deep fried miracle

Here they are!! It is so much fun to be moms together and watch these little ones grow. Total gift. Two weeks ago, Sarah was randomly home and miraculously we were all able to meet for a play date at Short Pump on a Friday morning. With a full-time teacher, a corporate business woman, a pastor's wife (x3), and a dipolmat's wife currently living in Africa, this was nothing short of a miracle that we could all "pop by" for a Chic Fil A lunch. It was the worst possible day to be at SP. Rainy, dreary, cold, bleh! No matter. We had the best time. I would gladly drive an hour and a half to watch someone, no matter who, have a melt-down. Laugh together, or cry alone! Laugh we did. Are they not the cutest things?!!

sanctified on sale

I've delayed posting due to a lack of pictures. Whatever. I'm over it.

So, I've been thinking lately about materialism. Ugh... I know, right? I told you He was being ruthless. You know the question lurks in the back of your mind. Do I have too much?? How much is too much?? If you are like me, you want to walk the fine line between delighting in what God has given you while remaining unattached to the things of this world. Maybe you want to have just enough to remain "culturally relevant" and not too much that your Christian brothers and sisters question your true affections. Things are not intrinsically evil. Treasuring gifts above the Giver is. So how much can I have and still glorify Him??

I love a clearance item. I've found myself glued to the sale racks. I've reasoned that if I don't spend outside my budget then I'm not treasuring things. The only trouble with that is...frugality does NOT equal Godliness. In fact, I think that in my attempts to save, I have dishonored God by treasuring things. It is a flat out lie that wealthy people are the only ones who struggle with materialism. You don't have to have a lot to WANT a lot. Even if "a lot" is the big bag of baby clothes you netted on Craig's List.

I want to be free. Free from things. Able to have and enjoy. Not bound to the Gymboree discount bins or proud that I never have to grace one. Free from feeling the need to justify what I have and yet confident enough in Christ to question what I have in a healthy way. So I'm questioning...and praying that my questioning and self-examination doesn't kill thankfulness.

How about you?

pumpkin man

John Hawken. You are 9 months old!!! You are my pumpkin man. You truly melt my heart, little boy. You smile more than any baby I've ever seen. You like to clap for yourself. You are impatient for your food. You go down for naps so easily and never fight it as long as you are in your cozy sleep sack. You smile at your Buzz and hug him. You scoot, but no crawling yet. I've cut your hair twice already and like it kind of short. I can't wait to see how handsome you look in your Easter outfit (that I haven't gotten yet!). You adore Gracie and think she is so funny. You love to wrestle, tumble and be flipped upside down. You love music and are mesmerized by the guitar. I think you are the most adorable, sweetest thing in the whole world. I love you! It's almost ten (feels like 1 am) and I'm so tired that this is all I've got. Mothering is so exhausting, but you are worth it!

Mommy

juicy gossip

I figured I should spice it up a bit here on the blog. My sitemeter told me there were ZERO visits last week. Tragic, ya'll. So while my man runs out to Harris Teeter for some icecream that I will try NOT to feel guilt over eating, I thought I'd hop on here and update.

I never used to think I struggled with the whole quintessential woman issue of gossip. In fact, it was one of those vices that I clearly noticed in others. Since God has already addressed my critical spirit, I think He is moving on to addressing my under cover gossip issue. He is being ruthless these days! I seriously cannot get away with anything without major pangs of conviction. I'm so thankful, but it is not pleasant. At the a29 bootcamp in Louisville this past fall, I sat in on the wives tracks. Jani Ortlund led at least one of the sessions. She is one of the most amazing, Godly women I have ever met. She radiated wisdom, purity, strength, courage, and joy. One of the things she said has been ringing in my ears these days. As a safe guard against gossip she applies the rule, "never about, always to." Never talk about someone. Only talk TO someone. God has been highlighting to me when I am talking about someone and has been challenging me to focus on only talking TO someone instead. Even if what I am saying is good and praise worthy, it could border on gossip.

I refuse to be a busy body who has too little going on in her own life that she resorts to other people's business. May God give me enough of Him to talk about that I'm not groping for lesser subject matter!

I went on amazon and got Jani's book, Fearlessly Feminine. I am only into the first chapter, but it is really good!

no sense

PETUNIA GIVE-A-WAY

A blog is offering a petunia give-a-way for their fabulous new heirloom bag! Hope I win!

fancy this feast

I intercepted Grace moments before a total mess. Behold the mind of the Doodle Bug.