7 minutes to spare...

At exactly 3:53 I climbed back in my van after dropping my entry's off at our local festival's art show.

I have to admit, I got all teary eyed. I completed this. It would have been more like me to have thought this was a great idea, stressed out, asked everyone I knew for their opinion, and then somehow sabotaged myself. There were a few close moments, but my patient husband made sure I didn't quit. It ended up requiring 2 trips in 24 hours to Hobby Lobby with all three kids and the man did not even waiver. (For your future reference, two stores within 15 minutes from my house have completely different pricing systems!) He hung wire, he drilled hangers, he cleaned glass. You've got no choice but to love a guy who works so hard to make sure you don't cause yourself to fail! My sweet friends who have listened to my endless insecurities and rambling, have continued to gently encourage me, (or print out last minute Hobby Lobby coupons!) thank you!

Mike hung each picture on the wall after it was framed and took a picture of the picture. I'm not exactly sure why he did this, but I thought it was cute and it made me feel like they were "real art".

Honestly, I don't care what any judges say, I dropped them off with 7 minutes to spare, so in my mind I won!

Rocketships, Sunsets, and Praises...

It's amazing what little boys can do with a toy kitchen! Logically, you'd think, cook! Maybe even use it as a tool bench or something creative like that, right? Not my guys! I walked into the family room this morning to find Ole Chef Tony and his kitchen looking like this...

Dax looks at me and says "Our wheels are stuck on our rocket ship and they have holes in them" Hmmm...so the kitchen has now become a "rocket ship?" I asked for a demonstration, and this is what they showed me...

Ingenious I say! You notice Finn's extreme agitation? That is cause he wanted to be captain.

That lasted for about three minutes followed by some sort of unexplained tantrum. Who took my sweet baby and brought me this toddler??



Praises...

Dax went to school Thursday even though he told us he would not on Wednesday night. As we walked down the stairs to his classroom he looked at me a with a puzzled look and said, "I told you, I'm not going to play at school today." I left him with a smile, a kiss, and an I love you. He fell to the floor crying saying he was not going to stay. Sigh...I thought it was all going so well!
I returned to a happy guy who seemed to have a good day, and so far, he's going back Tuesday.

A husband who picked up pictures for me tonight on his way home and then willingly took us all to Hobby Lobby and dinner, even stopping the vehicle to allow me to take some pictures along the way!

The sunset tonight! It was incredible!

Simple Grace. This morning started out with me all frazzled, yelling at my peeps. About 9:30 I sat down with my Chai Tea, my Bible, and Him. His grace and peace alone let me get off that couch with a softer, kinder attitude and continue the day with patience and joy.

My little Finn who hears me even when the others don't or tune me out. I asked Dax three times to go grab the new bag of Diapers. Next thing I know here comes Finn with the diapers and a smile. I asked Dax to pick up his trash and toss it in the trash. I hear the lid banging around and see Finn trying to throw it away. H is always tuned in. Lily argues everything, Dax pretends he's completely deaf. Does this mean, maybe, just maybe I have one that can not only hear my voice but even comprehend the words I say?? If this continues it would only be a bit of a miracle! I know, it's probably just a stage, but I'm grateful for it while it lasts!

Help!!

***Update*** First, thank you for your help! I think 8 comments was my record, although most of you, dear ones, are not first time commenters, with the exception of my darling husband who finally graced me with a comment. Someday I'm going to force you other lurkers out of hiding! =).

So, some of you asked about a theme. That would make it easier, wouldn't it? No...no theme. After prayerful consideration and I believe a direct quote from God that said, "Get over yourself, this is for My glory" I sent the order in for the Raindrop Reflections and Hidden Joys (names subject to change!) Bottom line, they are getting printed, this is simply an act of God in and of itself. Beyond this, they are being printed in sizes beyond 4x6, and I will venture to Hobby Lobby tonight and purchase frames (I'm trying not to choke!) Good thing frames are 50% off this week! I really have no quest to win, only to follow His direction against my own protests and fears. I think this will be a great learning experience!

If you're wondering why I chose those two, it's pretty simple. Last Friday when I realized this photography contest was happening the first and only shot that came to my mind was the rain picture. I thought the turn in date was last week so I called Mike at work to see if he thought I could get it printed in a few hours. He reminded me of the date and I knew I had a week to decide. This probably made things harder. When I prayed I was reminded of the one picture that made me want to enter in the first place and knew that was the one. (Not to mention it also got the most votes.) The Hidden Joy one has a story hidden in it and it felt like it needed to be printed sooner than the others. And now that you think I'm a completely crazy women (like you didn't before!) who's pictures "speak" to her, I'm going to go tend to my little guys!

I am asking all of my long lost friends and family to come out of the background and join those who already know how to use the "post a comment" button and help me!

If you are a regular around here or you know me in the real world, you know that I got a camera for Christmas that I haven't really put down much. This has allowed me to "play" almost like a little child! It's time for me to do something with this, or so my husband tells me. So I'm contemplating entering a local photography contest. Which leads me to my phobia, it has nothing to do with winning, because this is solely about actually making choices and printing something(s). Mmmhhmm, that's where you come in. Choices are hard for me! Mike, Lily, and I looked long and hard tonight and here are some of our favorites....

Tell me which three are your favorites??

Just a note, although the contest is local it will be judged most likely by photography professors. I'm not sure if my semester of high school photography will begin to hold up, but at least it's a baby step!

Best Buds Seeking Hidden Joy
Pollination

Raindrop Reflections

The names are slightly lame and are subject to change. I'll even take suggestions!

Thank you!!

**Celebrity Blog Visit**

If I didn't like Christian artist, Aaron Shust, before going to his concert, which I did, I would have really liked him after seeing him live. But now, I must say he has quickly become my favorite Christian artist! How? You ask...

Great question! After seeing Aaron in concert I decided to see if he had a blog. This is what good bloggers do, right? In fact, he does! So, like a good blogger I left a comment, because he absolutely deserved a big thank you for the amazing evening he played a big part in Sunday night.

Now, here is where I feel a little guilty. You know, my post about that concert, the one where I post his image without his permission and swipe his music off Youtube. Well, Mr. Shust popped on in to the Finding Joy blog. He spent a bit of time here and rather than filing some suit for Mommy music smuggling and lack of proper image concent he left a couple of comments!

So now, Aaron has just jumped off the stage and into my blogland community! I love when you realize that even the one at the center of the party is just a normal daddy type guy with a 2 year old and a baby on the way who take baths in hotel bathrooms even against his wife's advice. I am glad to welcome him to Christian Mommy blogland and share him with my huge following, you know my 18 regular readers!

Notice today, I'm linking you back to all his sites...but I'll probably keep swiping my videos off of youtube, because that's just one addiction I don't think I can break!!

Dax Goes To School!

Here he is in front of "the tree" finally he gets to pose in the first day of school spot! He needed to model the back pack...And well, since it took him three whole years of waiting to get the privilege of standing in the first day of school picture spot, Dax felt adequate picture taking time should be taken and he should maybe take some time to sport the shades...Dax is my middle child, I thought no emotions would well up as I drove out of that parking lot! But, alas, I was wrong! He ran into the gate with excitement oozing out of him and there was not even more than a half hearted wave back towards the mama as he was greeted by his buddy Max. No hugs, No kisses. Sniff Sniff

So what did Finn and I do for the two and half hours after I pulled myself together? Good question! I wasn't sure. With an age difference of 22 months between the boys, Finn has not really seen a lot of alone with mom time. We decided on the library ( you know, at 17 months he played an active part in this decision). I took my little puzzle virtuoso and spent 30 minutes doing about a dozen puzzles. He's got skills this boy!

We then moved on to bigger things...
And well, if all else fails, use your teeth! That seems to be Finn's life motto at the moment!

We picked up Dax and met up with his best buddy Max, his sister Maggie, and their Mama, Traci for a first day of school celebration lunch and ice cream fiesta at an outdoor place. It was only 150 ish degrees, but with the breeze and the ice cream it was enjoyable! Finn really got pleasure out of his cone. (yes, there is a cone under there somewhere!)

Here is the whole clan. If you look close you can even see Miss Traci's funny faced reflection in this one! I love how Finn is looking at her like she's a little nuts!

Our guys found some really cool digger doing something really cool! They decided they needed to get a better view so both of them laid down on the side walk to watch. Wonder what passers by on Main Street thought of these two checking out the action?

All I have to say is Mamas of little girls in the 2-4 age range you better watch out! These beautiful little boys might just be knocking on your door some day!

And if the team of Max & Dax can't get them on pure good looks alone, then they will win them over with their incredible sense of humor! Dax said his first day of school was "Really Really Good!!!" And for that I am grateful!!!

A Beautiful End to Summer

Concert Praises...

Last night after hearing it mentioned on our favorite radio station about a million times over the past weeks we decided to head out to their last free concert of the summer...

The boys loved it. They danced and giggled and even though it was way after bedtime when it was over it was so worth staying up late!

I loved being a part of a huge group of people sitting under the stars on an incredibly beautiful Sunday evening singing songs like this...
The crowd was rather big and to me there is something amazing that fills my heart when you get this many people singing "God Songs" as Dax would say.

One thing that was as amazing as the singing was the sky last night. It was one of those sunsets where you can't doubt that God is watching over you, smiling. The funny thing was I tried many many time to capture the beauty with my camera, I mean that seems to be my job lately, right?
Those are nice, but those do not even begin to capture it. It was amazing. The kind of sky that almost echoes with His voice, His Spirit. But, I couldn't get it! On Auto, my camera would not take the picture at all, on no flash, nothing, when I put it on manual I got what looked like a black screen. When I got home I bumped up the brightness full strength and this is what I have...

So, I'm wondering if you had to be there. If maybe this sky was so amazing that it was a bit top secret and you could only really see it's majesty if you were sitting in that field listening to Aaron Shust....hmm, top secret sunsets from God...interesting thought.After the concert ended and we were packing up to head home, they made the announcement that Aaron would be at the merchandise table signing autographs. Lily was pumped. Mike rolled his eyes. Dax and Finn just wondered if there was more food in it for them. Mike and Lily waited in line for 45 minutes. The boys and I watched them tear down the stage, which might just have been Dax's favorite part of the whole night! He insisted I take pictures...Once Mike and Lily made it to the front of the line, the CD's were gone, so Lily had Aaron sign her copy of his Bio.Dax joined them in line at the table. Here is a picture of Dax telling Aaron his name and giving him "five".

It had been a long night for everyone. We were towards the end of the line. I can only imagine how tedious signing auto graphs and posing for pictures must be! I'm sure if it's something you dream of but you don't really do it's seems all glamorous, but I bet if you do it all the time it would get old quick! Aaron looked a little tired but he was great with the kids and they were excited to meet him! (don't you love the belly hanging out here? It was late...he looked put together when me left the house!)

Overall it was an amazing night with my family. Sitting under the starts soaking up an amazing Holy Spirit, while listening to great music, singing, and snuggling my guys! I'd say it was all one big praise! Thank you, Lord!

And on that note, I will leave you with one of my favorite Aaron Shust songs...

Hey, anyone know who was teaching Sunday School Today?

This morning at our last day of church in the park (hallelujah! I'll miss the beauty, but love the nursery!) Dax went to Sunday School with Lily. When he came back wearing a Hawaiian lei, I asked him who was teaching Sunday School this morning he replied, "Some big kid, and me." Wow, would have loved to have heard that lesson...wonder where the lei came in?

Praises for Moms

Yesterday I blog hopped into a discussion about the "cat fight" between working and stay at home moms. There is one particular author who seems to take the position that working moms are happier and that those of us at home are bowing down to the man and tossing away our identity, a major mistake. She feels this trend "backwards" towards more women giving up careers to be stay at home moms is just ludicrous. I have to say, at first I wanted to throttle her. Who does she think she is?? I'm pretty secure in my choice to be home. Are there days I think it would be fun to really get dressed and go to a place where there were grown ups and such and noone played with ketchup, cool whip, or their own feces? absolutly! I know a lot of moms. I know working moms who love what they do and wouldn't have it any other way. I know working moms who hearts break every time they leave their child with the babysitter. I know stay at home moms who delight in every day they spend with their little people. I know stay at home moms who feel like they live in a box and have no life. I know stay at home moms that although they are not working they volunteer so many places for so many hours that someone should be paying them. Bottom line, me wanting to trap this woman in an alley somewhere and forcibly tell her why she's an idiot isn't going to change the crap she's spouting. Plus, it's not nice to hit. (at least I hear this falling out of my own mouth several times a day). All of us moms are in this together. We all love our kids. We have to follow our hearts. I don't buy the whole I can't afford to stay home bit unless you're a single mom. I say, stand up proudly and say, I want to be a working mom or I want to be a stay at home mom no matter if it means giving up lots of material things. Why can we not encourage each other to follow our hearts and love our kids for all they're worth? If you are dreading everyday at home or at work, maybe it's time to make a change, pray hard!

When I was still thinking about throttling the above mentioned author I decided to document a few moments that I would have missed if I hadn't made such a feminine mistake by staying home...

The boys and I decided that rain was not going to keep us in all day. Yesterday we headed out with clothes on, which quickly came off, and the camera to "dance in the rain".

Drawing with Dax. Dax is always asking us to draw things on his magnadoodle. Usually it's things like "a twain, a zebra, an airpwain, a hot doctor (helicopter)" etc... Usually I do ok, but this time, he asked for a family portrait including the dog. So, I don't do people. I tried, really, I thought, how hard can stick people be?" See...they are horrible! And the clothes, wow, I think Stacey and Clinton will be running in any minute with those ill fitting, transparent clothes. Dax and Finn didn't even get clothes. Heck, Finn didn't even get arms! Dax was not to bothered by the people, but the dog, he was bothered by that poor excuse for man's best friend. He looked at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Sophie needs furry knees. Dogs have furry knees." I told him he was right and he should try drawing Sophie. He did! And I must say his "Sophie" (at the top) is far better than mine, furry knees and all!

Building a cool tent/tunnel with my guys.Sometimes I do put clothers on them.For me, being at home is the only choice. No matter what we have given up to do it. For our family it is the right thing and everyday, even the hardest ones, even when I'm waiting on my porch for 10 minutes to be picked up for a girl's night out, I love what I do and I wouldn't trade my moments here for the world. For every other mom out there working in or out of the house, part time, full time, pajama time, if your heart is full, I want to say, you go girl! Today is a day for mamas!

I'm not one to talk politics on my blog. In all honesty, there really isn't a party line I fit with. I've often thought of creating my own party, but I'm thinking it would be more trouble than it's worth and I'd never be able to choose the colors for the buttons, let alone a running mate. Since moving to Illinois a few years ago I have felt pretty useless as a voting member of society because honestly, in Illinois, if you live south of Chicago you have no voice. Your vote might as well be written with crayon on a bathroom wall. When I lived in Ohio voting was important! In Ohio everybody counts. You never know which way things might play out in the end and it is exciting! So, for this election whether I like Obama or I don't doesn't really matter because my state it his state. If only I'd held on to my residence status in Ohio!

This election will make history, no matter who wins we are about to change the course of our nation. That is something pretty amazing. I have been kind of in a blah spot with this election, not really excited. Today changed that. Today a real, honest to goodness mom joined the game. Not a life long politician, not married to a life long politician, not an attorney, not a polished ivy league grad, but a mom. A mom of five, yes five. These are not grown up, out of the house five, but some little guys. Not perfect, styled GAP model kids, but real kids. She's a military mom, a mom of teenage girls, a mom of an elementary aged little girl, a mom of a baby with Down Syndrome. She doesn't just say what she believes she walks it. Even if I don't agree with all her politics, I respect that. Like her or don't like her, this is something that excites me. This says to my daughter you can really do anything and you can do it as a woman, not a man wanna be.

I loved talking to my own mom tonight and hearing the same excitement in her voice. Mom's are pretty cool you know.

So, after I Googled Sarah Palin this morning and read her bio and more, and learned about her five kids would you like to guess what I Googled next? Those who know me well will only smile, there will be no surprises for them. "Sarah Palin's children's names" Yeah, there is that name freak part of me coming out. Let's just say I was not let down here...Track, Piper, Willow, Bristol, and Trig. And those aren't blog names ladies. This lady has got a bit of spunk.

The adventures of Dax & Finn and Praises...

At about 10 till 8 this morning while I ran to the basement to get clean laundry I left these darlings playing happily together on the family room floor. When I came upstairs, I heard no noise. I came up and peeked in, they were gone. I ran through the house calling for them, thinking maybe they were playing a game.

No noise.

We've been trying to keep the doors locked so Dax can't open them. Usually though, if he opens the back door it gets left standing open and the dog is running around the neighborhood. Not today. I stuck my head out the back door and yelled.

No noise. I ran to the front, yelled, no noise.

I ran to my room, threw on a pair of pants and ran out the back door. There was Dax running around the side of the house with a big grin on his face. He said, "Hi mommy! It's really nice outside, we wanted to come out!"

All I could say was a very panicked, "where's Finn??" As I scanned the side and back yard.

"He's upfront, but I keep him from the street."

I take off running. The front? By the road? Dax is in the back...so Finn is alone!" As I made it to the front and at first glance didn't see him, but then caught him dancing around barefoot in his jammies, I'm not sure if I ever felt more panicked and then more relieved in my whole life.

I scooped him up under my arm and escorted the boys back into the house. I preceded to give Dax a huge lecture about all the horrible things that could happen to a baby outside without a grown up. In Dax's words "he could get smooshed?" I then started to cry while I spoke...not exactly my intent. Finn climbed up and rubbed my back and hugged me as I talked. If only they could understand even just tiny little bit of how much I love them and how much one moment could change everything.

Praises...

These two little boys in their matching "crabby" pajamas are safe & sound and continue to make my life a little more "edgy" after their disappearance this morning. I will continue to come up with new ways to harness Dax's stealthiness for good and not evil!

My tea and quiet God time this morning was somehow better than all other mornings.

Our extra daughter/babysitter, Hayley, has babysat for both tonight and last night's meet the teacher meetings. I've enjoyed our "drive home" conversations! You know, teenagers are really pretty cool (although I'm sure "cool" isn't really "cool" anymore).

Meeting the teachers. Both kids seem happy. I always love the chance to meet and spend some time with the important people in my kids world. With Lily when she was little I always worked in her classroom. I'm hoping this year I can find a way to spend some better time in her class than last year, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to spend sometime in Dax's room too. Lily's preschool was a co-op so even before I went back to teaching I got to spend good classroom time in there. I loved getting to know the kids and the flow of how things worked. Seems around these parts I couldn't find a co-op type program. I really like the place he's going, I just hope I get a chance to spend a little time! Ok, now I think I'm rambling...

And on a preschool note, Dax was super excited after going to his open house! He was even ok that he and his best buddy, Max are in different classes. He really likes the idea of going to school. On the way home he asked, "mom, am I a preschooler now?" Yes. baby, you are a preschooler now! Weren't you just a baby not so long ago? I wonder how his teachers feel about ketchup, yogurt, and whipped cream painting?

Friends who will keep your mini man so you can take the big one to school on his own!

Little brothers and their friends who request to be the friend of somone who feels too old to be joining facebook! Honestly I just wanted to see what the inside looked like! So far the only people who have requested to add me as their friend are all guys in their early 20's. They've made me smile!

The Baby signing time DVD which my boys think is the coolest thing ever and are actually starting to use!

Blogland. A place that lets you peek through the windows into other's worlds, sharing their joys and praying for their sorrows. watching miracles happen. There is a lot of bad stuff out there but there are some amazing stories that are much more fulfilling to read than my dishes are to do!

Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am to have the mom I do...that women, she sometimes amazes me. In the midst of her own "stuff" she always thinks of everyone else.

Beautiful end of summer days!

We have Sand!

Finally! you wouldn't think sand would be so hard to find in August! After 5 stores, two weeks, and one really agitated 3 year old, Toys R Us came through for us and we are happy campers!

Everyone took their time in the sandbox, but Daddy and Dax, they really enjoyed themselves!

Finn got a little bored so he decided he'd try some other things...

Like sticking his head out the high hole on the climber over the blacktop to scare mom. He did look cute doing it...

Sunbathing in an empty pool...

Picking Mommy's flowers. Here is a sample of his collection of petals...

The best alternative activity, giving picked flowers to his mommy with a big, sweet, smile!