Our Normal

I love how the warmer weather and Patton's growth have changed our daily routine. Instead of coming home and struggling to take Charlie outside with Patton bundled up on my hip before hurrying back inside to play in the warm house; now, we all walk outside and play out there as long as we can. Patton wanders around the yard, pulling bark off the pine tree, trying to pull his big wagon around, chasing Charlie, and pulling my pansy blossoms into pieces. He is just so happy to be outside, and I love that we can play in the yard. That's exactly what Josh and I imagined when we bought this house. We saw ourselves out in the yard playing with our future children, and now we can't wait to all get home (especially now that it doesn't get dark so early) and go swing or run around the yard. I love our family time, and it gets better and better every day!

Spent & Lent

The weather was wonderful for a couple weeks, and then our household was invaded with sickness, which was then followed by rainy, cold days. Oh well, it is March, and that "in like a lion" thing is supposed to explain it all away.

Josh and I went to the Mardi Gras Party in Gardendale with our pals (Fab 4 plus guys), and it was great to reminisce about that same party 3 years ago when we first met. And of course, it was great to catch up with our Gardendale gang of friends. While we were there, Patton spent the night with my mom (his first night spent away from me), and we all did great. No tears shed on my part, although I did keep my cell phone at hand all night. He had a double ear infection, so most of his night was spent awake, and he apparently swept my mom's floors at 1am, but she promised that it was all enjoyable for her.

Saturday, as we headed back home, Josh was plagued with the stomach bug, so I drove us home through the torrential down pours, and we finally made it home around 6pm. I sent Josh straight to bed, and he slept until after Patton and I left for church the next morning. Oh that reminds me, I woke up Saturday morning with no voice. Must have been allergic to something, but my voice was still not better for my children's sermon on Sunday morning. It was sorta fitting anyway since my children's sermon was about how some things are hard to understand (like my voice that morning) and some things about God and Jesus are hard to understand, like Jesus' transfiguration, which we were studying that morning. So I guess it worked out.

Now we are all healing. Josh is back at work and feeling much better. Patton is going to school and spending his nights in bed instead of sweeping, and my voice is creeping back into my throat a little bit each day.

Now it is Fat Tuesday, and my one action of celebration for this day was eating a Wendy's frosty. I would try to convince myself that I ate it in hopes that it would help heal my lack of voice, but in all honesty, that's a lie. The truth of the matter is this is the last time I plan to enjoy a Frosty or anything else that includes chocolate until Easter. No Sunday breaks, no "accidental" lapses in judgment. No chocolate for Lent. No, it's not a publicity stunt. This is my way of celebrating Lent (wait, is "celebrate" the right word?). This is how I will mark the period of time known as Lent. Instead of eating chocolate or focusing on how much I love chocolate or how great it makes me feel...I will spend this season of Lent focusing on how I should crave God, how much I love God, how much He loves me, and how amazing it feels to know that His grace is sufficient for all of life's twists and turns. All those moments that I usually turn to chocolate, well, I need to learn to turn to God. His comfort is more amazing than a Reese's cup or scoop of Bluebell's Milk Chocolate ice cream. This season of Lent, I am going to crave God!