Splash the Puddles

That's a hickory nut-in case you aren't well educated on all things nuts like we are in this house. It's hard to tell by the picture, but those things are huge. They can easily cause you to lose your footing and land flat on your hiney as you casually stroll across your front yard. They can also fully convince you that an army of rebels is plowing through your roof as they fall from the trees. Not that I know either of those things from experience. Ahem.  That's right, this is a God blog. Let me take that little white lie back. I know BOTH those things from experience. Multiple times.  They are everywhere in our yard right now. Trampoline, driveway, grassy land, wooded area, gutters, ditch, walkway, doorstep, you name it-hickory nuts are there.  They make the loudest noise you've ever heard when they fall and we are constantly noting how much it would hurt if one hit us on our head on it's way down.  Just last week, I was jumping on the trampoline with my boys, ...

Our family has very recently been the victim of theft. Again. This time it's a little different than when our van was stolen from our driveway. This time, our privacy was invaded on a much more personal level. This time, the hands of thieves touched clothes hanging in my closet, socks and underwear tucked away in our drawers. Their hands touched a precious gift someone gave us that has photos of my children on it, in order to take something plugged in behind it.  Their fingerprints are all over our home and could very easily be on our hearts if we allowed it.  Thankfully none of us were home, and we are all safe. All glory to God for that most important detail.  When something like this happens to you, especially twice, I think it could be easy to harbor bitterness and live in fear. And if I am being honest, both times this has occurred, those two things were my initial reaction.   However, bitterness and fear bring darkness and anger and those two things have no pla...

My husband and I have said many times (mostly joking, of course) that if Will had come first, there would be no Walker. For him to have been the most perfect, well-behaved and easiest baby that ever did live, he sure has made it his goal to develop the complete opposite reputation as a toddler. I'm not kidding. So many of our friends at church, all who love and adore his precious personality, say they have never seen anything quite like our Will. Great... Tuesday night, Will was feeling more like himself for the first time in about 5 days. He was finally getting over the flu and making his way into mischief again. Lots of it. He, Cliff and Walker were kicking around Walker's new soccer ball in the living room and I was in the kitchen doing (surprise, surprise) housework. :) At one point I hear Cliff gasp "What did you eat?" Then I hear sounds of "Ech, gag, plbbb, uuhh, Ech, gaggggg..." I go in the living room to find Will covered in blue liquid, and spit...