Fire Truck

Brooks still loves all his cars
He really likes to show me his "fire truck" everyday,
several times a day,
however, like many toddlers,
his "tr" sounds like "f"
so "fire truck"is not pronounced "fire truck" for Brooks,
it's so much better,
so come on over and I'll have my toddler say "fire truck" for you

In the neighborhood

Probably THE greatest thing about my childhood was the neighborhood I grew up in
My parents moved into their current house on Orchard Run when I was one
so it's the only house I've ever known,
I've had dreams that my parents were selling the house and I was devastated
Some of my parents best friends built houses in the same neighborhood
So I grew up running around outside playing baseball, spotlight, capture flag, street hockey etc
with at least 18 other kids all around my age.
I rarely had friends over because I always had people to play with in my neighborhood
3 of the neighborhood girls were in my wedding,
and every year we always had a cookout in the street and I always loved them as a kid,
we had bike parades, egg toss contests, pumpkin carving, I have the best memories!
Every Christmas we have a "caroling" party and it's still my favorite party of the Christmas season.
We brought back the tradition Sunday night and had a neighborhood cookout again,
many of the "kids" are now married and have their own kids, and some don't live in town anymore but the bond is still the same.
These neighborhood families are truly like family to me, they watched me grow up and continue to be a part of my life.
I would do ANYTHING to be able to recreate this kind of neighborhood for my children!
I forgot to take my real camera so I only got a few dinky phone pics.

these three are trouble

Kelly and Trip won the egg toss

and I just have to add a random cute bath picture

In A Martha's World

Recently we had a busy week,
Trip and I had all our YL leaders to my parents mountain house for a leader weekend,
then we went strait from there to Sharptop for a Staff Retreat for a few days,
then we came home for a day and then went up to Highlands for the long weekend.
Brooks had a week strait of constant entertainment, lots of people to play with,
and it was awesome,
now back to boring old mom.
During our leader weekend I had a little nudge from the Lord,
you see I did all the grocery shopping and cooking for the weekend,
it was about 25 people for 4 meals,
it's such a fun weekend,
and I love to serve in this way,
but it is a lot,
I'm not going to pretend like I don't stress a little over it,
but I also come from a place of sincere desire to serve this way,
I am not a volunteer leader anymore and it's one small way I feel like I can contribute and give some thanks to all the leaders and give them a nice weekend away with home cooked meals,
Saturday afternoon (after a week of stitches for a toddler and me with the stomach bug for the 2nd time while being pregnant) I had a little internal melt down moment,
I just got tired and my pizza dough that I made wasn't cooperating,
And I just wanted to cry,
my heart was far from gracious and servant like,
I became my icky self.
And I went back to my room for a minute and had a little come to Jesus meeting,
I realized then and there, I had spent 0 time with Jesus,
I was completely reliant on myself,
on my own efforts,
and then I was brought back to the old story At the Home of Mary and Martha
Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him, 
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet while listening to what he said. 
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. 
She came to him and asked, 
" Lord don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 
"Martha Martha",  the Lord answered 
"you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed- 
or indeed only one. 
Mary has chosen what is better, 
and it will not be taken away from her."
Man, I wonder if I would be a Martha if Jesus were coming over to my house for dinner,
I would want the house clean,
toys put away,
the kitchen in order,
the food just right,
I wonder if I would miss out on the one thing,
listening to Jesus.
Although my intentions may be in a good place,
without Christ,
my ugly self comes out.
just ask my husband.
I was reminded again of this at Sharptop just a day later when former Young Life president, Bob Mitchell  spoke and challenged YL staff to listen to Jesus more instead of always doing.
I hope in the future I can choose what is better.

photo updates

his cousins dressed him up, not so sure about it

this girls taught him to do this little move, while saying "peace"

first day of MMO with stitches on his cheek

leaders

Superman taking care of business while leaders are meeting

homemade pizzas

Some more firsts

Well we have had a few more firsts around here,
Brooks had his first hair cut (really more of trim) by daddy,
We had our first visit to Scottish Rite,
And our first meet and greet at school,
And he had his 18 month appointment yesterday.
18 month stats:
Weight- 27 lbs (85%, whoa he is a deceivingly thick boy)
Height- 32.3 (50%)
Head- 49 (95%= genius)

So we went to Scottish Rite after a little dog incident Sunday night,
I am so thankful to have such a great children's hospital so close by.
He just got about 4 stitches, no biggie,
but so sad to see him hurt,
the funniest part was when the meds kicked in and he got a little loopy,

Our incident was minor and he is doing fine,

all I could think about while we were there was about all the other parents that have to spend hours every day at the hospital for stuff like chemo or other serious health problems with their child,

I almost teared up passing by other kiddos with bad illnesses,

I can not even imagine watching your child go through medical procedures over and over.

We met a little boy name Garrett on our way out who is there everyday for chemo.

Garrett loves cars just like Brooks and his mom lets him pick out a new car at the store after each round of chemo, 

we are now praying for Garrett and his sweet mom!

I also have such a new appreciation for children's doctors and nurses,

they have a very special calling.

He's on drugs in this pic!

He has his first day of MMO/school on Thursday, 

so we got to meet his teachers today.

I think he is really going to enjoy this time, (and so will mommy).

He just goes once a week which I think we'll be treasured time once baby #2 comes.

And dad gave him his first trim,

Lately

Lately we have been glued to the T.V. every night,
late,
watching the Olympics!
We love it so much!
We had some friends over to watch the opening ceremonies,
I made an Olympic cake,
I was very proud of myself because I am the most uncrafty person ever!

This year I have found myself really into the parents of the athletes.

Being a parent has perhaps given me a different perspective now,

I think about the sacrifice that the parents have made from the very beginning,

and how much pride, and nerves must be running through their bodies!

Heck, I have pride running through my body when Brooks points to his belly button when I tell him to.......... so I can't even imagine what they must feel when their child gets to represent their country in the Olympics!

Brooks is still very much into his cars,

he is going through a little separation anxiety when we leave him with sitters and at church or MMO,

he's trying to repeat every word we say,

and he loves giving kisses!

Dinner at the Youngs house

playing with bubbles at Naomi's 2nd birthday party

kissing his cousin Lanier at dinner,
just a little incest,
no big deal

wearing daddies hat

Piper is growing!
We are trying to manage life with a puppy.....

Hi!
Standing on tree stumps in the yard as we get two trees taken down!

And now I am really ready for the fall, so tired of this heat! 

I am always ready for the next season!

Because of who I'm NOT

Our sermon at Church Sunday was simple,
yet packed with a lot for me to chew on,
on prayer,
Does God listen to my prayers?
Does he listen to what I have to say?
In Luke there's a parable on prayer based on a pharisee and a tax collector,
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ' God I thank you that I am not like other people- robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ' God, have mercy on me, a sinner".
" I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."


So bottom line,
Jesus heard and justified the worst of them all, the money steeling, womanizing, drunken tax collector,
simply because he cried out for mercy,
his heart was in a place of humility.
period.
I have always liked to think of myself as a good person,
I never got in much trouble in high school,
I didn't drink,
I didn't smoke,
I didn't hook up with guys,
got my school work done,
I actually LIKED going to church,
I was nice to most people,
I went on mission trips,
I didn't swear,
I went to a christian college,
Dated one guy and married him,
I pay my credit card bill on time,
only had 1 speeding ticket (up until a month ago),
read Christian parenting books,
I go to bible study,
my husband is in ministry,
I make my bed,
take my vitamins,
I tithe,
I could go on......
Now of course I know I am not perfect,
I have my faults
but
As egotistical as it sounds, when it comes down to it,
when I really examine my heart,
I often believe that God would listen and lean into my prayers a little more ( ok, a lot more) than the next guy,
certainly more than someone like the Aurora, CO theatre shooter,
certainly more than friends of mine who live for the next party,
I often feel as if God owes me something for my faithfulness,
because I do ______________ (fill in the blank)
I deserve __________________ (fill in the blank)
but yet if my prayers are ones of entitlement, and self righteousness,
If my heart is in that place,
I am no different than the pharisee,
In the parable, it had nothing to do with the words of each prayer but everything to do with the heart behind each prayer.
I believe God loves me unconditionally,
but do I believe he listens to me unconditionally?
We lose control when we realize we can't convince God of anything.
So I hope my prayers come from a place of sincere humility,
recognition that God is God and I am not.
Because of who I am NOT, God listens to me.

Mountains to Sea

Whoa!
We are back from our summer travels!
Trip had a great week at Frontier, 9 out of 15 guys in his cabin stood up at say so to announce their decision to follow Christ.
That's what it's all about my friends,
that's what counts,
that's eternal life change,
that's what matters.
He said it was probably his favorite cabin of guys he has ever had,
that's saying a lot considering he has had at least 15 years worth of summer camp cabins!
Trip met me down at the beach after his week of camp and we got to go out on a date (after he recovered from the stomach bug),
my sister in law asked us what we talked about over dinner,
and literally we talked about YL the entire time,
about camp and other things,
but that's our life,
it's often what we talk about because it's so much more than a job,
I wanted to hear all the details about his week,
because I get it,
I know the amazing life change that can happen amongst leaders and kids.
Trip felt bad about missing time with my family and me and Brooks at the beach for the 4th of July to be at Frontier but I reminded him that he was EXACTLY where he needed to be.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
And Brooks and I did have such a great two weeks at the beach with family.
I love being down there with everyone because being home can get lonely,
just me and Brooks all day,
I love my time with him but it's nice to have other adults and kids around all the time.
I could have stayed another two weeks for sure.
I love that my kids will get to have the same memories at the same house at Sea Island as me and my brothers had.
It's fun to watch all our kids play in the yard and pool that we grew up in.
That's special to me.
Brooks is saying more words by the day,
his latest obsession is his matchbox cars!
Oh my goodness, he is obsessed,
he says "car" and "beep beep" all day long!
He loved walking around in the shallow part of the pool at the beach club,
and he loved playing in the sand,
and pulling his wagon,
and loves the golf cart,
All in all, awesome summer at the beach!

outdoor showering it up every night!

4th of July parade

 riding with d-daddy, 

d-daddy didn't know I was taking the pic because he doesn't look very happy

our golf cart died in the middle of the parade!

But we filled it with bottle water to get us through the rest of it 

and then it died again at the very end,

rookie mistake

they loved watching William and Henry,

Brooks kept saying "bebe"

this is funny because Chappell never uses a paci

impossible to get a pic of all 6

mmmm Aunt Audrey's cookies

having a moment with cool Uncle Andrew

all about the sand

cake

William and Henry lounging, they are just the cutest!

pushing Mason

future looks so bright...

We have had an insane week coming back,

Brooks got the stomach bug,

I got the stomach bug,

a tree fell in our yard,

our basement flooded,

we have to get a new AC unit,

our house is hot,

our power bill is insanely high

somebody hit Trip's car,

I still have morning sickness,

and we are trying to train our puppy.

I want to go back to the beach,

but that's not reality,

I need more Jesus!