Pure Joy

Today was a long day...and short at the same time. Ever had one of those? I rushed all day long at work. And when I got home I was supposed to go to the grocery store...where I would have rushed so that I could get home to relieve my parents of kid duty. But by the time I got home, I just couldn't rush anymore. So I stayed. And ate. With my family. I'm so glad I did.

Before I left for work I set out clothes for Elise; brown jersey capris and a lavender t-shirt. When I got home she was in bright pink pants and her lavender t-shirt. In the thick of potty training (one of the worst jobs a parent ever has to do), it's not unusual for her to be in a different pair of pants when I come home than when I left for work in the morning. So I asked, "Did she pee in her pants?" "No," was the response. "Oh, did she poop in her pants?" Now I was a little concerned because she's actually been doing really well lately and hasn't had an accidents in weeks. "No," again was the response. The confused look on my face must have prompted my mom to volunteer the real reason for the change in attire: "She wanted to wear her yellow pants," was the response I got. All I could do was laugh out loud at the insistence of our baby girl in wearing her pink "yellow pants."

Pure. Joy.

And Jack. He's been learning about reducing, reusing and recycling at school. So the last few weeks have been consumed with different ideas about how to reuse the things he has. As I dragged them to the second grocery store of the night, I promised them icees if they could make it all the way from Rainbow to Target without whining. On the way, Jack was telling us all about how he could reuse his icee cup to store worms from our yard to bring to the cabin. And then maybe he'd rinse it out and use it for water if he got thirsty. I admire his determination to use a cup in as many ways as he can think of. I'm not so appreciative of the worm-infested drinking vessel he's willing to reuse a third time.

These are the things motherhood is made of. Appreciating the humor and innocence in the process of your children discovering the world. A world God has created for us to enjoy. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child and marveling at the wonder of it. This is pure joy.

Thank you, God, for these three blessings of pure joy.

On Broadway

You haven't seen her name in lights yet,



but if she keeps this up,

 

it won't be long!

 

Five Question Friday

Join in!

1. Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none?

None! I love summer when I can go barefoot everywhere. I also love summer when my children can go barefoot everywhere and I have six fewer socks accumulating daily in my laundry pile that will eventually need to be matched, folded and put away.

2. Was your child's (children's) name a mutual decision or was it a debate? If you don't have children, do you plan on giving your spouse a say, or do you have a name you MUST have, regardless if your other half likes it or not?

I think it was a mutual decision. The only one I think I may have had more say in was our oldest. Sean really liked "Jack" but I'm a full-name-with-a-nick-name type of person so I really wanted "Jackson." He may have given in to me on that one.

3. What is your favorite type of weather?

Sunny and 73 with an occasional light breeze. Do I sound like a weather forecast? Warm enough for shorts and a tank top (and no socks!), but not so hot that Sean gets sweaty and crabby and refuses to be outside with me.

4. If left to your own devices, what time would you wake up every day?

Probably 8:30 or 9:00. Though I'm so accustomed to being awakened at 6:00 or 6:30 by my children that, even on those rare occasions when I am left to my own devices, I'm awake by 7:00 anyway.

5. Have you bought your cemetery plots yet?

No. And that's all I'm going to say about it b/c that's a depressing topic.

And just because posts are more fun with pictures I'll leave you with a recent picture of our little Viking's jersey fan.

I say jersey fan because, really, she just likes the jersey. This is how she feels about the actual game.

It Was Relaxing, I Promise

Though the number of pictures below may present a different story, we really did have a relaxing day. We started out with breakfast at the Kountry Kitchen where, despite being informed that we could, we did not each orchids. I just took pictures of them. Instead, I ate a macadamia nut pancake bigger than my head. I put coconut syrup on it. Mmm...it was SO good. I'd go back to Hawaii just for that.

 

After breakfast we drove to a couple water falls,



took some pictures



and took some more pictures.




Then we found some more water falls (twins),



took some more pictures,



and found someone else to take some pictures.

When we were done with the waterfalls (you can only look at them for so long), we headed out to Secret Beach. It's not so secret anymore since it's in at least one guidebook, but it was (nearly) secluded.

A muddy downhill hike brought us through interesting foliage

to beautiful views



of the Kilauea Lighthouse,



crashing waves,



green rocks,

birds that knew exactly how far the waves were going to come up on the sand and would stay just beyond them,

and an ocean liner just leaving port.

Some of us relaxed and read,

while some of us jumped off rocks.

And since we were in Kilauea, ever so close to Kilauea Video, Ice Cream & Candy

we stopped for some of the best ice cream in the world.

When You're Three

and your mom lets you choose your own clothes, sometimes you end up with this:

But you always end up proud of the independence you demonstrated so your mom lets you do it anyway.

 

A note from the mom: This outfit was a dramatic improvement over the original which left out the orange shirt under the sweater vest. I didn't want my little fashionista to get cold...

Travelin' Thru

This mother's day I've been very focused on the "journey" of motherhood and am incredibly thankful for all the women God has put in my life as friends and mentors to help me along this adventure. As I reflect back on what I thought motherhood was going to be and what it actually is, I am brought back to the William Faulkner quote in my blog header. The task God has set before me requires tiny footprints set upon my children's hearts; footprints that create a foundation of faith and trust in God that can serve them in their walks with Christ. No, motherhood is not the "monuments" I received after 12+ hours of labor, but the  footprints I leave as I continue to grow and nurture the three incredible gifts God has blessed me with.

Five Question Friday

Play along here.




1. Have you ever had roommates?

Yes, during college. Some were bad. Some were great and turned into life long friendships. I have to admit, however, that NOT living in a house full of women is much more peaceful.


2. How many names do you/your children have?

They have a lot, probably 4 or 5 each. I guess I really love terms of endearment (revelation). In fact, most of the time I do not call my children by their real names. Pumpkin, peanut, peaches, little man, sweet pea, lady, lady Jane (that's a holdover from my own mom), princess, beautiful, handsome, buddy, love are just a few of "names" you'll hear in our house. This is all in addition to variations of their given names.

3. Did you watch the Royal Wedding?

Big fat N-O!

4. What is the messiest room in your house?

The laundry room. It's the only room that is almost exclusively mine so it doesn't get picked up very often. And I have very few opportunities to have uninterrupted time in there to get it organized. Who am I kidding? I have very little uninterrupted time in any room. Maybe I should just list my whole house! In the words of my mother, "this too shall pass."

5. What is your ideal mothers day?

Any day that I'm surrounded by my family and don't have to prepare meals or wash dishes.

Low Key

An incredibly busy day filled with custom made boats, humpback whales, the Hawaiian Smith family and their luau left us in need of some low key fun. We found it the next day on the golf course...mini golf, that is. We were temporarily enamoured with the idea of learning to golf - real golf - in Hawaii. We wisened up.

The views were still beautiful,

the golf mates (mates? is that the right "golfy" term?) fabulous,

 

the competition fierce,

and the holes challenging.

And when it was over we still liked each other. And someone that came in first, second or third* (can't remember) got kissed. 

*If you're wondering why I didn't list fourth you've obviously never been mini golfing with me. Fourth is my spot. Always. Unless just two people are golfing. Then I come in second.

The Rest of the Dream

This first sunny, semi-warm day we've had in way too long got me thinking about Hawaii. "What's next in the Hawaii memoir?" I thought to myself. "Oh yea! The Luau!"

After our exciting morning and afternoon on the sea, we headed back to the condo to get ready for the Smith Family Luau. I know...Smith? In Hawaii? But it was great.



And traditional (I think) with a pig cooked in an imu.





The grounds were beautiful.

The show mesmerizing.



And the company fantastic.