less than perfect

I haven't blogged a ton in the last couple weeks. There is a reason and it is not due to being busy because everyone is 'busy'. Someone made a comment to me not too long ago . I know it was not meant to be taken negatively because it was from a friend and it was delivered with a laugh but it made me think, which lets face it ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING does! I've been wondering if when people read about our days and see our pictures if they think we have this perfect lifestyle going. So just for fun, and to eliminate any misconceptions, I am going to share a list of 'less than perfect' things that go on in the May household...

* Connor barely lets anyone hold him, play with him, feed him, etc. if I am in viewing distance. If they try it usually results screams and gumby kid (you know where it looks like they don't have any bones and they collapse in your arms or on the floor)

* Micah does not like it when I hold Connor and Connor does not like it when I hold Micah.

* Getting a certain older brother to listen the first time to anything is next to impossible currently.

* Connor has woken up at the crack of dawn every morning the last 3 weeks which means I have woken up at the crack of dawn the last 3 weeks

* Toys take over our house in a matter of minutes and because of my psycho clutter free cleanliness I clean all the live long day.

* Zach gets frustrated with me constantly because I have to have everything in a certain spot. I get frustrated with him constantly because he doesn't.

* Sunday night Micah lost his mind and had a meltdown at bedtime resulting in a lot of parenting taking place. The reason for which we still don't know!!

* I am forever getting upset with Zach because he has so many places to go and I don't.

* The state of many things we are involved in are STRUGGLING due to the recent economic climate and it kind of sucks.

* We spent two hours last night in bed talking and sorting through recent dramas from family to friends to those certain things I just mentioned above.

The reason I typically don't share these kinds of things is because I try to be half full and look on bright sides but always know in the background there are always less than perfect details :)

love

Love (real love) is not having someone make much of me or me making much of someone else. Love (real love) is doing whatever you can to help someone make much of God.

Good lessons on a Sunday.

new preschool

When Zach got home he reminded me of all the fun stuff going on here lately and things that I hadn't blogged about it but should and how we will look back on this blog and what I write and remember what life was when the boys were growing up. It was a nice jump start out of my recent fogginess. It also made me realize I hadn't shared anything about Micah's new preschool experience.

This year Micah is going to First Methodist in Covington. It took me awhile to get over the 3 preschools in 3 years thing, but he barely remembers anything from the first two years so he's not scarred apparently I just am. Let me say now that Connor (and any following child/ren) WILL NOT be starting until they are 3. Their mama just can't handle that. (of course now that I've said that watch out for what could happen in the future!)

Anyway, Micah is LOVING school this year. I don't know if it's his age and being older makes him more aware and excited or the school and teachers. I'm guessing a little of both. His teacher this year is Mrs. Emily and her helper is Mrs. Jennifer. There are 14 children in his class and it includes lots of boys which is exciting because besides Connor and William he's barely seen another boy to hang out with. He asks every morning when he wakes up if it's a school day and if it's not says "just one more nigh-night til school." While he was a little nervous on the first day he has been all about it ever since (except for that one morning we've agreed to forget about).

Needless to say I am excited for him and am praying his excitement and love for school does not cease.

Putting lunch away first day

Taking it all in

gathering the courage to sit down

alright he's ready to roll

Walking field trip to Scoops today

(they were studying the five senses and this was their surprise at the end of the unit)

I'll be back

I've been feeling kind of odd the past week. A lot of those busy full but at the end you're not quite sure if you really did accomplished anything days lately. A lot of thoughts that are still up in the air but since they haven't come down they don't really count yet things too. A lot of time on my hands but in odd parts of the days and in small stretches so I'm not sure what to do with it. A lot of learning/studying but not quite got it yet so my brain is still constantly sorting through times as well.

For a girl who likes normalcy. security. consistency. This is all kind of annoying. Hoping I'll be back to normal. Or at least be ok with this new normal soon!

sometimes...

Sometimes when you're tired you just don't care anymore.

Yesterday around 5:30 I was tired...

so I just didn't care!

They had fun and when Zach came home from work he swept it up. Not caring totally worked out for me this time :)

embrace the camera: kisses

Sweet kisses!

My goal next week is to get a good picture of Micah and me. (Are you listening Zach...get that camera ready!) Until then {embrace the camera}

p.s. please ignore the fact that my face is breaking out like a 15 year old :(

caped crusaders

Every night after their bath Micah asks if he can still be nakey. This means that he wants to run around (naked obviously) with his towel on his head screaming superman and falling on anything (preferably soft things). Connor (who copies everything Micah does) also joins in on the fun. They are nuts!

chestnuts

Connor and I had plans that fell through Wednesday morning which gave me a good bit of time while Micah was at school to do whatever. Connor had been in a cranky mood for a few days before that and that day included because he was waking up way too early. This meant going home just meant I'd be holding a sad pitiful sometimes angry boy so we made the best of already being out and went to the Monastery. My plan was to get some magnolia leaves to make a wreath I had seen on line and I also remembered them having some huge trees and were hoping they Oak trees so I could collect some acorns for a free fall decoration. Turns out that those huge trees were chestnut trees and you could pick them for $1.98 a pound which is still pretty cheap and it helps raise money for monks which I'm not against ;) Connor would occasionally pick up the ones I pointed to and throw them in the bag but preferred to run around like a loon and throw dirt on himself. Either way it was a fun, and very hot, time. Apparently they do this every year so I'm going to have to remember to bring Micah next time since he will be a little more helpful in the actual picking process.

fyi- the pods the chestnuts grow in are SUPER spiky and VERY owie to touch!!

narrow road

Dave (our pastor) sent this to us in his weekly email and I wanted to share.

Imagine a narrow road with two ditches on either side.

When traveling on this road a driver must be very very careful not to drift off into a ditch.

The Christian life is like that road.

Our Father wants us to stay in the center. Always enjoying fellowship with him, resting in his loving words to us, listening to His advice and ALONE! Listening to, receiving from, enjoying the messages of others is just a form of idolatry.

To stay centered in this LIFE, we must seek to avoid the ditches.

On one side, we must avoid the dangers of people. Listening to others opinions about us (good or bad), seeking to please or honor people, seeking to make life work using earthly things, etc. This is a dangerous ditch.

The other ditch on the other side is independence - avoiding people and only listening to ourselves. In this ditch, the only opinion that matters is “mine”. The only advice I respect is what my heart tells me. This independence is a deadly ditch that should be avoided.

I was talking with someone the other day about the many ways we replace God. We let our spouses replace God. Sometime we let our friends replace God. Other times we let our jobs, hobbies or habits replace God. So a common reaction is to retreat into ourselves and seek to satisfy and comfort ourselves.

BOTH OF THESE ARE WRONG. NEITHER OF THESE IS ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL OF GRACE. BOTH REJECT JESUS & LIVE SEPERATELY FROM HIM

In the center of his road is the only place to find true life and true grace. Only by faith in the messages of the Lord will you ever be happy, whole and healthy. I hope that this road-idea helps you repent of current idols (replacements for God) and cling in faith to HIM more fully.

You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing. ^You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:2, 11

embrace the camera: war eagle

College football started last weekend and we are in full support of our Auburn Tigers, which isn't always easy around Georgia. WAR EAGLE!!

{embrace the camera}

wednesday

My women's group ( just realized I without hesitation typed MY instead of the or our or anything else and it made me smile) meets on Wednesdays. It is one of my favorite things about my life here in Conyers. God has taught me a lot in those short two hours every week. I have learned so much about the things the other ladies have to offer and have realized that occasionally I have something to offer to. While I always look forward to being there I was not looking forward to the new book we are doing. We just started So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. It's not that I don't like Beth Moore. I do. Not as much as some of the ladies ;) but I definitely do. I just don't like insecurity. because I have them. A lot of them. Reading a book like this requires that you focus on it and I have been perfectly fine either ignoring them all or fixing the consequences without having to go to any roots. I'm hoping I will spend Wednesday nights, both at group and on here, sharing what might have been brought up in me during reading/study and how God has either taken that away, brought it to the surface or hopefully it was never a struggle to begin with. I say hope to share because I realized tonight I'm a little insecure about my insecurities. What will people say, what will they think? If I tell them my #1 is any and all relationships will they act nicer because they know I'm insecure about it but it's not real niceness. Will they think I'm only nice to them because I'm insecure about relationships and need to feel like everyone thinks I'm an ok kind of person. Or will I believe that God has placed me in these relationships because He knows they love me and will both challenge and support me. Prayerfully hoping for the latter and that I really see His hand in who I should be involved in and know that I don't have to be involved in everyone because He places others for that. Hmmmm....man Wednesday nights sure make you think.

Abigail Grace Keel

Another niece entered the world. Abigail Grace Keel was born Monday, August 23rd weighing at a teeny (in my mind) 6 lbs 13 oz and 18 3/4 inches. We got to see her and the rest of my family last weekend and Zach took some newborn pictures of her and family pictures of pretty much everyone else. He hasn't edited them yet but here is a preview. She's just so little and precious!




And just because it cracks me up here's a picture of Tim with all his nieces and nephews. Starting from the left it's Keelie, Kayden, Micah, Connor, Haley and Abby.

sunday song

Cannons

Phil Wickham

It's falling from the clouds
A strange and lovely sound
I hear it in the thunder and rain
It's ringing in the skies
Like cannons in the night
The music of the universe plays

You are holy great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who You are
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are

Beautiful and free
Song of Galaxies
It's reaching far beyond the milky way
Lets join in with the sound
C'mon let's sing it loud
As the music of the universe plays

All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours forever amen

embrace the camera: boys

This is perhaps my favorite picture that was taken ALL summer!!

they're just so cute :)

now go {embrace the camera}