Branson or Bust

Helicopter Ride: The Highlight of the Trip

The End Result

Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City

Caleb's Reactuion when we told him we were going home today

A Bridge

Go Karts

Mommy sticking it to the Man

Determined

Daddy and E Bumper Boats

E on the Trampoline Jump

The Flooded Mine

Shoot Out

Believe or Not: We just Arrived

They Just Took Off

Hangin' by the '55 Chevrolet

Cakes and Cream

Helicopter Ride: Caleb's First Time Up

White Water

Splash A Torium at Our Hotel

I'm Ready, See!

Just Jump!

We're Ready for the Pool

Be in the Moment

It's already half way through the first month of summer and time feels like it's flying! We leave Saturday for a short trip to Missouri. After months of talking myself in and out of various destinations, we settled on Branson. It's kid friendly with lots to do and cheap! Cheap being the best part in Rick's mind.

We still trust that GM is going to keep his dealership open despite our best guess that nothing is for sure. Alas, Rick reminds me that God is in control and who holds us...but I can't help but wonder what would happen if that trial was dealt us.

However, I have very little time to think on that. With Ethan giving himself a hair cut and Caleb's incessant need to be outside...who has time to worry about the big stuff? After all, it's the small stuff that keeps one's life a buzz.

Today, we're headed to the zoo. And then back home to try and clean some more and work to get the house organized before we leave. This morning, Rick announced to me that he'd really like to declutter and give some things away and have the house just so before we leave so we, and I quote, "Don't' come home to a messy house."

Ha! I thought to myself...that'll be interesting to try and accomplish but I know he's right.

It's times like these that I really lament the fact that we're not planning some wonderful trip to some far off place to get lost in another culture...just the two of us again.

I'm always hoping for the next big thing to distract me. Sometimes I fall into a bit of a funk over the day to day...and then I remind myself...there are millions of people out there who wish they only had it so good as myself and my family. If not billions...

I took some time to reflect on this the other night. I have so much to be thankful for...from where I was born, to when I was born, to whom I spend my days with and what I spend my days doing. I don't live in fear of my life or not knowing where my next meal will come from. I have healthy children and many wonderful luxuries at my disposal. And while I'd like to be a globe trotter, I'm not in a season of my life where I can easily do that. I have the next generation to raise and two little men at that!

I recently heard some one mention that they have trouble with being regular, ordinary. I think that's one of my biggest struggles actually. And if most of us would take the time to admit it, I think we'd find that we all wrestle with this. Setting ourselves apart if only in our minds can become a major distraction if not obsession. I'm always trying to get to a certain spot where I feel content. When we finish the house, when I get this mastered, when I find out this piece of information, after I take this trip, when I stop doing that or we get to this level...it's all a lie.

Contentment is in the day to day moments and the love of your life at THIS moment. Not forward, not backward but in the present. Be in the moment.

Be in the moment. That is something I repeated to myself throughout my entire wedding ceremony. I wanted to be in the moment. And I was. What a tender moment it was! But why did I have to remind myself to be present? Simply because there was so much to be overwhelmed by! Maybe that's the problem...therein lies the truth. The focus has to be clear. Be in the moment each day...celebrate what today has to offer! Don't look behind, don't look ahead...take it step by step and be in the moment, for truly this moment is all that I have.

Summer Goals and the Glad Game

Goals for Summer 2009
1. Purchase and read Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
2. Visit the pool as much as possible this summer
3. Exercise at least 3 days out the week
4. Some sort of mini trip with my men
5. Mixing up the menu...new recipes
6. Finish painting the bathroom completely
7. Finish out newly acquired guest room
8. Move into kitchen
9. Continue working through The Heartache No One Sees, it's hard work!
10. Try to make the best of each day home with the boys

Glad Game (Thankfulness Exercise)
1. I'm thankful for a husband that is so concerned with being a good provider
2. I'm thankful for Will, he makes me smile and fills that baby fever need
3. I'm thankful I have happy, healthy children that have the wherewith all to drive me nuts regularly
4. I'm thankful I have good, good friends that love me
5. I'm thankful that I have people in my life who tell me the truth about myself when I can't see it
6. I'm thankful I have transportation, a home, a husband with a job and my health
7. I'm thankful that after almost 17 years of being on Blood Pressure meds, my doc said I could get off them and miraculously, my BP is on the low side of normal
8. I'm thankful that I get to take a nap when I need to, it really is heaven here on earth for me
9. I'm thankful I had a good childhood with loving parents who took the time to make sure I was well rounded and knew I was loved beyond compare
10. I'm thankful for the lightning bugs that come out in droves each evening in our yard, there's something magical about that time of night

A Formal Occasion

Will and his Nanny

Will laughing at his Nanny, this child laughs all the time

Ava having to just reach out and touch her beautiful reflection

Ava got quiet, I found her here admiring herself in her "pretty dress"

Too Sweet.

She really did think this was all about her...and we let her!

Me coercing Ava to actually smile!

Mom and I were actually child care back up...

Ava's Visit

Ethan with Chinchilla

Caleb feeding Lemur Zoobamafoo an apple

Ava holding Precious the Cockatoo

Ethan holding Baby Kanga

Feeding the Baby Kangaroo Jack

Baby Red Kangaroo

Ava with Cockatoo

Caleb with Snake, Totally Fearless!

Will's first visit to the OKC Zoo

Ethan with life size T Rex

Our Visit to the Zoo

Gratitude

I want to publicly thank Stef and Kelly and my hubby Rick for cohercing me gently into quitting my little side job of transcription and focusing on this short yet very sweet time of the boys lives fully!

It was hard to let go of the extra cash and yet it feels good to know that all I gotta do is focus on caring for my boys. Rick has wanted me to stop working the side job for a long time and finally I caved! It could not have been more freeing! No more deadlines, no more distractions....life is good in our 'hood.

This is where we are isn't it?

An Excerpt from Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

The Golden Cow

"When the church began to doubt its own integrity after the Darwinian attack on Genesis 1 and 2, we began to answer science, not by appealing to something greater, the realm of beauty and art and spirituality, but by attempting to translate spiritual realities through scientific equations, those justifying ourselves to culture, as if culture had some  kind of authority to redeem us in the first place.  Terms such as "absolute truth" and "inherency" (a term used only to describe Scripture in the last one hundred years or so) became a battle cry, even though the laws of absolute truth must, by their nature, exclude ideas such as Jesus is the Word, He is both God and Man, the Trinity is both three and One, we are united with Him in His death, because these are mysterious ideas, not scientific ideas.

In fact, much of the biblical truth must go out the window when you approach it through the scientific method.  God does not live within the philosophical science He made, any more than He is bound by the natural realities of gravity.  "

And it goes on....

This book is rocking my world...more than any other book I've read in recent history. I implore you,  yes implore you to read it, Friend.