Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Big, fat mess

Dinnertime at our house tonight was a disaster.  And in my mind, it all began with this cheese:


At the store this week, I had the bright idea that I should save us some money by buying a block of cheese and then shredding it myself if I needed to.   Well, tonight I needed to. And I'm pretty sure I'll be going back to pre-shredded cheese after this.  Because while I was fussing about, trying to get the grater assembled, the cheese shredded and then unstuck from the inside of the grater (not to mention finishing up the other steps involved in the delicious casserole I was planning on serving), this was happening behind me:

  "helping" to unload the dishwasher

 spreading out the contents of what seemed like all his toy baskets

 decorating the refrigerator

banging on the counter,
 which then led to inconsolable screaming when dinner was STILL not ready.....

...and also a few other things that I didn't manage to capture on film, like a full cup of orange juice being knocked off the counter, across the floor and spraying the cabinets on the opposite wall!

It sounds funny, but at the time, it most definitely wasn't and, in all honesty, the screaming and crying was not coming solely from the kids.  There are some nights when we sail through the dinner hour with no problems, but tonight was not one of them. 

So, there you have it.  We do not have it all together here.  It's messy and sinful at our house sometimes.  I wish I had been more prepared, more loving toward the kids as my frustration began to mount, more thankful when Scott swooped in to save me before things got really crazy.  And as painful as all that is to admit, I suppose it's healthy just to be able to say it honestly. 

I'm so incredibly grateful that I've been saved by grace, not works, and that Jesus is walking through this mess with me.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Peace & Quiet


Everyone except me took a nap this afternoon, which gave me some time to read through Ann Voskamp's blog archives.  I've been spending a lot of time attempting to absorb her wisdom when it comes to mothering and building a Christ-centered life.  I ran across this post about watching her oldest son grow up.  It made me want to call an immediate halt to the craziness of life and just soak up every moment I have with my little man.  I love him so much and don't want to miss a minute of these few years I have with him.

 So I finished up nap time, holding him and praying for his future. 
A perfect end to a restful Sunday afternoon. 

Friday, June 24, 2011

Decade

June 16.  10 years of marriage.  Crazy beautiful.

Officially, we weren't planning anything big, but, unofficially, we were both working on secret surprise trips.  Scott's plan worked out, and luckily, I suppose, mine did not.

We ended up having the most amazing weekend away in Nashville, thanks to this wonderful woman who watched our kids, cleaned our house, did our laundry, etc, etc!  Thank you SO much, Carol Ann!  What a tremendous gift! 


We stayed at an aquaintance's condo, right downtown.




It was so refreshing to talk, catch up, have no deadlines or worries...
....or kids running about.

We went for early morning runs,

followed by breakfasts out...


aimless walking and sightseeing,


one morning at the farmers' market,






a dinner at a Taste of Nashville outdoor event,

  

reading and napping and sitting by the pool,

 

and, of course, picking out treats to take home to our two most precious gifts
(who apparently did a pretty good job being without us).



So thanks, Scott, for a truly memorable moment away. 


I'm looking forward eagerly to our next decade together.