No hurry....

"LIFE CAN ONLY BE HELD IN THE LIVES OF THE UNHURRIED".....Ann Voskamp

"Life is not an emergency"...A. Voskamp

Such an opposite way to the way I do life.  It is about "getting in and getting out" forget about the journey.  One would think being a stay at home mom that life would feel more unhurried.  In some moments it does if I choose to live in the moment of the day and realize it certainly is not an emergency to get my "to do's" done today.  But mostly, I feel behind and somewhat scattered lately.  There is such a desire to catch up, to have a clean pallet, to just have what is in front of me for the day instead of the "behind feeling"....the pile of laundry on the couch, the dishes in the sink, the messy play garage that needs to be cleaned again, the blog that needs to be written, the phone calls I have neglected, the hundred emails I need to clean out.

I wonder even if I did not have that list and I lived in a hut with few belongings...would I still live hurriedly?  Would I still be distracted?  Would I still be consumed by what is done and what isn't? 

Is some of it the need to feel productive in this role as a stay at home mom?

What if I decided today that I will run my errands with my kids in an unhurried manner or that I will stop when they ask me to....and is it possible for me to live at rest with things undone?  It just is about choosing it, living through maybe those first few minutes of agony thinking of all that needs to be done and instead still choosing to play trucks or sit with Deveraux and attend to her. 

 One day, during a nap time for Anderson, I finished what I was doing and I felt I needed to spend one on one time with Dev.  I went in and said, "I want to spend time with you."  Her face completely lit up!

It is worth trying....

Growing Pains

Will I be chosen?

Will someone value who I am and what I have to offer?

If I put myself out there, will I be received?

 These questions are on my mind today and guess what....they are also on my daughters.  My questions have more history, depth, maybe maturity...but the questions remain the same.

I have come to realize in new situations (seem to be in those a lot) there is a continual opportunity for those questions to be asked and for decisions to be made to put myself in those places.  At times, they are met with a yes, we do choose you, and I walk away thankful and blessed.  And at times, they are met with a seeming no or indifference.  What will I do with the responses?

My daughter tells me after school that she was trying to be a friend to someone that she really likes, but this friend is choosing another.  She said, "It's so hard when someones not wanting to choose you."  What do I tell her.  Oh it is hard, painful....it still is.  In fact it was today, the same as you, for your mom on the same playground with another mom.  More layers to our interaction, but it is the same hurt feelings.  I want her to not live a lifetime of insecurity and looking for validation.  I want her to know she is a woman clothed with dignity and strength from the King of Kings.  That she is lovely, worthy, amazing, complete, because she is a child of God and she is Deveraux.

Why do we look so to the outside.  Why do we give so much power to that interaction that affirms if we are chosen or not.  Why do we allow those things "trip" us up so on an otherwise lovely peaceful day. 

Of course the hope is growth comes in these areas and that I can pass on that journey of growth to Deveraux and that even though some of those questions may come, they won't hold as much power.  I want her to know she is already chosen again and again and again.  I don't want her to know struggle in this area because I love her.

 I also want her to continually and honestly give this potential struggle and all others over to the One who can hold her and sustain her.  To not allow the struggle to define her but to grab hold of the freedom that is hers to take!

You are not alone Deveraux Grace!

The piercing of ears!

We started by celebrating...as we waited for our turn to get Deveraux's ears pierced

She was nervous and until recently did not have an interest in the pain of getting her ears pierced.  But she just decided in honor of our anniversary, she was ready for pierced ears!

Deveraux held so still and then when it was over she said her ear was hot and she was a little uncomfortable.

A rite of passage!
I remember I had to wait until I believe I was 13 for my ears to be pierced.  It was a big deal.  A family friend took me maybe it was for a birthday or 8th grade graducation, regardless, it was special!

I love that she can still be held and wants to be held!

Beautiful!

Car Show Car

Every year is the Concourse De Elegance and we headed down to Carmel for a quick peak at one of the biggest car shows...it is fun that it comes to our neighborhood!  We also saw some of the auction action downtown Monterey....it is definitely another world!

Since last year...whenever we see a fancy car, we say "Car Show Car!"

Some of 0ur days



We celebrated that we will have some days together by eating ice cream!



Thanks Kimmy for celebrating the marathon with us and sent treats for our family...we love Mickey!!

We went to the Carmel Valley Pool and really enjoyed our day!  We miss pools having left Maui!  The kids love being in water!

Trying out the diving board for the first time!

So proud of him!

So proud of him!



I think the Olympics inspired me!



A couple of times he had to get off the board becuase he was scared but then he would get back up and try it again!

Deveraux was a rock star....she went off the board several times and it was her first diving board experience!

They both loved the slide!

The first time we headed to the pool, all ready with supplies in hand and they were closed so we ended up having a park hang out time, which was nice.  It is fun sharing our days with dada!

We made some bread that I have been wanting to make from a recipe from Gigi!

They both love to bake!

One day, Deveraux wanted to surprise me by cleaning.  I had lost a bunch of pictures I had downloaded on our blog, so she went to work to make me feel better!

Next she watered my plants....

And she "went to town" cleaning and as you can see Bobo supervised from the car.  I heard her saying, "Come on Bobo, we ant to do this for mom..."  When she puts her mind to it, she can clean!

We started some behavior/chore charts!  The kids were really excited.  We are now on Week 2 and already a little behind.  I love the idea of charts and I want to be able to give them money that is there own and that they can also save and share at church, but it sometimes is hard to be consistent.  We will catch up today!!

 I have really enjoyed my time with out two!!