Boxes, Wipes, and Donuts

I've been getting shipments from Pampered Chef pretty often over the last few weeks. Bird always gets so excited when a package is delivered because he loves playing in the boxes.

Yesterday, Bird's wipe box was empty. I opened his closet to get out a new package, and when I turned around, Bird was running around with the wipe box on his head - like a hat. He's still obsessed with hats.

Today, we ran to WalMart for a few things. While there, I picked up a chocolate frosted donut for Bird and I to share. He finished it in the car on the way home. I had already prepared myself for a chocolaty mouth and hands, so I thought it would all be okay. I scooped Bird out of his car seat, brought him in the house, and put him down while I got some wet paper towels for the clean-up. During the 2.5 seconds that I wasn't holding Bird, he ran over to the kitchen wall and smeared his chocolaty hands and mouth all over the yellow paint on the wall. I'm really not sure what possessed him to do it, but he thought it was very funny. Thank God for clorox wipes. :)

Excellent Quote

I'm finishing up my reading in our book club book, Premeditated Parenting by Steve Nelson. I read a quote in the last chapter that I though was excellent:

"Your children will either be missionaries or mission fields. Your children will either be actively trying to reach someone else, or someone else will be trying to reach your children. They will be proclaiming the word of Christ, or they will be having some other message proclaimed to them. They will be visionary, or they will be open to someone else's vision."

Pretty thought-provoking.

Beatin the Heat

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but Jackson doesn't get to go outside to play a whole lot right now. Call me crazy, but I'm just not super excited about getting lathered up with sunscreen and bug spray just to go out and have a heat stroke in the Georgia summer sun. I'm not really a fan of this intense heat. BUT... this afternoon, the sky clouded over and a delightful breeze blew in, so OUT we went!

We ran around in the yard, spent some time swinging, and played in the wading pool. It was GREAT! Thank you, Lord, for comfortable outside weather (and for an $8 wading pool)!

The pasta fork is one of his favorite water toys.

Trying to drink the pool water

He even reads in the water!

The Blessing of Multiplication

Right after college, I was the youth ministry for an incredible group of kids at Calvary Baptist Church in Rome. Those kids and their families were exceptional in so many ways. I call those youth "my kids," because I felt a huge sense of involvement in and responsibility for their spiritual growth. God used me to teach them, and them to teach me. Those were years of INTENSE growth for me. And now, it's such an awesome blessing to see some of those youth as adults (some married with children!!) pouring their lives into the lives of the youth at CBC. Same church, but a different group of teenagers with a new generation of leaders. I am SO PROUD of each one of them, and it's always a blessing to hear from "my kids" to know what's going on in their lives.

This past weekend, a few of "my kids" led a Life, Love & Dating retreat for the CBC youth. I did this with them when they were in the CBC youth group, and now they're continuing the tradition using the curriculum I wrote a few years ago. Here's a message from Alyssa, one of "my kids:"

So, Josh Clark has talked to Taylor Vaughn and I about doing a Life, Love, and Dating Retreat again with the high schoolers. We have just been remembering how awesome that was when we were that age and how important it is that our high schoolers now hear that too. While doing some exploring and researching, I found the material that I believe you wrote back in 2006 when we did the last one. Would it be ok with you if we used your material? Just let me know what you think about it! Thanks Hailey! Love you friend!!

 Tonight, I received this message from Josh Clark, one of "my kids:"

I just want to tell you thank you for allowing us to use your material for this weekend. This weekend was awesome! We had a total of 19 youth there to enlighten! And also want to thank you for teaching us when we were that age. The youth that you had back in the day, are at the age now where we talk about what we did when we were in the youth and want today's youth to experience it also. It's funny how God uses you in situations to teach and to be taught. With the youth not having a youth pastor right now, it's taught your youth to stand in the gap to teach the youth there. Without you teaching us to bond and to stick together a few years ago (more like 6 years ago, wow), I don't think we would have done some of the things that we have done for these kids. It's been a team effort. (sorry if it sounds like i am rumbling on but it was on my heart)


Friends, I love you very much, and you are such a blessing to me! Josh & Alyssa - please don't kill me for using your messages to me. I just treasure your words and never want to forget how I witnessed God accomplishing things through you!


Thank you, God, for allowing me to be part of the disciple-making process with these incredibly special kids (now adults!). I pray that you would continue to use them to build your kingdom and bring you glory. May they teach others about your love, and those in turn teach others, who then teach others.

The Mystery Polka-Dot Virus

Well, so much for the humdrum week. I took Bird to the doctor Friday because he still had a fever and the spots had multiplied. After an appointment with the doctor and some bloodwork (NO fun!), it was determined that he has a virus. Can't remember the name of it, but I'm just calling it the Polka-dot virus. Poor little Bird. These pics were taken yesterday, and the dots are WORSE today (if you can imagine that). His fever broke today, though, so maybe tomorrow the dots will disappear.

And I'm sure you noticed, of course, that this mystery illness has not affected his hat fetish. Love my baby Bird!

This and That

I haven't blogged in a few days, primarily because I don't have anything very interesting to say. I'm not complaining - I'm just saying that life has been blissfully humdrum this week. :) But, here are a few things to keep you up to date:

1. Date Night - Jacin took me on a date Saturday night. We went to see a movie (the 1st in the last 3 years for us), dinner at Olive Garden, and dessert at Brusters. Yum!

2. Hat - Bird has decided that hats are mandatory accessories. Not only does he wear one when we go out to run errands, but he also wears one at all times in the house. If it happens to fall off or he misplaces it (for 2 seconds), he grabs my hand and pats his head with his other hand, trying to tell me he's lost his hat. Here are some pictures of the hat obsession (take on several different days):

Helping with laundry (with his hat on)

Eating lunch (with his hat on)

Riding Rascal (with his hat on)

Peeping out (from under his hat)

3. Dog Hair Reduction - So I've blogged before about our dog hair woes. BUT I now have a furminator. It was quite expensive, but I see it as a home improvement investment. So far, it's really helping! The other factor to consider is that, due to Bird riding Rascal like a horse (see above pic), the dog now spends most daytime hours hiding from Jackson, so the dog hair is more confined to one room.

4. First Day of School - tomorrow is the first day of school for Gordon County. I went up to AMS today to leave a few notes & candy bars for some of my teacher friends. I have to say that I really do miss being at school, working with other teachers and anticipating a new group of kids. However, I do NOT miss the dread and guilt I felt all day, every day, when I had to leave Bird in daycare. Even though I loved teaching, I  L O V E being at home with Bird. No contest.

5. Pampered Chef - my new Pampered Chef business that I started in April is growing! I have a friend working with me now, and I'm hoping to continue adding to my team. For the months of June and July, I've been the top seller in my director's cluster! And, in just 4 months, I've sold over $10,000 worth of products! This means I'm only $5,000 away from a pay raise! I love being my own boss and growing my business (from home!!).

6. Fever + Spots - Bird had his 15 month vaccinations 2 weeks ago. They warned us that some kids (less than one-third) develop a fever and a few red bumps about 7 to 14 days after the injections. Well, of course Bird would be one of those kids. Today is his 2nd day with a fever of 102 and lots of tiny red bumps on his tummy. He's a trooper, tho, my baby Bird. :)  If he's not better tomorrow, I'm calling the doctor to find out if it's just a reaction to the ChickenPox vaccine, or if he has the Pox for real.