Wordless Wednesday

Cooling off

It is still HOT here in Georgia!

How hot is it?

So hot that, while spending time with a friend this afternoon and giving our kids some play time together, I jumped in her pool with all my clothes on!

The kids joined in and we had a grand time cooling off.

I think I better carry my swim suit in my car from now on.

My mother and her sister

On the left, my East coast mama.

On the right, my West coast aunt.

Aren't they beautiful?

Tanagram practice

To keep from being "bored!"....

You broke my chicken patty!

We just spent 2+ days at Grandma's house where rules were lax and I slacked in my attention to what went into my kids' mouths.....not that my dinner choice below made any difference.

So, while driving back to Columbus tonight with the kids (alone, I might add), I realized that we would be taking the almost three hour drive right through dinner time. This meant I had to stop and order drive-thru food to keep the kids and myself sane (and awake). Burger King has these little mini-Krytal-like burgers and chicken sandwiches which come in a four pack that aid in helping to save money and not waste food. I made it clear to all three children that they could choose between beef or chicken. They said they wanted one of each which made the math work out perfectly for us all. I conquered the speaker and pick-up window with ease and parked to make lap trays and squirt ketchup/sauces.

Did you know that my sweet daughter really wanted chicken nuggets? She thought I could read her brain when she answered my question with, "chicken". So, for the next 45 minutes of our drive, she cried....declaring her disdain and frustration with her chicken in sandwich form and not in the usual processed nugget form (nutritious, I know.....and to think that I want to attempt this). She was so distraught that she refused the sandwich (and fries - horrors!) and said, "Mama, I'm sad and mad!". When she realized I wasn't going to give her what she wanted, she took her chicken patty and tore it in half so she could justify not eating it at all. I looked at her in the rear mirror and saw her pouting, crying, and keeping an eye on me. When she caught my glance, she declared, "Mama. You have broken my heart and my chicken patty. Now I will go hungry forever!".

She asked once more if I would stop to get her what she wanted so she wouldn't be mad at me anymore. I instructed her to take responsibility and eat what's been given to her - or go hungry. That made her angry but I told her to stop fussing and talking about it because I wasn't going to change my mind.

As we kept driving, she began to nibble at the sandwich and eventually gobbled it all down. I smiled to myself and remembered a powerful statement from a post I read a while back:

...if I am willing to die for you, then having you upset with me because I am protecting you is a relatively small thing in my world. - Chris Brauns

And to think that she asked for dessert when we got home!

She fell asleep on the couch like this - NO LIE!

A classroom observation

First, let me preface this post by saying that I think I should buy some of these.

After coming in from lunch and recess, I read a book every afternoon to my class. They gather around my feet as I sit in the mammoth rocking chair. They gaze up at me and into the pages of playful words and colorful illustrations. As I was at my desk the other day taking notes of my plans and instructing my class to read quietly for three minutes, I looked up to see two little girls licking their middle fingers as they turned their pages. HOW CUTE! I asked them where they learned to do that little trick and they both replied, "From you, Mrs. Jawan! You do it all the time when you read to us in the afternoons!".

They are watching EVERYTHING I do....that's scary!

Pack, pack, pack, & pack

This is what I do every evening before I go to bed....pack 4 lunches. I have to pray as I pack these boxes because it's tedious and I am often so tired that I don't want to do it. However, God reminds me of his abundance, both in food and in the blessing of my family. My kids haven't complained yet so I'm apparently packing them "right"!

Silly thoughts

Abigail has made us laugh this weekend.

Her first question: "Mama, what is a honeymoon?"

Her second question: "Mama, when Christmas comes, will you buy me a bow and arrow so I can shoot all the bad guys?"

She is keeping me on my toes!

PresWIC council

I traveled to the middle part of my state yesterday to meet up with several other women in our presbytery for a training workshop. My favorite part of these times is always hugging and laughing with friends that months have passed between our visits. I am especially drawn to the ladies that serve on the council with me....thank you, Sheila, Diane, Kathy, Lois, Jessica, and Marla! ....I really love you.

And another one....

She attended a friend's princess birthday party today.

Yes, she loved it.

Wordless Wednesday

A beggin' we will go

Even though my in-laws have a pool that we can swim in anytime we want, our kids still begged everyday upon leaving school or church on Sunday, "Please! Will you take us to swim at the pool across the street?" (it stares at us from across the street at church/school, looking all kinds of relaxing). We finally caved - well, thanks to the pool schedule announcement that it would be closing for Fall in three short weeks. The slide, the spring boards, the deep end, the water blasters.....we should have gone sooner!

Just a self-portrait to remind me that I haven't had my hair cut in a very long time. I usually get my hair cut just twice a year but I'm thinking that I really need to make it more of a habit. At least the hair clips were a good investment.

A trip to Hobby Lobby this afternoon brought out the cowgirl in her.

A little girl has my heart

Abigail and I spent most of the morning together today, just the two of us. The area in our city known as Uptown has a Saturday morning market of sorts where all kinds of vendors line the sidewalks, selling their handmade/homegrown goods. As we strolled the booths, we crossed paths with many sculptures that stand on many corners and crossings along the way.

She asked, "Mama, take my picture with this boy and his dog."

Next, "Mama, watch me stick my tongue out like this little girl!"

Abigail held my hand as we stopped and tasted delights such as homemade granola, fresh loaf bread, natural honey, and petted a basket full of six week old kittens - free for the taking (we didn't take one, btw).

I treasured that two hours of time with her. My heart overflows with love for this child and I pray the time impacted her heart and reminded her of the deep love of our Father. Speaking of simple things and holding her on my hip reminded ME of an article I read last week. Here's just a snippet:

When girls are well-known by parents–both the best and the worst about them–they “dare” move close to their heavenly Father because they understand grace. It has been offered to them from childhood. And it all stems from listening to them–knowing them better than they know themselves, then caring deeply and intimately for their souls. This is what they most want. They will love you deeply for it.

HT: Barbara Challies

Trying to empty my card

Her first dive ever.

We're going to work on the belly buster part.

Coloring every page in the book.

He actually enjoys doing this often during the day (just like his dad).

Eating breakfast together last week during one of the last lazy late summer mornings before school was to start.

A canvas I drew and painted for a friend who just adopted a toddler from India.

Luke's free hand drawing. I am amazed!

His muse....

First day of school (2nd grade, PreK, and kindergarten). Luke NEVER looks happy each year for this picture. Andrew lost one of his front teeth the night before....notice the gap.

Isn't he just adorable?

Just a few funny things....

My friend just adopted a little boy from India and he came "home" this past weekend. When her husband left to fly across the globe to get him, he took along a toy that would give them some play-time together in the orphanage before flying back.

What toy did he take? A farm set of dairy cows with fences and pasture - yeah, not such a good idea.

By the way, my friend and I laughed about this 'til we peed our pants. I told her I was gonna blog about it so I have her permission to joke publicly about their toy choice!

______________________________

Also, I teach a room of eleven little girls - it's a load of fun, I tell ya. For instance, they can't seem to get their tongue to cooperate when addressing my husband. So, when he walks into my classroom each day, he is officially greeted with, "Hey, Pister Match!".

______________________________

When playing the game Scattergories two summers ago during small group, the category was "Street Names". I quickly wrote my answer, no hesitation. When the time came to give our answers, I was surprised to find that everyone else came up with names like Broad, Main, Pennsylvania, and Sunset. My line of thinking was more of STREET NAMES, if you know what I mean. I wrote "G-Money".

What!?

Toothless grin

Finally lost a third tooth.....what a cute smile!

How long have I said this to myself?

Callaway play

Callaway Gardens has free admission every Friday after 4PM this summer so we took full advantage of it today. The kids stayed in the lake for two solid hours before taking a break for our picnic dinner and then getting back in again. A tradition at Callaway is the FSU flying circus so I was excited to see how our children would react seeing their first trapeze act - they loved it even more than swimming in the lake!

The weather for the evening was actually not too hot (thanks to the large fans under the circus tent) and the children didn't complain at all about anything. We were surprised that all three kids stayed awake on the 25 minute drive home but they were ready to collapse once we unloaded the car.

So thankful that God has given us a fake beach nearby!

Day 68 (One of the best ones yet)

Just realized that I only have two more days til this "Day _" thing ends. I go back to work on Wednesday. Many people have asked me if I'm ready to return to the classroom.....my answer has been "No and yes." I love, love, love my job and couldn't ask for a better work environment, a sweeter boss, A finer looking board chairman (Hey, Babe!), friendliest co-workers, the best working hours, daily challenging skill tests, or cuter students (11 girls in my class, by the way. The cap is 12....come get that last spot, little guy!)....so, yes - I'm ready for the school year to begin!

However, my heart is at home. 'Nuff said.

Mitch finished his Old Testament sermon series today (well, he might have one more sermon up his sleeve regarding the depression of Elijah). It has been refreshing to read, see, taste, and listen to the gospel weaved into the usual stories of the Bible that most have heard from childhood - Noah, David, Daniel, Elisha, Elijah.... I have also enjoyed watching Andrew listen and later ask questions about the true stories. The gospel is penetrating his heart and it's a neat and wonderful miracle to witness. Andrew is understanding the Truth that there is only one true God and that He sent a Savior to rescue him from his evil, dirty, wretched heart. I pray that Andrew knows the love of the Father and how he pursues with such passion. Amazing grace!

As I picked Andrew up today from his weekend visit with his uncle, he and I had great conversation in the car about all the fun things he did with my brother - fishing, swimming, and playing golf. But, when I asked him to tell me his most FAVORITE thing he did over the weekend, he said, "It was just spending time with the family at the house and going to Uncle S's gigantic church." WOW! Relationships are such a huge impact on our heart, huh? How incredible to hear him say those deep words.

But then, after such sweet exchanges of words, I got impatient with Andrew when he wouldn't move fast enough out of the car while in a parking lot. He had said he was hungry but seemed to be taking waaaaaay too much [of my] time acting on it. After I firmly (and too harshly) said his name three times from behind the car, he came around and said, "I was trying to hurry, Mama, but papers kept falling out of the car and I was just trying to put them back in so you could have them later." What a selfish worm I am. His eyes were wet with tears and I was the cause of them. Instead of building him up, I tore him down - all while he was serving me. Kind of reminded me of how the people screamed "Crucify him!" after just worshiping Jesus a few days prior.

Speaking of relationships, I almost lost it today behind the microphone at church while singing the congregational hymns. Every Sunday I get the joy of being able to stand in front of such beautiful people and make eye contact, receive smiles, watch children, notice families, and witness worship. Upon scanning faces today, there were at least five of my friends crying with their faces lifted to the sky, singing the words:

Oh to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let your goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to thee
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart Lord,
Take and seal it
Seal it for thy courts above

Jesus sought me while a stranger

Wandering from the heart of God

And He to rescue me from danger

Used his own precious blood.

I saw Jesus in that room this morning. He was showing himself though so many personal stories in our church - the gospel woven into families as they await the arrivals of their adopted children, grieve through broken marriages, suffer from chronic sickness, are heartbroken from miscarriages, frustration with money, lost friendships, worries about parenting, lonely due to death, and weary from their mundane life. I saw people clinging to the cross as I looked across the room - and I was filled with hope! Mitch finished his sermon with this Scripture passage:

Lamentations 3:22-24 ~

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

I am blessed...beyond measure.

Days 64-67

Wednesday -Ate dinner with a group of sweet friends (see post below)

Thursday - a low key day spent at home and then cleaning my classroom.

Friday - took Andrew to his uncle's house (my brother) near Atlanta for the weekend. Luke hung out with his cousin (Mitch's side of family) and went bowling, out to eat pancakes, and then an evening swim. Abigail and I spent three hours in my classroom painting and getting prepared for the first week of school.

Saturday - Ran errands ALL DAY long.

Probably boring information to most people but vital to my daily diary of McGinnis life.