Loving

Lately I feel like I have been smacked in the face with this verse,
"a new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciple, if you love one another" John 13:34-35
That's it,
that's what God wants from us,
greater than any other command,
 It was sparked by an incredible series at our church but this theme of loving one another seems to keep popping up in my mind,
It's so simple,
yet why is it so hard?
I have been convicted to love others,
not just when it makes sense,
when it's easy,
and the natural thing to do
but,
when it's not convenient,
when I don't receive any love in return,
when nobody else knows,
when it's family who can often be the hardest to love,
because it's safe, and they aren't going anywhere,
when it's somebody that makes me uncomfortable,
when it's somebody so different from me,
when it's somebody that nobody else loves,
when the world says don't,
when it may look radical to everyone else around me,
this is when I have to stop and ask myself,
am I loving well?
Am I loving this person the way God has commanded,
You see he doesn't ask us,
he commands us,
I want people to see my family as people who just love well,
who love radically,
who love with no strings attached,
I want that because I want people to know that we are disciples of Christ,
not just Christians,
but disciples.
Now the tricky part is,
as a human being,
I will fail 99% of the time,
but God can equip me to do it,
he can equip my family to do it,
to love well,
I pray now everyday that he would help me to love others,
to show me opportunities to love others.

to go along with this theme....
Good ole' Tim Keller speaking some truth about homosexuals,

And on a lighter note,

We took the kiddos to the Children's museum for the first time last week,

it was awesome!

My favorite, Daye sporting her scientist goggles

the po' po'

Spring Time

We have been enjoying the spring weather.
It's fun to play outside.
All he wants to do is walk everywhere,
especially outside,
he is loads of fun these days,
he is so curious,
and he is learning more and more every day,
he is babbling all the time,
so busy,
loves playing with other kids,
loves any kind of ball,
loves playing with his daddy,
I am so thankful I get to be the one to spend my days with this kiddo,
I am so thankful that I get to take him to the pool during the day,
I get to be the one to take him to the Braves game,
I get to be the one that feeds him his lunch,
I get to be the one to wake him up in the morning,
I get to be the one that takes him for a walk,
I am so very very thankful
I am trying to treasure this time,
it really is so so sweet,
Some pics .....

playing at Aunt Lauren's 

lunch at Verde with his 2nd cousin (they were born just a minute apart!)

eating a delicious cupcake to celebrate d-daddy's birthday

just playing in the backyard, 

checking out his water table

loves the hose!

pooped after a morning at the pool with Daye

terrible pic but another Braves game with the gf, 

these two are logging some time!

watching daddy fish in the mountains

he caught one!

Regional Staff Conferene

We went to Sharptop this week for Trip's Young Life Regional Staff conference.
It's just a time for staff in the Georgia/Alabama region to get together once a year and reflect, be together, and cover business info for the year.
Spouse's and families are invited to go which is nice.
I love the Young Life family,
I really really do,
leaving the week,
this verse comes to mind,

"by this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" John 13:3-5

this is what I see when I am around these people,
people who truly love one another,
and this is why I think they are such an attractive bunch to be around,
because amidst all their faults and all their yuck,
they love Christ and they love others well,
they are the best at it,
it's their job.
I listened to some staff guys share as they were going to be leaving YL staff or leaving to go to a different area next year,
and the hardest part about leaving for all,
is leaving the people,
the family of YL,
it is truly like nothing else I have ever experienced,
there is a unique bond amongst staff and staff spouses,
I love getting to know other wives,
because there is always an instant connection,
a feeling that they know everything that is so incredible about being married to a staff person,
and a feeling that they know everything that is so difficult about being married to a staff person,
I feel like I can quickly go deep with these people,
that the surface level conversation can be skipped,
and depth can occur,
I have seen the way this group of people rallies around YL staff and staff families who have faced loss or tragedy,
I have seen the way this group of people prays and cares for one another,
I know that they will be the first to reach out to my family should anything ever happen,
I know that they will be on their knees in prayer for my family should anything ever happen,
and I am so thankful for it.
These are the kind of people that I want my own children to grow up and be like,
these are the kind of people I want my children surrounded by.

playin' with the big kids, no big deal

little boy staff kids

William and Henry

William and Henry are making great progress!

They have moved to intermediate care in the hospital!

And they are doing so well!
I am so happy that Andrew and Sarah can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
They have had a long hard road but thankfully they are nearing the end.
These two are extra special and I can't wait to see them grow into little boys.
And I am super excited for the day when Brooks can play with them!

I am amazed how they are able to care for premies these days! Thank you Lord!

Some firsts

We had a couple firsts this week for the little man,
One of my favorite things as a mom is watching him experience everything for the first time,
To watch him find such joy in the tiniest things.

He had his first non-family member birthday party!

Celebrating with his best pal, 

Happy Birthday sweet girl,

the Dosters love you!

"hey birthday girl, mind if I sit up here with you while I eat your cake?"

And we got to take little man to his first Braves baseball game!

We went with Sally and Daye and Sal's parents and Aunt Peggy!

It was rainy but we stayed dry undercover which kept things nice and cool!

Brooks, 

your dad wants you to know that the Braves won your first game!

They beat the Mets 14 - 6, and Brooks,

your dad was SO EXCITED to get to be there for your first game!

And you did so well. you far exceeded my expectations,

we made it for 7 innings! 

You really loved walking around and waving to everyone! (which is true most places we go to)

with your first Braves game certificate

trying to get on the dance cam

I am sure this will be the first of many games with your daddy!

Oh yeah, 

one more thing,

mommy accidently bought you a girls Braves t-shirt,

I didn't realize until daddy put it on you this morning and it had a funny cut on the sleeves!

Oops, it did look kinda silly!

Daddy was embarrassed for you!

We'll get you a new one, I promise!

But it made us all laugh!

Kick Ball

We went to our Young Life kickball game last night.
It was so fun for Brooks,
and fun for me,
because it occupied my boy between the hours of 5 and 8 which tend to be the worst hours of our day
Thank you highschool kids and YL leaders for entertaining my child
I say this a lot but it just warms my heart to watch these people love him.

watching the big kids play

learning the game of corn hole

"ok dad, so I put these bean bags in that hole?"

"now how do I get these things out?"

"mom this is SO fun, I just ate watermelon off the GROUND!"

" I just love these big hairy animals, and these cute girls are being so nice to me!"

One of the sweet high school kids came up to me last night as he was leaving and gave me a hug and said "bye Mrs. Doster".

eeeek!

he said Mrs. Doster

eeeek!

Another leader looked at me and said "did he just say Mrs. Doster?"

thankfully I wasn't the only one in awe of this.

I am not old,

I know i'm not old,

but I am starting to feel old at times,

like when they call me Mrs. Doster,

or when I don't know the song lyrics that everyone is singing to,

or when I think some high school fashion trends look stupid,

but even if they make me feel old sometimes, 

I love being around them....

Benji, possibly one of my favorite YL kids of all time! 

And he ALWAYS shows up for everything!

The kid cracks me up