head other than to jot them down.

Good friends of ours lost their son today.

I've known them for years. That little boy (not nearly as little today) was one of the few who got our sunday school lessons in the early church plant years when my brother and sister and I were in charge and we were just barely older than anyone else.

All i know is i wasn't sure how to react. so i've pretty much spent the day - angry. Just confused and angry instead of wrapping my arms around my children and loving them for who they each are. There are so so many pressures today facing people. No, its not what God intended for us. We were to love Him and nothing else.

I can't imagine the grief of losing a child or what the Lord has in store for our future but I need to be glad for today and everything the present holds.

We just watched "Pollyanna" tonight (perfect God timing as it came in the mail today) and there is always something to be glad about. What a contagious effect her glad game had on the whole town. I can only imagine what it would do for our house or town or country.

Even though i'm not sure why God chose today to take him home, I do know that "His plans are not my plans, nor His ways my ways".

Give me Your eyes to see what You see, Lord.
Let me rejoice and be glad in it!

Thankful Thursday

Something someday will make me laugh if I ever print our blog at how I still titled these little random posts on thursday when they very rarely appear on a thursday. maybe when my nest is less full. doubtful.

Spent the morning doing one of my most favorite things - junking. Nothing better.

So so thankful that my hubs spent the morning with the kiddos after his long run. They are all napping when I got home and its such a beautiful sight and fills my heart with the silence and peace of a napping family.

I have actually been scribbling thankfuls in my cute journal, amazing what a cute notebook can do.

Here they are...as always totally random...

1. A daddy who willing goes back for a second tiss (kiss) upon his daughter's request prior to leaving for work. Love him!
2. How the kids thought Sage should learn something during school this week. So we taught him his colors.
3. Hearing Sage say his cousins names
4. Seeing ours play so well with their cousins. Love that they are close in age and see each other often
5. Miss Shaye's dance moves - she gave us all a good laugh. Love her.
6. the ripening elderberries - jam making here we come
7. how involved my grandma is - she is coming down to make juice and jam with me this week
8. the random weather - sometimes hot, sometimes cool
9. beautiful sunrises and sunsets - clouds like from a movie
10. the hubs get it done attitude - gotta have one of those around here
11. connecting with old friends
12. missionaries who answer the call - leaving it all behind
13. the power of a testimony
14. free stuff (my new map) and little treasures I scored today for almost free
15. racing and jumping off furniture that goes on (at least i should be thankful as they love to play - i just need to let them)

Hope you all enjoy Saturday. We are off to a birthday party. Shadd has been counting down the days. Loves to celebrate. It will be more fun with the cousins.

Now I need to go sweet talk my hubs prior him entering the garage to see my newest chair. I think I may have an addition. If you are in need of great one, holler. I seem to be running into ones I just can't pass up these days. I scored two today for a grand total of $6. Wish me luck.

The rest of Sage's One Year Pics

So these are old. I mean like three months old. Whoops. Beautiful pictures taken by Carly. Check her out if you need someone..she does an AMAZING job.


So well here they are. I guess I need to get them posted before we take some family fall ones.

This is the face, Carly got after telling him "no" as he climbed to the top of the ladder. It took a moment but it came - full puckered lip. 

And the very best...I think it could make a comic strip. 

See if you can tell the story. 

We know the innocent one, uh? Oh sweet sweet Ells. You love to pick and pester. And then there's Shadd not sure if he wants to be included in this trouble. 

A day in the life. Not much more perfectly captured. 

Little Man

Sage is offically a little man. Got his first professional buzz. And he looks at least a year older. Amazing. Here is a before and after. 

The little dude is growing up.

I never really thought he looked just like D till he started sporting the new cut. His expressions are a carbon copy of D. Melts my heart.

Its thursday

oh boy. thursday again and no other blogging. well i guess if i remember this year it can at least be through my thankfuls. nothing at all wrong with that, uh?

um and yes there is officially my own gratitude notebook laying on my counter. now if only i can discipline myself to stop and write down the moments. time will tell.

so without further ado...this weeks...drum roll please. just kidding.

1. fall is coming - secretly love the season. always wanted a fall baby. maybe someday. maybe. (no babies on the way for this momma - although all my loving on my newest nephew and other little bugs doesn't help) but really who doesn't love rolled jeans, loafers, sweaters, no coats, football - i mean best season ever hands down
2. how my shaddy keeps begging for chili (its like already hot buddy)
3. how sage mimics his brother and sister - tonite he was reading in his crib alongside his brother - every so often checking over to make sure he was still on board.
4. how big sage is. i mean he is still teeny yet he acts like he is 5.
5. what a big protective brother shadd is. i'm one lucky momma. he will watch him carefully if i need to run into the house for something or take ellsyn to the potty. not many moms can leave there 5 year old in charge. but he is the greatest or at least i think so.
6. reading big books like heidi and polyanna with Ellsyn & Shadd.
7. quiet run in the country. yep we live close enough
8. crazy adventures hitting up the hwy 141 garage sales with my momma and the kids. lets just say we are lucky i only have three currently otherwise we are in need of a trailer or something.
9. new recipes - baked chicken fajitas. i got rated a 9 out of 10. too big chicken pieces was my fault
10.  my mother in law's cinnamon rolls - she did just win the state fair contest with her caramel rolls and got 3rd for frosted ones. they are the BEST!
11. apple support - finally after lots of searching figured out a problem in photo editing.
12. tuesday morning bible study
13. deep friendships
14. full summer nights - playing with neighbors, bike rides, ice cream, errands, playing at the park.
15. flexibility with d's job. love that he can come home early, go in late. be around. very very thankful!
16. 10 am pool available = life saver

Nothing too crazy for us this weekend yet I doubt much blogging will happen. D's running to work tomorrow. Funny. But a great way to squeeze in the 16 mile run he has to get in this week. Last weekend he ran to Panera Bread, his choice for me to grab some bagels. Always thinking that guy. In a few weeks he's got to get 20 miles in and might just run to Wtown as its about the perfect trip pre church don't you think. Why oh why did he sign up for that marathon. I guess we are only young once uh?

Oh yeah and hoping to catch the sweet corn festival parade, plus maybe snag a few ears of corn. Another one of Shaddy's favorites. He ate three ears yesterday for lunch. Not much else but how can you complain.

So what have we been doing?

Heres my wrap up through pictures.

a little mini golf

chilin out with dad

crusing around town

garage sales

the pool

treats 

playing inside

playing in our back yard

playing in our front drive

and a summer staple - SLEEP: wherever, whenever

I haven't had the big camera out much but able to snap a few to capture life at the our house in full summer swing. Oh I'm getting ready for fall. Yet that means my last to cherish with Shadd before he's off to school. I'm far from ready for that day! They just grow up way way too fast.