They Are My Sunshine

This week is the last week of school around here, and to say that we are excited would be a bit of an understatement.

Saturday was the first truly warm day we've had so far this spring, and what did we do the moment the temperatures reached 80? Threw the swimsuits on and watered the kids and grass at the same time.

She'll tease you, she'll unease you, with her Bette Davis Eyes

"Mom, That tree looks like a person.


"Hmm?"


"That tree looks like a person."



"Really? I don't see .... Oh, I think I see an eye."



"Wait a minute, I see a nose! How cool is that!"

When I grow up, I wanna see the world the way she does.*

*For the record, I'm referring to the view from a four year old's eyes .... not a tree's ... or for that matter, Bette Davis'.

It would appear that she was never LONESOME

At the beginning of April, Aldi had a sale on some lovely potted hanging plants. So I grabbed one, threw it up on the front porch, and declared it Spring. When my friend Rebekah saw it, she told me the horror story of their hanging plant and how it became home to a freakishly overprotective bird. Frightening stories of her poor family forced into ducking and covering their heads just to get in and out of the house.

Apparently these stories weren't frightening enough, because I didn't move the plant, and shortly thereafter we found we had a new tenant.

Isn't she pretty? I think she's saying "Can't a girl get some privacy while she hatches an egg?!? Sheesh!!!"

Contrary to popular stereotypes, she was actually very quiet. However, I was still a little afraid that as soon as her babies hatched, she'd turn into a freak. A swooping, flapping, squawking freak.

Today, almost a month after her arrival, we saw her two little babies for the first time as we sent Sporty off to school.
And look, mama's not freaking out .... which I guess shouldn't be surprising. You know around this house, mama's are KNOWN for being sweet and docile. (ahem)

So I looked on the google to see if I could determine what kind of bird family we have here, and it looks like we have Doves. aahhhh.

So happy birthday little Doves!

And thanks mama for not attacking our friends and family as they visit. However, the next time a little neighbor child comes over, with the intent to ring the doorbell, right in the middle of nap time, and thereby ending all of this mama's blessed peace, feel free to do a little swooping and squawking. I'm sure you understand how hard it is to get those young'uns to rest!

Room To Wait

This is a waiting room. In fact it's the very waiting room that I waited in today. This picture only shows about two-thirds of the people in that waiting area. There were several more to our right and behind us.

I hate waiting rooms. I hate waiting. It seems nothing ever productive happens in a waiting room. (Unless you consider reading out of date magazines a productive use of your time.)

Not to mention how maddening the lack of control can be in a waiting room. Someone else owns your time in that waiting room. And it's completely up to them on whether or not they ever come and meet you in that room. Generally you stare at a closed door. Just hoping that soon someone will open the door, and bring you out of the seemingly endless waiting.

The waiting room I was in today was not my wait. In fact it wasn't really the wait of anyone you see in the picture. We were all waiting on behalf of someone else. We were the friends and family of the Kelsey family, and we were waiting to celebrate their newest addition to their family. We were waiting on the adoption of their beautiful baby girl.

But that adoption didn't happen today. That celebration didn't happen. The wait has been extended by a couple more weeks. And fear came in the form of a long distance phone call from the birth father.

Tears were shed.
Hearts were broken.
And God himself was right there in the midst, grieving with us, grieving for us.

However, what this picture can't convey is what is happening behind the scenes. Not in the court room, not on the phone line, but in the heart and mind. Because God's brilliance shines brightest in our dark.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

-Isaiah 40:29-31

And if you happen to find yourself in your own 'waiting room', here's something to read other than the typical out of date magazine.

No primates were harmed in the making of this post.

It's coming....



My Father-in-law's book will be released soon. I've just begun to read it now. Boy-howdy! Seriously good! You're gonna want to read it, but I'm afraid you can't ... not yet at least ... but soon. I know you wish you were as special as me and that you were given an advance copy, but I think you have to marry his son and produce some cute grand babies in order to get these special privileges. And since he only has one son, and I have no plans to give him up any time soon, you'll just have to wait until it's released.

This book has some incredible stories and will give you a greater understanding of the mid-east conflict, and the people who struggle to live in the midst of that conflict day in, and day out. The humanity hidden behind the headlines. Tass himself is responsible for eliminating so many of my own personal stereotypes in the two decades that I have known him.

(In fact, at 17, when I was invited to his home to share an authentic Arabic meal with the family, I was relieved to have one stereotype completely banished. I had seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and I was pretty sure I knew what 'authentic' meant. Thankfully chilled monkey brain was not on the menu .... nor would it ever be. Surprisingly, that delightful story was not included in the book, it's just a little bonus I'm giving you. Feel free to use this anecdote as further proof that our public education system has failed us OR, as further proof that I was a complete idiot at the age of 17.)

September 15th is the release date. You can pre-order here or here.

In the meantime, you can read the blog here. We're hoping to post a few previews of what you'll find in the book so stay tuned for that.

It's Edison Meets Lucas

Today was a much anticipated day around our house. Sporty's entire science grade for the 2nd grade rests on what happens today. That is A LOT of pressure.

It is "Invention Convention" day, and this morning the 8 year olds in her elementary will offer forth their inventions for a panel of teachers and peers (1st and 3rd graders) to review and judge*. And the competition is stiff. Last year the stand out invention was ... get this ... a table cloth with a hidden pocket ... a pocket designed to stuff your unwanted food into.

Hard to top that.

But I think she's come up with something pretty great. Not just an invention, but one with some clear marketability. (what mother in her right mind would buy that tablecloth I ask you???)

I'm proud to present to you a new game which we hope to have on the shelves in time for Christmas:

Star Wars: Galactic Wars

I have played this game twice and love the fact that all of us can play together. Although, I will say that I have officially been beaten by every member of my family. Every member. Yes, even this one ...


*Use of the word judge is probably a bit of an overstatement. In actuality she will probably get the same grade as the kid who is bringing in water and food coloring. His invention? Colored water. I'm not kidding.