Arias 3rd birthday!

Arias very, merry, tea party, birthday was a huge success. French Macarons, cucumber sandwiches, and Cheshire coleslaw were lots of fun but it was her friends and family that made this day so special. She is a blessed girl to have so many loved ones in her life.  Thank you all so much!

American Sniper review

I have decided to make sure that my facebook wanderings primarily incite the positive in my life. For this reason I don't click on the links, or take part in the arguments. Most of my posts are of my children for the sake of my loved ones. However sometimes a facebook craze is so persistent and baffling that the debater in me cannot help but to take up the torch in an attempt to bring clarity and perspective to the far swinging pendulum of the "Right and Wrong".  I should also add the disclaimer that this post is directed at self proclaimed Christians. Those that claim to strive for a Christ like existence, as it is with these people that I am most baffled concerning this particular topic. 

I am not going to waste my time looking at this movie from a "parental advisory" perspective. Even though I would hope that at least 70 F*** words, torturing children with screwdrivers, and scenes with severed limbs (content courtesy of IMDB) would be enough to deter most Christians, I do understand that many people are calloused to such graphic language and images.Therefore I will move on to the truly morally damming message that is being exulted by the reverence and respect of Chris Kyle's life. 

Without having to read the book, or watch the movie there is one glaringly simple fact that should be ringing though Christendom and is instead being stifled by the overwhelming "hoohaa" of bastardized patriotism. This fact is so glaring that you can read it without even turning a page. "AMERICAN SNIPER. The autobiography of the MOST LETHAL SNIPER in U.S. military history." Interestingly enough I typed that title EXACTLY as it was written without adding my own capitalization to emphasize the most infamous part.   

To cut to the chase. Why exactly are Christians praising the works of a man that are the antithesis of the Christ they claim to devote their life to?  In Jesus's own words...

"43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matt 5

How then do we justify brandishing the deaths of a countries enemies with all the grotesque pride of a warrior wearing his trophies of severed  body parts? As Christians we are not called to praise the murder tally of our earthly residence. We are called to win souls and save lives for our heavenly home. There was a time in my life when I was a thief, lair, adulterer, and murderer with all the potential of evil that is expressed in any radical terrorist, murderous dictator, or cereal killer. And even in my utter filth God reached down His hand to me, washed me, renewed me, and change my very spirit to one that would be compatible with His beauty. Knowing this about myself how could I willingly deny that chance to another human being by supporting this deplorable example of lives sacrificed? We should weep for every life lost in the pitiful conflicts of this broken world. Just as Christ cried though the blood choked gasps of his last few breaths...  "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Highlights (October 2014)

We experienced something that I think every new busy mom should experience while her children are still small. When life feels like a chaotic whirlwind of sleep deprivation, time out enforcement, and blown out diapers its so easy to lose track of the preciousness of those little critters that are consuming your every waking moment.

For a few weeks we had all four of our nephews staying with from the ages of 7, 6, 3, and 10 months and let me say when the dust cleared from that visit all I could think of was how many moments with my babies had been swept under the rug in he midst of dealing with "life" and the loss pained me. When I said before that they consumed my every waking moment I meant that in all of the wrong ways. I had totally neglected enjoying the gift that God had given me through their beautiful lives. So in an effort to recapture the moments Aria and I went on a date. Nothing big. Just a few moments to call ours.

The day was a balmy 70's treasure in the middle of October and so we took advantage of the local play ground one more time before winter set it. All of the lady bugs were gathering, slightly annoyed at the heat wave disrupting their hibernation. I had to painstakingly pick the ladybugs off the slide lest Aria have the traumatizing experience of squashing one on her speedy dissent. I'm not sure she would have recovered from such a tragic event. The fallen leaves however were definitely the highlight and after being trapped inside for the last few weeks Aria enjoyed romping like a wild child.

Wait for it...

Yipee!!

Common, with the little belly sticking out.. <melt> 

What did she find?...

One last clover defying winters inevitable reign.

We couldn't have a proper date without getting one last "smurf" cone before the ice cream shop closed for the season.

Totally expecting for have hordes of trick-or-treater's knocking at my door I figured I had my excuse to attempt some pulled taffy. I ended up having zero visitors that night but I wasn't entirely bummed and I could now scratch one thing of my "to try" list. Strawberry, buttery, chewy, deliciousness!! Here's the recipe if you're feeling adventurous! Or if you missed "Arms day" at the gym.  

INGREDIENTS: 

1 cup white sugar 

1/4 cup light corn syrup 

2/3 cup water 

2 tablespoons butter 

1 tablespoon cornstarch 

1 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

2 teaspoons strawberry extract red food coloring 

DIRECTIONS: 1. Butter one 8 inch square pan; set aside. 2. In a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, butter, cornstarch and salt. Mix together well and bring to a boil. Heat without stirring until a candy thermometer reads 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). (I boiled longer until "soft crack" temp) 3. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, almond extract, almonds and food color. Pour into pan. Let stand until cool enough to handle. (Taffy should be lukewarm in center as well as at the edges.) 4. At this point, fold, double and pull the taffy until it is light in color and stiff. Butter hands lightly if taffy begins to stick. Cut taffy into pieces with scissors and wrap the pieces with plastic wrap to maintain shape.

Beings as we are talking candy...

Next fall you must go out and find these little season beauties. Caramel Apple Candy Corns rest my case that all other Candy Corns should not exist and should stop trying. Yumo!

And here are some highlights especially for Grammy :)

First food

First crawls

My little beauty after hr nap

Aria is a great photo bomber

Shes also a fantastic helper

Highlights (September 2014)

Some fabulous highlights... speaking of fabulous...

I was able to spend a few days with a wonderful lady. I have found in my life there are some people with whom I am confident our time will be spent around an absolutely fulfilling fellowship. Dawn Spryn always encourages a conversation that is not only worth while but also encouraging and positive. So when I glanced at her calender and saw this little entry I was totally charmed by its perfectly "Dawn-ness". I hope she doesn't mind me sharing. And I hope she has an absolutely "fabulous" anniversary!

So after taking these photos...

I figured it might be time to give this little man a trim. I kept having to remind myself that it was actually okay to cut Ittai's hair. What with Rogers persistent objections to my wielding any form of sheers within a yard of his head, I was pleasantly surprised by my perfectly compliant little pal.

First hair cut at 5 months old. Looks like I'm gonna get enough practice. Maybe one day Roger will let me cut his hair too! 

This week I really dove into my latest book selection. I am constantly amazed by how C.S. Lewis can delve so deeply into a topic until it is perfectly flushed out in ones understanding. It may take you a repeated perusal of his writings to truly grasp all that he says but the effort is entirely worth it. Here's a quote talking about appropriately placed appreciation.

" Say your prayers in a garden early, ignoring steadfastly the dew, the birds, and the flowers, and you will come away overwhelmed by its freshness and joy; go there in order to be overwhelmed and, after a certain age, nine times out of ten nothing will happen to you." C.S. Lewis

Grocery shopping is always exciting with a toddler in toe. Grocery Shopping at Walmart is a positive adventure. A few weeks ago we were hiding from the man in the "Cracker Jack" costume. And to be honest if I were I not an adult of 27 I might have been under the blanket with Aria. No amount of free chips could make that terribly conceived costume even slightly approachable.

 Last time we discovered something that in one moment seemed deliciously glorious and disturbingly unnatural. Honeycrisp apples the size of Arias head! The picture doesn't do them justice but I'm pretty sure fruit like that only belongs in the Promise Land guarded by armored giants.

After a fantastic girls trip to Ikea I came home with 10 cushions in need of covers. That's right...10. 4 pillows down 6 to go!

And what better way to end my lovely week then a tea party with my little lady. I can't express how excited I am to know that I have the rest of my life to enjoy these precious moments with my beautiful girl. Right now she talks about her our favorite flavors of cookies and the squirrels she can see running on the telephone wires. One day she'll talk about boys, clothes, and dreams. And some day we'll sip tea while talking about her own children. Perhaps as they beg for cookies just like she does now.

Levi Wallace. Truly a "Borrowed Angel"

Writing has always been cathartic to me. And I have so say it has taken me quite a while to sort through the pain of losing someone who was the closest thing I've experienced to having a little brother. So many wonderful things have been said and I know that I lack the words possible of expounding upon Levis undeniably Christ-like character. So this I suppose is for the sake of my own comfort if nothing else.

I wrote a poem "Borrowed Angel" just a few months after Aria was born. I remember experiencing something that I wasn't prepared for. Something that no one warned me about. It was an inexplicable undeservedness. God had reached down and handed me a treasure from whom an awe inspiring light had just barely begun to show. Even at this tiny glimpse of splendor my heart was won and God gave me a love that I had never known before. As I held this tiny beautiful life in my hands I was abruptly over whelmed with the realization that my hands were utterly too small and feeble for such a treasure. So I found myself clutching my child to my chest in the natural, while simultaneously thrusting her into the hands of God with all my heart, mind, and soul.

This is the great conundrum of being a parent. Going against the very fiber of our natures that scream “Protect! Keep! Shield!” and every single day placing your child in the hands of God knowing that by doing so you are also giving your heart into His keeping. The day that Levi’s precious light had grown too bright for this world was the day that God caught him up in His hands and took him where all of God’s treasures deserve to be. However by taking Levi God also took a piece of the hearts of everyone who loved him. For those who loved him the most, the void is greater. For his Father and Mother, it may be unimaginable.  

There is a song we sang at Arias dedication called “Help you find your wings” and these are the lyrics.

Its only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know

You're walking in the truth

And if I never told you

i want you to know

As I watch you grow

I pray that god would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more he memories

Its not living if you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off

But I'll cheer as you fly

I truly believe this is how Bruce and Mendy raised Levi and the countless stories of his Christ like character are testament to that fact. Levi was walking in the truth and heavens plans unfolded for him exactly as they were meant to.

Although we are racked with tears of both joy and sorrow as we watch you fly Levi, all of our comfort is knowing that you fly into the strong, capable hands of God and someday we will be reunited with a piece of our hearts when we see you again.    

Off to the races again! (Arias 2nd birthday party)

It wasn't hard to choose a theme for Arias birthday this year. After she fell in love with horses during our visit to grandmas I knew I had to incorporate these apparently fascinating animals. So by adding those to Arias momentary obsession with hats I came up with a Kentucky Derby birthday complete with Hot Browns and minus the gambling and mint juleps ;). Dear Grammy, Sorry these are almost a year late!!

I wish I had gotten a few more pictures of all of the lovely gifts she was given. Needless to say she got plenty of toy horses. She loved her presents so much that she melted down every time we told her she had to stop playing and open the next one.