Once again, it's been a marvelous month for us. As I sit here writing this I can't help but see a pattern with my titles. Marvelous, amazing, fun and joy are some and I think to myself...is 2020 really that bad? The answer is no. I understand that there is a lot going on in the world right now. A LOT. To be honest, because we live in the middle of nowhere, homeschool, farm and have been having worship at home we aren't in the midst of chaos. Our own chaos yes, but the not the many problems and concerns of the world. COVID-19 has affected us in ways. My kids no longer take turns going to the grocery store. Every single family outing has been good ole' fashion picnics, mud hole swimmin', night rides on the four wheeler and back porch sittin'. I know that it has effected others more than this and for some has caused a loss of a loved one. These people have been and will continue to be in my prayers. It's a weird time for sure but not one that I've ever questioned if we will get through. I know that we will.
Here recently, and once again there were two tragedies involving black and white men. My heart hurts for these families. I can't say I understand any of it. I don't. I can't say that I've ever even seen racism take place in front of me. It probably has but I've been too ignorant to see. Tye and I have ask ourselves: What do we do in times like this? How do we raise children to live in this world but not be OF this world? The answer is difficult but it starts with action. We show our children how to be compassionate. Whether it's people dying because of COVID-19 or people dying because the color of their skin, we show compassion. How can we sit here and sing our babies Jesus Loves the Little Children, RED and YELLOW, BLACK and WHITE and not show compassion when someone GOD created gets treated less than. I love children for this very reason. They see a person, not the details describing that person. It's innocent and it's pure and I will keep my children that way for as long as I can. Tye and I will continue to pray for our country. Pray for people who are sick and pray for people who experience racism. We will NOT be ignorant in our actions and we will show compassion for them when ignorant people hurt them. At this point, that is all we can do to make a difference. We can teach four children to someday go out into the world and be like JESUS.
Our world, our bubble of the universe is good. Sometimes I feel guilty about how blessed my family is. The older I've gotten and the more mature I've become I realize that guilty isn't the emotion I should be feeling. Thankful and grateful are two that can take it's place. I'm an optimistic person and I'm married to someone even more optimistic, happy and content than me. Our life isn't perfect by all means. We have days...we have days where we LOSE our cool, respond in unpleasant ways, say things we shouldn't, worry about the future and count down the minutes until bedtime. We are just a normal family with four normal kids. One thing that blogging about our life has taught me is that there have been FAR more happy days. I choose to blog about those. It's not that I'm portraying a "fake" life. It's that quite honestly in the middle of the arguments, fights, tears, discipline, my camera isn't handy. I'm not thinking in that moment to snap a picture. I'm thinking of the best way I can respond and handle the situation so it either won't happen again or teaching how to handle it better when it does. If anything 2020 has taught me it's to live in the moment. Our world as we know it could be changed in a second. COVID-19 can show up and we could be quarantined. Someone we know and love could be hurt because their skin tone is different than ours. Tye or I could find out at the next doctors appointment we have cancer or get into a car accident on the way. One of my children could fall out of a tree, or be bitten by a rattlesnake. Believe me when I say I know things could change in an instant. Whether it's happened, or hasn't happened we know all things are possible. 2020 has taught us that. So, with all that being said, Tye and I choose to live in the moment and thank GOD for the days where we count down the minutes until bedtime.
A couple weeks ago, we took the kids to the lake. We have a fishing boat that Tye and I bought before the kids were born. Fishing is something that we both love to do. Being out on the water, in silence, casting a reel over and over is something that having children has caused me to love even more. We don't get to fish together, by ourselves, that often any more. Those times have been replaced by four children, a dog in a life jacket, a cooler, lots of snacks, goggles and 6 towels. Crowded to say the least. Fishing...get real...there is no way we all can fish at the same time. We've tried twice this month and I got hooked in different parts of my body both times. This day they jumped out and wanted to jump off this rock. I said, "YES, get out of this boat and go swim. Jump off whatever you want to just get out of the BOAT." As they all climbed onto the rock, helping the littlest so she wouldn't get hurt or fall and cheering on the oldest boy because he's the most cautious out of the group...they jumped. Right before they did, I snapped a picture.
Thankful.
These two started a band. The DANGER SKULLS!!!! Honey made them t-shirts to support their band. I think she liked their music the most out of anyone. Sydney plays a Ukulele and Myles plays the drums. He uses a bongo drum that Poppa and Honey brought him back from the Bahamas several years ago, paper plates as his cymbals and sticks as his drum sticks. They aren't too bad. They set up in the living room and honestly their tune is kinda catchy and I find myself humming it when I'm folded the laundry. It's loud, it's somewhat obnoxious, the lyrics are something to be desired but they are playing together. They have created something and are proud of themselves. A couple years ago, I prayed for their relationship. Myles is a goof ball, always up for a good time. Sydney is smart, analytic and doesn't usually have time for nonsense. They've become best buddies in the last year.
Thankful.
B brought baby bunnies by for us to see the other day. He found them in a spot they weren't suppose to be. He put them back so hopefully the mother will still take care of them. We all loved them. We reminded the kids that they are living creatures. We need to be easy, not squeeze them and put them back so their mother can care for them. We are teaching them to cherish everything God made. We've been given the opportunity to teach this about animals and human life this month.
Thankful that we can start with just a bunny and graduate to something that God cherishes even more than animals and that's human life. He looked at what he created and said, "This is GOOD."
Sleepy Sydney. She is in the middle of becoming a big kid. She sometimes still needs a nap and she sometimes has more energy than I'd like for her to have at 3:00 in the afternoon. She is growing up and becoming a true joy. I love being her Momma.
Thankful.
Poppa reading "Three Billy Goats Gruff". Seeing my parents become the best grandparents...
Thankful.
Night rides. We've got a four wheeler that someday we probably won't be able to fit in comfortably but right now it's perfect. We love going to look for animals at night. Ryan got his binoculars ready and Ayden's got her sunflower seeds. All was right in the world UNTIL we didn't get far and had a flat tire. Lessons on patience was learned by all parties involved...even Mom and Dad.
Thankful.
Myles is going to be 7 in a few months. His face is getting skinnier, his body is getting taller. His hair is still white and his contentment in life bubbles over to all that are around him.
Thankful.
Just two brothers who think they saw something...
Thankful.
Tye didn't want an inside dog. "Dogs are meant to live outside." Hahahaha, jokes on him. Tye is so lovable, even the dog wants him.
Thankful.
We spent Mother's day weekend with Tye's parents in Cloudcroft. It was nice to get away to cooler weather and God's beautiful scenery.
"Momma, I'm going to stick my tongue out and see what the mountain air taste like."
Thankful.
Practicing writing her letters on the board in our school room. Ayden, Ryan and Myles cheered for her and helped her correct a few letters that she wrote backwards. They were kind and encouraging.
Thankful.
Lego building with his brother. When Myles gets stuck Ryan is always there to help. Sometimes this results in arguments. There aren't always TWO pieces and sometimes they NEED two pieces. However, this particular evening they played together. Ryan helped and didn't direct and it resulted in fun.
Thankful.
They took the dog for a walk and Ryan picked a plant, not just a flower. Dirt fell off and landed all over the floor, the counter, and the kitchen island. The vacuum cleaner had to be brought out because he pulled the entire root up. However, he had a particular person in mind to give this too. It was Honey's birthday. We got a vase, cleaned up the mess and I got my attitude in check.
Thankful.
Them:"Can we swim?"
Me: YES! Go get on your swimsuits.
Me: Sydney, baby, you have your suit on backwards.
Sydney: No, I like the bow in the front better.
Thankful for the laugh.
Two brudders
Thankful.
The best girl in the world and her Rusty boy.
SO thankful.
Ryan doing what he LOVES to do. Fishing. He doesn't even mind if he doesn't catch anything. This is a good hobby for Ryan. He is all about the product of something. There has always got to be an answer to the question. Sometimes when you fish, you catch and sometimes you don't. It's a great lesson in the journey not the destination.
Thankful.
Daddy caught one. Just like Ryan, he would've been perfectly content to have not caught one. He's the best guy. I love him.
Thankful.
Backyard relaxin'
She was thankful that her siblings weren't in there splashing her.
Sunshine makes for a sunny disposition.
Thankful.
Rusty trying to swim. Driving me nuts getting in and out. He now needs his third bath for the week. However, my kids love it and him. Myles was right. He has made our world a better place.
Baker came to play. The kids loved getting to see him and I loved having a "baby" around for the day. He's apart of Michelle's side of the family and I'm thankful for the McKinney's. I've always loved and been treated like part of their family.
The words "Hayley, get the kids and go to the laundry room" are not words you like hearing in a storm. I was scared, despite my cool as a cucumber appearance. The tornado was two miles from our house. I could hear it and that's something I could go the rest of my life and never hear again. The storm brought hail, and over 8" of rain in two days. Lots of people have ask if we needed that or if it sent us back planting. When we finally came out and the kids ask their Daddy if this was "bad." Tye's response was "Of course not. We've been praying for rain and God sent lots of it. We should thank him." This much water, hail and wind will alter his planting plans. He was half way done before it hit. He's got a new plan in action and started back to work a couple days ago. We are safe and nothing of value was truly damaged. They were all safe in the laundry room.
Thankful.
SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER. This little chant is what they say over and over on the last day. Ryan finished 2nd grade! He is an awesome student and takes his work seriously. We are sooo extremely proud of him. He's going rock 3rd grade next year!
Ayden is finished with 4th! She has done so well this year. She told me that she thought 4th grade was easier than 3rd. She has gone above and beyond this year and had a wonderful attitude through it all. Here we go to 5th, sweet girl!
Waiting on his eye doctor appointment.
Thankful.
Myles showing Baker how to play in the sandbox. Myles liked teaching and Baker liked listening.
Thankful
Worship at Graham Chapel. It's been so nice getting to go with Tye's grandparents. I love the relationship my kids have with their great-grandparents.
Thankful.
Myles did get glasses. His prescription is worse than Ayden's or Sydney's and the doctor told me that he was surprised he didn't complain of headaches. Myles doesn't complain about anything. He loved this day. He said, "Momma, I've got on my favorite shirt, my favorite belt and I can SEE really good."
Thankful.
No comments:
Post a Comment