Seven

My precious Buddy Boy,

     Today you are seven years old.  Years.  I just really can't believe how fast these years have come and gone.  I feel so blessed to be your mom, and at times feel totally incompetent to mother you.  You are so smart.  It is ridiculous.  There will be a day, in the not so distant future, when I just won't have the answers to your questions.  You are such a thinker.  You are also really really funny, and we get the same jokes.  You're pretty clever.  You're also really really spontaneous.  That's my nice way of saying that you lack a lot of self-control and are impulsive.  I'm praying that God will use this trait somehow, and that you'll gain some self-control with maturity.  There will be a day, when I will miss your random cartwheels down the aisle at Target, or in line at Chipotle, but right now it's pretty annoying.  But I still love you. 

   You love God.  And for this I am so thankful.  I know that things in this world will try to tear your faith down, and damage your innocence.  Despite this, and probably because of it, I pray everyday for you, that you will grow strong in the Lord.  I have believed since your big personality began to take shape, that God has big plans for you.  My prayer is that you will work for and love God in whatever He has planned for your life. I think you're amazing, and God has gifted you with so many talents.  Stay humble.  Serve others.  Love God first.

     You are so special to me Noah Loyal.  I became a mother because of you.  My heart swells with love for you.  Your eighth year will be a big one, sweet sweet boy.

Love,

Mom

Birth day

12/21/04

First Birthday

Bright blue eyes, big kissable lips, and one sweet cowlick

Second Birthday

Such a ham 

Third Birthday

Pretending to be shy while people were singing to you... you even told me you were pretending 

 Fourth Birthday

Fifth Birthday

Birthday trip to Disneyland with just mom and dad... with a stop in Cabazon where you pretended to be a baby T-Rex... this is my favorite picture of you ever.  It so captures your personality. 

Sixth Birthday

Same crazy cowlick and awesome smile 

Seventh Birthday

Baby teeth are gone... and the awkward phase begins.  I still think you're handsome.

Heard Around the House {November Edition}

Sweetpea
"Mommy, you look beautiful... just like a pirate."
"I'll feel my bike's muscles.  Yeah, it needs air."  {... as in the tires need air}

Buddy Boy
{waking me up in my face at 1:00am}"Mom, what treat do you think I should have with my lunch tomorrow?"

This photo isn't from November, but it was too funny not to share.  Sign reads: "I Love Giselle?"

He went to a Diamondbacks game with the sole intention to declare his love for fellow first grader Giselle, who would also be at the game... on the Jumbo-tron.  And he did.  Sure enough, the cameraman spotted him, took pity on his plight, and gave him about 30 seconds of air time, every second of which he stood proudly holding his sign.  

How about you?

The thing about having a passion for something, is usually one wants to share that passion.  And we want others to understand this passion, and adopt it as their own, usually.  Ever talked to a homeschooling mama?  Or a mom devoted to public education?  How about a vegetarian versus a vegan?  What about a passionate Harry Potter, Twilight, or Star Wars fan?  There are many things that others are passionate about, and I get it,  great for you.  Then when it comes to something I'm passionate about, I get all crazy.  I want to convince YOU why it should be your passion too.  Then, when it inevitably doesn't become something you're passionate about, I get all hurt and judge-y.  This is wrong, and I'm sorry.

I'm so thankful for a God who gives me freedom.  Freedom to choose what things in life to be passionate for.  I'm learning, through some great Godly mentors in my life, that these things that are important in my life, those passions of mine, must go through a filter of sorts.  Those things that take my time, effort, attention could be good BUT...

-  Will it lead to freedom, or to slavery?
-  Will it make me a stumbling block, or a stepping stone for others?
-  Will it build me up, or tear me down?
-  Will it only please me, or will it glorify Christ?
-  Will it help me win the lost, or turn them away from the truth?

and most importantly, Is it my passion, or is it God's passion?

So, what am I passionate about?  Loving those who are hurting.  Destitute.  Hopeless.  Alone.  Helpless.  And I can confidently say that I know God is passionate about this too, because God is all about love.

This puts me in a tough spot sometimes.  I know that this is a God inspired passion in my life, and He wants it for all who call themselves Christians.  BUT... it will look different in each person's life, and I have to be okay with that.  In a round about way, this is related to how I feel right now about Christmas, and more specifically... Christmas spending.

So.  I promise not to get all soap-boxy and judge-y.  I'm simply presenting my passion to you.  Take it or leave it.  Would you consider learning more about this alternative approach to the All-American Christmas Spectacular?

{Resources for Christmas Shopping that Gives Back from Rage Against the Minivan or a post I did a few weeks ago}

{Excess for Africa}

True Love

Buddy Boy has been asking for some snuggle time in the evenings.  I was worried that he was growing out of this, but here he is, almost seven and still wanting some mom lovin' even when just hours earlier he pretended to be embarrassed by me at school.  As we snuggled on the couch, he told me, "I bet you don't love me as much as I love you, cause' that would just be impossible."

 Before I even had a chance to get teary, he burped right in my face... but also had the decency to blow it in the opposite direction of my nostrils.  That, folks, is true love in boy language.

How is it even possible this picture was taken two years ago?!?  

This and That

Every once in a blue moon I check out the google stats about my blog... how people found our blog, what country people are from who visited, search engine phrases that someone typed that led to a link to this blog.  Here are the weirdest search engine phrases this month that someone typed that led to this blog:

1.  "No fruit."   Probably because of this post from last year.

2.  "My husband is awesome."   Probably because my husband is awesome.

3.  "Lumberjacks rock my world."  Probably because of this shindig... lumberjack isn't normally a part of my everyday vernacular, nor do they rock my world.


This girl is one now.  I haven't written anything about it yet because I'm still living in denial.  And she's walking.  And that makes me sad, because I love her little baby self.

 Photos by the amazing Christina Hendrick Photography

And these Crazies just make me laugh.  They're nutty.  Here's some Transformer that I don't know the name of but Buddy Boy knows everything about, Fancy Nancy, and some cute recorder flute playing little fancy baby... on Halloween night.

Happy Monday to you!

Gift Guide With a Purpose {2011}

I am very much a non-technology person.  I don't have a cool phone.  I don't text.  I don't understand what in the world a gigabyte is.  But the one thing that I do like about these here interwebs, is that I can be a part of helping someone across the world, whom I will never meet, provide for their family.  The internet can help a person sell their wares to a huge global market, it expands the opportunity to earn money outside their own communities, and we get to participate.

Would you consider purchasing a Christmas gift that also gives back to someone who is working to provide life's basic necessities?  We all know that the CEOs of Target do not need more money.

I really love handmade.  The more unique and one of a kind the better.   Here is a short list of where we have purchased gifts this year.  I encourage you to read the stories about each company when you visit their websites.  And if you are in my family, prepare yourself to LOVE your gifts this year!!!

{Women At Risk International}

{Haitian Creations}

{Sseko Designs}

{31 Bits}

{Red Earth Trading Co.}

{Provision Coffee}

If you're local to the Phoenix area... you can pick this up at The Grove Coffee Shop

{Krochet Kids International}

If you have another suggestion for a fair trade, socially responsible, place to make a purchase, please leave the link in the comments.  You can give a unique and amazing gift, and feel good about how that money is being used at the same time.