This time of year

is tough.  This time of year, I am thankful that I have a husband who most of the year is home by 6 pm. This time of year, I find myself on my praying knees more often (asking for forgiveness more than help).  This time of year, I am reminded of where I am and why God has placed me here as a farmer's wife and mom to two precious souls.  This time of year I get uptight pretty easily, so forgive me now.  While daddy is doing this until about 11:00 every night, 

 we stay in our pajamas a little bit longer or get in them a little bit earlier

and Kirby plays dentist and doctor on her brother.  

 We take baths outside in our porch pool.

 And spray said porch with food coloring, baking soda, and vinegar.

 We also make dinner every night for daddy and the hands, then drive out to the field to get to see him for just a few minutes before having to come back home for bed time.

Thankfully last night CR and the guys were able to quit early enough to enjoy a 4th of July celebration with family.  The cousins love each other like peanut butter loves jelly.

Since daddy and Paw were going to be on the tractor all day, we decided to take a short road trip up to Hilje for lunch.  Tomorrow is my sister's birthday, like we really needed a reason to go, so we met up with them after they got Kyleigh from camp in Columbus.  It was too quick as usual, but the fish and deer were a hit.  Thankfully the ride home was much nicer on mommy's ears than the ride there.  

I loose my patience, I am tested more than I ever thought possible, and their strong will amazes me.   

But at the end of the day when they do this without prompting, I know they know they are loved.  I know they know they are safe, cared for and dear to me.  

………………………….

I saw this last night and it brought me to tears of conviction …. 

In my prayer journal a few months back I actually prayed some very similar words.  That God would grant me the wisdom to know and the guidance I need to route Kirby's strong will to a road that points to Christ.  That her ball of fire passion for whatever she does, would always be done for the glory of God and the furthering of His kingdom.  Then when I saw this last night I thought to myself, "but Lauren, what are you putting into action to do that?"  You see, with all this craziness called kids going through toddlerism (again, word?), with Kirby coming into sleep with us at some point every night, I have been missing out on my 5:30 am quite time.  I have lost my most important time of day.  And I have not done anything to get it back.  This is me and this is honest.  I desperately need that time, especially at times like this.  My quiet time journal and Bible have dust on them.  My heart has dust on it.  I need that time back; not only for my relationship with Christ, but also for my kids relationship with Christ.  What we have in our hearts over flows out of our mouths and our actions.  My kids and husband have been getting exhaust pipe dust the last few weeks and they need some fresh air that can only come from the precious blood of the Lamb.  Please be in prayer for me as I claim it back.  And please be in prayer for our farmers, not just mine, but all of them across the country that help keep America, well, America.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Luke 6:45

Sweet Home Montgomery

This past week the kids and I went to Montgomery to visit with my parents and for Kirby Rose to take swimming lessons.  We did this last summer and it was such a refreshing time for all of us.  This year was even more eventful and reviving … I left my camera and laptop in Bishop with CR!  It's a good thing because even if I wanted to, I would not have had a chance to work … at all.  We were blessed with a trip to the Downtown Aquarium adventure, fun swims at the pool everyday, a little shopping, some fresh blueberry picking and a shower for sweet baby Beckett.  With all that, and the fact that Patton loves my parent's stairs but is not quite sturdy enough to go down them by himself, I am worn out.  Worn out is actually an understatement.  Puttered out is more like it.  And the kids decided to be like roosters this week and crow with the sun, so there is that.  But completely worth it for them to make memories with Grammy, Paw Paw and cousins, and Aunt E.

 One of MY favorite things about going to Montgomery is getting to walk or jog on great roads and walkways.  We do it every time we are there, and this time we walked to the donut shop that is now RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.  Blows my mind.  

 Carousel selfies!

 This was supposed to be "fierce", but I got the loser memo.  Go figure.

 Patton's first yogurt cup of his own!

 Thursday Patton went along to the swim lesson, and hated the water.  Scrame.  Even when we tried just the baby pool.  He was having nothing of it.

 But Friday he couldn't get enough of it!

 The below video is huge for Kirby.  Huge.  Let me fill you in … we live 30 miles from the nearest pool.  We never go to the pool.  Last summer we went to my parents and swam the week of her lessons and that was it.  The start of lessons this week, so was timid.  She didn't cry, but she did her own thing. By Friday, she was going under for 8 seconds and jumping to get the toys.  I know 3 almost 4 year olds that can do backstroke, but this is a milestone for my beautiful ball of fire.

 Patton decided he likes sleeping with blankets while we were away.  3 blankets to be exact.

Beckett's shower was so sweet.  Kristin was a wonderful host and it was so kind of her to open up her beautiful home for us to use to celebrate life.

 And there is always a not so glamorous part of our days …. the ride home was tough.  I wish I could say she was crying as we left because she didn't want to leave.  No, this was fit #4 of the 6 hour trip today.  

 Home sweet Bishop …

And I want to shout this from the rooftops:

This week was a great week for me to breathe, even if it was with toes in my ribs every night.  I needed the reminder of why God blessed me with my 2 beautiful babies.  Why God chose me as a farmer's wife.  As I have been getting inquiries and my fall calendar is filling up with my new schedule, I am so thankful that I am cutting back on the sessions I take.  I can already feel the refreshness (word??  spellcheck says no but I like it) of it all.  Thank you Lord, for putting my feet in front of one another when I can not walk.  Thank you for being the breath when I feel like I can not breathe.  Thank you for redeeming me and giving me more in this life than I knew I needed.

Lately

Kirby has been having some serious issues with going to the bathroom.  I am going to keep this as general as possible, but let's just say she is as far from regular as it gets.  This last time it was 2 weeks between having a movement on her own.  Thus far, this is the hardest part of her life on me.  It literally takes so much out of me.  A parent of an almost 4 year old should not worry all day while she is at Mother's Day out if she is all of a sudden going to poop her pants because its so backed up.  Or if I am going to get a call saying they had to clean her up with an entire package of baby wipes.  Or if she is going to have to pee every 10 minutes because she is so backed up that it is literally pushing on her bladder and she can't hold a drop of water in.  We don't go anywhere without extra everything.  I have her sit and try to go all the time, everywhere we go.  She is fully potty trained, so this is not how it is supposed to be, right?  She had going poop down pat wayyyyy before she had pee.  She has always had some issues, but it has progressively gotten worse.

I have tried everything the doctor has suggested.  She has been on and off Miralax since she was one.  She eats TONS of fruit, a decent amount of veggies, and for the last 6 months has had her favorite thing in the world …. cheese, pretty much taken away from her.  She takes a probiotic and eats her granny's homemade yogurt with all kinds of live cultures lurking around in there.

About a month ago I started taking her to a chiropractor, and that seemed to help until we were gone for a week and then too busy to make it over to his office the next week.  Started back 2 weeks ago, so hoping for some positive results again after we are going consistently.

I sit and ponder for hours before I let her go anywhere with friends because I do not want their parent to have to worry about the issues.

We are supposed to be worried about the boogyman right now … or choosing which color play doh we want to play with today … or making memories with lots of laughs  …. I should not be waking up with poop on my mind.  But I do … everyday I say, "Lord, me again …. please let today be the day that Kirby poops."

I have read numerous blogs and tried so many home suggestions.  I bought a book about it and last night we had some good laughs.  She now know how everything travels through the body.  I am sure next time she sees you she will share her "food for thought" on the issue.

I know to some this may seem little, compared to what health issues we could be dealing with, but it is big to us.  Please be in prayer for Kirby and her tummy.  And any suggestions you have, please share!

 Tuesday she had an accident and had to come home, but the rest of the week she did great at KO Flips camp.  Just a fun week for her with girlfriends, although I am not sure how serious she took this.  She is much more poised and composed when she is at Tippi Toes, so maybe this just is not her thing.

 The video is a perfect example … it starts and she is watching her reflection in the window and making faces at herself.  

 This is what we do after Wednesday night church … we go crazy because we are THAT exhausted and blessed.

Photo Bomber ...

 Friends taking pictures of friends in the bathroom with flowers, cause thats what they do!

 2 pooped out little angels!

 And no sleep over at Patrick Farms is complete without going to check on the new baby calves while momma cooks breakfast.

 Our lives are about to get even busier than we are used to, with harvest coming up.  I am so thankful we are having a harvest this year, though, so I am going to try really reallllly hard not to complain about the long days it requires.  Between that, a wedding in July, and normal life stuff, we knew we would not be ourselves for awhile, so we hired and sitter and snuck away for a few hours.  We are such rebels these days … I mean we went to Cheddars, Target for some baby shower gifts, and were home before 8:30.  But we got some hours alone, had a lot of laughs, and got to catch up on what's being going on in each other's heads the last few days.  Love him, love his zeal and compassion for our family, and love seeing him as a daddy.  God has blessed me with more than I could ever imagine in a man.  He is nothing I ever dreamed of, and he is so much better than I could have ever thought up on my own.

 And since we were a part for most of the week, I treated Kirby to a mommy-daughter day today, complete with her very first pedicure in a big ol' butterfly chair.  A sweet friend blessed me with a gift card, so I shared my goodness with my mini.  Loved watching her excitement and amazement.

"So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:4