Friday Phone Dump

Here are some of my favorite pictures from my phone over the past couple of weeks.
Happy Friday!

Summer Sun...in April

One day last week we had a really warm day.  It was reminiscent of summer days.

Since we haven't had many of them yet, I was kind of excited about it and wanted to spend some time outside soaking up the vitamin D.

First, we grabbed our sidewalk chalk and went to town drawing.

  Micah drew a lovely masterpiece that began as Famous and ended as herself wearing a Rapunzel dress :)

{As an aside, it thrills me to watch her going through natural developmental processes as she grows...one of those being the way in which she draws people.  One big circle with the arms and legs extending straight out.  Love love!}

Then, we pulled out the sprinkler that afternoon.

  

Oh my goodness!  The smiles on their faces. So wonderful.

Pure joy.

Brokenness

Yesterday was a sad day.

It was a sad day for anyone who heard of the news out of Boston, but it was particularly sad for the running community.  That hits pretty close to home in this house.  As a woman married to a man who has directed races including two marathons and run 14 others, it was shocking, painful, and sad.  The kind of sad that cuts deep to your bones and rocks you.

My heart is broken for the people in Boston...those that ran, their families, the spectators, the race officials, the medical and emergency personnel.  

My heart is also broken for the person who put these acts into motion.  The darkness is overwhelming.

We are all broken.

Yet, this particular person's brokenness manifested itself in a way that harmed many people.  It tainted what was to be an exciting and celebratory day.

It is so easy to get caught up in that, and I do.  My heart goes to those dark places and grieves with those that lost.  I cling a little tighter to those that I love and make sure that I spend a little more time being present with them and soaking them in because that could've been me. Or my kids. Or my husband.  And, it is okay to go to those lonely places.  God is there.

But, I want to see the goodness too.  I want to see God in the people that rushed to care for the wounded.  I want to see God in the runners that crossed the finish line only to head straight to the hospital to give blood.  I want to see God in the people that are already collaborating to help the Boston Marathon and the city of Boston and those injured in whatever ways possible.

I saw this quote on a friend's facebook page, and I really want to cling to it.  It brings me hope.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers--so many caring people in this world." -Mister Rogers

Praying for all those affected.  

Praying that I will always be someone who points toward the light even in the intense darkness and that I will become part of that light.

29...better than ever!

If you know me or have read this little blog for very long, you know that I love birthdays.  I always have.  

Then I became a mom.

And the whole idea just kind of exploded in my heart.  I love celebrating people and who they are and who God created them to be.  I love celebrating that on the day that they were ushered into this world.

My sweet husband knows this about me, and because he loves me so well, he always makes a big thing out of my birthday in all the perfect ways for me.  I don't love big parties and lots of attention, but what I do love are thoughtful moments that combine to make the day special.

If this year is anything like my birthday, I am in for the best one yet.

It all began with an amazing dinner at our favorite "super special occasion" restaurants.

Then, Chris surprised me with an overnight stay at a little cabin, about 10 minutes from our house, at a place called 7-F Lodge.

  It was a little piece of heaven. Good conversation without being interrupted. Beautiful scenery. Wine and strawberries. The Les Miserables soundtrack. Amazing.

So, we retreated and relaxed, and that was only the beginning.

Breakfast basket in our cabin with lots of goodies...I couldn't even choose, clearly, so I just sampled almost everything.  Breakfast with a view...I mean, come on.

Next up was a couples massage in our cabin.

Oh.my.word. Heaven.

After all of that, we packed up and headed to pick up our kids, but Chris took more time off of work so that I could go have lunch and get a pedicure with my sister.

So much mommy time I could die.

I felt refreshed for an afternoon with my kids.

We had sushi for dinner.  So delish.

And cookie cake for dessert.  My favorite.

 

Why does it have to taste so good but be so bad for you???

We ended the night with wine and Steel Magnolias.

See?!?  Perfect.

My day was so amazing and wonderful, and I feel enormously blessed just to spend my days with these precious people. 

 

They are mine.

Easter

"But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, 'Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here!  He is risen from the dead!"

Luke 24:1-6

Hallelujah!  He is alive!

Sister, Sister

Back on March 22, we celebrated my big sister's 31st birthday.

Her birthday is one of my favorite days because she is one of my favorite people.  I've never known a single day of life without her, and I am so thankful for that.  

For 29 years, she has been with me, and because we have seen and experienced so many things together, we are bonded forever.  We became best friends in high school, and although we have had some ups and downs since, she is still one of my best friends.  

We celebrated on her actual day at our house with a little finger food dinner and one big cupcake.

The next night, several of Lindsey's friends came into town, and we all went out for Mexican food to celebrate her life.  She is loved.

Her birth day is always special to me, and I am seriously grateful for the ways the Lord created her and gifted her.  But, this birthday was even more special because after living with us for 6 1/2 months, she was about to move to New York City just 2 weeks after.  

The past 6 1/2 months have been just so sweet.  Lindsey has been able to love on my kids, and they have eagerly received love from their LeeLee.  She and Micah shared a room, and they became buddies.  Beckett would call for LeeLee each morning while he got his diaper changed.

Lindsey has worked so hard to become healthy in all ways, and I could not be more proud of her.

We are so excited for her new adventure, but we are pretty sad for us.

We really miss her around her, but we have so many wonderful memories that we will cherish for always from the time that she lived with us.

Filled with hope and love for this special lady.