Sunday Snapshot- First Trip to the Library

My middle child, Sam, has discovered the joy of reading.  In the last 6 months he has started reading at the same level of his big brother and has quickly gone through all of his books.

It has been so fun to watch this unfold in him.  Trent and I find him all over the house with a book in his hand.  I would love to say that this is the result of good parenting, but really he has pursued this all on his own.

For the last year, we have been checking extra books out of the church library, but with summer here, I thought it was time for Sam to make his very first trip to the public library.

I told him about it while we were playing with friends at the park and he told them right then that he had to go.  I was shocked that he was so willing to stop playing in order to go to the library.

He got his very own library card and picked out 3 books for this week. We also signed him up for the summer reading program and he has already completed 2 of his  books and written them down.  His favorites right now are the Magic Tree House series and the Flat Stanley series.

And while Mei Mei is not quite ready to read, she found something to do at the library too.

An Old Truck and A Photo Op

I drove into my cul-de-sac the other night and saw this strange old truck parked in my neighbor's driveway.

For 2 days I kept thinking about what a great backdrop it would be for a photo shoot.

Turns out the truck used to belong to her father up at his farm and her husband had towed it back to Houston.

She cleaned the rat poop farm parts out of it, we jump started it with my car, and drove it just around the corner to a wooded back drop.

I positioned Ruthie where I wanted her and then sometimes she made it even more interesting. :)

Overall, I think we got some great shots of my little Chinese cowgirl.

I loved all the lines, texture, and shapes in this truck. It made for a very fun photo op.

And sorry but you will have to tolerate a few more pictures.

Black and White Wednesday

It has to be hard to be my kid.  I am sure my children feel like they live with the Mama Paparazzi  (hey that would make a good blog name)

Anyway, I am constantly asking them to stop and let me take their picture against some back drop that caught my eye or I am invading their play with my camera as I try and capture their wonderfully unique personalities.

Sam is so good.  He can assume and un-assume the position in seconds.

Jack, on the other hand, struggles with it a little because he is at that awkward smile stage and really doesn't like having his picture taken.

So when we were having dinner in Galveston last weekend, I grabbed Jack for a few shots there on the pier.

And I was so proud of how well he relaxed in front of the camera.

I didn't even have to threaten  bribe him to get this true to life smile.

Well and this one just melts my heart.  That's my boy.

Sunday Snapshot- 13 years

We will roll 13 years of wedded bliss on Monday.  Yes I know that is a very very long time.

Okay so maybe it hasn't all been wedded bliss, but it has been quite an adventure with my best friend. When we left that reception 13 years ago, I had no idea what God had in store for us.

In honor of this adventure we have been on, I decided to plan a little anniversary excursion and surprised Trent with a Segway tour of Galveston Island on Friday.

The Segway place was next door to a tattoo parlor so I think he was just relieved that I didn't take him in there. :)

We saw some beautiful homes and really fascinating historical spots.  

Now onto see what paths await us in the next 13 years of wedded bliss adventure. I love you Trent Henderson and wouldn't want to do this life with anyone else.

Bye Bye Preschool

I have 4 years of preschool program pics where Sam is making his presence known.

And well I guess some things never change.

But some things do.  My baby boy has performed in his last preschool program.

It's time to walk that hall one last time.

And say goodbye to preschool.

 Yep it's official.

He's a preschool graduate and ready for new adventures.

Glorifying God in Our Suffering

We referenced a verse in Sunday School today that really got me thinking about the other adoptive parents I share life with and how their example of glorifying God in the midst of their trials has encouraged me in my faith.

2 Cor 4:16-17 says "Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

If you are like me, you like to unpack verses like that and try to answer the question- So what now?
How do we not lose heart?  How are we being renewed? And by all means would someone please tell me how this struggle is going to achieve some eternal glory?

I think I may have a process for you or at least some check points to help you walk out your trials in a way that is God honoring.  Here you go.

1. Pray and state the desire of your heart for your circumstances.  I believe this is key because we need to be honest with God and ourselves about where we are in the situation if we are going to be able to hear from Him.  I think an important note to make here is that this is not where we whine to God but where we speak honestly too him.  I don't know about you, but parenting teaches me a ton about how I relate to God.  Think about how you would want your children to approach you regarding a circumstance that you allowed in their life that they didn't like.

2. Pray for God to allow you to see the situation as He sees it.  I think this comes 2nd because we have to be real honest with ourselves about how we really do see it first.  I also believe that in order to successfully walk out this step we must to lay down our right to make it all about me.  We need to surrender rights like finding joy in the attention our circumstance bring us.  Ouch I know that was harsh. But if you find your identity in your circumstance and how you view it, it is going to be hard to view it from God's perspective.  Girls I only say it like it is because I have been there. Trust me.

3. Claim what you know to be true. This is where having God's word on your heart plays a big role.  If you aren't a walking concordance, that is okay because there are some great ones out there for you to use.  You might try going to Bible Gateway and entering in a key word.  It will give you everything that Bible has to say about that topic and in the translation of your choice.  The reason this step is so important is because there is an enemy who is going to tell you all kinds of lies in your ear and you have to be able to combat him with the truth of God's Word.

4. Having already glorified Him by relating to him honestly, seeking to see it from His perspective, and claiming the truth of His Word, you now ask the question of how does God want to use your experience to advance His kingdom?  He may call you to speak into the life of someone else in a similar struggle, give your testimony, write a book, or maybe a blog entry.   I don't know what He will do but I do know that because of the faithfulness of those who have gone before me, I am who I am today.

There is a lie in Christian circles that goes like this, "God will never give me more than I can handle".  Bologna. That is so not true.  I believe that God regularly allows us to walk through more than we can handle because those are the times when we lay down our self reliance and turn our eyes toward Him.  Otherwise we would be a bunch of self-righteous brats running around convinced we didn't need God because we already had it all under control.

You see the crisis is not in what if God gives you more than you can handle but instead what are you going to do about it when He does.  I am thankful tonight for women like Stefanie over at Ni Hao Yall,  Jenn at Love Like Crazy,  Ann at Our Place Called Home, and Linny at A Place Called Simplicity who have modeled for me what it looks like to honor God in the midst of trials as they live their lives in abandonment to their calling as opposed to their understanding.

Bubble Art and Life's Lessons

I had a cousin who used to say, "You can't put a price on a good time".  Early on in my marriage and parenting, I would have thought that this way of thinking was absolutely ridiculous.

But as the years have passed and I have loosened up a little, I have found this statement to be true (when applied within reason of course).

Sometimes I reflect on it when I am pondering whether or not to schedule a vacation or take my kids on a special outing.

And other times it comes to me moments after I have started a project when I realize the consequences could be costly.

Like when you mix food coloring and soap and then let your kids blow bubbles on your kitchen table to make artwork.

It is a cute project and the kids laid paper over their colored bubbles. 

It was not what rested on top of the cups but rather what sat under them that made me cringe.  And then I shrugged my shoulders and thought, "Well you can't put a price on a good time".

The soap must have been the magic ingredient or maybe my cousin was watching out for me and pleading for mercy.  Either way, it cleaned up beautifully.

And another great time was had by all.  Thanks Greg for passing along such a great life lesson.