everyday may

just another phone dump for memory sake.

1. william had his first hair cut about a month ago. even though he looks miserable in this picture, he sat there like a little angel. and then he got a sucker. one of his most coveted treats. 

2. we spend massive amounts of time on the trampoline. morning, noon, and evening. it's a family favorite and has created some of the best quality time for all of us.

{giggly boy being bounced}

3. check this guys out.

4. the young men scaring the black birds off of our feeders. 

6. t-ball love.

they make it really easy to collect pictures for their rehearsal dinner. we are praying boldly.

6. the beauty of technology. on the rare occasion i grace an actual department store with my presence and get to try on a slew of dresses all on my lonesome, i still have a way to ask my sweet husband what he thinks without tackling three little boys to keep them from crawling under someone else's dressing room door. how awesome.

7. an afternoon with my husband in clemson. where we fell in love. although our experiences here did not necessarily coincide with one another for more than a couple of months before he graduated, we very much had the same experience. deep friendships, community, laughs, and much growth in the Lord. we will forever hold this place so dear to our hearts.

8. matthew and i got to photograph a beautiful wedding in clemson on friday. the boys stayed with marmie and poppie for the day and had a blast of course. train rides, fishing, and good ol' fashioned fun.

we are catching our breath before the summer hits. the boys finish up school this week and the tuck monster turns three on saturday! wowzies.

motherhood anthem

if there is one thing i've learned {and will keep learning} in my short five years of motherhood, it's my total and utter helplessness. 

as i spent a day dedicated to motherhood thinking about the gift and the struggle of this job, all i could come up with was my need for the Lord. every moment of every hour. nothing has ever been more sanctifying and life giving as to understand my total need for the Lord to mother my children. 

this song puts perfect words to my heart and is my "motherhood anthem." {but really a whole life anthem}

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart
 

 Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You


Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Yes where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me


So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

As I continue to lean into Him, I am delighted as He fills me with strength in the everyday with my children.  

first steps

somebody is taking those first steps. 

this is one of the more exciting milestones for me. to watch them learn to walk. i will be watching, and guiding, and letting them fall, and holding them up, and letting them lean, and then letting them go in the years to come. 

now is the easy part. 

somebody also thinks it really funny to show us his belly button. we think it's pretty funny too!

 

go explore that big world little man.

party on!

a five year old birthday party with 11 kids is no joke.

it was fun, and loud, and wild, and free. i sure hope it was fun. we pulled out all our stops with a homemade spider web, pinatas, water games, and shaving cream. what more could a five year old and all his friends ask for! i think grey was most excited about having a lot of his friends in one place at one time :)

 

 

{some pretty awesome super heroes!}

happy birthday grey bear! you only turn five once!!

GLC . 5 years

my firstborn,

dear son, if you could truly know the gift you are to me. you are, in the flesh, grace given in a child. from your first cry, i didn't need anyone to tell me that you were indeed a son. i knew it all along and i couldn't wait to hold you close. and in that very instant you made me a mother. i never knew something so wonderful as to love you.

you have always been the one. the one that can make me smile even through the tears. the one always with an encouraging word. the one that reminds me of the rules. the one that helps me to understand what it means to be tender. the one that leads. the one that never forgets. the one that's confident mostly. the one that over achieves. the one that tries and fails but will always try again. the one that knows that i need you grey bear. that's the one.

i am watching and i see you growing into a young boy. things you were once timid of, you are conquering without fear. you want more responsibility and assure us that you can handle it. you are always willing to help in even the smallest of tasks. you continue to take in the world around you and connect the dots left and right. you have done this since day one. i watch and i see the beautiful way that God made you. for Him grey bear. i need you to know it's all for Him.

i see you watching your daddy and learning. what a wonderful example to see. you do love so tenderly. you lead your brothers well.

i need you to know that i have never known a love so great as for my child. the day will come when you are grown and we gently let you go. but all the things i'm learning along the way in the days that i live with you and eat with you and talk with you and walk with you, are the days that i am loving much.

happy 5th birthday grey. it's a pleasure to watch you grow.

weekending . atl 2012

we took a little trip.

this little trip had been rescheduled a few times but finally the weekend was here. and it is so very obvious that this could have been none other than God's timing and not our own. 

we enjoyed a long weekend with dear family in atlanta. we deemed it "living room fest" but really it was more like "playground fest." mostly outdoor playgrounds but grey bear got a rockin' surprise for his birthday..a trip to Legoland! it was the coolest of all.

we also toured the suburbian playgrounds, fed ducks, laughed, cried, ate a lot of yogurt from Yogurtland, rode in a megapacked minivan, and all around had a wonderful time.
 

most importantly our souls were encouraged. we rejoiced in the Lord together and experienced community with one another. what more could we ask for?!

can't wait until our next trip!