Cousin Birthday Party

Since Daniel, Erica and Mary Lane all have summer birthdays and it was going to be hard for all of us to be together for each one's birthday, I brought up the idea of us having one cousin birthday party with the family this summer. Of course, that didn't stop us from having a "3rd of July" celebration the day after Daniel's birthday or me and Grandma going to Mary Lane's party at Sweet CeCe's. But the cousin party was dedicated to all three "kids" this year.

We had to schedule it around Daniel's work schedule, so it turned out to be a Saturday morning brunch with homemade waffles and lots of breakfast foods to go with it (thanks, Grandma!). I also brought some cupcakes and the cousins all blew out the candles together. It was a fun family time for all of us!

Friday Favorites: Blogs (again)

I think I listed some blogs on a Friday Favorite another time, but there are always more blogs to find and I have two new favorites. They aren't actually "new" blogs, but I just started reading them lately, so they are new to me.

The first one I found was Big Mama, written by Melanie Shankle. She had just written a book called Sparkly Green Earrings and I bought an e-book version and loved it. In fact, it might have been my very first e-book to read on my Nexus 7. I quickly discovered her blog, too, and it's just fun to read about her life with her nine-year-old daughter and their family's lives in San Antonio, TX.

Then from the Big Mama blog, I found her friend, Boo Mama, a.k.a. Sophie Hudson. She has also recently published a book, too, called A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, but I don't have it yet (waiting for Amazon or Google to make it a "deal"). I look forward to reading her book about her life growing up in Mississippi because I enjoy reading her blog.

These women are friends in real life (as opposed to the blog life) and also do occasional podcasts that are fun to listen to. Imagine just eavesdropping on a couple of friends having coffee and that's what the podcast is. Except that these friends have funny stories, not just boring lives that they are whining about. It's fun to listen to while I'm doing something else (walking, making cards, cleaning).

So, there you have it. Two of my most recent favorite blogs! Hope you're having a Happy Friday!

Mary Lane is Three!

This sweet little bee is turning three today! 

She is the best kind of bee. She doesn't sting and is as sweet as honey!

She loves to dress up in her "ballerina suit" or in a princess dress or this cute bee outfit. 

She most often puts her shoes on the wrong feet, but doesn't seem to mind a bit.

She likes to try to keep up with her big sister and likes to show us things that she can do.

She has a adventurous side, maybe even a little daring, and loves to jump from the ottoman to the couch or other similar antics that make her mother gasp.

She has a mischievous side to her and can get a cute, impish grin on her face when she knows that you know she is doing something that she shouldn't be doing (like sliding down in her chair while sitting at the dinner table).

She loves her sister and her mommy and daddy and if one of them isn't around her, will say, "Where's _____?"

Mary Lane is turning three and I am so thankful that God put her in our family!

Honduras Mission Trip

 The team of 12 youth and 3 adults from Grace Community Church left early this morning to go to Honduras to work at La Providencia orphanage. We got word that they arrived safely in San Pedro Sula (flight destination) and have probably by now arrived in Aguas del Padre where the orphanage is located.

If you are interested in following their trip, click here.

While I have had some anxiety about Daniel going on this trip, most of the reasons were based on my fear, not reality. What I take comfort in knowing is that God is with them wherever they go (Gen. 28:15) and that there is no place that they can go from His Spirit (Psalm 139:7-10). God provided everything Daniel needed financially to go on this trip, another assurance to my heart that He is with Daniel and I am thankful to those who helped make it possible for him to go.

As you know, my son has a fun sense of humor and there is apparently an inside joke among the team about some Spanish phrases that they know. Late last night when we were finishing up his packing, Daniel agreed to pose with his bags to give a visual to the phrase, "No mas pantalones."

My sister wanted to know if he had packed all his pants in his suitcase! Also it should be noted that the hat was purchased for the trip, but after some of Daniel's friends saw his hat a couple of days prior to leaving, Daniel decided that a baseball cap would work just fine to shield him from the sun. I'll be returning the safari hat to Walmart soon!

Eighteen

Photo taken on Mother's Day 2013

 
An open letter to my son on his eighteenth birthday:

Dear Daniel,

When I first held you eighteen years ago, there was no way that I could know how much joy and love and pride I would feel for you throughout the coming years. I had no clue what I was doing as the mom of a boy, since I didn't have any brothers. Thankfully, you gave me lots of grace and still do! As I held you in my arms, I had no idea that you would develop such a passion and love for playing the drums, although I began to see that early on when you began drumming on anything and everything to make your preferred choice of music.

Now that you are reaching an important milestone in your life, one of many happening this year, I want you to know that I am proud of the man you are becoming. I love spending time with you, just hanging out and watching shows on Netflix, or hearing about your day. I am so thankful that you are willing to be open and honest with me about what goes on in your life. You have "let me in" and I look forward to many more conversations that we'll have and to hearing about your many adventures in life.

I love watching you play the drums, and yes, I even love listening to you play, even when it's loud. I also love that you enjoy being a part of a band, whether it's the worship team at church or your jazz combo or just a simple "jam session" with your friends. I love having live music in my living room and getting a "front row seat" to hear what you all are playing.

Another passion of yours is reading and learning, especially when you don't have to do it for a class. I'm glad that you love to read and I love seeing stacks of books in your room, waiting for you to have time to open them up.

And speaking of time, I love how you are a pretty good manager of your time. You are a busy guy, but you know your limits (most of the time) and you are good about making time for your family, your friends and the activities that you are involved in. I remember when you started high school and decided that you didn't want to try to play baseball and be in the school band. You chose to pursue music because you felt more of a leaning toward that long-term.

I am proud of and thankful that you are a man after God's own heart. You aren't ashamed of your faith and are willing to share with others in an unassuming and non-threatening way. I know that you will have struggles and doubts along the way, but I am thankful that you know the Lord and are committed to following Him as you move into your next phase of life.

"Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17, NIV

Eighteen is a big deal, and so is graduating from high school and going on an international mission trip and starting college. You are facing all of these milestones with your normal, laid-back, fun, embracing-life kind of way and it's very exciting for me to watch!

For your birthday, I give you your wings! Go soar with the eagles and know that God holds you with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:10).

Your mom loves you!