203/365... enJoy

I broke a vow that I made to myself today. I promised myself that I would not attempt the pool without an extra set (or three) of hands this summer, but when I was faced with the prospect of another hot, hot day cooped up in the house I caved. I had very low expectations and I knew it would be stressful (for me), but I also knew that the kids would have a great time and love me forever. The promise of wearing a certain four year old out for a decent nap was pretty alluring as well.

We tend to encourage our kids to not be afraid of the water and are always anxious to have them swimming around, but I'll say that I'm actually pretty thankful that my non-swimmers are completely content to play on the stairs of the pool. I'm in no hurry to get them off the stairs. Funny how the parental desire for over-achievers tends to level out after a few kids...

Anyway, I was hoping to document my brave adventure a little more, but reality knocked some sense into me shortly after we arrived. I was already short a few hands and having one tied to a camera wasn't going to work too well. I did manage to snag one.

We all made it home alive (and even had fun) joy...

201/365...enJoy

I had a rare morning off today! The five big kids went to the summer dollar movie with Gaga and Grandpa, leaving me to make a big dent in my school book organizing for this new year. I love organizing pretty much anything, but new school books? That might be my favorite. Sorting through all of the great books we'll read this year made me really excited about the time period we'll be studying (1900-present). I love everything about our curriculum. I love that our kids get to learn in ways that make learning completely enjoyable. I love the richness that their education is filled with and I love getting to watch the connections  they make as those lightbulbs go off in their minds. I love getting to just live life right alongside of our kids and I'm really grateful that we get to have them at home with us.

Getting ready for a new school year joy...


literature

biographies

history
nature study


preschool

200/365... enJoy

I'm not exactly sure how it's happened, but my baby is three months old today. Seriously, where have these past three months gone?! I'm not completely sure why and I do know that there are likely a lot of factors involved, but it seems as though I've enjoyed these newborn days more than ever before. It likely has a lot to do with the fact that our big kids adore him and that they are willing and able to offer real help. Whether it's baby snuggling or toddler fetching that I need, they are always right there. I've also had more outside help during this newborn time than ever before, the biggest being cousin play time for the little boys a couple of times a week.

Of course, a super happy baby who sleeps awesomely at night doesn't hurt either. As tempting as it could be to wish that he would stop right where he is and stay this sweet little peanut forever, I am actually pretty excited to watch his personality develop and see how he makes his own little spot among this wild and crazy crew.

But I think maybe it's the benefit of perspective that has had the most to do with my ability to enjoy this time so much. Having a few kids who are much older than it feels like they should be really helps to slow a mama down and truly savor these little years. Every stage has been wonderful so far, but I'm starting to see that once a stage is gone, it's gone. As much as I look forward to the next stage for each of our sweet kids, I don't want to miss a moment of the ones we're in.

(and please, if that smile and those stick-out ears don't slay you then you're not breathing.)

Three months old joy...



199/365...enJoy

GaGa and Grandpa are in town! They'll be serving as Camp Hosts at Paris Mountain for the next several weeks and today we headed over for the first picnic at the camper. Grandpa grilled ribs, Gaga fried chicken and no one left hungry. I'm so grateful that even though we don't live nearby, our kids are able to spend enough time with all of their grandparents to have developed very close relationships with them. And grateful that our kids have grandparents who just might love that fact more than I do!

Though it wasn't as hot as it has been lately, it's still South Carolina in July. One word describes the great outdoors right now: Steamy. Grandpa is a smart man and he had a fan all set up and blowing full-blast. Ben and Jack are smart men, too. Gaga chose to hold a little heater instead.

Keeping cool (and staying warm) at the camper joy...


198/365... enJoy

This book has been rocking my world. I finished it today and as I was talking through it with Jimmy we decided to read through it together. Here is an excerpt:

"Most of us are painfully aware that we're not perfect parents. We're also deeply grieved that we don't have perfect kids. But the remedy to our mutual imperfections isn't more law, even if it seems to produce tidy  or polite children. Christian children (and their parents) don't need to learn to be "nice". They need the death and resurrection and a Savior who has gone before them as a faithful high priest, who was a child himself, and who lived and died perfectly in their place. They need a Savior who extends the offer of complete forgiveness, total righteousness, and indissoluble adoption to all who believe. This is the message we all need. We need the gospel of grace and the grace of the gospel. Children can't use the law any more than we can, because they will respond to it the same way we do. They'll ignore it or bend it or obey it outwardly for selfish purposes, but this one thing is certain: they won't obey it from the heart, because they can't. That's why Jesus had to die."

This job of mothering is really important to me. I want to do it well and I want my hard work to produce my desired result: kids who love Jesus. Obviously that is a worthy goal, but I've been realizing lately that I've been trying to carry the weight of that responsibility; a weight that I was never meant to carry. This book has served to reinforce what God is already teaching me, that my job is simply to "love them, discipline them, and tell them about Jesus." That's it. Their souls belong to God and if they are his then he will save them despite my failures and not because of my successes. And that is a huge load off my back.

Give them Grace joy...


197/365... enJoy

One of the best parts of our family reunion was getting to spend time with one of the most precious ladies walking on this planet right now, my Granny. On the last evening that we were there she shared with us that the Lord had been teaching her about humility. She told us that she didn't have it but that she wanted it, and that she prayed earnestly for it to be developed in her. My first thought was that if Granny didn't have humility then I was hopeless, but then I realized that of course Granny is humble. That's exactly why she thinks she isn't. She knows exactly who she is without the work of Christ in her and she knows how utterly dependent upon him she is.

My Granny is full of wisdom, yet she doesn't have the need to be heard. She prays earnestly for us, yet is slow to offer advice. When she does it comes in the form of encouragement and is overflowing with grace. She seeks the Lord in every decision that she makes; he is a true friend to her. She has been through very good times and very bad times during her almost 90 years, and she tells of the great mercies of her God. I am so very thankful to have the example of my Granny in my life.

My Granny joy...

196/365... enJoy

It's not very often that we can all get together and I'm so thankful to be a part of a family who understands how important it is to make it happen. It's wild. It's loud. It's busy. But the memories that are made are well worth a few days of crazy! And photos like these are priceless.

Four generations joy...










194/365... enJoy

Babies, babies, everywhere babies! Since our last family reunion in 2007 the fourth generation of the family has grown by nine babies, with number 10 due to be born in about six months. It was so fun to get to meet the newest members of the family and pretty adorable to watch the row of high chairs at dinner time.


Babies everywhere joy...











Great Granny and the fourth generation