Out with the old, in with the new

We use to have these, but honestly they have driven me crazy from the beginning. Really, it's just the lids that bother me.

And now we have these!  Plus now Elijah has some too

Summer,

we will miss your swimming, but not your mosquitos!

Arboretum

Recently, we went to the Dallas Arboretum to enjoy the Chihuly exhibit. And enjoy we did! It was amazing. Hudson was so excited about the sculptures and talked about them the rest of the day. If you have a chance to get out there, it is a MUST SEE. Thank you Lynsi, Aiden and Addy for joining us, what a blessing to spend a beautiful morning with friends.

A wonderful weekend!

We headed to The Woodlands the first weekend of August for the THSC (homeschool) conference. We stayed with my (Erin) Uncle Pete and Aunt Sue's house and my mom came and stayed with us. We all had an amazing weekend! The kids got lots of "Grammy time" and plenty of swimming. I was able to attend the conference all weekend - BY MYSELF!!!!! Christian came with me Thursday night and it was wonderful for him to be a part of it and get to hear the 2 speakers for the night. Both talks were amazing and encouraging. I have been to this conference 3 times now and I think this was the best one yet. Maybe it has to do with where I am now but I thought the speakers did an outstanding job and I was highly encouraged, challenged and refreshed during this time. I also walked away with some "practical" things, which was great too. Plus, after the conference I got to spend some great time with family and enjoyed some down time. I am thankful for the time we were able to "get away" and for my time at the conference, what a blessing the whole weekend was to our little family.

now for some pictures

Enjoying an evening swim in the hot tub or little pool


love him!


How can you not smile when you see this picture?


air hockey!!!!!! Elijah is quite the little player. Hudson did a fantastic job playing with him. Hudson can play a mean game of air hockey if he is trying to win


This boy *LOVES* to swim! He will just jump in the water, enjoys going under and will just float around with his water wings on. Maybe next summer he will learn to swim!


deep in conversation

love this....

for so many reasons!

1. Elijah climbed into Hudson's lap without any kind of prompting
2. They both are carrying balls
3. Hudson is trying to explain something to Elijah. My guess is that they were either watching baseball or something from the Olympics

and

4. Both my boys are sitting still!

Feeling Isolated

Recently, I have had several conversations with friends about feeling isolated and disconnected. These conversations have been encouraging, beautiful and difficult. Each person has a different standard and so isolation and disconnection are going to take on slightly different meanings for each person, however, that is not at the top of importance.

In one of these conversations one friend asked me, and another friend, what we have done to cultivate the relationships around us. I have continued to wrestle with this question for the past week. The answer to that question is going to look different for each of us and for each relationship. For me, I have focused on the friendships that have brought some feelings of discontent recently. It has been extremely helpful and healing for me. In this same conversation, the Lord so kindly revealed to me that I am looking for Jesus working in these relationships and not necessarily going to Him. I tend to be one that processes aloud and with others. The Lord has reminded me to bring all things before Him and to trust and rest in Him alone. Jesus is working in and through several of my relationships and I am so thankful that the Lord reveals Himself to me in and through the lives of others.

Again, this topic came up the other night with a couple of other friends. As we continued to talk through these feelings we were reminded that sometimes we will go through seasons like this. Having young kids is one of those seasons. We are giving all we have the little ones and at home (and work) and to our husbands that it is hard to pour into our relationships with others. I know for me it tends to sneak up on me. All of the sudden I feel disconnected from some friendships that are usually pretty close. I am learning to not focus on the frustrating or the disappoint moments but to rejoice in the Lord for blessing of where He has me now. My satisfaction is to come from the Lord alone, my worth is only in Him. He knows my heart and desires more than anyone. I can (and need to) trust in Him alone.

Outside of pursuing the Lord. What does this look like for me? Pursuing relationships with those that have similar desires for their friendships. Sometimes we are called to share with others, regardless of how the other person might respond. Often I have a difficult time sharing if I feel the other person will "dismiss" me or if I perceive they are too busy to care. Sometimes, not all the times though, I will just have to share regardless. Reaching out to others when I need to, not just waiting to see if they will pursue. These are difficult things for me, but when I am resting in Lord and pursuing Jesus wholeheartedly this will happen more naturally and with less anxiety and frustration. I am blessed with the relationships around me, but I have a strong desire for them to be deeper. Lord, may I wrestle well with this and trust completely in You.....You alone are enough!

Parenting......

"Parents are to think about and remember Jesus Christ and then train their children to understand how everything in their life - their joys and sorrow, their trials and labors, their doubts, sin and shame - is to be understood and approached in the light of Jesus Christ, who descended from David rather than from Levi, died and rose from the dead." From Give them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson