worth sharing

I do have words and pictures to share, but until I can upload and edit and transcribe and publish, here are some things on the internet worth reading and watching.  Warning: some of these posts may induce pooleyness- tears springing to your eyes- or maybe even a full-out trickle down your face.  (Or am I the only emotional one?!)  

Ann Voskamp's poignant (as always) post: After Steubenville, What our Sons Need to Know About Manhood

The Home Team: the sweet small town of Murray and the home town heroes of Murray State basketball.  

Brandon Hatmaker's post about the movement to improve the international adoption process.  

This darling, darling video of a boy and his brother: Caden and Conner (2012 Sports Illustrated Kid of the Year)

Fred Roger's acceptance speech for his 1997 Lifetime Achievement Emmy.  This was floating around this week because Mr. Roger's would've been 84.  His tone and cadence took me straight back to that giant old tv with channel-changing buttons of my pre-school age living room.  

This hilarious post on crazy holiday 'traditions' that aren't really a thing. 

coco, goats, and machu pichu

Last month Matt went to Peru for a week+ on a dental mission trip.  While he was on the beaches of Lima and the foothills of Cusco...

We were holding down the fort in Franklin with the help of my mom, who spent almost a week keeping me company and Bo on his toes.  I sure was glad to have her her!  And I think she enjoyed having some time with her #1 grandson.  

We went to the zoo... here they are looking at horses, of all things, but Bo thought the neigh-neighs were pretty cool.  

Bo's first time on a carousel and he got to ride a chimpanzee (ooh ohh ee ee, according to him). 

Standing like a flamingo:

The highlight was the petting zoo, which we've never been in but you would've thought Bo had been there a million times already.  He was all about the goats!  

He had no fear at all (unlike me) and ran right up to them.  He actually treated them like he does Moose, getting pretty excited, affectionate, and a tiny bit rough.  

I think this video is hilarious... when things are cute, Bo talks to them like you would a baby, kind of like he's saying "cootchie coo."  He does it to babies, stuffed animals, and... nanny goats. 

One of our other adventures was out to a science center.  It was so interactive and fun for him!  He loved each exhibit and would become totally engrossed in whatever he was playing with.  We had to drag him away from the water table, especially, so go see what else was out there.  Discovery Center in Murfreesboro for the win!  If only it was a little closer! 

We played outside on the one and only sunny day.  

And Coco spoiled Bo a little bit with ice cream and cookies.  (JUST what this kid needs!) 

We dropped my mom off at the airport Saturday morning and came back late Saturday night to get Matt.  Bo was super pumped about the balloons (now when we go to Kroger he thinks we're getting "daddy balloons") but even more excited about having his Daddy back.  I'm going to say that a kid in pj's at the airport with his bunny is the cutest thing ever.  

snow boots

Yesterday we woke up to a pretty half-inch of snow.  I was surprised when Bo looked out the window and said, "Snow!"  

He was really pumped about his snow boots.  At first he didn't realize snow was for playing in; he was content just to wear his snow boots and sit by the window, looking at the snow.  

But I figured this snow wouldn't last all day so we suited up over his PJs for a few minutes outside:

Charlie Brown in the snow:

It was a cooooold morning and Bo liked trying to see his breath. 

I know people talk about the south and their aversion to snow all the time but I was shocked to see that school was canceled for a literal half inch of snow.  As you can see in the pics above, it didn't stick to the sidewalks or roads.  Certainly the bridges could've been icy... but the snow was totally gone by 11am.  Certainly a change from New York when it would snow a foot and I was terrified to drive but life proceeded as normal.  Bo loved those snow boots and insisted on wearing them all he live long day.

This morning we woke to a treat of a heavier snow that did stick to the roads . . . perfect for a Saturday morning.

By 9am we were sledding with the cousins.  Bo wasn't loving the thrill of flying down the hill but his daredevil cousins will help him get over that I'm sure.  

love stories

Once I get started reading I don't like to stop, and I really like to have another one lined up for the next read.  So if you're out of options, here are four that I've had the privilege of reading.  They are, I guess, sort of like romance novels because they are all about love.  Not fairy tale love. . . but the nitty gritty love of cleaning the filthy, housing the homeless, comforting the grieving, and bringing justice to the oppressed.

These books, well, they weren't easy to digest.  They made me question the things I hold dear.  They unsettled and uprooted me.  They spoke the truths of scripture through the lives of their authors.  

First up was Kisses from Katie.  I knew the gist of her tale - young American girl ends up adopting a bunch of Ugandan girls.  What I didn't know was the why or the how, and I was curious.  How did this girl get to where she is right now?  Wasn't she scared?  Isn't she overwhelmed? 

What I read was a sweet, unassuming story of a girl down the block . . . literally from a neighboring suburb of Nashville, who felt God directing her to Africa.  Her parents didn't necessarily agree or approve, but they reluctantly let her go after high school and she hasn't come back.  This girl has few resources but just meets needs.  In her youth and naiveté she believed she could and should help the least, and it turns out that her small actions meant a great deal to the children she touched.  Her book made me wonder how our resources could be used to further God's kingdom instead of our own.  

Enter 7, by Jen Hatmaker.  This is a book I've read about for over a year but was too scared to read. The premise just sounded weird and over the top and uncomfortable.  This lady spends 7 months whittling her life down to the bare minimum.  For one month she only eats 7 foods, the next she only wears 7 items of clothing, then she gets rid of 7 items a day . . . I mean, come on, dramatic.  But after Katie's book, my heart was primed for this read.  

It's true that Hatmaker does write about her experiences each month but not in a preachy or pretentious way.  She is quirky and humble.  She sought to refocus on the things that God loves.  From her mutiny against excess I learned . . . that just because I can doesn't mean I should.  That I am not entitled to any of these earthly blessings.  That Creation is still ours to steward.  That God loves people and people need our love - especially the weak, the marginalized, the poor.  

And though I can sweep it under the rug with talk about this season or chapter or whatever convenient phrase eases my conscience . . . it is becoming undeniable that my focus extended hardly any bigger than the circle of myself and our small family.

A friend lent me this next book, which is not normally one I'd choose.  I knew the tragedy that this family faced of losing a child and I did not want to know their pain.  

Trusting God through the loss of their daughter is the heart of this book, but it also tells the story of ordinary people who dreamed of bigger things.  They love their family and their God and championed the case of the orphan.  They long for heaven but have not lost sight of their work on earth.

Finally, this last one was a real joy to read.  

Bob Goff is a pretty amazing guy.  I found myself laughing out loud at some of his adventures.  I'm still trying to process the many things he he said 'yes' to that led to beautiful change.  I want to love in tangible ways.  I want to stop planning and take action.  

These books have started a small fire under us in 2013.  Each of these authors was just writing from their vantage point in God's story, loving His Scriptures and bringing them to life by loving people.

almost 2

Our buddy will be two in three months.  He's so funny, clever, strong-willed, wiggly, whiny, and wild.

He likes:
sports
snacks
FaceTime
trucks
destruction
dogs
monkey show

He does not like:

waiting

being alone

green food

sharing

babysitters

an empty stomach

the nurse at the pediatrician's office

He is, at times, ornery.
He knows when Matt and I are making work calls.  He abandons his happy play time at the sound of our voices answering a phone call and comes running into the office to squeal and confirm our home the most unprofessional place of all time.  We've tested this theory recently with fake phone calls and he comes running . . .  and yelling . . . which leads to a 'teachable moment.'
Bo is learning about time out.  And the consequences of coming out of time out.
It can get pretty hairy during errands or 'car rides', which is our 'fun' term for driving around looking at houses and neighborhoods.  For some reason this almost always ends in tears and a headache.  For both of us.  We've had plenty of public meltdowns and old ladies clucking tongues or telling him to 'stop it.'  Oh my, nothing makes me more furious than someone pointing out that we are obviously in the thick of toddlerhood.

He's a little sponge at this age.  Suddenly he could identify all the letters on a Happy Birthday sign.  It may have been an isolated incident, or it could be that the one million readings of ABC books have lead to learning.  He loves to yell out the letters in his own name if he sees it written on his cup or lunch box . . . B-O!  Unfortunate letters to be yelling out but very special to him.  Yesterday he pointed out 'piano' while a piano was indeed playing on our cd.  He knows a few colors - very strong on blue and yellow and we're working on the others.  Every day we hear new words and see more funny faces. 

He's learning the names of family members and will ask about them.  He loves to carry around pictures of grandparents and aunts and uncles and name them.  At the mere mention of 'cousins' he goes bondoogles.

Bo really does like sports!  He can name football, basketball, or soccer on TV and loves kicking his ball (and making a GOAL) or tirelessly shooting again and again at the basketball hoop.  As you can see, he has pretty good follow though . . .

I love when he starts to dance and wants us all to join in.  I love his joy over reading a favorite book or a starting a show.  I'm not proud of his absolute focus and love for television shows but I do like the couch cuddles that come with it.  This age is not without its challenges but it is sweet sweet sweet.  

Bo's Big Day

We had a pretty exciting day last week.  Bo went to Mother's Day Out for the first time!

It was a really great experience for all of us!  We have always called the church nursery 'class' and have a little routine that we do in the morning before church (or my Tuesday Bible study, where he goes to the nursery).
Me: Bo, do you want to go to your class today?
Bo: yessssss
Me: Are you going to have fun?
Bo: yessss!
Me: Are you going to see some friends?
Bo: yessss!
He went from 'yeah' to 'yes' in the past month and it's very cute and very 'ssss'y.

So we prepped him by talking about class during the days leading up to Wednesday.  In fact, the day before, he woke up in the morning and said, "I want class!"  But they day of, he woke up and said, "I want pizza!"  Seriously.

We geared him up with his backpack and lunch box . . .

And when we got to his classroom, he took one look at all the kids having fun inside and walked right in.  He didn't cry or whine or even wave goodbye, just went straight to the trucks!  

And Matt and I went straight to breakfast.  It was a great morning.  At noon when we picked him up, he had a good report of playing well, eating all his lunch (no surprise there), and . . . his first craft.   Which you can see he is VERY proud and fond of. 

Those pictures are so funny to me.  

That same day we stopped in at the dentist's office, who happens to be Matt's brother.  Uncle JE set Bo up with his first exam and Daddy gave him a cleaning.

Despite the smile in this picture, he didn't love being held down but all's well that ends well and his teeth are clean.  I also got my teeth cleaned by Matt, on the pediatric chairs while Scooby Doo played above me . . . and I am thankful for some quality dental care.  :)  

cheery + chilly christmas

This year we celebrated on Christmas Day in Oklahoma.  Since we live in Tennessee now, we are closer to OK but really not what I would call 'close.'  We're only 2 states away, but states in the midwest are long and wide, not like the east coast where we blew through 4 states in 4 hours.  But still, we decided to drive the 12 hours to my parents' for Christmas.  

And it wasn't that bad . . . because Coco and Poppy flew Bo down with them from Cincinnati after the funeral.  That was the BEST decision of all time.  Our time in Ohio was a little rough for Bo - a combination of a long drive, many unfamiliar people, being separated from Mommy and Daddy, and teething/not feeling well left him a cranky mess and me apologizing for him everywhere we went.  I didn't feel good about driving back to Nashville without him but of course right after we left he took a super long nap and it was reported that he was a sweetie pie ever since.  

This picture from my mom made it pretty clear he was getting along ok without us: 

I used our one day at home between trips to unpack/repack, clean up a bit, and take down the Christmas tree.  It's amazing what I accomplished without my little shadow!  It was a good break for Matt and me to be alone for a bit.  

And the next day, Matt, Moose and I drove from Nashville to OKC.  

Moose is a wonderful traveler and Matt is a wonderful driver so it was a smooooth trip!  Our one worry was that Moose and Tucker, my parents' dog, would not get along - but after 5 minutes they were old pals.  

 

And Bo was in heaven with two dogs to love on maul and squeeze. 

It's a good thing Matt and I only got Bo couple things because he cashed in with the relatives over Christmas!   

My parents outfitted Bo with a cowboy hat and hobby horse, and then rootin' tootin' pointed-toe cowboy boots with a slight heel that Bo loved but walks a little bow-legged in, as you can see in the video below.  Maybe they'll slow him down a bit for me.

 

 

Christmas was cozy and comfortable with snow falling outside and pajamas on almost all day.  My mom's Christmas dinner was delicious, as always!  That fancy salad you spy featured fried goat cheese and pomegranate seeds.  

Other features of our visit included fun play time with my brother's old train set, special date time with Bo and Coco and Poppy at a play place, family movie night at Les Mis - and I will affirm with everyone else that it is excellent, sibling lunch at a restaurant that features grilled cheese . . . umm, yes, delicious, night drives to view some very excellent Christmas lights, and time with my brother's 'special friend' Molly.

We gave Molly a real classy welcome to Oklahoma - 

 

And rounded out the holiday season with some outdoor ice skating, which to me is the classic Christmas activity.