Adam & Eve - Made in the USA

The boys have a Bible memory match game. It's pretty handy for reinforcing some of the stories we've told them from the Bible and introducting them to new ones.

This depiction, however, of Adam and Eve caught my eye. I think it was the initial shock of seeing two very delighted people standing naked behind some bushes. I've been naked and I've stood behind bushes before, but never at the same time. And I'm guessing I wouldn't be in a state of bliss if I had.

Second, I'm guessing Eve did not come with bleach-blonde hair. Unless the garden of Eden came with a Toni and Guy. Which, in some people's utopia, it would. Anyhow, it's a wonder Adam named her Eve and not Barbie.
And who could resist that precious little snakie peeking out of the bushes and smiling? I mean, really, I'd always pictured an evil-eyed snake with a Gollum-like voice that slithered in and out of tree roots. This little character makes me want to pinch his snake cheeks and give him some cotton candy. It's no wonder Eve couldn't resist.

The Sunday Special

I just love these fellas...

Happy Sunday!

Friday Night Lights

Boyd had its first football game last night and we made plans to meet up with some friends for the cross-town showdown. Boy, what a difference a year makes in the boys' ability to sit through an entire game! It helped, too, that there were five other kids to entertain them (and nine other adults to corral them). Wise rule of thumb when venturing out in public - always outnumber the kids. Also, bring lots of food to keep them distracted. KJ, I've already made a note to bring a cooler full of water for you next game, you precious, thirsty boy whom I love.

They look so sweet (and seated) here, but this was just the first quarter.
Jake found a friend in Kalli and I approve. She is an awesome girl and doesn't seem to mind sticky lollipops on her legs. That's always a bonus in a girlfriend.
I just love this pic for KJ's Boyd fever (he's putting his Bronco sign up), my boys' love of the Aggies/distain for the longhorns and Kendyl's love for America. Yes, she stood at solemn attention with her hand over her heart the entire Boyd school song.

We had such a great time playing with the kiddos even though I think I only watched about seven plays of the game (that part hasn't changed in a year). And the great thing is, we love their parents, too.

Aside from the crickets dive bombing the fans, it was a perfect night. Those crickets must've had some Japanese in them, considering the way they would suddenly go kamikaze and plunge out of the dark sky. It was so odd. And also, so creepy. I imagine this is how the Egyptians felt when the bug plagues hit. Except they weren't watching a high school football game and eating popcorn. And their locusts weren't from the Orient.

Still, the weather was comfy and we actually had a little breeze. Awesome and unexpected for August in Texas. Our little fan section got to see the Broncos stomp the McKinney North Bulldogs 28-7. What more could we have asked for?

As for our sons, they had a blast spending the fourth quarter collecting crickets in empty water bottles. That was definitely their highlight moment (mine came when we finally convinced them to release them the next morning). Another big moment for the kiddos was meeting the Boyd mascots. Kennedy and Jake - we'll have to get y'all in this next game! I'd heard the names of the students underneathe the equine garb, but one of them could go either way as far as gender. The following, however, left no doubt as to what gender the mascots actually are...


Clearly, I could've been a mascot in a past life because I totally relate to their desire to have some girl time even as our team is on the field and about to score. I think that's what's so fun about Texas high school football when you've been in a town awhile. It's fun to get together with people you like and just, you know, horse around.

(Tee hee!)

Oh, and watch football, OF COURSE (in case Brian's reading this).

We'd love to make it a tradition to meet up with friends for football games now that our guys have shown they can make it through a game. Come on out if you're looking for something to do on a Friday night. We'll bring the snacks and KJ's beverages, y'all bring the bug spray!

What A Friend We Have In Jesus...

Dear God,

I'm burdened tonight. Not sure I can pinpoint why, other than lots of stuff has piled up and I'm sad. I was feeling frustrated about some things earlier. But now I am hurting for some people I love. I chatted with three different friends on Facebook late tonight and I believe you orchestrated that. But, I never seem to know what to say to people who are sad. My words are never adequate when people are hurting. Sometimes there are just no words and no immediate solutions. Sometimes I feel like all I can do is sit silently in the dirt with them, like Job's friends, and just grieve with them.

And that is hard for me, the problem solver.

But, I am thankful tonight for prayers, God. And when I am emptied of words, I love that "the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." I'm so thankful, God, that you are compassionate and that you want us to come to you with what's hurting us.

John 11:35 is one of my favorite verses - "Jesus wept." Because in those two words, I see that your heart hurts with mine. I see that even though our lives are but a blip on the scale of eternity, you still see our individual hearts. You see the personal pain. The stuff that rips so deeply, we have no more words.

And, God, I'm really thankful that you know me so personally and that you love me so richly that I don't always have to have words. You know what's on my heart and you are working on the solutions I can't yet see.

So, God, I lift up my friends and ask that you give them peace and rest tonight and that you sit with them and comfort them. Hold them and let them feel your presence.

God, thank you that we don't always need words.

Just you.

Amen.

Good Sleep...Sweet Night...uh, Dream Tight!

Noah's been wishing us, "Good Night, sweep (sleep) tight, sweet dreams. Don't let the big buggies bite you," for awhile now. Little Brother, T, picked up on that tonight and tried to imitate Noah's version.

He got through, "Good night, sweep tight, sweet dreams," but seemed stuck on the last part. He stumbled through, "Don't let the...buggies, don't let the big...," until he finally concluded it with, "Don't let the mosquitos bite ya!"

Here's to sweeping tight and with a big canister of deet!

Baby Got Back

Since my inaugural rump kicking, shin terrorizing run a few months ago, I have only strapped on my tennis shoes for running purposes maybe three times. Two of those times have been in the last week. Tell me how sad that is.

I have to say I had a very reasonable excuse. Actually, I had two. The first was that I so severely injured my shins that first run, I could barely walk without shin pain for some weeks.

My second excuse was, less than a week after the inaugural run, a glass broke in our kitchen and I got a pretty deep cut from an overlooked shard.

shin injury + glass in foot = funny looking, unsexy duck waddle when barefoot.

shin injury + glass in foot = God does not desire for me to run. Or waddle like an unsexy duck.

It turns out that shard actually burrowed into my foot and I didn't realize I still had glass in my foot until it was still hurting a week later. I first assumed it was just that deep a cut based on the amount of blood that streamed forth from my injury. But, weeks into it, I still was unable to comfortably walk barefoot on it and grimaced if I caught myself walking certain ways. I ignored it for awhile, but finally went to the doctor about two months later when the pain intensified.

What my $25 co-pay got me was advice to soak it in Epsom salt water for two weeks and hope it worked its way out. After that, I was to go ahead and call a podiatrist. Which, my business degree didn't really cover, you know, medical stuff, but it seems to me that if glass has been embedded in one's foot so long the skin has healed over it, I'm not sure soaking it would coax it out.

But that's just me and my piddly little business degree talking.

Thankfully, it seems my body had already begun the process of working the glass out, which explains why the area was more sensitive near the end. I finally worked up the courage to cut away some of the top layer (grossssss...) and, lo and behold, two small glints caught my eye.

And, suddenly, my foot was healed! It is amazing how much pain two incredibly minute slivers of glass can cause. I'm sure there's some spiritual principle to be gained, but I'm too tired to put one together.

Also, my business degree didn't teach me how to put spiritual principles together.

So now the only problem is I no longer have an excuse to not resume running.

In fact, I've recently been given two very good reasons to restart.

My first motivation was when Noah and I were talking about killer whales.

You know where I'm going, don't you?

He remembered seeing them at Sea World and they came up in conversation the other day. I was having a good time reliving the pure glee we'd shared watching Shamu heave its enormous body onto the stage in front of us. Ahh, the laughter as its body rolled gigantic waves of salt water over us...

The walk down memory lane came to a screeching halt when Noah suddenly asked, "Mommy, are you bigger or is Shamu bigger?"

Oh. My. Word. Child.

Today, Tyler and I were looking at a picture of a brontosaurus. The illustration showed the brontosaurus next to a house to give some perspective. Tyler then looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, are you bigger than a house, too?"

Sooooo...if y'all need me, I'll be run-waddling down Lake Forest again in the morning, broken shins and self esteem and all.

And Then There Were Three...

Oh my. How awful that it's taken two long months to post this. I wrote this over a period of time, but waited to post until I could post birth pics. When Noah was born, we hadn't discovered the world of downloading our pics to our computer. It was like we were in the Dark Ages. It's like we still are because we also don't own a scanner. So, I'm unable to scan birth day pics. Alas, this delay cannot go on any longer. I need the world to know I have two boys whom I love equally and that I didn't forget I gave birth twice.

Because I also need the world to know the reason for my ever expanding girth.

So...two months later...this one's for you, Noah Jack.

My big guy turned five this morning. I looked at him the other day, in total amazement that we had nearly reached five years. Five years ago today, I had no idea what my heart was in for. Neither did my carpets and our walls. But those are stories for another day.

Early in the morning of August 18th, after 13 hours of slow labor, my boy's heart rate kept dropping and we knew it was time to get him out. So, at 6:36 a.m., there he was. Dark haired and plump and looking an awful lot like the baby on Ice Age.

My Noah, how do I summarize you? It's so hard to wrap up all this love I have for you and Tyler and form it into words. Words will never be enough. I've loved you for over 157,680,000 seconds. How do you summarize the way my life, my focus, my heart have changed since 157,680,000+ seconds ago?

You were named for Noah of the Bible. Just as he did, we pray that you will remain steadfast in your faith despite what others around you choose. And though you will make many mistakes in this life, I pray that you will always be rooted in the fact that God loves you and His love is worth standing up for.

Also, if you want to build me a yacht and take me on a 40 day cruise someday, I'm up for that.

As soon as I learned you were a boy, I prayed that you would be determined. Wow, did God answer that prayer. You have one of the most competitive spirits I know. You were crawling by five months and you've pretty much kept going since then! Which didn't make it fun when I wanted you to sit still and let me hold you. I could always tell when you were sick because you actually sat still and let me cuddle you.

This is you less than one month before you began crawling. You were up on all fours, ready to rock. Maybe that bug-eyed blue monster was a good motivator. Cookie Monster does look a little creepy when you don't know who he is.

Thankfully, you have become more affectionate with age. You are so generous with your kisses and hugs and offer those any and every time I ask. You have such a sensitive nature about you. You've long been able to gauge body language and tone pretty accurately. I appreciate that most when I need some help and you take notice. I so love your servant's heart. I think it is my favorite part of your character and something I pray will continue to develop as you age. I hope you will always notice when there is need and take action to serve the best you can.

You possess a real gentleness and a generosity that is rare for your age. I do believe you were created that way and that it's something we have the opportunity to develop in you. I see your sweetness when you smile and coo at babies. This is you and your first cousin, Anna.

And, as for your generosity, here is one example. A swim client's mom gave us some banana pudding. She gave us enough that each of us could have a portion. As you devoured your tasty treat, you asked for more, so I gave you my portion. You took notice and asked what I was going to eat. I tried to pass off your question, knowing what was coming. I just kind of explained that I didn't want any and that you could have mine. You immediately began dishing it back into my bowl, telling me you wanted me to have it. As I tried to give it back to you, you kept insisting that you wanted me to have it. And that is very rare at age four. It is a joy to see that in you. I so pray that you guys will see the world with bigger eyes. That you will see that we should not store up treasures on earth because those will rot away.

Even though you can bully up on your little brother, I see that you are protective when it counts. When he strays too close to the street, I watch you gently usher him back to safety. When Tyler's taken a serious spill , you rush to get him the antibacterial ointment and band aid. I still remember one moment when Tyler was smaller and strapped in his highchair. He got fussy and wanted out. You soothingly told him, "It's okay, Ty-wer. I'm right here." And it pleases me so much to know that, despite the sibling rivalry of youth, you and Tyler will always be there for each other.

Your devotion to the Aggies was instilled at a young age. Even before you knew what an Aggie was, you could sing the Aggie War Hymn and you listened to the Aggie Band CD every night. Actually, you still don't know what an Aggie is, but you are a faithful one. Even when a certain granddad tried to get you to call the Hogs in exchange for an IHOP breakfast recently, you insisted you wouldn't.

Until you finally whispered it under your breath.

It appears your devotion to IHOP is nearly as strong as your devotion to the Aggies. Such stubbornness and appreciation for a good stack of international pancakes devotion comes naturally to you. Still, we know where your truest loyalty lies.

You have had a love of learning all your life. You could recognize most of the alphabet before you were two. I enjoy watching you whisper something I've just told you, memorizing each word and imprinting it in your brain. I feel like I'm actually witnessing some live synapses development going on. You constantly challenge me to realize that kids are capable of learning more than we sometimes give you guys credit for.

And, even though your teachers say you're ready for kindergarten, I'm at peace knowing that this extra year will provide you some time to mature and grow before I have to release you to the world five days a week.

And also before I have to be on time five days a week to avoid contributing to the delinquency of a child in the form of tardiness at school. YIKES.

When I lived in Colorado, school started at 7:15 a.m. God bless your grandparents. I don't know how they did it.

You have the best gut laugh. It just streams out of you and makes me laugh, too. You laugh at the littlest things - a facial expression, someone burping, a jerky body movement...blinking. Just about anything can get a really good gut laugh out of you. I hope you always laugh that easily. It's a good trait to possess. I think you get that from your Dad. It's one of my favorite things about him.

Another one of my favorite things about you?

Your smile...

for the camera...

has vastly improved.

2006

2007

2008

2009

Happy Birthday, Buddy. You have given us thousands of reasons to smile and we love you.