Sunday, July 31

Jealousy...why didn't I see it then?

Since very early, Maxwell has been a momma's boy. He's very adventurous and outgoing, but if someone else has my attention, he can get a bit jealous.

I was just looking back at some older pictures for a project I'm working on and found this. The idea was to be a shoot of Matt and I...but Maxwell snuck into the background. I'm not sure if he's jealous he's not in the picture with me or that I was cuddling with Matt.

It cracks me up.


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Tuesday, July 26

Tattoo: What does it mean?



Proverbs 31:28
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:

To some it might seem like I'm claiming that this is what my children and husband do; bless me and praise me.  And while I don't feel I have to explain myself and my new tattoo to anyone, I want to share the meaning behind it.  Here it goes; my confession.

I know this might be difficult to believe, but I haven't always been the (rarely) perfect wife and mother that I am today.  Just five years ago, my life was much more centered around me and my needs and wants for life.  I wasn't as patient with Payton as I could have been and I wasn't as accepting of Matt as I needed to be (among other things).   

During a bible study a few years ago, I was reading this passage and God clearly told me that I needed to work to be A Wife of Noble Character by today's standards.  (I obviously don't need to make sure my "hands are busy spinning thread" (Proverbs 31:19) but I can make sure my time is well spent. )  I needed to change.  I needed to focus on what God had called a wife and mother to be.  I began making changes in my life; some were much harder than others.  But over time God changed my heart and showed me how I could be what he was calling me to be.

The tattoo does not make me a Wife of Noble Character.  It is not my claim that I am a Wife of Noble Character.  Only God, lots of hard work by me and support from people who love me can do that.  My tattoo is not a boast of what I have become, but a reminder of what God, my children and my husband need me to be.  I need reminders in my life...lots of reminders. 
A Wife of Noble Character (Proverbs 31)
 10 [b]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
      She is more precious than rubies.
 11 Her husband can trust her,
      and she will greatly enrich his life.
 12 She brings him good, not harm,
      all the days of her life. 13 She finds wool and flax
      and busily spins it.
 14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
      bringing her food from afar.
 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
      and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
 16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
      with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
 17 She is energetic and strong,
      a hard worker.
 18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
      her lamp burns late into the night.
 19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
      her fingers twisting fiber.
 20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
      and opens her arms to the needy.
 21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
      for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
 22 She makes her own bedspreads.
      She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
 23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
      where he sits with the other civic leaders.
 24 She makes belted linen garments
      and sashes to sell to the merchants.
 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
      and she laughs without fear of the future.
 26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
      and she gives instructions with kindness.
 27 She carefully watches everything in her household
      and suffers nothing from laziness.
 28 Her children stand and bless her.
      Her husband praises her:
 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
      but you surpass them all!”  
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
      but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
 31 Reward her for all she has done.
      Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Washington DC: Weeks Two, Three and Beyond

Sorry I didn't get to write to you all about the rest of our time in DC.  We were having such a great time, I forgot! 

The last two and half weeks were filled with lots of family, friends, fun and PICTURES!  Be sure to check our picasa album to see what we did.  The boys each had their own favorite memories and experiences. 

Saying good-bye to Matt was hard, but knowing I'm going back in October to celebrate our ten year anniversary made it easier.

Thank you for ALL the love, support and prayers during our time together.  It was amazing!

Friday, July 1

Washington D.C.: Week One

Wow.  First, let me start by saying the emotions that we experienced seeing each other again was like nothing I've felt before.  It'd been 92 days since we'd seen him last and that moment of first touch was like no other.  I climbed out of the van (after I let the boys have their moments) I hugged Matt and cried.  I knew I was excited, but I cried.  It just felt SO GOOD to be in his arms again.  And wow! What arms they are!  He's been working out!! ;)

Our first night was spent just getting settled in and reacquainted. Sunday, we took the boys on their first ride on the Metro and went to see Chinatown and Cars 2.  Since then, we've been busy almost every day.  (I was down with a flu/cold type thing and a high fever for about 12 hours.)  We've been to a lot of great museums, great sites and had a lot of great experiences. I would love to recap each and every moment, but I just don't have the time to type it all out.  I have uploaded a lot of images on Facebook, and I also posted them in our Picasa Album.

Although I was worried at first, I am falling in love with D.C.  It's very easy to navigate the city.  I love all the walking, the closeness of things and the ability to get to everything via the Metro.  Matt's apartment is only about a 5 minute walk to a metro stop and we've used it most everyday.  The boys are doing really well with everything too.  Payton has his own Metro card and he knows how to work it to get himself through the gates.  Max is free, but loves to use my card to get us through.  I would love living here...at least for a few years.

For the holiday weekend, we'll be spliting our time between Baltimore and D.C. Tomorrow, we'll be joining my brother and sister-in-law at the Baltimore Aquarium, then heading back to D.C. for Sunday and Monday.  We hope to make it to the fireworks on the National Mall, but we'll see how that pans out.

That's all for now.  Thanks for all the positive thoughts, encouragement and love.  We're having a GREAT time together enjoying our temporary home.  See you "next time".