homemade pizza

They were delish and both boys have asked when we can do it again :)

beat the heat

We have a new addition to our backyard.  I like to say we are sacrificing style for comfort!  It may not be the prettiest thing and it may not be what you would call "seller friendly" but seriously no one's buying my house anytime soon anyway and it's insanely hot in Georgia so bring on the redneck pool!!

We bought this last Sunday from Wal-Mart for $39, even with the small amount of chemical we had to purchase it was a great deal and worth every penny.  Micah and Connor have been it in every day since and have played a minimum of two and a half hours straight in it.  They do take popsicle breaks though.

and what's a pool without a diving board!?

We do have a winterize plan though.  Zach dug out the grass underneath where we put the pool because we needed to sod a couple extra spots in the back yard.  After pool season is over and if we still live here which, let's face it, is a huge probability, we're going to line the bare dirt with landscaping stones and put down some mulch and put our fire pit in the middle with some cute chairs around.  Summer win and Winter win!

just one smile

As I was playing on the floor with Logan yesterday he was doing some super cute stuff, like all babies do, so I grabbed the camera.  Micah was on the couch 'resting' and watching a movie and I tried to grab a quick shot of him.  Taking pictures of a 5 year old boy is not easy.  There are ninja like and can move quicker than you can imagine to get away from the dreaded camera.  Unless of course they are in the mood to be insanely goofy, like most 5 year old boys are.  All I wanted was one good smile...

ice excavation

In the last two weeks we've had at least 5 over 100 degree days and the rest have been upper 90s.  In other words it is H.O.T!!  I found this activity on pinterest last year and have been waiting until it was super hot to do it.  

It's really easy.  

Take a container and fill it with water.  

Throw some small toys, money, etc in the water and let it freeze.  

Gather excavating tools.  We used play hammers, spoons, a spray bottle of water and salt.

Sit out on the hot concrete and go to it.

Micah had a much more delicate approach then Connor.  He really liked using the salt and water bottle and watching the ice melt.  After about two minutes Connor picked his up and kept dropping it until it broke open.

Cons:  This didn't last nearly as long as I thought.  15 minutes tops.  Also even playing with ice is too hot to do outside when it's 105!!

\

sunday song

Keeping in line with this post, it's a double song Sunday. I hope you each have a restful day through the regenerating spirit of our Lord and Savior.

Nobody's Got it All Together

Jill Phillips

Working hard to tie up the loose ends
So hard to decide who you let in
Put your best foot forward with a grin
I can see the fear behind your eyes
Wondering if someone will recognize
You’re grown tired of keeping up the lies

Don’t whitewash the truth about yourself ’cause
Nobody’s got it all together
If you want to be like everyone else, well
Nobody’s got it all together

I have seen the darkness of my heart
And found a love that’s shown me it’s too hard
To walk through life and not let down my guard
What good is it to say “Please Savior come”
If there is nothing you need rescue from
Life is something no one has a corner on

When the parts that are self-righteous
Start to disappear
Every other life is
Just another mirror

Life is way too short to run and hide

Your Grace is Sufficient for Me

Darla Day

Your grace is sufficient for me
Your strength is made perfect when I am weak
All that I cling to
I lay at your feet
Your grace is sufficient for me

I'm no longer striving
To merit Your love
I rest in your promise to me
All of my sins have been
Washed in Your blood
Your mercy is all that I need

You see me as righteous
Because of the blood
That made the atonement for me
Your mercy has triumphed where I should be judged
So now by your grace I am free

thirsty

not real

There are articles written about this all the time and in a much more eloquent way than I ever could but my mind is being haunted lately.  Just fyi I am not at the depths of despair.  I am just recognizing this oh so familiar feeling in my heart and mind and feel the need to put it in down and hand it over before it takes a firmer grasp this time.  Therefore, I am writing this list to my future self so that upteen years from now when I struggle with it again or have finally let the Holy Spirit have dominating authority over that part of my brain I will remember and can praise God that either He still puts up with me or praise Him that I am free from this...

*when I see perfect houses in blogs and magazines that is not real
*when I see workout videos that make it seem that in just 30 days you too can look like Jillian Michaels that is not real
*when I see perfect children playing quietly on the floor while their mother sits and reads in adorable clothes that is not real
*when I see movies and tv shows with perfect couples who have perfect fights and then make perfect love that is not real
*when I see perfect women that seem to have it all together that is not real
*when I feel that I'm alone and the only one struggling that is not real
*when I feel unloved or unliked or unappreciated that is not real
*when I feel like I'm the meanest or most boring or busiest mom that is not real
*when I feel that everyone else recognizes the difficulties and sin in their life and handles in the best Christian way possible that is not real

So what is real...

My righteousness earned through the perfect life of Jesus is real
My forgiveness earned through the perfect death of Jesus is real
My new life given through the Holy Spirit is real

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 2 Corinthians 12:9