The Sweetest Gift

Last week while I was at Elizabeth's she took some pics for me with the grandkids for Mother's Day.    It was the sweetest gift. 

It was also an adventure with four kids. More specifically, it was an adventure with Nate Dog.

I don't think there were any "perfect" pictures taken at all.   Someone was always not looking.

But like I've told my girls for years..

Perfect is overrated anyways.

cuff by my girl Becky farmgirlpaints

(her shop re-opens Friday!)

My sweet first born Rosalyn.

The one who made me a Honey.

Our deep thinker, quick witted, best dance moves, sometimes bossy, always sweet, doesn't forget a thing, soon to be first grader.

My precious Julia Rose.

The one who recalls every detail of her dreams and has the best morning conversations in the world.

She's our dreamer, peacemaker, left handed artist, deeply sensitive, romantic, funny,  almost kindergartner.

My Little Man Nate

The first grandson

He's our wild child, hilarious, full of energy, hard headed, keeps us humble, loves to lead, all boy,  soon to be fully potty trained (we hope)

My Darling little Hazel Jane

The baby and caboose of this crazy love train

Our little drooler, momma lover, chubby legged, loves to nurse, wiggle worm!

Can't wait to watch your little personality continue to emerge.

Paw Paw

The love of my life and my lover.

He's our wise rock, our problem solver, nurse of the family, the one with all the answers, the one who sees the very best in everyone. Especially me.

And My Dearest Elizabeth

The one who has had to put up with a momma basically growing up with her.

She's a giver,  people lover,  best listener,  deep feeler, patient momma and great friend

Thanks sweet love for always showing your momma grace.

And thank you for taking these pictures for me.

You are so incredibly talented.  I love you.

( For Elizabeth's sake please know that none of these pics are edited.  They are straight out the camera.  Momma was hasty. ;) )

And thank you for those of you who still actually come hang out with me here.

Seriously.  Y'all are the best.

It's good to remember

Please tell me y'all have the app called Time Hop.  It is by far my favorite.  It "goes back in time" and shows you anything you posted on social media in the past seven years on that exact day.  There is seldom a day that goes by where me or one of my girls does not group text each other a link or pic from our Time Hop.  It is so fun and such a great reminder of God's faithfulness.  I even find myself checking it to help me remember stuff. (Like birthdays!) And did I mention it's free?...you just can't go wrong.

Anyways, when today's Time Hop goodness popped up it put a really big smile on my face.  It showed a link to a blog post that I had posted three years ago today.

The post was prompted by a text that was sent to me on that exact day one year earlier. (Four years ago today)

Ha!  This is how we found out about our little Nate Dog. In a text. lol.  Excuse the poor grammar in my response back to her.  I was kinda in shock....in a-oh my gosh-I'm so excited- this can't be real kind of way.  At the time she sent that text, Rosalyn was 2 yrs old and Julia Rose was 6 months old.

Here is the link to that post.  You really MUST read it in order for the rest of what I'm about to say to make sense.  It's short and sweet...I  promise.  But for those who won't go click over, here's an excerpt from the post...

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.2 Corinthians 9:8

 First off, God is able. Stop right there. That truth alone is enough. period.But there's more!  God's grace IS sufficient for ALL things....The big stuff of life, the little everyday things of life and everything in-between.And it's not only sufficient.. It's abundantly sufficient! His grace at work in our lives produces an abundance of whatever is needed for the task at hand. 

Elizabeth needed patience. She needed to be able to trust what God was doing with her family.She needed to let go of control and let God have control.
And He has done that in and through her.Sure, she still has moments of being worn out physically and emotionally.

But, I witnessed the Lord graciously equip her with what she needs for this season of her life."

Wow.  So much has happened since I wrote those words.  Chris resigned as a youth pastor to enroll full time in seminary.  They moved 10 hours away from all their family.   Chris's laundry business has also expanded which keeps him super busy.  Rosalyn has started Kindergarten.  Julia Rose has broken her leg and arm three times. Elizabeth has turned her love for essential oils into her own home business and Chris went on staff as an intern at their church while he still takes seminary classes online. And they've moved two more times in the midst of all of this.

And then there is this... a text I got earlier this year from Elizabeth when she and I were planning a surprise birthday party for my mom, Lydia and Julia Rose who are all the middle children.  "Middles"

Yes, I found out about two of my grandchildren through a text message.  lol.  I love it. Of course this was followed by a loud squeal from me, then me telling her daddy, then him praising Jesus, and then a phone call to hear her voice.  And then lots of excited giggling from me and lots of weary sighs from Elizabeth.

You see, among lots of other surprises that has taken place in the last three years, Nate didn't turn out as "laid back" as we thought he was.  lol.  He is a hand full at times. And loves to "test the boundaries" his parents have established for him.  To say he keeps them busy is an understatement.

As I write this, Elizabeth is nearing the end of her pregnancy.  She only has about 4 more weeks, give or take and she is feeling it.  She stays tired but oh my goodness, she is beautiful.

These kids are so pumped up to meet their little sister.  I can't wait to watch them take on this new adventure as the new family dynamics change upon her arrival.  (Getting Rosalyn to school across town on time with a new baby is gonna be fun for sure. Especially when that first born likes to be ON TIME no matter what.)

Yep there has been a lot of things that have changed since I wrote that first blog post.  Lots of unexpected challenges for sure.

But this Truth remains.  It never changes.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

It was true then and it is true now. 

I know Chris and Elizabeth have lots of things they will face that will seem impossible as they enter into being a family of six.  I know they at times have questioned what God is up to with entrusting them with four children to raise and nurture.  I know at times they are scared to death they are just messing them up.... I know this because it's the same fears that every parent has had at one time or another. 

But what I also know, and God has proven to me in my own life, and I've watched Him prove it to Chris and Elizabeth in theirs,  is that God is able.  And His grace is sufficient.

I'm praying these two walk and live in this promise in the days and months and years ahead...

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

I absolutely cannot wait to meet the next little human that these two have made together.

God is so great! 

Life Lessons on the Monkey Bars

I learn so much about myself and my walk with the Lord through my grand kids.

It never fails. Every visit they teach me something.

And this last visit was no different.

I love watching my husband interact with them.

The most tender part of him emerges when they are around. 

There is nothing he won't do for one of them. 

He wants to bestow on them every ounce of goodness he has.

I love how he teaches them every chance he gets…trying to impart wisdom into their little lives.

He always answers the tough questions they ask with such tenderness and patience.

That they can to come to us with  anything _ for anything _  and that they know this.

He wants them to have fun when they are with us…to leave our presence with sweet memories of good stuff.    Fun times.   Lessons learned.

To always want more and more of Honey and Paw Paw.

We had an impromptu picnic while they were here this last time.

I just soaked this scene up as I watched Rosalyn enjoying her Paw Paw so much.

I'm so grateful I had my camera with me to capture it.

She was a little timid about the monkey bars…hanging upside down was kinda scary.

But she trusted her Paw Paw and just let herself go knowing he was not gonna let her fall.

Her giggles could be heard all over the playground along side of her Paw Paw's reassuring voice that he had her and that she wasn't going to fall.

Her sweet little face after she did it was priceless to me.

She was so proud of herself.

Genuinely happy because she "did it".

Then her Paw Paw took her into arms and they shared the joy together.

 She smiled as she listened to him tell her how proud he was of her and that he knew she could do it.

It was a great moment to see.

Watching them made me think of me and the Lord.

He wants to do that for me. With me.

He wants me to just let go and trust Him.  To know He won't drop me.

Nick didn't sit on a bench and holler across the park that Rosalyn could do it.

No, he was there with her…right by her side.

 And God is the same

He's gonna go through the hard things He asks of me with me. 

Right along side of me.

He wants me come to Him with anything _ for everything _

It's such a simple thing but sometimes I don't.

Instead, I fret.   I worry.  I sometimes pout. 

I let my fears of the unknown and the "what ifs" rob me of joy.

I mean how many moments like this one have I missed out on over the years?

Of the pure joy of trusting God enough to let go and let Him do something amazing in me?

Through me that would even cause joy to well up in others lives as they watched my obedience like Rosalyn caused in me.

Seeing these two, watching them together has given me a fresh awareness.

A renewed passion to trust my heavenly Father with His plan for each day.

Whatever it brings.

…..Even if it means letting go on the monkey bars.  

I know He's not gonna drop me.

And I want the world to hear my giggles that come from the joy of trusting Him. 

How about you?  

Have you been missing out on moments like this one with the Lord?

Just let go.  He's not gonna drop you either.

"Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."

1 Peter 5:7