When every stranger we meet tells us how pretty our little girl is, daddy says it is time for Josiah to have a haircut. 

Bye-bye curls. 

Hello little boy.

What they say is true, babies don't keep.

Now, if I can just get him to hold still so all his pictures aren't blurry.  This kid = perpetual motion.

I have some more pics from Katie's 15th birthday that I've wanted to post on my blog.  So, this post is a "catching up" post.

Her birthday wish was to get her beginner's permit.

The sun was shining in her eyes.

But I still love the pictures of her special day.

She wanted a Captain America birthday cake.  She loves Captain America. 

I think her 15th birthday was everything she hoped it would be. 

 Love my Katie-girl. 

One of the most life-enhancing abilities we can develop is the process of enjoying the journey.  We sometimes forget that life is the journey and the journey is life. The French call it joie de vivre - the joy of living. The Italians express it as nienta sense gioia - nothing without joy. To the Greeks, it's kefi - the spirit of joy, passion, enthusiasm, high spirits. Whatever we're doing, let's do it for the joy.

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Church Softball in the south is a serious thing.  (To everyone except me. Shhh.... don't tell, they'll kick me out.)  They have rules.  Lots of rules.  For instance, there are rules about switching teams.  To be a "free agent" you have to meet certain conditions.  You think I'm kidding.  I am not.  Church softball is serious.

You want to know what I like best about church softball (besides the Chief hitting a homer and my cute kids)?  I have a friend who brings her camera and takes awesome pics of our kids.  You want to know what Josiah likes best about church softball?  The endless supply of ring pops.   

Thanks so much for the pics, Hope!  I love them!

He's very proud.

I love being a mom. It's just who I am. It's just who you are.  Whether a mom by birth, by adoption, or spiritually - it's who we are.  Some of us will mother a tribe, a community, generations, neighborhoods... We mother those placed in our care. 

My oldest daughter, Katie is teased by our student ministry group for being the "mom".  She takes care of everybody.  Sends reminders.  Keeps up with their stuff.  It's just who she is.  Her sisters are following in her footsteps.  They grab up all the little ones everywhere we go and tote them around.  If I could speak into the lives of all young ladies like my daughters I'd say, the Lord has a plan for your life.  The enemy will try to deceive you.  The enemy wants to give you a counterfeit plan.  The enemy wants you to settle.  Don’t be deceived.  God doesn't do things half way.  He doesn't give you a half way future.  He gives you the total package.  Purpose in your heart today to not settle for anything less than the total package.

I have friends who are aching to be mothers.  I want you to know that we feel your longing.  We long with you and we desire to bear your burden to the Lord.  We desire to pray over you and ask that the Lord open your womb.  We have the faith for this.  You have the faith for this.  We ask right now that the Lord raise up intercessors all over the world to pray for you.

My friends with small children, God is with you.  Each day that you face another day of too much to do - God is with you.  You are never alone.  He is your rest, your peace, he will see you through this season.  And someday not so long from now, you will remember these days with joy and even longing to return to them.  We pray that you feel his presence, his rest, his peace, and his joy each day!

My friends with grown children, be at peace.  God carries your children in the palm of his hand.  You don’t have to be the fixer, just be the pray-er.  Bear the burden of prayer.  Lean heavily upon the Lord to lead and guide.  Exercise your authority as the prayer warrior of your family.

My friends and family that are mommas of spiritual children, the privilege of carrying a soul is always yours. Your heart is always open and welcoming another person to find nourishment and comfort.  You are an influencer.  You pour into the lives of others.

Happy Mother's Day weekend, sweet friends!  My gift (prayer) for you:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 

When I first saw this picture, taken by Gracie, I had to focus a moment to find my sweet Emrie at the end of the tunnel.  This set in motion a whole bunch of thoughts about perspective and how we see things.

So many times, we can completely change our lives without actually changing anything in our lives.  Perspective and focus are that important.  Change the way you see your life and you'll change your life.

When I was a single college student, I spent a summer working at a christian camp.  There was one week that I had a particularly difficult group of campers.  I had a bedwetter, a thief, a constant rule challenger, a cryer, a fit thrower... Did you know homesickness is contagious?  It is.  When one camper gets it, everybody gets it.  Even I had it.  It was B. A. D.  I remember going to the camp director and pouring my heart out about the challenges I was facing.  I was overwhelmed and it was getting the best of me.  The camp director listened quietly and when I was done, she said to me, "I know you have a tough group.  That's why I chose you.  I knew you were a person who could do hard things.  I wouldn't have given you this group if I hadn't known you could make a difference."  Wow.  Talk about changing my perspective.  Suddenly I went from overwhelmed and upset to determined and ready to meet the challenge.  I squared my shoulders back, asked the Lord to give me more understanding and strength, and I faced my group determined to make something of our week. 

If I could do anything for you today, it would be to give you perspective.  The tough things you face, the hard times... they aren't meant to defeat you.  They are meant to refine you.  To grow you and strengthen you.  You are a person who can do hard things.  That's why He chose you. 

"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."  2 Corinthians 4:18

Less baby.  More boy.

I want to be sad.  

Then I call to mind that "less baby more boy" sleeps through the night. 

Takes the edge off my sadness. 

Josiah is trying to say everything.  My favorite right now is his version of "Oh Well."  It comes out kinda like "Oh lell."  For diaper, he says "Biper".  "Eww" and "bah-ll" are his faves.

  Around age two most children have a vocabulary of 100 to 200 words, and the ability to form simple sentences. So you might say that you’ve been saying words all your life. But the real question is, “What have those words done?” Sure, most of them, are gone and forgotten. Others, though, had profound and lasting consequences.

We are responsible for what we speak into other people's lives.  Our words can be balm that brings healing or our words can be nuclear and destroy everything in sight.  We should use them with caution. We have the power to heal through the words we choose.  The Bible mentions the healing power of the tongue several times. In Proverbs, the Bible mentions the "tongue of the wise brings healing" (12:18); "tongue that brings healing is a tree of life" (15:4); "pleasant words are ... healing to the bones" (16:24).  The Bible also warns us to be wary of the destruction that our words can bring (James 3).  We’ve all been hurt by words, and sometimes the effect lasts years. Proverbs 12:18 tells us that reckless words pierce like a sword.

We can't deny the power of words.  In our tongues is the power to build or destroy; to bless or to curse; to heal or to wound; to instruct or to corrupt.  Choose blessing.  Choose to build.  Choose to heal.  The Bible tells us that words are the expressions of our hearts. What are our words expressing about our hearts?  Choose carefully.