Gift #98- Pretty Bows on Sunday Dresses

Gift #97- Flip Flops on My Doorstep

There is something about little flip flops lined up neatly at my door that makes me happy.

Gift #96- Movie Night

4 cozied-up kiddos, a big bowl of Whirley-Popped popcorn, 

and the original 1968 version of The Love Bug.  I love movie night!

Gift #95- Like Father Like Son

I sat down at the computer a few days ago and just happened to glance into Jack's backpack that was hanging beside me.  I noticed that, inside, he had a copy of Backpacker, Macworld, and Black and White Photography magazine.  He had taken a day trip a few days prior and had packed these magazines to read along the way.  It occurred to me that those were the exact magazines that his dad would have packed for a short day trip.  I have known for a long time that Jack and his dad are very similar creatures, but in that moment, it struck me just how much Jack wants to be like his dad.

Got to admit I've got so far to go
Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know
Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try
With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right
But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best
Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness
'Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees
And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me
Lord, I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
'Cause he wants to be like me
(Phillips Craig and Dean)

Gift #94- Marker Mustaches

Sam has asked me several times to draw a curly mustache on his face.  I am not quite sure why he wanted one.  It is probably one of those things that will forever remain a mystery.  A few days ago, I finally gave in.  I don't know why I was hesitant.  It made him so happy.  He loved his mustache so much that he asked me to draw a unibrow also.  

Psalm 139:14 reads; "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and my soul knows this very well." In the original Hebrew text, the word 'fearfully' means: with great reverence and heart-felt interest.  The word 'wonderfully' means: unique, set apart, uniquely marvelous.   That describes our Sam so very perfectly-  Uniquely Marvelous!

Gift #93- Long Summer Days

Rub a dub dub three boys in a tub.  

Sam with his friends Ricky and Colson
(a little bonus gift is that the boat is no longer in the dining room.)  :0)

Gift #92- Real Life

 You are seeing it right.  That is a boat in our dining room.

Because why not have a boat in your dining room?

 And this is a hot wheels track being hung precariously from the curtain rod
that is hung precariously.


This is a spaghetti noodle on our wall in the kitchen.  Jack heard that the best way to test spaghetti noodles for doneness is  to throw them against the wall to see if they stick.  This one is obviously done.  This picture was taken a few weeks ago.  The noodle may or may not still be sticking to the wall. 

So you may be wondering how all of these things can be considered gifts.  I admit that it is kind of a stretch to call them such.  But they are real signs of real life going on all around me.  Life to be loved and lived and devoured one flying noodle at a time.  And that is the gift.
( Well, that is what I am telling myself anyway.)  ;0)

Gift #91- Singing with Macy

Macy called shotgun on the way home from the beach today. We sang our hearts out to Taylor Swift and Jason Aldean.  I am pretty sure that we sounded just like them.  Maybe even better.  Our favorite was Big Green Tractor.  We listened to that one twice.  As we got closer to home, I found myself wishing that the drive would last a little longer.  She had no idea how happy her company and her little twangy voice made me.  She thought that we were just driving.

And I can take you for a ride on my big green tractor
We can go slow or make it go faster
Down through the woods and out to the pasture
'Long as I'm with you it really don't matter

PS- Macy has decided that she wants to try out for the show America's Got Talent.  
She has not decided whether she will be singing or jump-roping for her talent.  ;0)