Red Hat Lady II

That's all.

Let The Fun Begin

Just so you know, Grandma is here.
What that means for this Little is, at least one present a day, with chocolate on top, and a side order of spoil me rotten!
Spoil is what we are doing, and why shouldn't we when this Grandma does it so well!
It's not all fun and games, here the Little is teaching Grandma how to fold clothes. So don't worry that we'll be rotten for good. We wont let the presents or the chocolate go to our heads!
Here's to presents on weekdays and chocolate for breakfast (just kidding were not eating chocolate for breakfast...really, we're not. Don't judge me.)
xxxx

Perfect 10

If your scroll back through my posts I am sure you will find a reference to my favorite quote, it goes something like, "blessed are the cracks for they let the light in."

These days I find myself in this idealistic "keeper of the home and family" roll and the expectations that sometimes plagues me in the middle of night are daunting. I am severely cracked, however I don't know how much light I let in. I often find that I am comparing myself to other ladies that are too at this stage of life. Honestly, I think things like, "well at least my hair is fixed and my socks match," or "she might have a clean house, perfect figure, always say the right thing, and seems to be almost angelic in her behavior, but surely there must be something wrong with her." In those late hours when I am ignoring my flaws and hoping that every other woman I know has at least one flaw comparable with my own, I am reminded of that passage of scripture that haunts me....I said it, it HAUNTS, all caps locked.
Mainly because, I am never going to be a perfect 10, or rather a perfect Proverbs 31 woman. It seems insurmountable to me.
I'm not looking for patronage here, I've had it broken down for me before, I know I don't have to be a perfect 10 or meet all of those character traits at once. However, I would be remiss if I denied it's truth. Proverbs 31 is a reference point in being a good God fearing mother and wife.
Here's the thing though, if I was there already, if I had all these things down pat, I would miss out on these opportunities that God has been teaching me.
He is teaching me that this my goal, this is what I strive for. Will I? do I? fail miserably daily? Yes, but each morning He gives me, I can re-center, become focused and work at being more like His design.

Cracked, flawed? Yes, but if light ever comes through those cracks it is NOT me it is the work that He is doing in me.
Here's hoping you can embrace your cracks, in them the Light will shine through.
Grace and Peace friends.
xxxx

Red Hat Lady

xxxx

Hang It Up

I may need a little help.

It is true, I have a real problem.

And it's not that I try to make my baby climb trees with me.

It has to do with her clothes. Especially ones that I really like. I can't admit when it's time to pack it up. Remember the denim jumper, just the other week. Here is yet another example. Look at her, she looks like she is saying,
"umm, Mommy, we need to talk. This sweater is not meant to be worn as a shrug. The label reads 6-12 months. I am pushing 18 months old. Hang it up, Mom, hang it up."

In which I respond, "I don't care, you'll wear it until you're twelve, b/c you look so stinkin' cute in it!"

I need an intervention. While we're on the subject of intervention, I decided to cut my bangs and I liked them so much that every time that I fix my hair I cut them a little bit shorter. Seriously, I might need some one to take the scissors.
Here's hoping that you can let go of the scissors and precious baby clothes better than I...
Grace and Peace
xxx

Before and After

That's him, right there, before there was us.

That's him too, snowboarding in the Alps.
And that's him, after surfing a stone's throw from his old home. If I could have found the pictures of him surfing in Indonesia and Costa Rica I would have posted them too.
I guess that those pictures are too far buried under the piles and piles of family photos. Buried under photos of wedding, and honeymoon, of new houses, new pets, and little baby toes.
Some how he went from single Englishman, saving every last penny to find his next adventure,
to family man, saving every last penny to provide and care for two ladies and a small horse that some people call a dog.
He gave it all up to be with us and to build a life for us.

You can imagine my humility when yesterday after he planned himself a little manly adventure into the wild, that he chose to stay at home. Upon making his early morning exit he heard a pitiful little "Da-due" and turned from the door. Instead of fulfilling a very real desire, a core part of his design, the voice that calls to him and says he was made to be something daring, he stayed with us. He had a picnic at the park instead, he played basket ball with a dog and a baby, he read Time magazine on the couch with her.
And at the end of the day he tucked her in and in the way he held her, like he does every night, he whispered to her how much he loved her...and in staying home or rather in building this home and giving up on his adventure and so many others he whispered that he loved me too!
xxxx

Point And Shoot

I have to have a creative outlet...it calms me, it helps me regain focus, it reminds me that I was created with purpose, it reminds me of worship.
I used to paint more, I used to draw, I used to teach others how to do those things.
Now, days slip by when I have done nothing that resembles art. For example, a couple weeks ago, after days of being trapped inside due to cold winds and piling snow, I was sure that me and the mister needed to sign up for marriage counseling. Then I realized that I had not picked up my sketch book, a brush, a needle, I hadn't really even taken any Libby pictures...
My counsel? I painted, I took pictures, I stitched.
I talked it out with the mister, and I realized that we were not beyond repair. I learned that days that are filled with gray skies and idle hands just lead to grouchy, unreasonable behavior.
In the weeks that followed, I have found myself making time each day to do something artsy.
Today I had a strong desire to photograph Libby in the frilly, little frock I made her the other day, only to find out that the very mister I just spoke of, ran off with our big, fancy camera to take pictures of robots!
The Little and I were left with the point and shoot, pocket- size, camera today. So instead of setting up a girly photo shoot inside, we went outside in the sun.
We found patches of squishy grass creeping out from it's winter cover.We splashed in puddles of melted snow.
We walked our smelly dog together.
If the sun is out where you are, you should be too. Soak it up, like it soaks up our snow. If the sun is not out where you are, draw a picture. Both activities do well for the soul.
Grace and Peace
xxx
Psalms 90:17"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."

Dear Liberty Rose

I love everything about you.
I love that you are grouchy in the morning and happy in the evening.
I love that your face is always just a little bit smudged.
I love that you love dancing to the Black Eyed Peas and Beyonce.
I love that when you fall down you can just brush it off and keep going.
I love that whoever is sitting in the rocking chair is the one that has to read you a story.
I love spending every day almost every hour with you.....
But please don't hold it against me that I am really excited to go out to dinner with Daddy all by myself tonight.

Love, Mommy
P.S. There are about a zillion other things I love about you...you make my life fun!

Just Let It Go

I'm trying, but I loved taking these pics with Libby the other day. There are about a million that I love, but I am limiting this post(my pride) to just a couple favorites.
Kev loved his "love day" gift. He also got the top picture in a frame for his desk at work.

The only thing missing from these pics is him.

Okay, I'm going to go be creative...anybody need a tutu?

Happy Love Day

We made Kev a slide show for V-Day...the pics below are from our mischievous photo session the other day.

In the words of the Beatles , "All you need is love"
Grace and peace
xxx

# I'm Not Sure What Number I'm Suposed To Be On, But This Is Too Funny

What is that she so delicately wears around her neck?

And twiddles between her fingers until she gets it just right?My underwear! She is playing with my underwear! And she is wearing them on her head.

Just in case your wondering (Mom) they were from the clean clothes basket that I was folding not a dirty batch.

# 11 Mischief Afoot

Boy were we busy today. Up to no good I tell ya, but please let's keep that between us. We were working on a surprise for the mister.

Here's hoping you can keep a secret and that today is not the day he decides to read my blog!

#10 Posts A Day Late

This is what happened yesterday when I took Bernie away to get a bath

Can't you just hear the crying, the banging,the desperation in her voice.
Here's what happened when she got him back :)
And here is what happened when I tried to take him away again today for breakfast
She looks like "What? Of course I'm going to scream if you take him away. I'm not letting him out of my sight again!"