Fireworks, Family, and Fun

We enjoyed a full day on the 4th of July.  Time with family, lots of yummy summertime food, and dozens of fireworks.  Year after year it's pretty much the same old same old, but that's what makes family traditions, right?

Snakes

Chasing parachutes

Got 'em!

When the last firecracker exploded, we turned to find Titus asleep in his grandpa's arms covering his ears.  So, we loaded up the gear and our sleeping babe and pulled into our driveway 90 minutes later with our little one in the happy-sleepy state.  It just doesn't get any better than that.

Reading is fun!

One of my favorite childhood activities was our library's summer reading program.  So, when I found out Titus could join in the fun this year, I didn't hesitate to sign him up.  He loved going to the library every week to find his star, check out new books, and to color in his reading log. 

To add to the summer fun, our library also now has a computerized return book drop.  Titus loves to return his books one by one, watching the computer scan the book and then go down the conveyor belt to the different bins.  The fun at the library never ends!

Beep, Beep, Coming Through

Titus loves trucks.  He can name them all and many of the parts too.  I think we've read every children's truck related book our public library has to offer. So, when we heard that our town was having a Touch-a-Truck event we quickly wrote the date on our calendar and counted down the days.  Titus loved the event but all in all I think he was a wee bit overwhelmed.  There were hundreds of kids and parents and big trucks all packed in one large room at our convention center.  It was overwhelming for me as an adult so I can only imagine how it would feel to a two year old. 

Yes buddy, we're going up to see the trucks!

We loved the Touch-a-Truck event!  The kids were allowed to climb on, sit in, honk the horns, and explore to their hearts content. As soon as the doors opened my son made a beeline for the shiny red firetruck.  I think he could have sat there all day.

Can you guess what was up next?

 

 You're right, if you guessed a great big green tractor.

The Big Rig with it's loud horn was a hit for every kid.

And finally, what Titus had waited for with great anticipation-construction equipment.

Titus' favs!

And the best for the last-The Digger!!!  

We can't wait for next years' Touch-a-Truck event to coming rolling through.

Make Way For Goslings

One of our favorite nearby parks has a great lake, a walking path and this year baby goslings.  Mommy and Daddy Goose are very protective of their babies so we couldn't get too close without getting hissed at, but thankfully I had my telephoto lens.  We safely watched from afar as the goslings waddle about and explored.  Titus loved the baby goslings and for weeks talked about them almost every day and asked to go see them. 

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was absolutely perfect.  Simple and sweet, just as it should be.  Titus and Kevin surprised me with a violet and planter they had made together at one of their Daddy/Son Build and Grow workshops.  Then, we spent the whole day together as a family of three enjoying brunch, the zoo, and a snow cone shop I have been dying to visit. 

Disappointed that my settings weren't exactly correct and Titus is bit out of focus a bit but he was soooo excited to see...the monkey.

A sleepy boy

Next stop the all natural sweeteners, fresh fruit juice, herbs, no preservatives or artificial colors or flavors snow cone shop.  :)  I've been just a tad excited about trying this place in downtown.  It was delicious! 

Meyer lemon/thyme and blackberry/lavendar

A day like this makes for a very happy mama! 

Tyke on Trike

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."  John F Kennedy

Titus loves his tricycle, he is quickly learning
and mastering the art of his new wheels.

First, you receive some great instruction from your daddy.

Then you take off with the wind in your hair.

You stop along the way to check out your trunk.

You fall down and get your first skinned knee.

But, you get back up again.

You ride and ride and ride.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

I've been singing and meditating on the old hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness for awhile.  It seems as though the theme for the last several years of our lives has been-WAIT.

a peace that endureth

Waiting for a child to hold in our arms.  Waiting for a new job.  Waiting for a new home.  Waiting for another child.  Waiting.  Waiting.  Waiting. 

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

I love when God reveals a piece of the puzzle.  When we finally see the hand of God move.  When He moves the mountains.  When we behold His plan.  When He perfectly provides beyond our desperate prayers and dreams.

 blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

  

We've been faithful.  We've been frustrated. We've been hesitant.  We've prayed.  We've trusted.  We've sought.  

morning by morning new mercies I see

Last week we sat in awe of His faithfulness and provision.  We praised Him.  We thanked Him.  He once again perfectly provided in His timing.   We celebrated and reveled in His goodness with ice cream.  

as thou hast been thou forever wilt be
  

DST Systems' newest Senior Software Developer

Happy Referral Day!

Kevin and I, we were that couple. The one left with empty arms and heavy hearts while the rest of the couples of the entire world conceived without even trying and gave birth to baby after baby. At least it seemed that way.

And then we were that couple. The one with a spring in our step and smiles as wide as the sea. We held onto hope like it was a kite bouncing in the wind. With adoption everything is up in the air, so we grabbed on and tilted our faces to the sun, catching a glimpse of the beauty at the end of that long string. We pulled tight and waited nine months to the day.

April 24, 2010 came and hope tagged along for the ride across the world. We received the call and heard the name and held the photos of that tiny babe with dark almond eyes and we fell in love. Hard and fast and something fierce. For the first time in what felt like years, we breathed deep. This little wonder all wrapped up in an outfit of light blue and white was our own. The one we had prayed for all along.

Titus Andrew, in your short little life you have experienced grief and loss; joy and love and by God's grace, love sits on top. Being a part of your story and living this life as your mama is a dream and a gift. Your daddy and I are so very proud of you.

Happy Referral Day!  

More than enough

Someone asked me the other day if I still had a blog, and I felt something catch in my throat. You see, I love my blog. I love looking back over this amazing journey God has created. I love our little family.  I love looking back on memories and moments.  I love watching my son grow and reliving the little milestones of his life.   Lately, so many things have come in the way of me having time to keep up on here.  I am learning very quickly that raising, training, disciplining, and teaching a child, keeping a home, and having the marriage I desire is no easy feat.  There are just days I can't do it all.

God blessed me with the loves of my life and I need to be there

for him...

 and for him...

Some days I am left wondering am I ever going to be enough...

good enough
wise enough
strong enough

healthy enough
spiritual enough

mothering enough

teaching enough 

organized enough

 Then I'm left with the realization I never will be.

In the still of the morning, as my feet hit the floor and a new day has begun, I seek His face. And I am reminded once again that I don't have to be. Because He is. He is enough.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

So today, I begin anew.  One foot in front of the other, relying on Him, trusting in Him, seeking His face in all I do.  Blog posts may go unwritten, laundry may pile up, dishes may be waiting in the sink, emails may go unanswered for a few days. However, I keep moving forward even when I fail, when things go undone, even when I can't be enough.  Because He never expected me to be perfect. He never expected me to have all of the answers. He never expected me to do it on my own.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."  II Corinthians 12:9

Sniff, sniff...

My baby isn't such a baby anymore!