HE CAME.

All today and the day before I've been thinking about one thing...HE CAME.  I love all this Christmas stuff. Seeing my kids excited.  Being with family.  Eating lots of yumminess.  Enjoying old traditions and creating new ones.  But all of that is pale in comparison to the most exciting thing to ever happen to my life (and believe me....yours too).... HE CAME.

Long ago, after 400 years of silence from God...the Israelites finally received the hope they'd been waiting for. It wasn't how they had expected and sadly, many of them flat out missed it.  But a poor, young girl set out to serve her God, gave birth to God's Son.  Jesus Christ came.  He came. We do not have a God that is far away or unconcerned with us.  We have a God that came to earth to be here and change eternity forever.  Thanking God for this truth...more than any gift I've been given, all the blessed family times and even more than my amazing husband and children.

Praying you and yours experience this joy today and always.

Merriest Christmas from the Thompson Family!

btw, this is the front/back of our card that went out Christmas Eve. 

Just keeping it real! : )

Flying....

Thinking today as we rush through a bunch of holiday affairs, just how quickly this life can really be.  It feels like yesterday that I was sleepily emerging to the living room on Christmas morning to enjoy another magical day.  My sister and I ran into each other last night doing some last minute shopping.  This almost never happens. For one reason, we almost always know where the other is...so accidentally running into each other can't happen. It was weird, you know.  Someone you grow up with and rarely spend even a night apart suddenly is someone (though still close) who lives in a separate house and has a life of their own.  How can this be?  Shouldn't we still be playing dolls in the basement or at least be on our way to cheer practice?  And if not those, there is no way that we should be doing anything else than wrapping up finals and heading home from Western for Christmas break.  Where did our youth go?

Forget my youth.  What about my own family.  When did this happen? My sweet fresh groom and I should be still celebrating our first Christmas together.  Reminiscing over our honeymoon pictures, enjoying long dates out and for goodness sakes...sleeping in on Saturday mornings.  But no.  That was us only for a year.  Then the next we were busy with plans of adopting and still trying to have a baby.  Then our first two babies came.  Trying to remember that first Christmas is tough.  Sadly, most of it is tainted with my back problems to shortly follow, back surgery.  I do remember their smiling faces Christmas morning.  I can still see my little man's face with icing all over it from Christmas cookies. And watch little Evy toddle across the room every five minutes to touch the tree.  And here we are back again at the same stage with our tiniest blessing.  She is ten months old today.  INSANE.  This year has been exceptionally fast.  I get all teary thinking of how tiny she was and how quickly they've all grown.

So today, I'm going to stop rushing around and just enjoy them as much as I can.  For I know, next year  at this time..I'll be just as surprised by how much they've grown again.  Oh Lord, can't we slow down this time for just a little bit.  There is so much you've given us to enjoy.  I don't want to miss one moment.

this to this too quickly

Don't forget to take some time to SLOW DOWN this holiday season and enjoy those around you.

Apologies aren't easy.

It was a gloomy slow morning where everyone was dragging.  It's understandable that we were all a little grumpy.  My oldest girl had brought the jeans I laid out for her into the living room to complain they weren't "fancy" enough.  First of all, REALLY?  We are all ready there with major opinions of our wardrobe....we are sooo in for it.  Anyways, back to the story.  I was holding little one and she was grabbing Evy's jeans. She screamed and yelled at her for trying to get her (just recently, undesirable) jeans. Then Evy ran off to her room.  Now this is pretty normal and she wasn't really that ugly to Liv.  I didn't even correct her...except to say...GO, PUT ON THOSE UNFANCY JEANS RIGHT THIS INSTANT!

A few minutes later I was checking my email and Liv was on the floor playing.  Evy came in and sat right in front of her baby sister.  She said, "Liv, I'm sorry I yelled at you. Forgive me?" Now we do sorry in our house A LOT, but it's usually because they've been reminded. But lately, my girl has just been melting my heart.  There was one day she had just been a royal stinker in a store....completely opposite of what we'd talked about before we went in.  She got consequences when we left for her disobedience....again, nothing out of the ordinary. However, It must have made an impact on her because she has apologized like five times since then at random times.  Like when she is going to take a nap and I'm tucking her in she leaned in to say, "I'm sorry I was so bad in that store, Mommy." The first two times I thought it was so endearing and sweet.  But then I talked to her how she didn't need to say sorry soo many times.  I forgave her the first time she apologized.

So when she came to her sister on her own, it made me so excited that her heart was so tender.  I'm hopeful that her and Liv's relationship ...actually, all my children use this type of love for each other always. I know they'll continue to fight and hurt one anothers feelings....that's just life. But if they commit to work on their relationships, it will for sure be a treasure and blessing to them.

It's hard to say we are sorry.  It's opens us up for hurt.  Admits our wrongs and that is a humbling thing to do. The Bible is clear that we must right our wrongs and forgive others. I love this passage and it keeps me on the right track with my relationships.

¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and ^[k]patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is ^[l]the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ ^[m]rule in your hearts, to which ^[n]indeed you were called in one body; and ^[o]be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of ^[p]Christ richly dwell within you, ^[q]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing ^[r]one another with psalms andhymns and spiritual songs, singing ^[s]with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:12-17


I pray that you experience that perfect bond of unity with those in your life.

Here are my sweet girls.... sisters are such a gift!

a little quiet

These are the type of mornings I love.  Quiet, Sunday morning where we are still all in our pjs. Except for Scott because he was the one that went out to get breakfast for us.  Nothing for me or him to cook and no dirty dishes to wash up afterwards. These are rare (esp. rare on Sunday mornings).  We are usually at church, but this weekend was our churches Christmas show.  They had different services and we took part of the one yesterday afternoon.  There was no youth so we didn't have our youth life groups to teach.  It feels kind of odd, but since we haven't had many Saturday mornings like this...it feels especially good today.

Now the baby is taking her morning nap.  I'm sitting in the Living Room with my love as he grades papers.  I can hear our other littles imagine and pretend in Leland's room.  They are building igloos with their legos as he has been particularly obsessed with the idea of igloos since a Curious George episode. The Christmas tree is glowing from across the room and it's pretty quite (at least for around here).

It's good to take time to slow down.  Actually, it's important. For your sanity. Your family. And especially, your soul.  We are always so busy.  Scott with work, running kids to different activities, my photography work, and just different obligations.  Sometimes it can just be too much. Even when we are all home their is much noise and chaos going on as you can imagine.  It's not often that we are not talking, instructing or making silly songs/laughter/nonsense.

So these rare moments of sitting to reflect, quietly work or even pray as I edit....they are rare.  I know these moments are fleeting too.  I sit here pondering on life and all the goodness going on around me each day. As I feel my fingertips type away the clutter in my head, I know the moments of solitude are slipping away.  That is ok, it's the season of life we are in.  But I will relish in these brief moments of quiet. Usually, you have to get up quite early or stay up too late to get some true quiet in this place.
I leave you with this quote from A.W. Tozer on how even our good deeds can sometimes be filling up all the space in our lives for quiet.

Our religious activities should be ordered in such a way as to have plenty of time for the cultivation of the fruits of solitude and silence. A.W. Tozer

Hope you all get to enjoy some good solitude and quiet today.

Memories Made.

I cannot remember the exact moment that Christmas became such a special event in my life.  I do however remember all the small memories that made it that way.

I can see clearly the Charlie Brown lights lined across the roof of my childhood home.  Wiping the frosty fog off the window so my sister and I could get a better glance.  It didn't matter how carefully we added the sparkly ice cycles to our family tree, we'd find silver shreds strewn across the house for weeks and weeks. Funny things  still pepper through my thoughts like wearing the Christmas tree costume my Moma made me for the school play. Or the silly stories that our Daddy would tell us about when he was a little boy at Christmas time. I remember thinking that it was nutty how excited him and his brothers got over oranges in their stockings. I can still hear the hymns being sung by candlelight as we joined our Nanny's church for their Christmas Eve service.  I love how songs or movies can take you back to certain moments.  Mine would definitely be Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas Is You and it takes me back to wrapping presents on our pool table in the basement.  The cold floor beneath my socks, the radio turned up on high and trying to wrap quickly before someone in the family saw their gifts I purchased at the Santa's Workshop store at school.  Piling up on the couch under covers to watch White Christmas, On Moonlight Bay, and one of my favorites A Mom for Christmas *it's the one where Olivia Newton John is a mannequin and comes alive for Christmas. Family gatherings are always a good treasure to think back on.  Laughter, following around (and most likely annoying) the older cousins, singing hymns as Johnah tinkered out the tune on the piano, and enjoying all the decadent treats which includes my Mom's cranberry-apple Hot Punch. Of course, I still get giddy thinking of waking up on the 25th at 5 a.m. and running into the living room to see the toys I'd longed for loving placed across the hearth. As I got older I loved going one by one through the cards stored in the little Santa card holder.  Actually, I still love to do this as I now own this after my mother got rid of it.  I also still enjoy Daddy reading the story of the birth of Christ every Christmas day.

aren't we cute?!?!?!

It's funny how you look back on moments and think that your children must have the same exact experiences to have the magic you once had.  It's just not true.  We love and cherish certain holidays or traditions because they were OURS.  They are special memories because of the effort our parents took to make them and mostly because of the love they represent. During this season where it's become ok to place "have to do" labels on everyone or we feel guilty over not joining some holiday fad, remember it's something else that makes our kids have magical childhoods.  It's us taking the time to stop and spend time doing something with them and making even the smallest things seem special.  So stop harassing others and loosing sleep over missing out on what everyone else deems important.  My kids will most likely have different favorite memories than I did growing up, but theirs will be just as sweet as mine. Now go ENJOY and CELEBRATE this season!

ADOPTED....

It's been over a week since my children are actually my children.

I keep waiting to feel something different.

Not sure what.

I guess that goes to show they were ours from the beginning.

but here is a picture of the day they became ours officially.

Indebted

This past week has been such a blur. I'm just now starting to process it all. 

Sadly, I don't feel like I've taken much time during this Thanksgiving break to pause and adequately ponder all God has done.  We've been soo busy, on top of that the girls have been sick and so have I. 

So I've sat here for the past few hours just decompressing and relishing in God's goodness.

Thankful just didn't seem strong enough to fit. 

I looked up the definition and found a more appropriate 

Indebted.

For my salvation. The joy that greets me each morning through His spirit.  The warmth/comfort provided by our sweet home. The peace that steadies my heart during troubled moments. The photography business that provides us with extra money and gives me a creative outlet.  The family members that strengthen and uplift us. The small gifts of a fountain Dr. Pepper, a new pair of boots and Downtown Abbey on Netflix.  Friends that have stuck with us through thick and thin.  Then there is the picture above that represents all I hoped for life.... a man who is good deep down and loves me more than I thought possible. Three (all three mine) littles that bless me, need me and call me Mama. 

Indebted. 

So I'm doing all I can do.  Surrendering each day to Christ and living my life to glorify Him.

Our Forever Family

After 2 1/2 years, lots of laughter, hardships, tears  and moments of doubt that this would ever happen...

I'd like to introduce you to my family...all of them.

With, ahem....NO hearts! 

This picture makes me so full of joy!

 Livingston Ann, 9 mos.

 Evy Elizabeth, 3 years

Leland Scott, 6 years (in two days!)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Feelings All Over the Place: Adoption Update

Today my emotions have been all over the place.  I've gotten teary eyed too many times to count this morning.  You see I've been extremely busy planning for a very special day tomorrow.  Two and half years ago I was meeting two of our amazing children for the first time.

I remember walking into a McDonald's nervous as I could be.  Scott was at work and was meeting me at home in a few hours.  As I opened the door to the play place, a fiesty little boy bounced right past me.  I still remember the way he looked back then. His big eyes all lit up and that infectous grin.  It's crazy to think he was 3 1/2 ...the same age his sister is now.  He was so excited to be playing and doing just about anything. I walked over to the table where the other foster mother and her two girls were.  There in the highchair was the sweetest little bundle.  I remember thinking she was soo tiny.  She was very serious and definitely examining me to see what she thought.  When I picked her up, she wrapped her teensy little legs around my waist like a little monkey.  It was so precious.  She didn't have much hair, but one little fountain on top sticking straight up.  I packed them up for our overnight visit and felt butterflies.  I had never been a mother before.  And here were these two precious children who had been through so much already.  Would I be good enough for them?  Would they grow to love me?  and the biggest question that plagued me that day and the 2 1/2 years to follow that one....Would they be forever ours?

Tomorrow at eleven, that question will be answered.  YES!!! After all the fears, anxieties and hardships in adopting our two oldest children....it's happening.  We are more than excited and overwhelmed with thankfulness to the Lord for this gift.  I sort of feel like I'm going into labor tomorrow.  There are so many feelings and emotions going through my head today.  I cannot wait to share out sweet little faces tomorrow without any of those stupid hearts over them.  I know you'll love them, just the same as us.

sink or swim

There are moments in this life where I believe everything is put to the test.  Let me explain. I know that I'm a light (a city on a hill) and publicly proclaim my faith often.  Anyways, I genuinely strive to follow Christ each day.  I do think we reach certain points that we find ourselves stretched to the limit.  It's then, that you come to the point on whether what you believe is really real to you.

So the above paragraph was written uh...about a week ago.  AGHHHH!!!!

Anyways.... back to sinking or swimming.  My point is lately, I've really been struggling.  I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water.  Let me go ahead and preface this with the fact that I realize the upcoming list isn't all bad things.  I don't really want to complain...because well, where does that ever get us.  I think I'm just overwhelmed.  Pictures...Editing....Feeding children....Cleaning up children....Doing children's laundry....shopping so children have something to eat....Pictures... Editing.....Packing son's lunch box....Wiping children's booties....Pictures....Editing....Having meeting after meeting regarding our foster/adoption.....Sweeping floors....Trying to sell our house....Pictures...Editing....Holding sick baby...Wiping children's booties.....Being home by myself while husband catches up on grading...Shopping for holidays and birthdays....Pictures... Editing...Dealing with my kid's kindergarten behavior drama....nursing....stepping on legos...oh and did I mention I've taken and edited a 1,000 pictures lately.

So... I love so much of that list. My children are absolutely precious to me.  I would not trade them for one single solitary hour in a quiet bath (even though I've thought about it : )).  But seriously, I love giving all of me to them. My favorite past time is watching their eyes light up, seeing them flourish in their surroundings and reading them bedtime stories each night.

Another love: photography.  It's seriously so much of who I am.  I really think God created me to do this.  What a gift...to capture all that is precious to people.  Weddings, Families, Seniors, Babies...it's all beautiful to me.  I even like editing until my eyes bleed because I love the outcome of the work put in.

But here's the thing. Lately, I'm completely overwhelmed.  I fall asleep almost every night with my computer in my lap.  I cannot keep up with my ever energizing bunny of a 3 year old.  My son needs so much of me right now to help through this transition of big kid school. Livingston has been sicker the past few months than the first 6 mos. of her life and is ever so needy.  Don't even get me started on how I know my home, laundry and amazing husband could use my attention.  GRRR... do you ever wish there was more hours in a day or just more of you.  I totally relate.  I LOVE blogging and it gives me some sense of order to life.  I feel like it's a good brain dump for me honestly.  Keeps my heart thankful for all God's given me and my creative chaotic head some place to land different ideas/thoughts. I just have not had the time or heart to blog lately.

So this is my question.  Do you find yourself at a place where you can feel yourself starting to slip under the water and still hold onto what you believe?  Thankfully, I find myself treading water and all I know is I keep reaching for Him.  In the moments where I seem to stretched or when I just can't give anymore of myself away, I have this urge grow with in me.  It's the urge to muster as much strength as I can and push to the surface of the water to grab the only solid thing I can trust to save me.  It's Him.

This faith is not just a fairytale or something to look good on your "got my life together" resume. It's the only assurance we have.  It's our strength, hope and our only source of salvation.

Cling to Him, dear friends...whether you are happily swimming along or frantically about to sink.

Use it NOW.

I love having special things. Especially, when it comes to meals/dining.  I use these nice dishes, serving platters and fancy glasses for parties and holidays. But the reality is I only use these special items a couple times a year.  For instance, the china we received for our wedding.  I always said I'd use it more than holiday meals.  Now, It does make my dining room pretty everyday as it's displayed there. Sadly my good intentions has only happened a few random times (besides holidays).  Last night, something seemed magical and I thought we should get out the good stuff.  We'd had a sweet afternoon with Scott's grandparents and family.  I don't know if it was because the house was sort of clean, my children were being extra good or if it was the fact I knew it was our last night of fall break together. Whatever, it was I knew it was special and we should make it special.  As I was finishing up the potatoes and could smell the chicken almost done, the cool breeze hit me through the kitchen window.  I stopped and listened and looked around.  Scott and our little man was watching football. I could hear Liv bouncing in her exersaucer and playing with a rattle.  Then I looked down as my 3 year old little shadow had moved into the kitchen floor to color just to be close to me as I finished working.  My life and this time is so grand.  It deserves to be celebrated.  It is a holiday all on it's own.  So we pulled out the china, my little shadow laid out the the pretty forks and I even poured the sparkling pink lemonade I was saving for something fun.  I took this picture so I could remember the holiday celebration on the ordinary Sunday night...kids already in their pjs, nothing extra special for dinner, but a family that God had so kindly woven together needed to be made much of.

So I challenge you not to wait for some assigned holiday to break out the nice things or reserve all your pretties for some big event....your life should be celebrate now.

Use it all now.

inspiration all around me.

I love to create.

It's rejuvenating and goodness to the soul.

Some of my favorite ways of creating is:

photography, decorating, painting and helping my kids create

Finding inspiration is sometimes hard, but I'm usually most inspired with little things around me. 

watching my children. 

 light always inspires me. it makes all things look beautiful.

finding joy in small things.

Other ways, is through music, reading, movies and of course the online ways (blogs/pinterest).

Loving the Phillip Phillips song lately.

What inspires you?

BIG FAT FAILURE

Do you ever think of yourself like that?
I do.
In all different parts of my life.
It happens usually all within the same 36 hrs.
I'll give you a for instance.

Wake up at 7:52. We are supposed to be leaving the house to take my Lil Man to Kindergarten at 7:55. BOOM.  Day starting off just grand.

So I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  I lazily put off making his lunch the night before (NOTE TO ALL MOMMIES WHO MAKE LUNCH: DO IT the night before...life is just easier this way...say NO, to the comfy couch or husband that allures you to turn in early) so I'm shoving in turkey, applesauce and who knows probably some frozen peas or sticks of butter. That's how nuts I was.  I rant and rave and yell (yes, I yell at my kids...BOO) a little. Herd the children into the car.  My three year old is crying because she forgot her shoes and is now getting her socks dirty. She is half way between the car and the house, but won't move in either direction.  I've already locked the door, but because we are tardy I know I'll have to walk in with all three children to sign him in late...she must have shoes.  I unlock and demand everyone back in the car.  I'm hurrying through the door with a baby on my hip who has a smelly diaper that I just DO NOT have any time to change at the moment.  We grab the ugliest pair of shoes my 3 yr old has because she has the great quality of losing exactly one shoe of every pair she owns.  GRRR.  Back in the car.  No one is buckled like I so politely asked.  I do my best version of "worse mom ever" impression and yell that they better be in their seats pronto.  Fasten crying baby into her seat. Make it to school...ten minutes late *that seemed like a miracle to me as I'd only been awake for oh...13 minutes.

He's off safe at school and I only got a few weird looks about my ratty ponytail of appearances and my crazy late brood.  But on the way home when the adrenaline should be waring down...I start to stress more.  Why the heck did I sleep in till 7:52?  What kind of mom does that? In my defense, my youngest babe is teething and getting up like twice during the night.  I don't even set an alarm because she usually wakes me up bright and early.  So duh, baby sleeps in of course mom is still asleep.  I mean I haven't actually had a full nights sleep since oh...before I even got pregnant.  Anywho... all this guilt came crashing down on me.  I decided to drown it all in a nice fountain Dr. Pepper.  Large, please!

This was just my morning.  Follow this with... Rushing home to get everyone more decent, feed baby as quick as I can before dropping off girls with a friend so I can go with my sis to her ultrasound for baby#3, Editing till my eyes bleed and therefore having to practically ignore my 3 year olds' pleads to play with her, having to rewash the laundry for the 2nd time because I keep forgetting to put in the dryer, not getting a real "nap time" to get stuff done because poor baby can't sleep with these monsters called teeth, realizing at 4:30 that I haven't laid out any meat for dinner and after eating the pizza we had delivered...I put everyone to bed at 7 pm.

This was all after I had just talked at a local MOPS group the day before about my passion for making and preserving sweet moments with my children.  EPIC GUILT...BIG FAT FAILURE.  All I can say is, it happens.  No matter, the planning or perspective building...it happens at some point for all of us.  That moment where in every area of our life, it looks like a big mess. Behind in laundry. Photo editing piling up. No preschool homeschooling yet again today.  Too many episodes of Curious George played in the afternoon just so I don't have to plan anything creative.  Because I'm done.  Done, I tell ya.  I know it when it happens.  For me, it's best for everyone not to fight it.  I have to survive the remainder of the day. Read some scripture.  Go to bed early *for me*.  Wake up surrendering my day and praising Him for how His mercies really are new each morning.  Push through yesterday's dirty dishes and move onto joy!

This was my Thursday this past week.  It happens every now and then.  Those moments where all the perfect storms collide and you feel like a BIG FAT FAILURE.  Well, when you inevitably find yourself in one of these "Will I make it to bed time?" moments, don't feel alone. Thankfully, there really is a God who carries us. I love the scripture of Isaiah 43 and the lyrics of this song...

When you pass through the water I will be with you,
And the waves they will not overtake you.
Do not fear for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name.
You are mine.
Isaiah 43

I'm so glad we have a God who isn't TOO BIG FOR OUR LITTLE PROBLEMS.  Because I don't know about you but in the moment a "oh no, we are out of wipes" situation doesn't seem so little.  But it is when we step back.  Even though, I often feel so selfish and ridiculous to go to God with such petty everyday issues I should be able to handle, I know that is what He wants.  I am HIS. He wants me to come to Him with my daily trials just like He wants our BIG LIFE changing trials to be brought to HIM too. The good news is that He *unlike us* can handle them all.  I love this part of Isaiah 43

⁶ Thus says the Lord,
    who makes a way in the sea,
    a path in the mighty waters,
¹⁷ who brings forth chariot and horse,
    army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
¹⁸ “Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
¹⁹ Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.
²⁰ The wild beasts will honor me,
    the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
    rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
²¹     the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise. (vs. 16-21)

If you are like me and trying with all you have to live a life full of glory for Him, then find hope in this scripture.  He can take BIG FAT FAILURES and make them new so they might declare HIS praise.  

I don't know about you, but that is good news for a BIG FAT FAILURE like me. 
Praise Him. The Holy One of Israel.

Favorite Fashion Season

Fall is by far my favorite fashion season. Maybe it's the years of back to school shopping that makes bringing out the jeans soo much fun.  Anyways, I got several summer things post baby that really made me happy to wear. My fall wardrobe is in serious need of updating.  Here are a few things I'm hoping to try out this fall:

 riding boots

 learning to wear my scarves more than one way

 red lipstick...i will finally slay you and find a red that looks good on me.

Target's boyfriend cardigans...sigh...one in every color please.

Anyone dying to give me a makeover please step forward.

I'll be waiting patiently and hopelessly out of style. 

One day not too far off.

I've had many of friends, family and some strangers comment on how many pictures I take.  Or how I always bring my camera along to activities/events.  Most are lighthearted, "Your kids are trained, aren't they." or "Is that thing (camera) permanently attached to you?" I just laugh it off cause they are usually correct.  Truth is, I believe it's my JOB to capture my children's childhoods and chronicle our family as the seasons change.  I take it seriously and for the most part ENJOY it.  Don't get me wrong...going through thousands of pictures to put in the best to our family album or lugging a camera through the Zoo is not my favorite things to do.  It's not always easy to be the family historian.  But I like to think about this....

One day not too far off, I'm sitting on my porch swing.  It's quiet all around me. I have no where to be in the for seeable future and there is no one needing "Mama".  I can hardly remember what it's like to have a baby on my hip.  There are no toys strewn across the porch, no sidewalk chalk decorating my steps.  My car is clean without a trace of football cleats, McDonald's fries and stray pacifiers.  I finish my meals without any interruptions. Date nights can be any night the Man and I choose.  I lay my head down at night and don't move until the morning.  I sit there thinking not of how once I longed for moments like this, but troubled.  Thinking of how I would love to have a busy afternoon ahead of me chasing toddlers, waiting in the pick up line at school and shuttling kids to dance or tball practice.  Hoping if maybe I listen closely enough I can hear someone calling "Mama".  Or if I think real hard I can remember the smell of their fresh bathed skin at nights while tucking them in.  I gaze down the sidewalk wishing to see my little man and his Daddy learning to ride his bike without training wheels.  I would give up sleep, my clean sink and countless hours of "me time" just see them little once again.

So when I've completed this exhausting season, after working long & well parenting toddlers and young babes...I'll have these moments to look back on. I strive to make their childhoods magical and do my best to capture behind my camera and journaling so we can all relive it in the years to come.  I'll also hug a little more, play a little longer and single Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as many times as they ask.

hello.

hello october.

(p.s. i love you)

Here is a little of what I've said hello to lately...

 hello creativity. (even messy creativity)

 hello comfort foods.

 hello to being a football mom (white pants, I hate your knee stained guts)

 hello to getting into shape (and my fitness partners)

 hello dog ears.

 hello to my once again sleeping baby.

and here is a sneak peek...hello pumpkin babes.

What I love about Sundays...

Have you ever heard that country song...

What I love about Sundays?

Well, I've always liked it. 

It just made me happy...sort of reminded me of good times.

Another reason is because I've always loved Sundays.

I know it's right before the week gets started and everything starts to turn busy once again.

But there is just something sweeter about that day. 

Especially, the afternoon/evenings.

They seem magical.

Slower.

If I could capture Sunday afternoons for a time capsule so I could always come back to feel those warm, lovey feelings...these would be in there. 

 

warm light...long afternoons

 daddy rocking it out feeding baby....us all home, all day!

 time to really cook and enjoy the process.

 quiet room play

 sweet tunes softly serenading our little home

sitting down, supper together, long conversations...no where to be.

 

longer baths...i love that baby bath smell drifting through the rooms

footie pjs.

seriously, what can be better than footie pjs.

tomorrow is wednesday, but I'm going to pretend it's sunday.

thank you very much.