Wrex – Page 15 – The Bless Your Heart Blog

It’s Sick Season, Eh?

Yep. It’s here. In full force. Ugh.

Sawyer had a runny nose this week, but we didn’t think to much of it…until she woke up crying Wednesday night saying her chest hurt. By Thursday morning, she was ILL. Poor baby has a pretty nasty case of bronchitis. Having a sick kiddo is really hard on a momma’s heart.

We let little miss snuggle with us yesterday morning because she was flat miserable and struggling to breathe. She ended up falling in and out of sleep and I snapped this picture as I clung to the edge of the bed for dear life. (How do such small things take up so much space?!?)

This one of many reasons we don’t allow kids in the bed. HA!

If you read this, pray for her healing and for protection for little Wryder Roo.

Sickness flee, in the name of Jesus! Breathe Your breath into her, Lord.

Wascally Wabbit

Sawyer has REALLY gotten into texting these days. Maybe I should say “texting.” She’ll ask to send daddy a text while he’s at work and so I’ll let her type something out and “hit the blue button.” It usually look something like this:

Dsdddvddffgffffffffffttggggygggfffr

And then she’ll tell me what it means. Yesterday, it meant this: “Bring me home a real animal rabbit present and a real goat and a real slug sock. Eww. Or a pheasant.”

Ahem.

Well, lo and behold, our animal loving, highly connected, petting zoo keeper of a dad brought home a “surprise” for Sawyer. (Have I mentioned that she’s got him good? Oh, I have? Good.)

He’s seems quite cute and content…until you go to pick him up. Then, not so much. We’ll have to work on that.

She loves him, can you tell? She was seriously so excited. The magic text worked!

We fed him some hay and petted on him quite a bit.

She introduced him to all of her kitties and then they all danced together. I’m pretty sure 90% of all of our animals will need a shoulder replaced before they die…

He doesn’t have a name yet and even though I keep referring to him as “he,” I’m not even sure of that. She wanted to name him “Pick-up Truck.” We’ll see if that sticks.

Moral of the story: if you’re cute and sweet and send your daddy texts during the day, he’ll bring you home a rabbit! (I guess I can be thankful it wasn’t the slug sock…)

Fun, Fuzzy Surprise

We woke up to a really fun, fuzzy surprise! Out of habit, I peaked out the kitchen window to see if the baby calf had made it’s way out of the womb and into the world…and turns out – he did!

Isn't he adorable?! — Welcome to the world, little guy!

Sawyer and I ran to the bedroom to get daddy and we all threw our shoes on and ran outside. All of the other ladies came to dote on the new baby along with us.

Isn't that what WE do with a new birth, too? — Isn’t that what WE do with a new birth, too?

His momma is a little ~~snarly~~ motherly. This picture was her charging at me for the umpteenth time. She did NOT want me anywhere near him and was prepared to take me out.

I was armed and ready with my sorting stick…and a fence.

Not a big fan of being walloped. — Not a big fan of being walloped

Daddy got her away and got iodine on the baby’s navel and off we went to church! He had sucked before we’d even gotten out there this morning but showed us he knew how just so we felt even better about leaving him. She seems a little embarrassed about nursing in public (note the ear) but she stood for him.

New life of any kind is an absolute miracle and man, I need life. This world is so full of injustices; injustices that are hard on my heart. Satan’s on the warpath out to kill, steal and destroy and as hard as it to comprehend, the Lord allows some of this to happen. In His sovereignty, He could stop it…but for whatever reason, He doesn’t always. In our little world alone, there have been moms and babies taken too early, cancer found too late, kids in the system who end up in abusive homes, brain tumors that are growing – and those are just the biggies (in the past WEEK, mind you) that have been weighing on our hearts and minds. I’m the first to admit that I.don’t.get.it. I don’t understand…and maybe I won’t this side of heaven. So I have to turn to what I believe as true. I have the Word. And it says the He comes to give life and life abundantly. Lord, I need that life…and I needed to see this little life this morning. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Hard on the Heart

Daddy had a hard-on-his-heart conversation with Sawyer yesterday. I didn’t know it had happened, as I was feeding Wryder in the other room but he told me about it later in the day.

He and Sawyer were finishing up lunch when she began asking him about her future…

S – Daddy, what will happen when I get married?

W – Well, you and your husband will have a wedding and then you’ll live together and start a a family of your own.

S – Will I live here?

W – Well, you most certainly can but when most people get married, they live in a different house and start a new life with their spouse.

S – Then I don’t want to get married! I want you to be with me! I don’t want to go live anywhere else! I want to live with you!

Then the tears commenced (on daddy’s part)…along with the gentle reassurances that daddy would always be there for her. He was still pretty choked up hours later. Those two have such a special relationship – it makes my heart dance with delight. (If she’s absolutely rotten one day, you’ll know why!)

Sweet girl, you can live here as long as you want! That thought will probably become appalling to you one day but we want you to know that no matter where you are or what you do or what the circumstances are or how much time has passed or who you are with — you are always, always welcome and wanted here. You will never be turned away. Our love for you has no bounds or conditions or distance. You have our heart, fully and completely. If we have you under our roof for 18 years or 40 years, neither of those scenarios or numbers would be long enough for me…but I don’t think any number would be “enough.” You’re kind of impossible to get “enough” of, ya know that?

We do pray that you marry well. I pray that you marry someone JUST LIKE your daddy. He reminds me so much of Jesus. I know I married up! Did you know that next to walking with Jesus, marrying your daddy was the best decision I’ve ever made? I live in the blessing of that everyday of my life and I most definitely want the same for you.

We’ve been praying for your spouse for as long as we’ve been praying for you! You deserve a man that will cherish you and love you and show love to you and value you and love your family and lead you and pray for you and worship with you and serve you and provide for you and protect you…a man just like Jesus.

Pursue Him, sweet one, and pursue only men that pursue Him, too. We want you to grow and dream and hear from the Lord and live out your life’s calling…we want you to use your gifts, your sweet personality and your heart of worship to draw people to Him…and if you want to live with us while you do that, well, that’s mighty fine with me.

But when you find that man that sweeps you off your feet…the man that captures your heart and makes it race with unbridled love and hard-sought passion…the man you want to spend all of your forevers with…the man you want to serve Jesus with…the man you want to start your own family with, in your own home…you have our blessing. He will be most blessed to have you. Truly, he will.

So be ok with that, sweet girl. We have a few years to really get accustomed to this idea, so I’m sure we’ll be fine. Just don’t think you can live in another town or state…that is not part of the deal. 😉

A Walking We Will Go

I always say that Sawyer is ALL girl and ALL boy! She loves to be outside playing with the chickens or in the hay stack or brushing her pony or stomping in the mud…as long as she has on a bow and some bracelets, of course. One of her favorite things to do is to go on walks. Not just leisurely walks, but walks with a purpose. We’ve been on listening walks and animal saving walks and stick hunting walks…but her favorite is a good ole nature walk!

This morning was ~~doggone cold~~ quite brisk, but we bundled up and headed out to see what we could find. She dressed for the occasion, of course.

Wrong feet and all...but they had sparkly jewls! (And heels, mind you...) — Wrong feet and all…but they had sparkly jewels! (And heels, mind you…)

Daddy came along for the fun and was REALLY good at finding less “natural” objects, but it made for a fun display in the end.

Daddy always makes our adventures more fun!

and pine "noodles." — and pine “noodles.”

Once our pockets were full and our hands were numb, we took our finds back to the barn. I had seen this idea on Pinterest and knew Sawyer would love it! We took contact paper and tacked it to the barn door, sticky side out. Then, we started sticking our nature walk treasures on to the tacky surface to showcase them. (Way less messy than construction paper and Elmer’s…)

What's a nature walk without a shotgun shell? — What’s a nature walk without a shotgun shell?

Paint the cat had to get in on the action, too. He's a very patient cat. — Paint the cat had to get in on the action, too. He’s a very patient cat. (Note the Tootsie Roll Wrapper at the top. Another one of daddy’s finds.)

Fun morning! I’m curious to see how long our treasures will stick to the contact paper. Wrex is excited to see what gets stuck there inadvertently just because it’s hanging around. 🙂 I’ll keep you posted…

Anyone?

Can anyone guess where Sawyer spent part of her Monday while mom and little brother bought groceries?

You got it – the sale barn! She loves to “buy cows” with her cards and her calculator. Her favorites are “the white ones” (Charolais) or the “buffaloes” (Longhorns). Anything with crazy colors or small in stature always catches her eye, too.

Here’s her other favorite thing about this barn…

They always have free popcorn! And since daddy’s afraid of the ~~nasty, old, rusty pipes that never get used~~ water, she gets to drink pop. Now, I know why she never chooses to go to Wal-Mart…

Worth 1,000 Words: Pumpkin Patch #2

We ventured south of town this weekend to our favorite pumpkin patch in the area. They do an all-inclusive entry fee so we took FULL advantage! The weather was just about as nice as you could ask for in the middle of October and we had such a good time together!

DSCF0669 — She REALLY enjoyed the jumping pillow!

DSCF0692 — Pumpkin patch + football = heaven

DSCF0698 — Helping me get through the soybean maze

DSCF0702 — He was FIRED UP to ride the cow train!

DSCF0706 — I think this was time number 3…

DSCF0707 — Kid, kid, kid, kid, kid, kid, BIG KID, kid

DSCF0714 — Making the climb up the hay mountain (again)

DSCF0716 — She has a knack for finding the smallest, dirtiest, squishiest pumpkins in the patch – ha!

DSCF0718 — This girl LOVES getting her face painted!

DSCF0722 — One more time in the corn box

DSCF0689 — Working hard at racing her ducks – pink, no less!

Oh, fall – we love you so!

So I have this friend named Stormie. . .

and she’s fabulous! First, isn’t she gorge?!

But she’s a lot more than just a looker! She’s creative and unique and incredibly fashion forward. (I don’t know if she knows this, but she’s TOTALLY inspired me to change some things about my wardrobe. I’m not so matchy-matchy anymore, all because of her. She’s not afraid of mixing patterns and prints and colors and textures in ways that you think would never work, but then she puts it on and bam – she ROCKS it. And I covet it. Ahem.)

I keep saying I'm going to steal this head wrap... — I keep saying I’m going to steal this head wrap…

She has a ridiculous eye for all things hip, vintage and in (or about to be in.) She’s adored by her family and especially her nieces and nephews. (She takes each of them on a special birthday date – just the two of them. Who wouldn’t love one-on-one time with Storm?!) She’s a do-er and a dreamer and she might just be the most generous person I’ve ever met. And not just with her money, but with her time and resources and brain power. Did you know she’s one of only three Denver-ites that have been here more than once to see us AND she’s one of the busiest?! Yeah, she’s cool like that.

I’ve had kind of a bleh day and the post-lady called to let me know I had a package that she’d bring down. I wasn’t expecting anything so I had no idea who it was from or what it might be. But lo and behold, I should’ve know, sweet Stormie sent us a box FULL of goodies!

Three things you must know regarding Stormie’s packages.

1.) They are BEAUTIFUL! Look at all that color and fru-fru! She makes EVERY thing she sends so exciting to open. She takes such care to make sure it’s all just perfect. The receiver can’t help but feel special because look at all the time she put into the wrapping alone.

2.) There is always something for every single one of us! Told you she was generous…

Sawyer got a nursery rhyme puzzle set, which we had to do immediately.

Wryder got the CA-YOOTEST little train, which sister so selflessly helped him open. 🙂

And daddy got something, too! We resisted temptation so he could open it himself. Aren’t you proud?

He's gonna LOVE that steer head! — He’s gonna LOVE the wrap job

3.) She is a fantastic gift giver! She knows her audience and always finds the funnest, neatest, chicest things!

I have an affinity for accessories. Surprised? I didn’t think you would be. Fall, for me, pretty much consists of scarves, cardigans, boots and cute earrings. She nailed it.

She just has this keen sense of how to bless someone. I recently redid a section of our living room so I could have an official desk to do my blog/ministry/pre-school work and these super cute clips are killing me! I am so in love with arrows right now. I have one on my “~~need~~ want Wrex to make me one” list.

I'm an office supply nut — I’m an office supply nut

My frown has been turned upside down! Stormie, THANK YOU for being the kind, generous, hip, loving, beautiful ~~friend~~ sister you are! Thank you for blessing us with your time and talents and for ALWAYS being up for a roadtrip to come see us. Speaking of which…

Little Coats

I don’t think I ever knew how much I would love to have little coats hanging in my mudroom.

I went through a phase in my life where I didn’t want to have kids. I was scared to death of the thought of carrying one in my womb, much less the birthing process. Thanks to Hollywood, the (apparent) pain and screaming and grimacing and cursing and squeezing and pushing just didn’t seem worth it. On top of that, it felt like the world just kept getting meaner and meaner and I just couldn’t stomach the thought of making a child live in it. It felt so unfair, so risky, so irresponsible.

I still remember sitting at our dining table talking to Wrex about the perils of the world and in those very seconds, the Lord revealed such sweet wisdom to me. He showed me how the world would never stop being mean and nasty, especially if there wasn’t another generation to rise up and bring people to His Son.

Mind changed. And I’m oh so glad it did.

These two have brought more joy to our lives than I could have ever dreamed or imagined. They love so unconditionally and forgive so fully and show love so willingly. They are so pure of heart and gentle in spirit; they make me want to be better and do better and say better and act better and think better.

Our life looks nothing like it did pre-children and there are things I miss about it just being the two of us. I miss the small amount of responsibility I once had…the way we could pick up and go somewhere on a whim…the uninterrupted conversations…the quick meal times and long snuggle times…the way the house would stay clean and picked up for weeks on end…but there will be time enough for all of that again one day. Yes, there’s more laundry and more dirty diapers…there’s fewer showers and more time-outs…there’s more correcting and less vegging…there’s more stuff scattered about and longer to-do lists that rarely get done…

But I’ve come to cherish those things. All that I feel I’ve lost, is lost not. And even if it was, I have gained so much more.

The little notes that get left around on my things, just to say “I love you” in one of the biggest ways she knows how…

The tiny cups of “tea” she makes for me when we come in from playing outside…

The way he always has a smile ready and waiting to send my way…

The pictures I find on my phone that show the things in her world that catch her eye…

The way she finds a flower for me every time we’re outside…

The way he’s always up for an adventure, even if it involves something pink…

The toys she leaves in my spaces because she wants them “to be like mommy’s”…

Oh, man – I have lost naught. Those two sweeties are my heart outside of my body. They are why I do this blogging thing. They are why my husband works so hard incredibly hard to provide for our family so I can stay home to pour into them. They are our reward and our blessing.

It just seems like those little coats keep getting bigger and bigger, quicker and quicker. I want to slam on the brakes and put my hands over the rest of the numbers on the calendar and just force the time to STOP. Because there are days I didn’t do it right and need a second chance…there are memories I want to ingrain in my mind to re-live again and again…there is so much left to do with them while they’re little and I want to make sure we get it all done…there are more things for them to leave about the house so that I’m constantly reminded how empty this life would be without them.

Good gravy, I just don’t want this time to slip right through my fingers; I want to make it count. I want the wearers of these little coats to know that the Lord loves them exceptionally more than I ever could and that I love them a whole, whole, whole heackuva lot..and still will, even when their coats aren’t so little anymore.