when it itches...

Happiness is having a scratch for every itch.

-Ogden Nash

home for harvest

We try to get back home every summer while Grandpa is cutting wheat. Daddy didn't make it this year... I'm pretty sure he would have preferred to be in the combine helping his dad instead of the hospital.

We also hung out with Minnie and Papaw and had fun picking blackberries, blowing bubbles and playing in the water.

friends, fish n fun

I am so glad we got a pass to the aquarium this year! We've already been three times this summer. The kids love going and it is a nice place to escape the heat.

Jake and Paige are two of the reasons we can't wait to move back home. Their mama, Katie, being a big reason for me. It is so reassuring to know I will have a good friend waiting for me.

They are ahead of us in this thing called residency and will move back in one year and we've got four more. I try not to be too jealous. :) But I look forward to those days when we live just a hop, skip and a jump away from each other.

This boy loves his sharks.

Katie and I envision life-long fishing buddies with these two.

Thanks guys for the action-packed afternoon!

let your light shine down...

Babe.

Do you honestly think I would be ok with this lighting setup?

A perfect example of what I am up against in the home decor department. And the funny thing is this concoction probably never crossed his mind for being a little um, off.

Seriously.

little fish

We've made it through one week of swim lessons. Half way there. Hayes improves everyday. He is still loving it and his teacher says he is "rockin' it!"

The hard part has been for us spectators. It's a bit of a tease, really. Sitting in the shade, watching the kids play in the pool as we drip with sweat. I get cranky when I'm hot. Embry and Ellie get cranky when they're hot. So we try and hold the crankiness off as long as possible... with snacks and beads.

And I wouldn't be me if I didn't mention Hayes' swim trunks. I am making big steps, people. First with character pj's, now character swim trunks... in public. I am coming around to the idea that he loves this stuff and I just need to accept it. And besides, if I get over it now, won't that make things a little easier when he is a teenager? Ha!

it's too dang hot for clothes!

Hayes

(25 months)

Don't ya just want to squish those little cheeks? :)

on my mind

I came across this excerpt from Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church. Too powerful to not pass along...

You passionately love Jesus, but you don't really want to be like Him. You admire His humility, but you don't want to be THAT humble. You think it's beautiful that He washed the feet of the disciples, but that's not exactly the direction your life is headed. You're thankful He was spit upon and abused, but you would never let that happen to you. You praise Him for loving you enough to suffer during His whole time on earth, but you're going to do everything within your power to make sure you enjoy your time down here.

In short: You think He's a great Savior, but not a great role model.

The American church has abandoned the most simple and obvious truth of what it means to follow Jesus: You actually follow His pattern of life. I pray for those who read this article- that we don't become cynical or negative toward the church. Instead, let's make a personal decision to stop talking so much and begin living like Jesus. Then we can say as the apostle Paul, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). My guess is that you've never had someone say that to you, and you've never said it to anyone else. Why Not?

See full article here.