Our Everydays- Part Deux

Today has been such an interesting day. I've been silently praying over a situation for some time now. Nothing big, but big enough for me to bring to the attention of the One in Charge of Everything.  Today unfolded as I knew it would. All. Day. Long. on the phone with vague, uncommitted, non-answers. Even though some of the day was frustrating, I learned a lot and was given some much desired clarity.

Then, at the end of the day, I got a return call saying, 'Hey there, we've decided to just help you out a bit.' I walked immediately to my 'prayer spot' (read: the one place I can go in an office full of boys and not be bothered!) and I opened my hands wide in thanks. He has heard my prayers. Every. Single. One. and he always answers. Always protects. Always sustains me. This month has been spent quiet so far. I like my life loud and big and fun, but there is something appropriate about being small and quiet when you feel the Greatness of God present. It's our only fitting place, right? Lowered small in awe of this God Most High?

One of my favorite bloggers wrote in a recent post, "God sees it all ---- and He will see to all of it." These past two years have been a truly remarkable stage of life for me. God has spoken so clearly and conclusively in my life that it honestly just blows my mind. Why me? Why has he chosen to make himself so known to me? Why do I deserve the honor of knowing without a shadow of a doubt that when I ask of him, then wait patiently, He won't hold his tongue or his guidance from me?

I chew on that sentence.. "God sees it all.... and He will see to all of it." For me, that statement feels like the gospel truth. I have seen God's faithful hand in the big and dreadful areas of my life but I've also seen him in the down right ridiculous. So I do my best to return His blessings with thanks.... to worship this God of the Constellations who so evidently shows up in the minutia of my little every days. Sleep deprived mom who desperately needs a caffeine fix but is a nickel short in her empty wallet? Ever Faithful God leaves one nickel in the change dispenser for me. He knows my need. Hands open immediately in thanks because he keeps me close and tends to me with such all knowing loyalty.What a wildly, incomprehensible idea for me to understand. This God that was before all things keeps his attention and affection on my little family. So I quiet in awe, because this is the place my heart remembers, this is how I honor this Redeeming God.

I've kept much of my life over these past two years quiet and close to home, but it feels right to share the worship song that has been my 'anthem' during this stage of life. I've listened to this song 10,000 times and hope my heart always cries these words with the reckless abandon that I do now. Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman.

Don't think for one second that this scene below didn't end with arms held wide in thanks. Most fun child ever practicing her belly laugh with full enthusiasm on our way to school. Thank you God for this happy.

Just a smattering of everyday of my life. Joy overflowed.

Jill and I took London and Knox to the $1 Movie one night. London wanted to wear her Little Mermaid costume. Fine by me! :)

And Knox proved he's the most romantic guy in all the land. :)

The next day... practicing being the cutest old couple that's ever lived! I saw a video today of them at school talking about their wedding! My gosh. It's all just too much!

I argued with Lu one day about buying this $2 ballon because I thought it wasn't worth it. Watch this video then span this excitement out over 3 full days. Best $2 I've spent in a long time. 

And a bit of reality. Sometimes 3 year old fits call for 'turn that frown upside down' time. :)

Sometimes I walk in on things like this....

And I spend all of my days laughing with one of the biggest but sweetest personalities I've ever met. 

Thankful for every one of these every days. God couldn't have blessed me with a greater life. 

Mobile Battleship and a Rhea Family Beach Trip

Barry's family snuck in a very last minute beach trip before all the kids headed back to school recently. From what I've been told, the weather was nice and they had a great time, but the highlight of the trip was visiting the USS Alabama Battleship in Mobile, AL. 

A few highlights from the USS Alabama's surprisingly unimpressive website (they could use a fun facelift!)...

Displacing more than 44,500 tons, the USS ALABAMA measures 680 feet from stem to stern, half as long as the Empire State Building is tall. Armed with nine, 16-inch guns in three turrets and 20, 5-inch, .38-caliber guns in 10 twin mounts, her main batteries could fire shells as heavy as a small car accurately for a distance of more than 20 miles.

Her steel side armor was a foot thick above the waterline, tapering to one half inch at the bottom. Her four propellers, each weighing more than 18 tons, could drive her through the seas at up to 28 knots, more than 32 miles per hour. Loaded with 7,000 tons of fuel oil, her range was about 15,000 nautical miles. The USS ALABAMA was built to fight.

The USS ALABAMA saw 37 months of active duty during World War II, earning nine Battle Stars. The “Mighty A” as she came to be known, safely carried her crew throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean campaigns, and never suffered any casualties or significant damage due to enemy fire. 


With the war over, and the military’s transition to a “Peacetime Navy,” the cost of maintaining the wartime fleet became too much of a burden. In May 1962, the Navy announced that the USS ALABAMA and many other war ships would soon be scrapped.

In 1964, a campaign was launched to bring the “Mighty A” home to ALABAMA as a memorial to the state’s sons and daughters who had served in the armed forces. Alabama school children raised almost $100,000 in mostly nickels, dimes, and quarters to help bring her home to her final resting place.

I love Caden's face! So excited!! 

August Everydays - Part Une

Do you hear that sound??? Neither do I. That's the sound of silence while my cutest half plays upstairs joyfully with her cousins and I sit on my parents comfy couch and blog. Ahh. Delightful!

Here are a few of our August Everydays. My favorite type of post!

An afternoon trip to Publix and a cookie treat. She picked the most sprinkley cookie I've ever seen. 

 Making choco chip cookies one afternoon. She loves cookie dough as much as I do! 

 ...finishing up the brown sugar because she's smart and has good gourmet taste!

My parents very favorite picture. I put this on Instagram with the caption, 

"Some days being a princess isn't all it's cracked up to be."

The comments about the royal chicken nuggets owned me! So funny!

 London and I were driving down the road one day and I screamed, "London LOOK!!!" It was the first double rainbow I'd ever seen! Can you see it? Look just above the noticeable one and you can just barely see it! 

 London was excited about the rainbow for about 2 minutes then she became more interested in dancing in an empty parking lot. Here she is dancing with all her might and singing, 'I've got ants in my pants and I need to daaaaaaaaaaaaaaance!!!' It was a straight up fantastic few minutes of life and I hope I remember it forever! She is so stinking fun!

 She's got some serious moves! 

A little redneck engineering that I thought my dad and brother would be proud of. The metal fasteners on London's car seat get HOT AS THE DICKENS. I needed to return a few cold beers to a friends house because they'd sit for ages in my fridge so I put the frosty brews on top of London's straps prior to school pick up so she wouldn't burn her arms! Perfect solution! Cooled off carseat and a happy kid-o. Fabulous.