Catching up

in pictures and a few words.  LIFE … SLOW DOWN.  TIME, STAND STILL.  I realized last night when I logged in to blog that it had been over a month.  I do blog posts in my head throughout the day as things happen, and then I forget if I ever actually sat down to put my mind to paper (or I guess I should say computer).  In the morning when the sun comes beaming in, I find myself saying "Good morning, Lord, but already?"  I used to pop out of bed at 5:30 every morning, to sit and enjoy the quietness and coffee, and then my precious Word.  To suck in no noise.  To look around and enjoy the beautiful mess that may have been left out the night before.  That was before two sweet blessings, a husband that has to work long into the evening, a home business that I don't get to attend to until the littles are in bed, and before one of those littles decided every night at some point to come put her toes in my ribs.  I love all those blessings and can not imagine our life without each piece of the puzzle, but I do miss waking up early, just to be the only one up in the house.  Now I try to sneak out quietly in the mornings and 2 minutes later, the cutest little curly headed, blue eyed darling comes walking out of the room rubbing her eyes, asking me why I left her.  So instead I lay there with her, smell her hair, and pray while I let her sleep in just a little longer ….

 We have had some really pretty days in between some really nasty days (Spring weather, I know).   Patton has decided he loves, loves, loves being outside.  The boy is fully coming out in him.  He ends up in water pans, rocks in his mouth in .2 seconds, and trying to ride sister's bike.

Patton had his 1 year out of brace hip check up; everything looks pretty good, but one of his little ball things (that goes in the socket) is smaller than the other, so we are going to watch that to make sure it is growing and eventually catches up.

 I think it is really fun to say that I quit my full time job as a teacher and in that time have paid off a car, sold it and cash flowed to pay for the replacement, and paid off 3 of 4 student loans.  The last one will is on track to be gone by the end of the year.  I do not share this to gloat or to say look at what we have done, but to say look what God has done, can do and will do when you allow him to.  Luke 16:10 says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."  When you are faithful and diligent with submitting your money to Christ and where He desires it to go, He will bless you with more opportunities to do the same.  He does not want me (or anyone else for that matter) to be burdened by debt.  That was the thing holding me back from quitting my teaching job 3 years ago, but He is faithful to his word and to his promises day in and day out.  I heard his command,  he provided a path, and I followed.  Thank you Lord for this journey and testimony.  It is not easy, but oh so worth it.

 I had a wedding to shoot in Montgomery last weekend and this little gal got to come along as my official helper!

 It's that time of year again.  Pray for rain!

 Oh my darling, oh my darling ….

 Some days we are blessed with the opportunity to take daddy lunch in the field; she decided she was going to walk his lunch out to him.

 Kyleigh , E , Bray and mom got to come down during their Spring Break, so CR put Kyleigh girl to work on the farm.

 First big tractor ride!

There you go, there is our month of March in pictures …. whew, just looking back I am worn out all over again.  Thank you Lord for blessing me with a life that can get worn out, for I know there are many out there praying for this very thing.  I was once there and know the longing.  I love this life and would not trade it for anything.  

To update on Patton, his talks up a storm.  His favorite thing to say is "what's this".  I clearly heard him say "what's this mommy?" yesterday.  He also likes to walk around saying cows, tractor, geese, mommy, daddy, go, eyes, byyyyyeee byeeee.  By walk I mean crawl and walk along the couch ;).

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:7

My minis love to read

The other day I took both kiddos (during nap time mind you) to Sams.  I had to get a handful of things after working up at the church for a few hours - there was no way around it- so at 1:00 the 3 of us strolled in to the vast warehouse.  I am proud to say that we exited with only 2 books; one for each of my doll faces.  Hey, it kept us sane and quiet throughout the adventure and now they have a new favorite thing to do …. 

 Kirby took over Patton's book and he sits in his chair to try to read over her shoulder ….

 Then he gets bored and climbs ….

Whirlwind

How is tomorrow already the last day of February?  Gosh, I feel like we were just in the midst of the livestock show and knee deep in pig smell all over the house.  

Over the last 6 months (maybe longer as fast as life is going), it has been big on my heart to get away from Facebook and other things that end up sucking my time away from my precious necessities.  I have stopped looking at Pinterest or Instragram when on road trips and my computer (usually) is not turned on until at least nap time.  I used to try to work in between play time or here and there while the kids were playing together, but I stopped that.  No more doing 100 things at once and missing 99%.  Yes, my work is important and I have time lines to meet. Yes, it is important to keep up with friends and family.  Yes, it is important to take care of things throughout the day, but my most important job blessing are my husband and my kids.   I have always been less "technology obsessed" than many of others around me, but it still was a conviction that has been on my heart.  Anytime that I have extra needs to be spent loving on, making memories with, and … dare I say it … sitting still and possibly becoming bored, with my children.  I think I have been so afraid of idleness that I over work myself.  So if you have been missing my occasional "hey there" texts or comments on Facebook, I am super busy just living and loving life.  

 This doe got hit in front of our old house a few days ago .. she broke her leg and ended up hanging out in our pastures for awhile.  Now, for those of you that say, "Why didn't CR put her out of her misery and shoot her?"  he attempted to but Kirby would not let him, so those of you that say, "Awww, just let nature do it's thing" won there.

One afternoon I went in to get Patton up from his nap and the whole left side of his face was swollen.  I honestly thought for .2 seconds he had suffered a stroke … that is what it looked like, all pulled to one side.  Apparently it was a case of pink eye but mainly a "sinus" infection coming out his eye.  Poor guy ...

 Planting season is in full swing … well for a few days anyways, then we ran out of moisture.  Pray for rain.  Rain is a good thing.

 Patton doesn't like car washes much … neither did sister at this age.

 We played photographer for a whole 2 days last week … yes, she is wearing my shirt.

 Cutie in overalls ….

 Big enough to ride her bike, paw!

 Serenity now ….

 Bringing the cows in at night … right before the gate beat me in a battle.

 Working cows!

 Kirby loves to be "photographer mom" as she calls herself; followed by "I'm in charge."

Lord, teach me to slow down.  Teach me to love what I have right under my nose.  Cultivate in me a heart for teaching my children about you.  The rest will have a time and place in my day, if I only remember to put what matters most first.  ~ Your daughter

I highly recommend this book Hands Free Mama to anyone who has a hard time letting go of "socialness".  It has encouraged what I was already praying about.  There are things that she says that we all know, but speaking from my experience, sometimes pass over.  

The Beard … A Eulogy

"You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard."  Leviticus 19:27  

Most years you start off around October and we all say our goodbyes in January after duck season is over.  Last year, you hung around all year.  Well, today you are gone.  You were here just a few short hours ago, being stroked by your master's fingers while he sat in church and tried to focus.  Just a few hours ago you were being pulled left and right by his son, and getting the green eye from men of all ages.  Just Friday your master got "props" and "dukes" at a wedding because you were so magnificent.  People wanted to be you.  Women would uncomfortably laugh at you, while their husbands prayed one more time for a wife that would let them grow such a wild beast of a thing.  But now you are just a memory in our pictures and in our hearts.

You taught me a lot, being the wife of a man with the "most amazing beard in the world".  You taught me to listen to him more … I had to often close my eyes while he was talking, not because I did not want to see you but because you were a slight distraction, going to and fro as he moved his jaws to talk or eat.  I listened.  I heard.  
Here is your life in pictures, my friend.

This is what you looked like as just a goatee …

In November of 2012 you helped us celebrate our anniversary where it all began, back in Aggieland.

 You were here as we welcomed our son, Patton, on January 13, 2013.  

 You were envied by college friends that gathered to celebrate the marriage of Cole.

You made clean eating difficult, yet a challenge your master was ready to tackle.  

 You stood the hardest test of all; farming season …. you made it through!

When we were in San Antonio, we were stopped by a college basketball player to tell us how impressed he was with you … I mean, you got compliments every where we went.

 You drove thousands of miles to get pigs, haul cattle, and make memories.

And you will end up big on a canvas in our living room to commemorate the year of the beard.

And here you are ….

Patton did not know what to pull on when you were gone … he reached, and you were not there. 

 Kirby was the most uncertain … she asked her daddy to "shave your beard back on" before church tonight.

You were fun while you were here, but as an honest wife, I am slightly glad you are gone.   I did tear up a little - not sure if they were tears of joy, tears of excitement, tears of sadness at the fact that all his determination was now gone, or at the fact that I survived and submitted pure love to a man hidden by hair … I am not sure.  But I am sure I am ready to have my handsome back.  You hid so much of my love's face.  I get to see him now.   I can rub his face and feel skin now.  I can lay my head on his shoulder and not have to push you out of the way.  Tonight at church I nuzzled in to his neck while we prayed like I used too and it felt like home again.  I am sure you will be back this fall.  And I would welcome you if your master decided to keep you around again.  Because it is not about what is on my husband's face; it is all about what is in his heart.  His heart is pure gold and has mine captivated for a lifetime of love.  

With love,

Lauren

"Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful."  

Song of Solomon 1:16

Our herd

I think I need to clean my camera on my cell phone … or maybe this is the result of it falling into some water yesterday … sorry for the fuzzy but you can still see the cute.

 She was singing to her cows.  Hand microphone and all.

This is what Patton does while we run and play - soon enough he will be fully mobile.  

Here she was lassoing her cows … she even asked if I could come help her pull the calf.

"He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth." Psalm 104:14