And since pictures are worth a thousand words...
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Scenes from a Family Vacation: Part I
We just returned from an awesome 12-day family vacation. We started off at Eagle Crest (Central Oregon) for 8 days with my side of the family, and then 4 days at Black Butte (also Central Oregon) with Tygh's side of the family.
And since pictures are worth a thousand words...
And since pictures are worth a thousand words...
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Waiting for Prince Charming
This last weekend was one of my best girlfriend's bachelorette parties. I'm also a bridesmaid in her wedding, along with two of my other closest friends. It is indeed cause for great celebration.
And as we drove off in the Barbie-pink extended Hummer limo (oh, yeah), I got to thinking about my precious Sienna. How one day, she may be all dolled up, with a .75 cent plastic crown from Dollar Tree on her head, heading off for an afternoon of wine tasting with her friends in celebration of finding her Prince Charming.
Is Sienna's husband even born yet? What will he look like? Will she choose a man of integrity, honor, and humility? Will he love and respect her like she deserves? What will her new last name be?
I remember Tygh's dad telling me after Tygh had proposed that he and his wife had been praying for their son's wife since he was a little boy. What an honor to think that I was in response to their prayers. Wow.
I have not yet specifically set out to pray for Sienna's husband on a deliberate and regular basis, but this last weekend convicted me that perhaps I should. My dear friend has found her Prince Charming, but she indeed had to kiss a lot of frogs (don't we all). Do I pray that Sienna will be spared the same heartache? Do I pray that she won't, in the hopes that it will promote endurance and produce character in her?
It's tough being a mom of kids, period. But I feel a particular responsibility being the mom of a girl. In a lot of ways, this world is a lot rougher on girls than it is on boys. (And yet, I have to say my son cries a whole heck of a lot more than my daughter).
It's a lot to shoulder, but also a proud and mighty burden to bear.
Too much to take in during just an afternoon of wine tasting with the girls, but the grape is starting to grow on the vine.
And as we drove off in the Barbie-pink extended Hummer limo (oh, yeah), I got to thinking about my precious Sienna. How one day, she may be all dolled up, with a .75 cent plastic crown from Dollar Tree on her head, heading off for an afternoon of wine tasting with her friends in celebration of finding her Prince Charming.
Is Sienna's husband even born yet? What will he look like? Will she choose a man of integrity, honor, and humility? Will he love and respect her like she deserves? What will her new last name be?
I remember Tygh's dad telling me after Tygh had proposed that he and his wife had been praying for their son's wife since he was a little boy. What an honor to think that I was in response to their prayers. Wow.
I have not yet specifically set out to pray for Sienna's husband on a deliberate and regular basis, but this last weekend convicted me that perhaps I should. My dear friend has found her Prince Charming, but she indeed had to kiss a lot of frogs (don't we all). Do I pray that Sienna will be spared the same heartache? Do I pray that she won't, in the hopes that it will promote endurance and produce character in her?
It's tough being a mom of kids, period. But I feel a particular responsibility being the mom of a girl. In a lot of ways, this world is a lot rougher on girls than it is on boys. (And yet, I have to say my son cries a whole heck of a lot more than my daughter).
It's a lot to shoulder, but also a proud and mighty burden to bear.
Too much to take in during just an afternoon of wine tasting with the girls, but the grape is starting to grow on the vine.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Fearless.
You probably know by now that I have a daughter, who recently turned 2. Her name is Sienna.
God has blessed her in many, many ways. She is genetically gifted (she's gorgeous). She's funny. She's spunky. She's pugnacious. She's tall (over 3 feet). She loves to eat. She loves to sleep.
But what you may not know is that this girl is f.e.a.r.l.e.s.s.
This point has been driven home as of late.
Some recent examples:
1) She insisted on going down a 50' spiraled water slide, by herself, head first, the very first time we took her to the pool. She went completely underwater, bobbed right up, with her toothy smile, and shouted, "Again!" And then she climbed out of the water, and marched right over to the long spiraled staircase, elbowing the older kids out of the way to get to the top. I just stood in the pool, at the bottom of the slide, aghast.
2) At her gymnastics class, she does belly flops into the foam pit, while the older kids delicately climb in.
3) At her tumbling gym, she climbs head first into a tall bucket, no idea what's inside the bucket. Her little legs sticking straight up in the air.
4) At the park, if you look away for even a second, she has run into the forest, and lain down in the brush so you can't see her. And when you find her to try and scold her, she just looks up at you, giggling amongst the weeds.
5) If Brae so much as breathes wrong on her, she kicks her foot into his face.
6) She prefers to drink water from the dog's bowl.
7) She eats bugs.
8) She rolls in dirt.
9) During snacktime, when another kid isn't looking, she has traded her empty milk carton for his full one, and has taken a bite of his sandwich.
10) She puts on her shoes, throws her sparkly doggy purse over her shoulder, and walks out the front door without even saying 'goodbye.'
I know that, channeled correctly, these are envious traits that will serve her well in life. However, as a toddler, my fearless daughter has stricken fear into the heart of her mother. It makes me wonder, Did 10 years frozen in a test tube incite this balls-to-the wall zest for life? I may never know.
At our friend's bbq, she went straight for the tractor and tried to start it.
God has blessed her in many, many ways. She is genetically gifted (she's gorgeous). She's funny. She's spunky. She's pugnacious. She's tall (over 3 feet). She loves to eat. She loves to sleep.
But what you may not know is that this girl is f.e.a.r.l.e.s.s.
This point has been driven home as of late.
Some recent examples:
1) She insisted on going down a 50' spiraled water slide, by herself, head first, the very first time we took her to the pool. She went completely underwater, bobbed right up, with her toothy smile, and shouted, "Again!" And then she climbed out of the water, and marched right over to the long spiraled staircase, elbowing the older kids out of the way to get to the top. I just stood in the pool, at the bottom of the slide, aghast.
2) At her gymnastics class, she does belly flops into the foam pit, while the older kids delicately climb in.
3) At her tumbling gym, she climbs head first into a tall bucket, no idea what's inside the bucket. Her little legs sticking straight up in the air.
4) At the park, if you look away for even a second, she has run into the forest, and lain down in the brush so you can't see her. And when you find her to try and scold her, she just looks up at you, giggling amongst the weeds.
5) If Brae so much as breathes wrong on her, she kicks her foot into his face.
6) She prefers to drink water from the dog's bowl.
7) She eats bugs.
8) She rolls in dirt.
9) During snacktime, when another kid isn't looking, she has traded her empty milk carton for his full one, and has taken a bite of his sandwich.
10) She puts on her shoes, throws her sparkly doggy purse over her shoulder, and walks out the front door without even saying 'goodbye.'
I know that, channeled correctly, these are envious traits that will serve her well in life. However, as a toddler, my fearless daughter has stricken fear into the heart of her mother. It makes me wonder, Did 10 years frozen in a test tube incite this balls-to-the wall zest for life? I may never know.
Notice the bruises and band-aids on her legs.
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