Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Beau At the Beach


Beau tends to do his own thing. He plays in the waves, he hunts shells, he sits and reads, and he explores his surroundings. He is fun to watch but he is usually far away so I tend to not get as many pictures of him.
However, when I snapped the above picture I knew immediately it would be one of my all time favorites. He's missing several teeth, his hair is too long, his jeans were too short, but it's just Beau the way he is every day doing whatever it is that catches his attention at the moment not caring what the rest of the world thinks.
He is his own person, and I couldn't wish more for him.
His smile shows how happy he is taking a break from everyday life at the beach.

 Climbing a tree, smiling at me.
Going higher than last year.
Stopping to see where his siblings are.
Not afraid of what's above or what's below.
Enjoying the moment.

 Swimming...
It's cold, but he doesn't notice.
He has no pool toys but he has his brother and sister.
He can swim the length of the pool, he can be the shark when dad's not there.
   He stops to play with Owen.
I don't have to be in the pool, I can sit on the side and watch.
I'd jump in if necessary but it's nice to be able to be warm and just observe.
 At Fort Pickens, a fort built in the 1800's, one of the kids probably knows the exact date. Beau paused for just a moment so I could grab a shot of him. They were running and hiding from eachother and me, I think we all had a great time in the short visit we had there.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Broken

This Lent I have been reading daily meditations, the theme this week is temptations. I'm realizing my biggest temptation is to keep my status quo. If I'm down stay down, I'll eventually get over it, if I'm happy,great go with it, but not put a lot of effort into adjusting or improving wherever I am.
While on vacation, enjoying the ocean I love to collect seashells. While doing that I have noticed how many broken shells there are. While the broken pieces are still beautiful I only pick up the whole to take home.
But that's what is so great about my God, I am one broken mess stuck in my mediocre, but He sees the beauty in me, and He whispers to me that in Him I am whole, I have a place. A place specifically that I am called to fill. He accepts my mediocre, but He wants me whole because then I am giving Him and all those around me my best. It is then I am truly showing others His love through me.
I found a really beautiful broken shell today, when I showed it to Anna she said that would look awesome as a sun in a piece of art. How much her words spoke to my heart, brokenness can be made whole by surrounding it with more beauty. To step out of my comfort zone (my house) to search out more beauty in my life and to become more beautiful myself. That is my challenge this Lent, that is what I seek, it's my journey.
"I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life,then that you and your descendants may live by loving your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him."
-Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Choosing life, it's so easy on the beach as the kids laugh and play. It's harder in the day to day when their is schoolwork to be done, appointments to make and keep, exercise to do, and discipline always discipline, for the kids and for me. Choosing life = choosing joy. I have so much joy in my life, I just have to choose to see it and thank Him for all of it, the big moments and the fleeting ones.
Clinging to Him on my journey.

Sunset with Anna and Owen

Owen LOVES the beach. He gets out there and doesn't stop. He digs, he drives his cars, he runs. He's not much calmer in the hotel room, he reminds me of the ocean waves continually rolling in, if his feet aren't moving his mouth is running. So before dinner (of glorious crab) I took him to run on the beach, Anna came with me because we collect sea shells together. I love these moments of shadowed kids, they are brief but fill my soul completely. Loving our much needed vacation.











Digging

Hunting for the perfect seashells...
Digging a big hole...
Wearing socks because the sand is so cold...
A little attitude...
Some lollipops...












How Owen Gets His Way

Anna was teasing Owen by sitting on his fire truck. So he gave her a kiss to get it back. He spotted a plane overhead as I was taking his picture.





Swimming In The Cold

It's only 47 degrees and 9:30 in the morning, but the kids are swimming. The water is heated so they are enjoying it immensely. I will jump in if necessary but I am content to watch. Owen doesn't leave the second step and the other three are playing Marco Polo. We will have fun no matter what the temp. Hoping for good naps.









Watching the ocean

Owen and I taking a break on the balcony enjoying the scenery



Friday, February 15, 2013

Owen's Homework

Owen always wants to do homework so I finally printed some stuff off the Internet. W is currently his favorite letter and this was his first attempt at tracing. He has more patience each time he tries but his attention span is still pretty short.

Valentine's Day Dinner

The kids and I enjoyed a roastbeef dinner with mashed potatoes by candle light last night. It was topped off with dessert, simple rice krispee treats and golden graham s'mores were a big hit. It was a really nice dinner with fun conversation about why we love one another.