The greatest.

Having a child is the greatest. It's one of the greatest joys, challenges, and one of the greatest fulfillment.

Friday I finally had the opportunity to bring Owen with me to one of my favorite kitchens in Athens... one that is full of people for every meal and a room of full bellys when each customer walks out of the door. These Friday mornings are my favorite as I get to start the day off cooking and spending time with people.

When J dropped off Owen, the food was already ready. Owen was a little hesitant at first, he watched. Although he's grown up around people of all abilities, looks, behaviors and challenges at ESP, this was a new environment with new people. He watched intently as we passed out the food to some individuals who seemed to not have eaten since their visit the day before, and others who looked just like me... just maybe couldn't quite make ends meet that week. Owen watched.

We visited.. there was one little girl there and Owen said hello, and watched. I was wondering what was going on in that little 3-year-old, well versed mind. I knew those thoughts at some point would be revealed.

At the end of the hour, most of the customers were gone and a few plates of food still lay on the counter. Owen looked up at me with questioning eyes and asked "Mommy, what did those people do to get those yummy plates of food?" A bit taken back, I asked a few questions. My original thought was true. When Owen looked at these people, he didn't see torn clothes, missing teeth or ratted hair. He didn't see "homeless" "jobless"... "hopeless." He saw them as God sees them, well-deserving of the plate full of eggs, sausage and pancakes. The lucky ones.

Matthew18:4 "Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest..."
As I used that moment to tearfully teach Owen that God provides for all of his children, it was really me that learned the lesson. The innocence, humility and heart of Owen is what I am called to imitate. If I choose to pay attention, it is his soul that will protect mine.

Having a child is the greatest.

I guess you could say I'm on the C-List

Well.. I have never done this. Blog about decorating that is. Yes. I fell into it.

I have ALWAYS loved interior decoration. From my very first venture in the 5th grade to create a cloud mural on my wall (unfortunately, i'm not an artist... and they turned out looking more like muffin tops) to my first loft in college and now the home for my family.

MAJOR PROBLEMO- the job profession I have chosen doesn't necessarily feed the habit financially or time-wise. My husband knows I love a good challenge and THUS, a "RULE" was created- If I want to purchase an item for the house- whether to make, hang or assemble.. it must be purchased from money received from selling another item in the house. Believe it or not- I stick to it.
How? Recreate, reuse, restore...
- I am a loud a proud Craigslist believer.
- I like to *try* to make my own stuff.
- Shopping in consignment stores to me is like reading a good book to many.
- I love to find a good bargain (& free shipping) on ebay, overstock etc.

Here's my first example, master bedroom:
Bed: "donation" from the rents
Headboard: craigslist, spray painted yellow, duvet- overstock, free, shipping
Wall-art: W from Etsy.com, frame hand-made (wood from Lowe's, distressed w/bag full of bolts/nuts & stained)
Center pillow: Ikea.

"When the world is crazy and I need a break... sometimes a girl just needs to decorate." -Me (I sometimes say this in good humor to bring a smile to my husband who would be the last person on Earth to understand this concept)

So, for now, this is a taste of my hidden habit. I have friends and follow blogs of others out there who decorate with the same ideas. I think they would agree with me in that even if I had the money to be an A-lister I'd still choose to be a C-lister.. it's all a part of the thrill.

Stop, and smell the honeysuckle(r)s.

I was on a much needed stress release run this morning and I stopped at my usual place to cool down and pray. After I caught my breath I realized that I was surrounded by a wall full of beautiful blooming honeysuckles.

As a kid I can remember the excitement when honeysuckles started to bloom and I could smell them for the first time that season. The taste, the wonder of this beautiful yummy flower.

The past few months I have been sitting at the feet of a woman at church who I have come to love and respect dearly. One of the last lessons she taught was a deep message about the creation-- difficult to sum up but the gist was about the majesty and beauty God created for me (us) to enjoy. The original plan was for us to just be able to sit, live, work, be in the beauty of God... enjoying his love. It's the "snakes" in life that come along and mess that up . In order to ignore the snake this morning, I decided to stop, smell (and taste) the honeysuckles... just as if I were a little girl again.

After that, my perspective had changed and I couldn't wait to take one back and share with my little guy. His first taste of God's candy. He sat in amazement as mommy showed him how to eat a flower (which he thought was funny)... and shared with him the significance it has to me.


Just a couple minutes later, Joseph walked into the room and Owen exclaimed with excitement "Daddy, guess what?! God gave me a special treat.... a honeysuckleR."

When life is a blur and I can't seem to slow down.... thanks be to God for reminding me that all I need to do is just stop, and smell the honeysuckle(r)s.

Say What?

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." -- Helen Keller

On May 7th I will be diving for dollars at Jump, Fly, Be Different... a fund-raiser where super heroes are raising funds to send children with disabilities to camp- www.extraspecialpeople.com

SAY WHAT?! Crazy... I know. But Helen always says it best- living a daring adventure while helping others, much better than "nothing at all" living for myself. So- here's to adventure!

If you would like to support my daring adventure please go to http://www.extraspecialpeople.com/jump-fly-support.html and find me- "Whit the Legit"

"Mommy, Are you Happy Now?"

IF you're a parent you know that sometimes the best lessons you learn come from your children.

Over the last week I have started to take note of Owen saying, "Mommy, are you happy now?" after having some type of success . Something about it hasn't sat well with me and I have let it soak in for the last couple days. Here is what I have come up with:


I do not want Owen to learn that my happiness is defined by my circumstances. Easier said than done, right?

What I have been saying, "it makes mommy happy when you ________ (usually has to do with potty successes, obeying, etc.)" and what I am not doing is communicating to Owen the true joy that I receive from him (the existence of him, not what he does and doesn't do), from the many blessings we have been given and the incomparable joy that comes from being close to God.



When examining the Psalms this is what I found: "Happy are the people whose strength is in You...Happy is the man who fears the LORD, taking great delight in His commandments.....happy are those who uphold justice, who practice righteousness at all times... LORD, happy is the person who trusts in You.... happy is the man who has put his trust in the LORD.... Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; LORD, they walk in the light of Your presence."

Isn't it funny what things we get distracted by: jobs, school, success, new homes, children's successes (ehm' yes, potty training... only parents of boys understand this triumphant milestone). We toil and labor, become happy and then unhappy as we move on to the next thing that will "make us happy." Yet, there is not one biblical promise that these things bring happiness. There is one thing that stands out to me in all of these scriptures. Happiness comes not from circumstance, but from being and choosing to continue to walk in presence of God.



Although I'd like to believe this is something I have known in my heart... when it comes to teaching Owen it has helped me to consistently reexamine where I am getting my joy and on a much more practical level.. What I have begun to say when Owen says "Mommy, are you happy now?" is "I am SO proud of you. And I am always happy, because God helps me to be happy."

Simple, yet so profound.

Are you happy now?