not running yet . . .

just attempting to walk :)
We've got a little mover on our hands
(tay will be so excited that y'all can see his black socks in the background)

here's a little update on other things:

We had a Date Night last night at Ceviche in Roswell . . . and we may just be making Roswell dates have the tradition of Krispy Kreme ending the evening. You can see the hot light on right behind Tay (and also his debit card to show that he did indeed pay for these donuts)

We went to Lake Oconee last weekend with the Stephens fam and had a little train ride with the cousins. This was a spontaneous act of affection caught on film. Daye kinda looks like an 80's aerobic instructor with her headband

Went to see The Hunger Games and definitely brought way too many snacks like M&M's, twizzlers, Krackles,  cupcakes, crystal light, and even still spent money on movie Popcorn and a diet coke. It was a go-all-out type of movie night. Tay just finished reading the book and so I cannot wait to go see the movie again with him

Daye has started carrying around this baby doll from Aunt Sifter

and she still loves to try and take things out of my hand

and get right up in my face so that I can't mistake what she is attempting to do.

I really did walk up on her reading the other day

She opened the pages all by herself 

and tried to touch and feel even though this book isn't one of those and even though it was up side down.

She had quite the selection around her.

James Davis from Liberia made a quick trip to the US for the first time and we got to introduce Daye to him!

Got to visit with the Cweep in Greenville a few weekends ago. We went hiking in part of the area they filmed the Hunger Games :) We also ate at Sassafras and went to an Agatha Christy murder mystery, "The Unexpected Guest" and loved it!

Daye now does this trick when you say, "hello?!" 

And she loves exploring in any and all drawers (major mohawk here slightly hidden by the trash can)

And we've ben trying to get rid of this swing for months, but she's discovered it as a new jungle gym

She gets in and out of it like a tornado quite gracefully

She still loves to take everything out of her drawers and then flip them over and then use them as either drums or speed racers put back up all of the clothes nicely folded

sometimes she sleeps and looks really peaceful . . . 

. . . but quickly gets back to work! I view this scene quite often - only her legs on her tippy toes reaching in to begin the "pull-all-clothes-out-of-here-as-fast-and-determined-as-possible" process

Caught pink-handed

I also just finished reading Beth Moore's sister's story. It is about her life as an alcoholic. 

One of my favorite parts from it was something she quoted from the Autobiography in Five Short Chapters by Portia Nelson.

Chapter 1:

I walk down the street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I fall in.  I am lost.  I am helpless.  It isn’t my fault.  It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2:

I walk down the same street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I pretend I don’t see it.  I fall in again.  I can’t believe I am in this same place.  But it isn’t my fault.  It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3:

I walk down the same street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I see it is there.  I fall in … it’s a habit … but my eyes are open.  I know where I am. It is my fault.  I get out immediately.

Chapter 4:

I walk down the same street.  There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.  I walk around it.

Chapter 5:

I walk down a different street.

running

this has been rumbling in my mind over the last week or so and I'm still having trouble putting into words as clear as when it was spoken over me, but, I'll give it a shot

(another thing I learned from counseling)
As you may have learned here, I am someone who fears . . .

When gripped with fear of not wanting to end up in an undesired plight I can remember waltzing into a session with such determination, sitting tall and on the edge of the seat with one hand firmly pounding on the other palm saying,
"Ok, tell me what boundaries to put in place, tell me what conversations to have, tell me what hard things to tackle so this doesn't happen. Come on, let's go. Give it to me!"

My counselor's response was such a critical moment in my life,
"I just want to pause for a moment. 
I want to clothe this conversation in Grace and Love.
Grace and Love.
Grace and Love. 
I hear where you are coming from, Sally. 
I understand your longing to preserve, to protect, to avoid, to run in a certain direction.
Because, yes, it is true that if you want to end up somewhere you've got to be on a path that leads to it.
But,
you have a choice to run towards your destination because (a) you are driven by Grace and Love
or because (b) you are driven by fear. 
My hope for you is that you would run in that direction because you want to taste the abundance God has offered you not because you are trying to avoid affliction."

......

I could be motivated by Grace and Love
or
I could be motivated by fear

Both could potentially get me what I "wanted"
Both could be an opportunity to experience John 10:10, "The theif's purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy; but my purpose, Sally, is to give you a rich and satisfying life."

I read something yesterday that said it another way,
"Transformation requires us to receive the gospel not do more. Doing more is law (legalism) and will lead to condemnation and frustration. Responding to the gospel is grace. We still have to act, but responding to Christ is life-giving and fruitful."


He wants to give you good things because He is a Good Father.
Run to receive them in confidence because He wants to graciously give them to you.


Grace and Love
Grace and Love
Grace and Love



and now for some words from Daye

as soon as you finish taking these pictures i will eat this leaf

uh daddy?

these days i take a few steps on my own sometimes, but almost all the time i stick my tongue out to soothe these toofs coming in

blaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhh

would you people PLEASE stop trying to make me walk!

aaah that's better

11 months

(Daye's voice)

I'm getting older my mom tells me

she is excited though

because it's so nice out

and now that im getting older

i'll get to enjoy the outside on a whole new level

we've already been on lots of walks

and to the swing

and she puts up this gate in our doorway so the sunshine can flood in

so phelps and i can observe nature

but anyway . . .

riding along

I'm not quite sure why Daye is not giving more indications that she is enjoying this :)

gratitude

Lately 

I've been overwhelmed 

with gratitude

for being in a phase

of joy

Lately,
I've noticed
the incredible fascinations
of a child

Like when my grocery cart
had a bumpy wheel
but that just meant
a more exciting ride 

Like when 2 tiny friends
went to see some fish
and I wasn't sure
they'd even be aware
of all they were seeing
but they loved it

Like the laughter
of my dear friend,
Rebecca,
and what a gift
it is
to be her neighbor

Like the fact
that I can even be the one
to take my child

during the day 

to the aquarium

Like when I saw Daye
reach for Brooks' hand

And he let her grab it

 

And then hold it for a little

Like when we go for a walk

because it's sunny out

and she falls asleep

Like when we feed her meat sticks,

(who wants to eat meat sticks?)

and she LOVES them

and she doesn't even know 

how crazy her hair gets

after its been 

in pigtails all day

Like when every morning
we slide open the curtains
and find her standing there
with that lovey in her mouth
just waiting to see us
and get started with the day

Whatever it is

that's making me reflect

and feel sentimental

and come to a place

of intense affection,

I'm thankful

because this really is

a sweet spot to be

Kony 2012

Once
when Steve Larmey
was in town visiting
a group gathered
to talk about Africa.

We had all been
on a trip
with Young Life Africa Expeditions. 

Our hearts had been stitched together
by our experiences there.

We were sharing our desires
for others
to taste
what we'd been given the opportunity to
when we'd been
to Liberia,
Uganda,
Tanzania,
Kenya,
Ethiopia.

He said something
that stuck with us
that now
we share with people.
He said,
"When people go to Africa
their lives
get wrecked."

It's true
that describes it perfectly.
When Tay and I went to Liberia
for the first time
in 2009
our lives
were wrecked.

And we have never
been the same.
We have never
been so thankful,
so eternally grateful,
to have our lives
wrecked.

Our prayer
has often been
that others lives
would be wrecked too.
Because,
it changes everything
in the most
brutiful way

I just found out
about Kony 2012.
It adds to the wreckage
of my heart.
I can't keep quiet.
I want your heart
to be wrecked too.
So, you'll join me
and amplify
this . . .

Simple

"Simplicity is freedom" (or something to that effect) - Richard Foster

I'm trying out a new look on the blog. Patience please as I try and get the look of the feel for which I'm hoping - simple :)

Daye is dancing cause it's the weekend!

Sharing

My friend, Karin, is doing a wonderful "I'd like to teach you something, so I'm going to show you" lesson on sharing. 
Do you know that she is the major inspiration for me starting to blog? 
I got such a kick out of her when I first found her work. We knew each other in college, but, leave it to technology to now make it more than just "knowing" each other. I'm thankful for that!


Head on over to Rockit Photography see what she's GIVING AWAY . . . mad talent, that girl!


Her entry also makes me think, "Oh my! What kind of things am I about to have to practice myself as I teach my Daye?" 


it's coming . . . I know it is. 


until then we see what Daye thinks about sharing

share your money with me mama

uh, hey Brooks, whadda ya say you lemme see that fork?

fine i dont need the fork anyhow, i'll just push my pink buggy

hmph!

oh whatcha playin with now?

i think maybe id like to see

aaaahhahahhhhahahahahahaha im comin!!!!!!!!

sometimes i need a break

 

Phelps: hey mom . . . would you tell daye to share her toys with me, too? she shouldn't discriminate just cause i have 4 legs and smelly breath and rip her toys to shreds.

Hey Brooks, nice to have ya over again. Spill your goldfish anytime. I'll help you clean 'em up.

oh, hey mom. Geeze! You're like some cweep who's always there when I turn around. 

we're just supporting each other in sharing his snack

mmmm mmmm mmmm! this one is just absolutely delectable!