Dog Days of Summer Part 2

I forgot to add the below pics from my cell phone. Not good quality, but these were cute pictures!

Most fun bath time ever! This weekend at Booper's house.

Renny's headband that she made with my sweet friend Kristine! Cute, huh? 

 You know me and free food... I had a coupon for free lettuce wraps at PF Chang. Renny LOVES their lettuce wraps so we had a girls trip one day as a end of summer treat. We had so much fun this day! I love my ladies!

 Makes my heart so happy...

1st Days of School

Here are the texts I received from Barry this morning. Today was Charley's first day of High School (eeekkkk!) and the twins first day of Pre-K. What an exciting, emotional day! The pictures and the captions were adorable!

Excited, but a little nervous about highschool!

Excited would be an understatement!

Nervous? I don't think so. The ladies are gonna love me! Watch out pre-K!

Fast Friends

Mom sent me an email this morning. It's been raining there all day and apparently Archie's been a little mischievous today. He got quiet so Mom went to find him and found him chilling with his new best friend... Ha ha! Funny dog!!

The Dog Days of Summer

I leave every summer with the fondest memories.. always thinking 'this was the best summer ever'! I love growing up. As I get older, my family gets bigger. I love all of these personalities co-existing. We have Powers, the talker, the creative one, the funny one, the entertainer, the cop. Serenity, the kind one, the patient one, the one who's up for anything, the secret performer, the one who makes the house feel complete. London, the dancer, the curious one, the most friendly one, the ever changing one, the stealer of our hearts.

This summer was awesome. My favorite memory is dancing in the rain with my two little girls. We went out to play one day and it started sprinkling. Ren asked if we could turn the car radio on and play in the rain.  We danced, and giggled, and tickled, and gave wedgies, and drank rain water (which is horribly dirty if you get enough in a cup to notice!) I locked that memory in for the long term- 3 soaking wet girls spinning in circles in our drive way. That you, gracious God for that moment. My heart smiles when I remember...

Here are some of our memories. Im sure in no particular order.  I'll try to document what time of summer these are from! I hate to see this time come to an end. We've taken Renny back to Jackson and our house isn't full anymore. There is a permanent place for her here. I just wish there were a permanent body to fill that space. This summer was wonderful! So fun, and messy, and full of joyful noise! Here's to daydreaming of summers to come!

 London's go-to snack of the summer- croutons (???)

 London cutting eyes at her daddy and showing off some of her fav shades! 

 Last weekend with Renny.. back home in Jackson

 This is from this past weekend. Anyone want our dog? She was locked up because she ran away this morning. We went swimming and came home to this. Brand new bean bag in 120 zillion pieces. 

 Memorial Day weekend

 Barry's family and Booper went to the beach last weekend. Here are a few pictures from Mom. She said it was terribly hard taking many pictures while you're chasing 2- 4 year olds around!

 i photo fun! I have these backdrops on my computer and Renny LOVED taking pictures with them all summer!

And the videos...

London has started reading books to herself! LOVE it! Sorry it's a little jerky... she'll stop if she sees the camera so I was trying to hide it!

Untitled from Taylor Lane on Vimeo.

A quick shot of one of my favorite tricks...

Cutie! from Taylor Lane on Vimeo.

London practicing some of her words!

Untitled from Taylor Lane on Vimeo.

Great summer! I loved every second of it! 

The Pack Pack's here

And it's just as adorable as I was hoping it would be!!

(Phone Pictures- bad quality!)

She doesn't love it yet... every time we put it on she lifts her arms up for me to take it off, but she'll get there! :) 

My favorite thing that she's been doing for a while now but I keep forgetting to blog about it. Every morning/night when we take off/put on her pajamas, we say 'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzip!' as were unzipping/zipping her pj's. She likes it and says 'eyyyyyyyyyyyip!' to copy us! It is so cute! Eat her up!

Call to action

I have had a stirring lately. I can feel it. God calling me back home. Not that I've been horribly off course, but I haven't been 10 & 2 like he wants me. But as always, he never gives up, and lately I've heard him calling me home. This time though, I can hear the specifics. The 'I want you in my WORD. I want you to KNOW my stories. I want you to GIVE. I want you to not FEAR. ' I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God wants me to spend this time in preparation. Missions is heavy on my heart. I am ready. I have been ready, but I've been scared. But my heart knows it is time to prepare. To pray. To research. To be willing. I don't have a resounding 'missions abroad' vision, however, that may be where he's calling me. I've always felt a strong local calling. Maybe that's from growing up in my house where my mom was always opening her hands, abilities, heart, time, and pocketbook to anyone around her that could use some encouragement, money, food, shelter, clothing. She has a heart to care and love for her community. I can only hope this is hereditary!

Here is my confession: I live in constant fear. This is the obstacle that I struggle with the most in my walk of faith. I am used to having everything that I want (key word) and am so grateful for that.. and for my parents hard work their whole lives. The last few years have definitely been spent in the season of need. Only what is needed. Asking for batteries and lightbulbs for Christmas because anything outside of our needs seems... unnecessary. I have gotten familiar in this lifestyle and ultimately it has molded me so much. I am conscious of what we spend. I'm always looking for ways to save. I don't need much outside of the basic necessities. That sounds confident, but behind that lifestyle, I cower in fear. What if the money runs out? Why did we spend so much on this? I can't put money into my retirement account, what's going to happen when I'm old?

Useless spinning of my wheels and lack of faith in my Provider. Where do you see in all of this... 'What can I give?' I have justified time and time again that we have nothing to give. I do my part at Christmas. We clean out the house and give to charity, but what do I really GIVE. Who am i teaching about Jesus? When am I His hands and feet? Who am I winning into eternity? Why am I not more concerned about my fellow brother and sisters well being? I am concerned. Terribly. But I claim 'not me' when I feel the tug at my heart to help.

This video changed me today. Called me into action. This is the beginning of my season of preparation. I have much. MUCH. Whether in deeds or service or food or money, I will help. My eternity is in tact. Heaven awaits me. Why worry about myself?

What about the starving? What if my child were starving? Nothing could stop me from providing for her. These are my brothers and sisters in this world, my own flesh and blood. Starving. Why would I not give all of me to feed them/ heal them/ clothe them/ introduce them to our Savior?

This is what is going on in my life. God is calling. What a glorious voice to hear! Praise His name forever and ever!  And I am ready. I am listening. I am preparing for what's ahead. Fear, get behind me. I have more important things to focus on now.



Isaiah 58

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
   and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
   and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
   and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
   and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
   and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
   and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
   you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
   “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
   with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
   and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The LORD will guide you always;
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
   and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like a spring whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
   and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
   Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

I couldn't resist

If you are within calling distance from us, you know we are in a season of life right now... the hold your breath and pray all the checks clear season of life! I love seasons... i really do. They mold me and make me grateful for the awesome life we live even when times seem tough. However, sometimes the utter cuteness overcomes the brokeness and I break down and splurge. Guilty as charged today, but come on! This is the most adorable thing I've ever seen! Introducing Londie Lu's new backpack...

Now, to justify... 1. It's flippin adorable. 2. It was on sale ($17. That's not bad, right? Right?!?!) 3. She's big enough to carry her own bag now! Hooray! So she really NEEDS a backpack! (Yeah right!) 4. Did I mention that it's adorable?!?! 

Anyway, what's done is done and I LOVE it! I'll post a picture of her showing it off as soon as we receive it!