Summer's Highlights

Addison, all summer long, has been busy in her bullet journal doodling, drawing, creating and her niche, painting. This was her hand painted canvas she made for Tim on Father's Day this year that was inspired from her favorite picture of the two of them on the Washington State Ferry. I'm astonished and amazed by the attention to details Addison was able to display in her painting. 

She could have entered one of hundreds of sketches she's drawn, but she chose this painting to enter into the Northwest Washington Fair. By oops, I entered her into the 15-18 age category when really she should have been in the 11-14 age group ... as seen by the abundance of ribbons, the age didn't matter. 

God has given this child an ability to capture emotion, joy, details, relationships and thoughts onto a simple piece of paper. As parents, we want to do everything possible to encourage Addi to run with the gifting God has given her and use it somehow to bless those around her. 

She's already moved on to the next commissioned art piece ... stay tuned!

Funny as this may be, our sweet Myriam struggled to stay afloat this summer with the heat wave and smoke intake. The girl would fall asleep from vacation overload anywhere she landed - mid sentence, conversation, snack time and as the above, post shower when drying off. One evening, when I was making dinner, I walked into the living room and found Myriam chin-up resting on the back of the couch and her body dangling off the bottom. The most bizarre, awkward position to sleep in possible. 

On the flip-side, when she's not sleeping the girl is on fire, go speed, creating life and
always keeping it interesting. 

Boys Only Hiking Adventures

{ Mason, Charlie, Uncle Ryan & Kalen. }

This past Christmas Grandpa Doug gifted each grandson a hiking backpack with the
promise of taking them all on an overnight trip.
Charlie was so excited and prepared for this backpacking overnight. Tim helped get his pack all set up with protein snacks, cushion to sleep on, cool gadgets and, bonus, Mom's old trail runners that fit the Man Cub to perfection. The pack was ready a couple days before and the hiker was up two hours before Grandpa Doug picked him up. Excited, giddy, ready to explore and spend quality time with his cousins.
Thankfully, the smoke hadn't settled too much but still cast haze and pink sunrises from a distance. The boys had a great time! Games of hide and seek, swimming and attempts at becoming a photographer filled Charlie's time at Lake Ann.
He's now ready to start planning the next years trip with Tim.
Thank you Grandpa Doug for the gift of quality time and investing into our Man Cub.

{ Views on the way to the campsite. }

{ Exploring the grounds. }

{ I can't imagine what the truck smelled like on the way back from hot, sweaty feet. }

Sweet Smudges

No one told me to buy stock in Spray 'N' Wash or Oxy Clean before having children. 

With three Ladies and a Man Cub, I go through quite a bit of stain remover. I've tried many different kinds and sometimes revert to Dawn dish soap in my last attempts to salvage a shirt or pair of shorts. When all measures have been taken to bring an article of clothing back to life, with no victory of being clean, I'm not slow to find the trash can or donate pile. Yes, I donate stain clothing to Goodwill because every Mama needs a play clothes drawer. 

Our Littles have the uncanny ability to destroy anything fresh from the clean laundry pile in seconds once their bare feet hit the outside ground. Turns out the Little Ladies are more attracted to messes than the Man Cub. Becoming dirt fairies seems to be a favorite as they toss dirt in the air and watch it blow away, usually towards themselves first. Food never makes it in the mouth first - arms, legs, hair or face are the first point of contact when quieting ones hungry tummy. 

Make up has been of high interest and, even with child locks on bathroom drawers, some said Ladies can find it and create havoc to the always newly purchased lotion or eye shadow. I finally caved and thought buying play make-up brushes and cheap make-up would cure the need to use my own. I learned that the eye shadow and lipstick work great but I forgot to mention it only goes on the eyelids and lips. Although, when using Nana's twenty four hour lasting lipstick, Myriam always manages to apply it perfectly making her child-like lips appear grown up for days. 

 The reality is this:

Regardless of the mud smeared doors and windows, stained clothing and constant messes I clean up, these sweet faces can plant a messy smudge on Mama's cheeks any day. I've learned to let go of keeping things perfect because in the end, I'm just as much of a hot mess as my Little Ladies. 

Keep the dirt blowing...

 { Use a straw? That's too easy. }

 { Here a dirt, there a dirt, in and up the nose some dirt. }

 { Create - Happi - Mess. }

 { Sweet & Smudges. Keeps the body strong. }

{ Future make-up artists. }

13,870 Days

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 

Psalm 139:16

This verse has become one that I park on often. 

I sit in my chair having conversations with God about why some people have fewer days than others and why far too many can't even take their first breath before already fulfilling their ordained amount of days destined to live. I can honestly say that if I knew how many days left I had to live, I would live differently. Don't fool yourself - you would do the same. 

I would take the time to update all the kids' scrapbooks (I'm a solid three years behind) and baby books (haven't even started Baylee's) writing them letters to read on their graduation day and wedding day (goals). I would organize my crap (it's called crafting; not crap) so others didn't have to filter through what I call treasure. I would travel with my family, take long walks with My Love, snuggle with my babies and stare at them all night long (yes, I would be creepy, weepy mom). I would sneak love notes throughout Tim's daily life so he would never forget his bride. 

The reality is God knew life would become exceedingly far too much if we all had an expiration date stamped on our life that we could track until completion. 

I officially have outlived my sister on this 38th birthday of mine. 

13,870 days old. 

I've lived 72 days longer than my big sister. 

Traci knew her days were growing shorter, but never did she stop living. 

She loved more. Laughed harder. Forgave quicker.

Death forces you to reevaluate your life. I've done more pondering, mediating and worshipping in the past year and half than I have in years. I've chosen to live like it could be my last. 

I chose the word pursue for my word this year. To pursue my family more fiercely,  to grow deeper in my faith, to pursue God's calling in my life more obediently and to learn to say no to noise and say yes to me. It's been an amazing year of growth and learning which has produced opportunities I never thought would be possible and challenges I never wanted to tackle. 

Today I celebrate the pursuit of life because I can with dark chocolate cupcakes, running shoes, Bible Study and my little blessings that can make me laugh and cry all in the same moment. I celebrate knowing I am loved deeply by a man I never thought I was deserving of and have a family that would follow me around the world. 

13,870 days of being loved well. 

I pray God grants me another day tomorrow so I can love even more, laugh even harder, fight for my dreams with more passion and seek God with no boundaries. I will live every day forward with the inspiration I gained from being loved by my sister; she made and still makes me a better person. 

Most importantly, I will live and celebrate knowing God pursued me long before I was even born, already having a purpose and passion calling placed in my life. 

I was no mistake. 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14