playtime pictures

We had a plethora of playtime this week :)

A little bit of rhythm

Being a Tiger on the prowl

recreating Goliath mega block style

Massive mud pie making

Harry Potter practice

Staying Shady

Growling practice

embrace the camera

We stopped in the middle of play time to take a picture. I really need to remember to hide the clicker button ;)

war eagle

This weekend we took Micah to his first Auburn game. Zach and I hadn't been in four years (boo!) so we were all VERY EXCITED! Connor spent the day playing with Silas (thanks again!) while we went down to Auburn. We were meeting my sister, her husband and their oldest daughter, who was also attending her first Auburn game!

After walking around looking for tickets (we had two just given to us by amazingly generous people) we met up with them and went into the game. It was FREEZING, but we powered through. Micah LOVED watching the eagle fly and loved the bands (of course). By the middle of the 2nd quarter he was cold, hungry and ready to go, but Zach took him down to the field level to watch the girls dance and cheer and watch the band during half. By the time the 3rd quarter started the stands had cleared out a bit so he stood on the stairs, waved his shaker and had a great time.

We had planned to walk around campus a bit, visit the new arena and see the museum but by the end of the game we were freezing and exhausted so we just walked back to the car and headed home. I think my favorite part of the day was just hanging out with Micah. In this stage of Connor clinginess, it is not very often that I get to be with just him and I enjoyed every second of it!

Micah's cold pouty face

Tiger (the eagle). It was his 30th birthday!

Zach and Micah watching the game.

and watching the girls ;)

Giving a good War Eagle Hey!

Love this picture!

The Moseleys :)

Me and my future Tiger!

look what I can do

Last night Micah asked me where Zach's pirate hat was that he wore for Halloween. I told him it was in my closet and I would get it for him in just a minute. I finished what I was doing and headed back to fetch the hat. When I walked into the closet I saw this...

I burst out laughing and then yelled to Stephanie who was over at the house. She ran to get the camera while I made sure Micah didn't fall. When I showed the picture to Zach later that evening. He said that Micah had told him he could do that. We've since asked our little rock climber to please not try that again!

thoughts for now

*warning this post does not contain cute pictures of my children just instead personal thoughts ;)*

In the past few months (since late spring/early summer) I feel that God has been taking me through a journey of growth. The majority has been Him growing my desire to just know more, read more, pray more, study more, pay more attention, etc. I've read through James, all of Paul's letters, a couple of the gospels, spent a little time in the early Old Testament and am now in Psalms. Through this my knowledge of God, his attributes, character, history, and wisdom, is growing as well. Now I have to say though I've been a Christian since childhood this 'knowledge' thing is pretty new so I am still a far cry from being the wise woman I pray He'll make me.

One thing I have struggled with during this process, though, is my place and purpose in the Kingdom NOW. What should I be doing? What am I not doing? What am I doing? and How can I be doing any of it better? I have this want and desire to do A LOT and help everyone but kept getting discouraged when I would be forgetful about a person or event, feel like I was not being the mother, wife, sister, friend I needed to be, or was just feeling overwhelmed about the vast amount of things that NEED help and love.

My word of the year has been Contentment and the need to look at my life in being satisfied with where God has me. Yesterday I feel like He gave me a second piece to this puzzle. Goals (some synonyms being aspirations, desires, purpose, convictions, faith). Yes I need to be content with where I am because where I am has a purpose and I needed to think about goals of that purpose.

One of my husband (and my) favorite musicians is Andrew Peterson. In a show a few weeks ago he compared our lives that God written to the characters he writes about in his books (he is also an author). He mentioned that he has in his head how his character will look at the end of the story and as the author it is his job to take him through the events of live, both difficult and easy, that will make him who he is to be. Just like God knows who I will be at the end of my story and is taking me through chapters of life to turn me into who He knows I will be. WOW!

So I looked at where I was and who I was being called to be and set my eyes on that goal. In this season, or chapter, or however you phrase it, I want to be a devoted wife, mother, friend and follower of Jesus period! I want to support my husband in his endeavors knowing he'll support me in mine and I want to raise children who will have the knowledge to stay on the hard but true path while being a blessing to others. When I saw these goals in my head I almost instantly felt a peace in my heart. It narrowed my focus and helped me realize that I can't nor should be doing it all, but instead being obedient in doing whatever even if it's a small thing compared to others. Does this mean I will only pay attention to my family...absolutely not! Have these goals will just better direct me to the choice I need to make. It just means the areas I get involved in in my community, church, and life will be connected to my ability to fulfill these goals and I will pray earnestly for relationships to be formed with new people in this process and for others to see God's glory through me and my desire to follow His path for my 'Now.'

Some of you may be thinking well duh this is not new information. If so I'm glad it was easier for you to get, less headaches for you ;) If you at all have ever struggled with this I can only say Pray for God to direct your goals because I realize we all have different ones and no person can tell you if yours is right or wrong, that is between you and Him. Remember these do not have to be life long things, they can be chapter goals :). When you see and understand your now and you see and understand where He wants you to go filling in the blanks is not quite as daunting. However a warning to you, and mainly to myself, your head and His will do not always match up so don't be surprised if the route He takes you on is a little different than what you invisioned :)

leaves

trick or treat

Micah, Connor and I had our first trick or treating experience this Halloween. It was everything I expected and hoped it would be (both the good and the bad!). We started off at the Moons' house to eat chili, hot dogs, cookies and brownies. We also wanted to snap a few pictures while it was still light out.

Getting a group pictures of all the kids was somewhat hilarious. Nay saying Zach kept saying it was pointless but Leslie, Steph and I forged through and we finally got a picture of all of them in it. They're not all looking, smiling or even standing still, but they're all there!

Meet the lil' witch, Raggedy Andy, Raggedy Ann,

Captain Hook and the Cowardly/Courageous Lion

Micah had picked out his costume awhile ago. He first wanted to be Captain Hook but decided he was too scary so he said he'd be Peter Pan and Connor could be Captain Hook. Once in costume there were very serious about their characters :)

Some friends from church live in an AMAZING neighborhood for trick or treating and they graciously let us park our cars at their home and take advantage of their great neighbors.

We loaded up in the wagons and hit the trail. We only went up both sides of half of their street and it took us a good hour! The kids did such a great job walking up to the door to get their candy and coming back by themselves. Well most of the kids Connor (one of those things I expected) wanted to be out of the wagon and walking around. His pirate daddy corralled him the majority of the night, but I'm still pretty sure he enjoyed himself.

By the end of the night we were EXHAUSTED. I even made a comment that one day taking all our kids somewhere won't wear us all out this much. It was a great first time though. I thoroughly enjoyed watching our cute little kids hanging out together and enjoying what will hopefully be an ongoing tradition!