These Boys!

Today is an exciting day in Leighton's world.....he is having his first spend-the-night company. I'll let you know how it turns out, but to give you a little preview, we had to buy cupcakes and I barely managed to avoid sending a written invitation in the mail! It was some sleep-over....and if you were wondering (like the little boy's mama did who we invited), no, it is not his birthday! :) But who doesn't want a good excuse to have cupcakes and pizza. And, let's face it, the boy is a little like his mama.....let's party!!!!! So far, we are having a great time. I think Leighton and his buddy are a great match for each other.

In other news, Logan has been in rare form for the last few days. He is talking non-stop and is saying the funniest things. My favorite was from Wednesday (forgive me, but I must go all the way around the world to tell this story - it is who I am - I can't fight it)......Logan and I always go to see my grandparents on Wednesday evenings while Leighton is at choir. My papaw hasn't been in the greatest health lately so these visits have become very special to me. Anyway, Logan always gives him a hug and kiss before we leave and a few weeks back he said to him, "Papaw, you broccoli." You're what?!?! I just kind of dismissed it and we headed for home. A few days later we were at home and he was loving on his daddy and again he said, "Daddy, you broccoli." Who is this kid and what is he talking about?!? We tried and tried to figure it out.....and finally he helped us understand that he was saying their faces were PRICKLY. To which we just cracked up! Okay, so back to my original story....this past Wednesday we were at my grandparent's house and this time I asked for a kiss from Logan....to which he replied, "Mommy, you broccoli." EXCUSE ME?!?! Now I know what you mean, and, WHAT?! If mommy is "broccoli" we may have bigger problems than we realized. This whole being in my 30s has certainly thrown me some curves, but facial hair? Prickly facial hair? That revelation sent me to a new place....not to a specialist or even to Wal-Mart to seek out hair removal products as you might guess....but to a new place non-the-less. The honesty of my children never ceases to amaze me.....in fact, it may be the greatest contributing factor to my undoing....or at least to my rush to purchase stock in Oil of Olay (or Nair)!

Now, if you will excuse me, maw maw needs to go get her Depends and her dentures!

No Other Word for Grace but Amazing!

So, last Friday afternoon the boys and I get home, and they want to play outside. AWESOME! I can look through some magazines, finally figure out how to use ALL of my iphone that I have had for almost a year, relax....wait, I must have playing outside confused with locking myself in my closet! (Not that I have ever done that!) As luck would have it, my phone rang and I was talking to one of my favorite friends....as we were talking over our week, my oldest, Leighton, comes barreling out of the basement on his battery-powered 4-wheeler.

(Pause here to give a clear picture of this 4-wheeler - green camo, pretty large for a battery-powered vehicle, and boy, does it move fast. Not at all like the ones we had in my day. )

(Resume story) Where was I? Oh, so he is barreling (for those of you who don't understand my terminology that is going really fast) out of the basement right toward my youngest, Logan, who is standing on a small skooter. (You feel it don't you...this isn't going to be pretty) As Leighton approaches, he says to his brother, "Hey Logan, you want Leighton to push you?" (WHAT?????!!!!!) Before I can even open my mouth, he proceeds to "push" Logan, which looked more like him plowing over Logan....over goes the skooter, over goes the brother, tears commence!

Now enters one of my not so shining mom moments....I look at my oldest son and say something to the effect of, "Son, that was not smart. What were you thinking?!" (Keep in mind, he is just 5! He was thinking what any 5 year old boy would be thinking....it would be so cool to push him all around this driveway!) As soon as the words left my mouth, I was so sorry! He immediately burst into tears - he had no idea it was a bad idea.

As soon as I manage to get everyone collected and calmed, I launch into an explanation about why that was not such a good idea and how it is always good to think through things all the way before we act....and the teachable moment for my son suddenly becomes a teachable moment for me....how many times do I act based on the fact that something looks like it would be really cool, while all the time Jesus is looking down at me and wondering what in the world I was thinking (and unlike my son, I am usually well aware that it was a bad idea)....but unlike my sinful self, His words never miss the filter that says "you really shouldn't say that"....EVERY TIME he lovingly explains to me, reminds me, of why things aren't a good idea....he shows me in His Word which choices would be so much better......and he continues to love me....just like I continue to love Leighton....his actions have no impact on my love for him....I think the word is GRACE! Isn't it awesome?! God extends grace every single time! I have been reading the book Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel....it has been so good! So far he is talking about how to parent with grace just like God parents us with grace.....to allow for mistake, not that there will be no consequences, not that our sin won't hurt us and doesn't hurt God, but he ALWAYS extends GRACE!

So Grace won out....not immediately like I wish it would have. I would have much rather my reaction been to react in a calm manner, but I didn't.....I apologized to Leighton (and to my sweet friend who had to hear the whole thing - bless her heart). Will he do something like that again? I am sure of it.....Will I? You bejt....but just as with everything else in my life, God can take my not so shining mom moments and work on both my heart and my son's.....

Isn't he amazing?!? Isn't Grace Amazing?!?

Hello Blog World!

Okay....so here I am blog world! Why is it that I feel nervous?!? I have thought of starting a blog for quite some time....more specifically, for like a year or more.....so, that gives you an indication of my time frame between setting a goal and my follow through.....



But, I'll procrastinate no more! (At least not today and at least not regarding a blog!) So, I don't really understand blog etiquette...is there such a thing? I think that is where my insecurity as a blogger comes from....can I link to someone's blog without their permission, how do I link to anything at all, will I stick with blogging or will it fall by the wayside like so many other projects do, etc., etc., etc. I guess I will just begin small and work my way up! So, since I have read other blogs for so long, I guess I will jump right in to today.....



Nothing earth shatteringly exciting about today.....except for the fact that it is FRIDAY! I am excited for the weekend. It has been a short week (in days) but a long one in tiredness.....the boys are more than ready for the weekend. Our plans - just enjoy each other!



So, here it is, my first post....it seems a little surreal (I realize those of you who have been blogging are thinking that I am totally nuts and maybe just a LITTLE, um, maybe, overly dramatic) but it feels good! I will see you soon....or type to you soon......

Blessed,
Michelle