CLR 2013

We got the amazing privilege to spend a few days in Tennessee this past week.

Favorite comment of the week:   As we were pulling through Knoxville, we began to see some snow on the banks of the Interstate... Kyley looks up and says MOM!!! What's the white stuff???   Awesome.

We drove up on Wednesday, checked in and got everything situated, and headed to our first 'session'.

We were so blessed to be able to spend this time with about 50 other people who are where we are.  Other children's pastors in our denomination from Alabama. It was pretty awesome to get to network some and pick brain about ideas.

Our kids were amazing. For the most part they were still and quiet and entertained themselves while we were in group sessions and they had so much fun during the other times as well.

Thursday morning, we had a session which we followed by some free time.   We ended up taking the kids to look at a rock mining site we'd seen, and the indian trade post.  We also visited a huge Christian book clearance store, and a few souvenir shops.

Finally we ended up at Fudruckers for lunch. We've obviously never been but it was great and we plan on going back when we are in the area again.

We finished up Thursday evening with another group session and ended up hanging out downstairs (even with our kids) until well after midnight chatting and getting to know the other couples there.

Friday was a 'free day' that we intended to spend playing putt putt or seeing some sites, however there was a cold front that pushed through and everything was frozen.

We took the kids to Gatti's (an arcade/pizza buffet/etc) and enjoyed the afternoon seeing sites and visiting a few more souvenir shops just for fun.

The main event of the day though, was the Dixie Stampede.  If you've never been, it's worth going at least once.

The whole experience was neat, and my kids were wide eyed and just taking in the whole experience most of the time.

We spent our evening watching some 'rodeo' type entertainment, but it was really neat!

Saturday it was time to pack up and head home, so we headed for Chick Fil A for lunch before we hit the road and made the long journey home (and it was LONGER than expected due to some crazy events that won't be mentioned here haha)

We had one last fun stop before we made it home, and that was to have dinner with some sweet friends in the Birmingham area.  AND we finally got to meet sweet Gia.   The kids were so excited to see her, and of course Derek and I were stoked to get to spend some time with Malerie and Kevin. 

We came home exhausted but it was a great, refreshing time away, and we're so glad we had the opportunity to go.  

22 months.

This boy never ceases to amaze me.

He found a paci and thinks it's his best friend again. (I have a love/hate relationship with this... love the extra sleep...hate the paci)

He is smart as a whip. He can follow simple commands (think, hey go throw this away in the trash) and he LOVES to make you happy by doing what you've asked.

The kid loves shoes. boots. slippers. anything for his feet!

He now is rocking a mohawk (along with his big brother)

He prays for us and is so sweet, he gets so excited to pray over someone.

He loves to repeat things. He'll try to repeat pretty much any word you ask of him.

He loves his daddy, and his doe doe... I think he has an obsession :)

Just today, he told me POOPY, BEFORE he pooped! And then when I sat him on the potty screamed NOOOOOOOO .... and DIAPER... until I put a diaper on him so he could poop.(tmi?)

He's still sweet and loveable and cuddly, but has a fierce and feisty side to him too.

I probably said this at this point with Elijah too, but he's showing no signs of weaning, so I anticipate we'll nurse well into his second year... however, Elijah weaned right at his 2nd birthday, so who knows.

 Last week, we measured the kids on our wall chart, and he's already passed Elijah by a good 3 inches from when Elijah was 2.  This kid is going to be taller than the other two for sure.

I can't believe he's about to be TWO years old in just a few months.  We're already in the planning stages of a joint party with his brother and I can't believe it's approaching so quickly.

My Prayer.

There are so many things I want in my life for my children. 

I wish for them to grow up knowing right from wrong.

I wish for them to treat others kindly.

I wish for them to learn how to make mistakes and learn from them.

I wish for them to love themselves.

I wish for them to learn to be fair, and just, and compassionate to others.

We all want our kids to grow up and be successful.  We want our kids to make something of themselves. We set expectations high and we push our kids to be better people and learn from even our own mistakes.

In all of my years pastoring youth and children, I've learned a few things.  And one of the most important is this.

None of the things I pray over my children are important if they don't KNOW HIS VOICE.

So may my prayer be daily and forever this. That my children know Christ, and KNOW His voice.

May they know His voice clearly and may He make Himself known to them.

Amen.