Strolling down memory lane...

We are converting VHS tapes to DVD in our house....and trying to preserve memories. So can I just tell you that I am so immersed in memories today that I feel weepy for the silliest reasons -- seeing 2-year-old Benjamin singing "Wudolf the Wed-nosed Weindeer"; seeing Claire jump up and down over her first bike (a pink tricycle!) and Mason singing "Daby Crockett" complete with an imitation coonskin cap! Oh, the memories are pouring in! We are oohing and ahhing and enjoying every moment (of course, Cate keeps asking "Where am I?!")

But last night, we watched a video that went even further back into our memories -- our wedding video. Oh, the 22-year-old me and the 21-year-old Wade were too cute for words. We were soo excited to be embarking on our marriage! Our joy was evident. It was.

The whole thing was moving -- from seeing my Daddy again (oh, how I miss that man!), to watching my brothers who were so very young, to seeing grandparents also gone to their heavenly reward. And much more!

But last night, the part that choked me up, was when my childhood friend, Clayton Ledbetter sang "Household of Faith," a wonderful song written by Steve Green. Read these lyrics from the chorus:

"We'll build a household of faith,
That together we can make,
And when the strong winds blow it won't fall down
As one in him we grow and the whole world will know
That we are a household of Faith!!"

Wow. I picked the song. I loved Steve Green back then and loved this song in particular. What I didn't know was exactly how strong those winds would blow -- how strong our faith would have to be to NOT FALL DOWN!

This is probably as good a place as any to confess to you that I really didn't expect any strong winds. In my naivete, I really believed that just by HAVING God at the center of our marriage we would be protected from hardships. That is why I got so emotional last night...because even on our wedding day, we were singing about something I hoped would never happen!

Within a year of our sweet wedding, my daddy had been diagnosed with cancer. And the next two years, watching my beloved Daddy fight cancer valiantly before going home to be with Jesus, I thought I would be blown over. Wade was the strong one then. He held on, held me up, and held our marriage together.

Four years into our marriage, we experienced a mild wind when Wade began Medical School, but two years later the wind would rip through us again when our first baby was really THREE! I will tell you that though it was a strong gust, it was a sweet sweet wind and I welcomed it!

Two years later though, as we were in the throes of facing our boys' cerebral palsy diagnosis, Wade began his Orthopedic Surgery Residency. This wind felt like a hurricane and it blew for five long years. This time it was my turn to hold on to Wade, hold him up, and hold our marriage together!

Today, Wade and I have just celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. I am sure we aren't out of windy days...but I am so thankful for this wonderful man I pledged to cherish all those years ago. Our faith has grown. Our love has grown. And most of all we have learned that often life's biggest blessings occur when the strong winds blow and we just hold on together!

Pray over the date...

I've talked about it before. Got it all out in blog-form, and promptly went into denial. But the date has been set. I can deny it no longer. So I ask you. I implore you. I need you.

Will you pray for this sweet boy? Benjamin's hip surgery has been scheduled for August 7th. Dr. Lee Segal at Phoenix Children's Hospital (PCH) will perform what should be a four to six hour surgery.

We have received opinions from all over the country. Ultimately, however, Benjamin picked his doc. Dr. Lee and Dad are new partners at PCH and even though it puts him in an awkward position to operate on one of the children of his friend/colleague/partner, Dr. Lee is willing.

Will you pray for him by name -- pray for his wisdom, his steady hands, his endurance in the long surgical day, and for him to be blessed by his interaction with Benjamin! He has spent time already hand-selecting the team that will assist him in the Operating Room on the 7th and though I don't have all their names here, God Almighty knows, and so I ask that you cover them as well.

Benjamin has always been a rock through his medical issues. Always. This is no different to date. I have been emotional (as I have always been through his medical issues...perhaps that is why he is such a rock?!), and he has assured me that he will hold MY hand through the whole thing. Oh, this is a precious boy. Will you pray that God continues to help him be strong and courageous? That the surgery will be straight-forward with NO complications and a successful outcome (better hip placement, no hip pain and good hip movement).

Pray also for Claire, Mason and Cate -- Claire and Mason know the routine and are pros at supporting their brother; this will be all new for Cate, however, and I do not want her to be scared (she adores her "bobba Benjamin"!).

And perhaps, right now, most of all, will you pray that we file this knowledge away for a couple of months and enjoy our summer -- not fretting all summer so that we steal the joy from these carefree days?! Will you pray that for Wade and I specifically? (We have surprised the kiddos by booking a 4th of July trip to Disneyland -- that will help, right?!)

It is a blessing to know I can write here -- pour out my thoughts, feelings and fears, and you will not judge me but rather through love lift up all these cares and concerns. Thank you.

Celebrating in Sedona!

Our weekend was lovely in Sedona. Just lovely. Time with Wade all to myself, is always a delight! And having him serve as my camera guy...carrying my equipment and patiently holding everything while I switch lenses a million times, makes the time with him even better!

The cacti were in bloom. The Red Rocks were simply majestic -- an example of the creativity of our God, the splendor of the work of his Hands.

My camera did not do it justice. It just can't capture the aw. But I tried. And I had a blast doing it! Oh, the blessings...

Prickly pear in bloom.

My favorite color...

At the Seven Sacred Pools...

The Agave Cactus in bloom...

Underneath the Agave blooms -- I was fascinated by the formation of these blooms in contrast to the pointy Agave at the base!


I have more. Oh I do. Maybe later, I could be convinced to share!

You had me at....quack!

Wade and I have just returned from brunch at our "resort"....it was delicious, I must say...and Wade insists that I amend my blog to let you know...

This is our room. Hmm. Do you understand my belief that this *major chain name* hotel might be overstating themselves by calling this a "resort" and this view from our room of the Little Tikes playground as "breathtaking?" Well...

But leaving our room, we walked up a path to the restaurant and were absolutely delighted to be greeted by this Mommy Duck and her little ducklings! Delighted. Perhaps you would have to travel with us to understand...Wade has quite an affinity for little ducks....taking breadcrumbs (and sometimes pop-tart crumbs) to feed them outside our room at our favorite Disney World resort to the point that the kids and I tease him that the word spreads when he arrives in town. The duck world is always happy! So, the minute we saw this sweet family, Wade looks at me and says, "I think you have to amend your blog. We didn't give the place enough credit!" (See why I love this guy so much?!)

Of course, I got a chuckle that the Daddy Duck was already relaxing at the pond while the Mommy duck herded their crew....but that is a different blog entirely!

And perhaps the view from the restaurant, is the "beautiful, breathtaking view" the Internet was referring to. Hmm. Well, it was and between that, the delicious brunch and our sweet duck friends, we have been blessed this morning indeed!

Note to self...

Sometimes the Internet might not be accurate. Hmm...do you think?

Wade and I are enjoying a lovely weekend in Sedona, Arizona celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary. We booked online through Priceline.com....we had heard amazing things about that site through friends. We requested ONLY resorts...because frankly, a couple of years ago I brought my Mom to Sedona and our HOTEL was a lot less than desirable. We thought we were being safe this trip. We have a limited knowledge of the area (that one trip for me and Wade had never been here before). Well.....the room is cleaner and nicer than that first one...but to use the word "resort" is pushing the definition to it's outer limits, I fear!

Oh, it is going to make for some great stories. Great stories!

Stay tuned for photos...we have a jeep tour of the Red Rocks scheduled for later today. I can not wait!!

It is a blessing to have time with my hubby!!

Fighting it out at the OK Corral....uh, playground

Well, it almost came to blows. Save the quick actions and thinking of a couple of sun-weary mothers, it could have been ugly.

The two preschoolers had met only minutes before -- "Mommy, I made a new friend!" And the 4-year-old boy, and my 3-year-old girl were racing down the slides, around the swings and over the climbing toys. All was good.

Until.

Well, until I was talking to my big girl, completely absorbed in our discussion. The other mommy was talking to her friend, equally absorbed.

Voices are raised. And all of a sudden they do not sound happy.

Knowing it is past nap time and we are pushing it even BEING at the park, I jump up and begin talking while I walk, "Cate, are you being nice?"

Other mother is also quick on her feet, "A, are you being nice?"

Pouty faces abound as Cate spins and tells me, "He is being MEAN to me." And our new friend, "She is being mean to ME!"

Calmly, "Cate, what happened?"

Are you ready?

"He says Claire is HIS sister!"

"She says Claire is HER sister!"

"She is NOT his sister. Claire is MY sister."

"She is NOT her sister, she is MY sister!"

My girl had the boy by his collar. The boy had my girl by the collar. They were about to come to blows over whose sister Claire was....

I glanced at the other mother...

"Is your daughter's name Claire by any chance?" With a smile, the other mother nods her head. Mystery solved and crisis averted.

We should all be so loved.

Happy Mother's Day 2009!!

I don't wear fancy clothes -- as a matter of fact most of my clothes are covered in various food product stains!

I don't have important conferences -- unless you count the amazing things I learn in the van driving to and from various activities...and of course, the things I learn in the restroom waiting for my toddler...

I don't have a big long title -- though I do hear my title over and over and over again in the course of a day (and sometimes well into the night).

I don't have get raises, bonuses, or promotions of any kind -- unless you count the one last week where I am loved more than Cinderella!

I am not making life-and-death decisions -- though sometimes the supper menu seems to affect my crew that way.

I don't carry a briefcase -- but my purse holds enough to cover almost any major crisis you can imagine!

No, I don't have a job outside of this house. But, I am a Mommy. And I think I have THE best job in the World!!

Happy Happy Mother's Day!!

Promotion...

Oh, there are Mommy-days where the laundry, dishes and dirty bathrooms steal the joy. No matter how hard we try to hold those at bay, they happen. They just do.

But not today.

Cate and I have a new post-nap routine. It started last week when she wasn't feeling great. In my effort to help her rest one day, I taught her about tent-making...climbing under the covers and enjoying giggles with her! She loved it. So for the last few days she has woken up from her nap, calling for me, "Mommy, I am ready to make a tent with you!!" at the top of her little lungs.

Today, once our tent was secure and her little eyes were dancing with the pure joy produced by being three and finding a new favorite activity, we played our "more than..." game. You know the one, "I love you more than chocolate chip cookies..."

She is just catching on to the game and so usually just says, "I love you more than ice cream" to my "cookies" or "flowers" to my "butterflies" etc. And we did that for a little while.

And then she looked at me, completely into the game, and getting better at it by the minute...

"Mommy, I love you more than Cinderella....and she is my FAVORITE!"

And my heart almost burst. She gets it...and I got promoted above the princess. Oh yeah...I'm doing a happy dance!

And then I had a thought -- I bet when I take time to get in my Quiet Time place, alone with God, and show him with my thoughts, time and heart that I love him MORE, well, I just bet the God that created me for his pleasure, for his fellowship, for his purpose, does as big a happy dance as we have ever seen!

Oh, the blessings.

Be Advised...

When traveling with a three-year-old, it might not be the best idea to find a deserted gate to hang out in until your flight is called three gates away...

Oh, it sounds like a good plan. She can run, romp, and sing to her heart's content without disturbing anyone....

BUT, what if she starts climbing under the seats. And what if her mother is thinking she is safe because she is "confined" under and behind the mommy's seat....and that Mommy lets herself get distracted with the drama going on a few seats over from a large group who has wandered into the once-empty gate with one overly-loud, overly-dramatic woman whose phone conversation the mommy can't help but hear...

And then the Mommy realizes the precious three-year-old is entirely too-quiet for a member of this family....and so she peers behind her seat to see why.....

Only to discover a brand new art form gracing the walls...40-50 pieces of gum that apparently used to be under the seats in this lovely airport...

And one little three-year-old, quite proud of her work in progress (oh yes, there is gum in her hand even now) and completely at a loss for why her once-distracted Mommy is now paying her full attention and grabbing her up and heading for the restroom only to have our flight be called for boarding...

So the water fountain on the way had to do.

Ugh. Be advised.