Belles, brothers, and babies

This may be a long post, but there is much to cover. These first 3 pics are of Alexis' history day at her school. The kids had to pick a state and learn a paragraph of information about that state to recite to an audience (us parents). It was so great, and I was so impressed at how well they all did. Alexis chose Mississippi and she dressed as a southern Belle, as you can see. The kids were so cute in their costumes.



I had to include this picture below of Miss Minnie Pearl, representing the "Country musical capital of the world!" I think she wins the best costume award!



Here are a couple of the others, Alexis with Genna who represented Maine, and was a light house, Katie who represented Wyoming and was a wrangling cowgirl, and Silas representing New Hampshire--costume is self-explanatory!

My little brother graduated from Harding University this past weekend. I still can't believe it was him walking across that stage. Doesn't he look so mature and graduate-like? He will be working on his masters as he plays football for one more year. My brother-in -law (not pictured unfortunately), also graduated this weekend with his masters in accounting. We are proud of them both.

This picture is of my dear grandparents, who came up for graduation! In fact, my 88 year old grandfather is on a trip with my 21 year old brother across the country on a train. I know it will be a treasured memory for both of them. We pray for their safety and their time together.

And this is all of us kids with my mom on mother's day! It was really good to be all together for a special day like Mother's day. My little brother actually remembered to order her a corsage for the day-- a southern tradition. Good job, Ryan.

And lastly, here is Eli. My baby. This is the reflective part of this entry. I read a friend of a friends blog the other day about her journey with the third child. It really got me thinking. I heard once that the Lord does things in three's (don't know if that has truthful basis or not) but if He does, this is true with my kids. With one child most of us feel like we get this parenting stuff down--I think I got pretty prideful myself. 2 to 1 is a great ratio, ya know? She slept good, ate good, all that stuff. I remembered actually thinking that I was good at this. Of course I was, there was no competition, no need to seek out our attention.Then Aaron came along and well, things got a little tougher--sibling rivalry reared it's ugly head, I was a bit more tired then before, but still we managed pretty well--2 on 2, they were covered. I still thought "hmm, I am doing just fine all on my own." Well, Eli came along and rocked the boat, really he tipped the boat over and left us doggy paddling, trying to stay afloat. It was then that my desperation for the Lord kicked in. I always needed Him and desired His will, but I became desperate for His providence in my life. Self-reliance was not so appealing to me anymore. Maybe this sounds a little too crazy for you, maybe I am just handicapped in the parenting area and I need to get a grip. Or maybe the Lord knew that three would get my attention. That three would leave me tired and broken each and every night. That three would leave me with a yearning for the Lord that was real and wrenching. That three would start a fire that would begin to finally refine my heart and my soul in ways that I have so desperately needed. That three would show me how selfish I am with my time, my attitudes, my desires and my needs. That three would give me the desire to parent in ways that are not about a reflection of myself, but parent in ways that shepherd my children to an understanding of the Lord and all His wisdom. That three would bring me to such a vulnerability to the world and all it's suffering. And that three would begin the journey to a better understanding of how Big and great our God is, and how He is the same "yesterday, today and forever." Thank goodness for that. So, Little E, I thank you for not sleeping well from the beginning, for never sleeping through the night (I will admit, sometimes crying it out doesn't work), for not eating until you were 10 months old (solid food, that is), for having thrush for 8 months, for all the quirks about you that leave us questioning your health (eczema, chronic cough, cytoma, etc.), and for being demanding and relentless. We would not have you any other way. When I named you Eli, I knew it meant to "lift up in prayer", but I had no idea what that would mean for us. So, to my friend with a new third, that I don't even know very well, there is hope and there is rest. I have no great wisdom (except to say that I DID put my two oldest together in the same room and it has been our best decision) to give to you except to say "this too shall pass" and you are in the Potter's hands! Praise God for that.

This smile makes it all worth it. I am grateful he is with us here, and I can hold him and love him. There are so many who can't do that. For today, I am grateful for that.