Father of the Year

Anyone with kids in diapers are probably well aware of what this is - Yes, Phill has the dirty diapers from the Diaper Genie (the poopie sausage link as we like to call it) around his neck. Any father who does this surely has crossed the threshold into Father of the Year. And before he kills me for posting this, let me just tell you about Phill as a father this year. He's knocked my socks off!

Phill has always put %100 into his job as a father. But since Kelsey has been born, he's stepped up his game even more. Because we have a nursing infant, it just works out that Carter has become his main parental duty. And he takes that role with all his heart . . . and time. Phill gets up with Carter every morning before work and loves his half asleep cartoon time with Carter on the couch before he has to shower for work. But I think the moment in the day that makes me most proud to have Phill as the father of my children is when he comes in from work every day.

Phill meets Carter at the door with the same energy and excitement as Carter has as a 2 yr old who adores his daddy. Even if daddy has had a bad day - Carter never knows it. Because he immediately is taken away to 'jump on the bed' (ONLY a daddy game) - or play golf in the front yard - or go help daddy water the plants or grill our dinner. I know many dads do these fun things with their toddlers. But its the genuine enthusiasm that Phill has for his kids - especially after a long day of work when I'm sure he just wants to come home and sit on the couch and unwind.
Phill puts Carter to bed most nights with these words ( I love listening on the monitor), "Carter, I'm proud of you, I believe in you, and I love you." Carter sometimes says this with his daddy or might even roll his little eyes - but it melts my heart every time.

Recently, Phill told me that Carter has truly become his best friend. I wholeheartedly believe that because I can see it in the way he loves him. I can't think of a better father than one who chooses to be the best of friends with his two year old. I am excited to see the bond that grows between Kelsey and Phill as father/daughter. No doubt she will be as blessed as Carter is to have a father like they have.

Thank you Phill for always putting in the extra effort to not only be a father - but to be a great one! We love you and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

A Little Glimpse at JUNE so far . . .

Kelsey has become such a great laid back baby (except for that dreaded hour between 6 and 7pm before bedtime). I got to have a little photo shoot with my girl while Carter napped yesterday.


We had some painters do some work last week on our house. I showed Carter what they were doing - before I knew it, he had gone to get his two chairs and lined them up on the driveway. He was ready for us to just sit and watch the painters all day long.

Funny Carter Story: We are still getting a kick out of Carter's 'pretend play' these days. He never fails to take it to the next level of humor. He frequently takes away Kelsey's toy and kindly replaces it with something really exciting like a fish or ball . . . only its a PRETEND fish or ball. This doesn't quite cut it for Kelsey just yet and I don't think Carter understands that. It makes me laugh nonetheless.

Yesterday, Carter brought me a chocolate chip cookie. I responded well and took it from his hand and ate the ball of air out of my hand diligently. Carter started to walk away . . . then stopped and looked at me with his head cocked to one side. "Mommy, " he said, "you have chocolate on your face!" I think I'm in for a long road if I can't even keep my face clean from a pretend cookie.

Anchor

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Hebrews 6:19)


I read this verse today. It has always been one of my favorites. I think because no matter what season of life I find myself in, I am always searching for some kind of anchor. Something to keep me from moving, from drifting away from where I should be.

If we, as spiritual children, are fishermans' boats in this big world of endless ocean - I would think that the anchor to our boat is a pretty important thing. It is our tool to keep us grounded to the ocean floor so that we can do what we were destined to do.

For me, in this 'mommy season' of my life right now - I need to be grounded, anchored, daily. If not, my soul will get lost in a pile of laundry or drift away in trying to plan a playdate as good as the neighbor. That is a scarey thing - for our souls to be left without anchors. Our souls belong to God - so to me, if we let them go, we are losing are way to God.

But this verse says we do have an anchor. Our hope in God. Seems like such an intangible thing to be described as an anchor - a 'firm and secure' and very physical object. I think God was trying to tell us something here - that His ability to ground us and keep us still amongst chaos is very real. He is very real. He is our anchor.

In times when the waves of fear rise up, when storms of tragedy come down, or just when busyness keeps our boat rocking - we must know we have a Hope. A God. Nothing will overtake us. He'll reach down, grab our souls, however lost they may be, and take hold of us 'firm and secure'.

It's up to us to throw out that anchor. To believe and hope in God.

And then - our lives will seem calm again. Souls anchored.

Pictures

Rolling Over - Kelsey has officially mastered it. Of course only one way so far.. enough to disturb her sleep and require her mommy to come roll her back over many times a night.


Finally grabbing those toys after many frustrated moments of not getting that darn hand to do what she wants with it.

Carter and Kelsey had a playdate with Sailor (2 months) and Noah (almost 3 yrs old)

Happy Memorial Day!

The Latest and Greatest

Happy Mother's Day to Me.... (poor Kelsey looks a little startled as Carter and I fought to hold her)

Jon (twin brother) and Kelsey

Carter made Gramie her favorite cookies for Mother's Day before she came to spend the week with us! Thank you again Gramie for all the help!!
Yes Carter is chasing ELMO down the hall! This is after pitching a fit to sit in his lap.. then once it's our turn, he pitches a fit to get far away from Elmo.. then Elmo leaves (probably for a potty break) and Carter cries again that Elmo left. I mean seriously! I guess the same holds true for Elmo as it did Santa Claus - we LOVE him.. at a distance : )

Our past weekend was spent divided. Girls got to hang out at home while Carter and Phill headed to Asheville, NC for a horseshow. (aka Carter's heaven on earth!)

Pictures!

How's this for a devilish grin?

Carter and Hailey sitting by the lake in our backyard

Carter saw Maw-Maw (nearly 88 years old!) with no limits and kept her busy playing football!

Breathe Deep

Today is Sunday. Phill and Carter are at church. Kelsey is sleeping soundly. And I chose to pause. . . . for one hour. . . Put on praise music. . . Open The Word. . . and breathe. Breathe in our God. Drink up His Presence. Sit at His table. . . without speaking, without doing, without even thinking.
This is My God. This is what it means to be a child of His. This is what I lost the past 3 months. Lost somewhere between changing diapers, playing toddler games and middle of the night feedings.
But oh how my soul is starved. Starved for this very Presence. For this peace and comfort. For this vision from His Eyes - a glimpse at how He sees me and my life.
"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I" Ps 61:2.
Countless times a day, I beg to be led to a higher place. To BREATHE. To realize the smiles I get between overtired tears or hunger whines, are the smiles from the Lord. Reminding me, that this is the glory of God. My purpose.
My purpose is not ultimately to have my children fed, rested and clean. My purpose is to bring Glory to God. And here ... in my arms all day long (probably more than I want them to be) are the instruments God gave me to bring Him Glory.
So I challenge myself - and ask you to challenge me ... to remember to Pause. To Breathe. To KNOW the God I am to glorify. If I don't know Him and feel Him - how will I ever know the song our family is to sing for Him. How am I to sharpen these instruments of mine, my two precious children, to play the music of God's heart.