One of the Greatest Questions Ever!

Yesterday I was asked one of the greatest questions of all time. I enjoyed it so much I thought I would share.
My littlest man said to me: "Mama, can I ask you a question?" I told him sure. So he continued, "When one of our cars breaks, and we need another one, can we get a monster truck?" "Please?"
When I told him that we wouldn't all fit in a monster truck, he said that we could use the back. Of course..why didn't I think of that? When I asked him about rain...he hadn't thought of that.
I haven't ever wanted a monster truck before. Maybe Andy changed my mind. Well, at least he had me thinking about it!!

Church-Goers or Bird-Watchers or BOTH?

My dear husband stumbled upon an interesting character in the church parking lot last Sunday...so this week we took the camera.



They were still there and we got some good shots. And after some research...we now know that they are called Killdeer. Fascinating that they nest on the ground. Their nest is in one of the curbed-off areas with mulch in it. This mama thinks that nesting there seems quite dangerous. But, these parents are ever-present. The mom and dad take turns sitting on their eggs. And they are serious about protecting the offspring. I was sure not to get too close. But as Adam got closer she screamed at him and spread her wings. He wasn't at all intimidated...but I sure was. I know what damage I would do to someone after my babies...so I wasn't going to cross her!!

All of these shots are compliments of my husband. The ones I took are obviously from the safety of our car--and just didn't come out as well.

Look closely and you can see her eggs beneath her. God perfectly designed them to be speckled, and hard-to-see. He also created these birds in a way that they are born capable of walking very quickly. Just goes to show He sure did think of EVERYTHING!! And because of His wisdom in thinking of it all...my family got to enjoy a little bird-watching on our way into church! Neat.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl!!

I cannot get a grip on where this year has gone? It flew by. And now we are celebrating my sweet daughter's very first birthday. I have had fun buying her presents and getting all those girly things. And I know you just can't tell how much fun I have had with my little girl.

I really don't think that the smile has left my face for long since she was born. I feel so blessed. And she has been such a wonderful addition to our family. As I have told you before, her brothers adore her. It is like her Mimi says: "She sparkles."

We will go at the end of the week to get her first-year check-up...but here are the things that our one-year-old girl can do. She has mastered WALKING. This is now her mode of transportation. She also says "Hi" consistently. She waves bye-bye. And hello. She also says "mama". And "dada". And a form of "doggie". Nate claims she calls him and Andy something...but I am not 100% sure what that is. Nate says it is "Ga-Ga". But that is also her sound for "baby". She is eating a lot of table food, but still eats some of her baby stuff too. She is learning to drink from a cup. And currently has 3 teeth. She is beginning to show us a little temper...and one of her only tricks is a mad face that she likes to make. (this is her mad face.) She does also give kisses. (at least makes the sound)

I am very thankful for some added estrogen in the family. I was really beginning to feel ganged- up-on! What a perfect addition to our crew. And I know we are all in agreement on that one!

Happy Birthday Angel! I couldn't have asked for more!! We love you.

Not Me Monday

Okay, I am going to take a stab at this...one-handed, mind you!

I haven't already typed this post once...only to accidentally hit something with this bandage of mine, and erase the whole thing! No not me!!

I didn't forget a pacifier and stop at Target to buy one just to get my daughter to quit crying. I also didn't go in the Target bathroom and rinse the new pacifier off with hot water so I could actually give it to her without feeling guilty. No, not me.

I didn't encourage my littlest man to go with his daddy to get big brother from school so I could have a moment...and then when he returned asleep in his car seat...I didn't leave him there for a "nap". Wouldn't be me.

It wasn't me that took my daughter's brand new car seat out of the box and temporarily place it in my mom's car for the weekend. All so my mom could see the little princess in the new seat she got from Nana and PapaBob for her upcoming 1st birthday. It wasn't me---especially considering I have a gimp wrist!

I didn't wear make-up to my carpel tunnel surgery on Thursday just so I could come home very quickly (surgery lasted 8 minutes) for my dear husband to take it off. No, not me. Besides, it wasn't me that wanted to look "dolled-up" for surgery. Really that wasn't me. (who wants to make a bad impression on a surgeon?)


It also wasn't me that fell directly on my poor wrist yesterday...hurriedly rushing to my noisy boys. Trying to hush them while their sister slept yet screaming my head off in pain when I hit the wound! That wasn't me!!

I still don't know of anything that I could include in this "Not Me Monday". So, while I think about it some more...I hope you at least enjoyed reading about this other person that "wasn't me."

Oh and it also wasn't me that put this picture of my princess on here...simply because...well...she is cute! Not me!!

Happy Mother's Day Mama

I know that today, on Mother's Day there will be many blogs written about moms. There will be all sorts of stuff written about mothers and what they do for us. But, this blog will be unique in the fact that it is about MY mom.
MY one-of-kind, sent-from-the-hand-of God, MAMA!!!

I know that there is a special bond between a mother and her daughter. And I am so thankful that in the past year God saw fit to give me the mother-side of that relationship. But, I am even more thankful that for the past 36-years I have been on the daughter-side of it.

My mama and I have always had a strong bond. Yes, even when I was a teenager! You see, my mom is fun. She likes to laugh and she knows how to laugh at herself. She can take a joke (most of the time) and she has even put up with my brothers relentless pokes at her all these years. (all in fun of course--and ALL from them, not ever me!) Mama is patient, and kind and compassionate. She is one of the most hospitable ladies I know. She can cook a meal like NO OTHER!! And she gives of herself more than most people know. She TRIES not to sweat the small stuff. And sometimes she is even very successful at that!

My mom LOVES people and she cares about their souls. She spends many hours in prayer. Not just for her family or her needs. But, she is a prayer warrior and prays for many, many people and many, many things. My mom has "mothered" a lot of people in her life. Some have shown her gratitude and love in return. And some have GREATLY disappointed her. But, she continues to "mother" and care about people and their eternal destination. I know that only eternity will tell just how many people have been touched by my mama and her compassion.

I am SO grateful to call Marcia Evans my mama. I can not begin to tell you the sacrifices she has made over the years, or the things she has taught me. But I can tell you that I love my mama. And I am glad she is mine.

Happy Mother's Day Mama. I love you today and always.

We have Bird-Residents

Finally we have had some birds take interest in our nice blue bird house. No, the blue birds did not come our way. We were disappointed. But, we still have some birds. And one in the hand (house) is better than two in the bush, right?

I am not totally crazy about wrens...and I hear that some people won't let them nest in their boxes. I think they are destructive...and their stick-nests are quite messy. But at this point, I am ok with it. Maybe the blue birds felt like the house needed christening or something before they would move in it? (I guess you can tell I might be holding out hope for some eventual blue birds??)

We know that there is ONE egg, but we can't take the nest out again...because it falls apart when we try to take it out. So, we don't want to mess things up!

Here is a picture of our little nest. Hopefully we can get some pictures of the birds too...and maybe eggs at some point???

Sick day

When I was a child I had strep throat more than once. And quite frankly, I don't remember it being that bad. You know, other than the swabbing of the throat! Well, the swabbing of the throat has not gotten any better and the sickness has not gotten any easier. It has been years since I had strep, but as of today, I have it again! And my sweet little boy, Nate, has it too! And you know what, I can tell he surely does not feel as bad as his mama does. Now we wait and see if anyone else in this family ends up with it!

Nate has asked me today why God created sickness. And why in the world do we have to be sick? I am not a theologian and I get a little nervous when he asks me stuff like this! I love to talk to him about these things, but feel such great pressure to answer him precisely! I am not sure I gave the most correct answer, but I do know that despite sickness and disease, that God always knows best. I don't necessarily believe that God made me sick. I believe that I stumbled upon some germs. And God allowed that to happen. I also believe that we live in a world full of sin and because of sin we suffer. Not necessarily because of my personal sin because Christ took Christian sin to the cross with Him. But, simply because of sin in general. When Adam and Eve sinned, the world changed. Yeah, life would be much more enjoyable without some of those consequences! But you know, Heaven is going to be a glorious place and I think some of that glory is in direct relation to the fact that we will remember what was on this side of heaven!! (which, let me add here---is not ALL bad)

Pretty deep for a strep throat day! But I think that is what Jesus wants of us. Thinking, talking and living our lives so everything (even strep throat) points to Him. No, not always easy, but always true!