Enjoyin' today

The fall weather has finally arrived. I didn't realize I like fall so much, but i DO love me some fall weather, pumpkins (not to eat, bleck) but certainly to look at and enjoy the halloween decorations.

I bought 2 black kitchen towels with a spider web design including 2 red spiders on them. Halloween right? Katie thinks the spiders are real. sadly it brings me chuckles most every morning "mommy yuck" pointing to the red spider. I say "yes honey but that's just pretend" and it's become a morning ritual to turn the towel over and show her again that it's just pretend. Still, life through a 2 year olds eyes is fun.

Tonight our friend Sharon invited us over to watch a movie. Not like, in the family room. but outside in her driveway with her extended family and framily'.
She projected a movie on the side of her neighbors house. We watched the movie on Sharon's driveway in our camping or beach chairs. it was FUN!

Where is she?

let's see... Mary Beth forgot that saying "no" is not a bad word!

that's right, i'm leading the charge for the Grayson Women's day long retreat at the church. but in the middle of preparing for that- we were asked to help friends at another church lead worship while they have their regular praise team people away working a Walk to Emmaus retreat.
soo, i said yes to a dear friend. I'm glad i did- and i felt God's hand on the process.
BUT in the meantime, laundry calls...and emails, and groceries? and now i'm still distracted but trying to focus on this women's retreat in 2 weeks.

once that's over, after a few really good night's sleep- i'll resurface.

Friends invited us over for their daughters 2nd Birthday- Katie just turned 2 and Haley is 6. We had a great time going down the slide. I said "we" because a parent had to climb up the rope ladder to get the child up to the top of the slide, so if you're going to do the work, you should reap the reward! So i enjoyed the fruit of the exercise.

The girls laughed and we all had fun!

Pause for a moment...

I feel lucky just about every day for the family and the life I have. Ty and I went through some serious, eh "stuff" shall we say to have our family. And the two girls GOD has entrusted to us are blessings most days.

Tonight, we were invited to dinner by some friends and some of their friends came too. while we're in the 'get to know you' phase of dinner, we uncovered one of our new friends daughter went through Chemo and was recently given a bill of health from an unknown prob that's so rare they couldn't even get an official cancer diagnosis. Their daughter was 5 when she started experiencing problems. 5? Right when you think you're sending your child off to Kindergarten instead this mom is putting her child through testing and life saving medication. It's just something that's hard to imagine

So once again my life is in proper perspective. I like to think I have a pretty good handle on how GOOD we have it- but these little reminders are always good to put any of today's stress in it's rightful, backseat.

Go hug your child and tell them you love them!

Family

Just can't believe how much I have. Husband to a really funny, intelligent guy and we're parents to two very different girls- but who love each other and fight constantly. sounds normal.

Sometimes i just stop and try to take it all in. I have what matters most.

Time

Weirdest thing how quickly time flies. On one hand, as a kid I thought each day felt like a week. how much longer until Sat, when I can sleep in and go rollerskating (at Playland)? The magic of no responsibilities.
These days, sleeping in is like 7:30 or whoa 8am! The magic! Or sleeping through the night, for that matter.
But really, how quickly am I already 38? And my oldest is on the edge of turning 6. When did that happen? When did she get old enough to have a music preference on my car radio? and when did she start enjoying 80s Rap?
then I ask the questions- am I doing this Motherhood thing right? I only get one shot. One opportunity to leave a lasting mark on her heart- weaving her into a young lady that believes first in herself and in her God-given abilities, and then leaving space for Jesus in her heart. And the park, swimming, jumping off the sofa...things my Kindergarden'er loves.
things that she will look back on and hopefully have fond memories of mom and dad and home.

We each get the same 24 hours in a day. I try to use my time well- unlike spending my money well, I at least try to use discretion with my time and the quality of the impact I am making on my precious.

Happy Adoption Day, Katie!!

Our attorney swore us in, reminding us we will be responsible for Katie as if she was our biological child-which brought tears to my eyes - thinking back to the week we spent in Scottish Rite...haven't we already been doing that?

Bethany, Katie's birthmom joined us in court too- we realize how special she is