Baby's 1st Haircut

Okay, maybe it was Josiah's 3rd but it wasn't just his bangs this time. I became a bit bolder this time and chopped an inch all around. This haircut was way overdue. His curls hide the true length because when he's in the bathtub and the water temporarily straightens it out, it falls way past his shoulders. Anyway, he was a good sport especially with a cracker in his hand (note the well-placed crumbs on the face). What a munch!!

Quote of the Week

Today we were driving around town, my mother-in-law and I with the kids, delivering groceries to certain families. We have been doing this every week helping out with this ministry. It has been an awesome experience for the kids and me, getting to know people and helping out where we can.
Anyway, as we were talking in the front seats, Elijah suddenly called out from the back,

"Mom, you are a poem and don't even know it!!"

I almost stopped the car right there just to give my little guy a hug. I don't even remember what I said to bring on such a perfect quote but it is definitely in my Top 10 list of memories that I want etched in my mind forever. Besides, wouldn't you really rather be called a poem than a poet? It's so much more poetic, isn't it??

Hello Stranger

Here I am. I didn't fall off the face of the earth. I think I had to take a break from words, spoken and written, for a while. I finished reading The Bride on schedule. 36 chapters in 6 days. Thus the temporary break from most written word. So tonight I thought I would begin my return to the blogging world by re-introducing the two cutest little boys in the whole wide world.

Los Hermanos- Elijah and Josiah

Eli's new backpack. Permanently adhered to his back.

Josiah's favorite position these days- upside down.

Elijah's silly face

The face of mischief. Whaaaat?

These two are bringing so much joy to Seth and me these days. I can't count how many times we look at each other and crack up because Elijah has just said something hilarious or Josiah, in his own little world, is making the funniest face ever. Boys are just so much fun!

Goodnight Moon

I hugged Elijah today. Not really a momentous occasion because I hug him daily multiple times. But today was different. I sat holding him and noticed how small his shoulders were. For some reason, it made me want to cry. Small shoulders that carry such light burdens. As well it should be. Little man, I wish I could always carry your burdens but that is reserved by One who is infinitely stronger.

Boys. Always the competition of who is strongest, fastest, smartest. Today Elijah asked the questions that if answered correctly have the potential to unlock the secrets of the entire universe. "Mom, could Spiderman beat up God? Who can run faster- Jesus or SharkBoy?"

Speaking of hugs. I have to say, I think I have 2 of the most affectionate young males ever. I cannot get enough of their hugs. Both of their techniques intrigue me. Elijah has more of a "drive-by" approach. He doesn't give them very often but when he does, you know he really means it. Lately he has been randomly telling me that he has a big, huge, 'mongous surprise for me. And then he backs up to the other side of the room, runs full speed to me, and wraps his soft arms around my waist. With a sweet "I love you Mom" he is off to his next adventure. Josiah is a snuggle bear. I call my little koala. He knows how to just melt into you, form himself to your front, and hold you captive by his warm affection. Hopefully he will never discover that he could ask for anything at that moment and it would be his in an instant.

Seth and I are having one of those weeks. You know those weeks where you are pretty sure you remember each other's face because you only see it for five minutes before you are both sound asleep? Yes, it has been busy. A new show has rolled into town so Seth has been commuting between here and downtown every day.
I have learned to let go. This week is the first official week of having an official babysitter officially watch my children. Because I have been recording The Bride every day. I have to admit, it was really difficult that first day. "Did I remember to tell her this or that? Will the boys give her a hard time? Oh, I hope she doesn't go into the master bathroom...Why didn't I take the time to clean it??" But, as I said before, I have learned to let go. And everything is going beautifully. Even the reading is going amazingly well. The Lord is stirring things up in my heart. But I will leave that for a future post...

Midsummer Nights

The past few evenings, the family has made its way to the front yard to enjoy some fresh air without baking ourselves. When there is 100+ degree weather, you really try to stay in as much as possible. But around 7:30, the temperature drops a bit and a nice breeze begins. Perfect conditions for Elijah's Big Wheel to come out or bike or skateboard or whatever suits his needs for the evening. Josiah is content to park himself in the grass and just watch his big brother go wild. Tonight I broke out the gallon size container of bubbles that have been hidden in the pantry for a year now. Here are some pictures of the boys enjoying them...

Eli going Kung Fu on the bubbles

The joy of a child
And one bubble for you, Sir
Darn, it popped!

Watch out....

...or Josiah might poke you with his hair...

Seriously, we're having just a little too much fun these days with Mr. Goldilocks. What the camera didn't capture was Josiah using the shampoo bubbles to wash his own belly. Almost too adorable for words!

Busy Days

So all of you who just cannot get enough of my voice will be pleased to hear that you will soon be able to purchase a book-on-CD with hours and hours of just me. These next couple of weeks, I will be recording this book you see on the left. The Bride has made it around the world and back. Apparently many people have requested that it be put to audio and the author, Rhonda Calhoun, asked me to be the narrator. I was a bit shocked by this, especially since she had never heard me read out loud before. I have gradually become used to the idea and have come to the realization that it is very much a "God thing". I guess that happens when you hang around prophetic people! This book had such an impact on my heart when I read it a few years ago, while I still lived in Orlando. It is one of those stories that just catch you by surprise and you finish it with more tenderness for the Lord than you might think possible.
So I'm fully expecting that while I am reading it out loud, God is going to do some softening and rearranging of this Bride's heart. I'm actually hoping for it...

Night Away

The above picture is the view from our balcony at the hotel we stayed this weekend. Yes, you heard right folks- Seth and I went away for a whole entire night by ourselves. No children. Just the two of us. Amazing.
We stayed here right down at the Plaza. One of the best attractions of Kansas City. It is only about 25 minutes from our house but it felt like we traveled out of state. The hotel room was very classy. Please note our pleased expressions...
We walked to dinner. Enjoyed it immensely. We walked to the movie theatre. Great movie (can't wait for the 3rd). We walked here for their divine dessert. We each had a piece to ourselves and tried to finish them. Did not succeed.
Overall, it was so wonderful to reconnect with each other. It's been quite the busy year so to be able to spend an evening just thinking about each other was such a treasure. We didn't have to think about fixing dinner for the children, giving baths, waking up to the sound of the whispered, "Mom, can I have my breakfast now?". Grammy and Papa took care of that (Thank you, Thank you!). As much as we tried, though, we just couldn't shed the "parenting bug" for the whole night. Around 3am (I think) we both woke up to the sounds of a baby crying. Seth and I shot up trying to figure out how Josiah got in this strange room. After a few seconds, we woke up enough to realize that it was a child next door and not our own. We had no trouble falling back asleep.
We arrived home the next afternoon feeling fully refreshed and ready to give the boys lots of extra hugs and kisses. Boy, if our 9th anniversary was this nice, I sure can't wait for the BIG 1-0 next year!

Spanish Lessons with Elijah Macchi

This morning Eli came in to give me a "Good Morning" hug. He started humming a pretty song while doing it. Seth said he has been humming all morning and called Eli a "hummy boy". Eli's response?

"Dad, I'm not a hummy boy. Because hummy means hungry in Spanish!"

Crazy Lady

Do you ever have the urge to just get out of the house? Tonight, I had this urge. So I called my friend Misty to see if she wanted to get out of her house. Thankfully she did. 20 minutes later, we were on our way to a late-night movie. Amazing how 3 hours out of the house completely changes perspective on things...

I needed new perspective. I knew if I didn't see things from a different light, I would end up looking like this-

And NONE of us want that, do we??

Party On

Last night we celebrated Seth's 29th birthday by having some friends come over for hamburgers. It was so nice because our house was actually full...get this...of people! There were three other couples from all walks of life. One couple with their 9 month old daughter just moved here from Africa. They were missionaries there for 3 years. As they were serving under the Southern Baptist missionary board, the Lord encountered them in amazing ways. They became filled with the Holy Spirit and began walking in power. This began an uncomfortable chain of events (because of the "Holy Spirit issue") that eventually led them to resign from their post. And through some pretty amazing dreams and prophetic confirmations, they have found themselves here in Kansas City hungry to live lives of prayer.
Another couple we have known for many years now but only on an acquaintance level. These two have an adorable son who watches everything Eli does. Elijah relishes the role of superhero! They have come here to Kansas City broken but it is so neat to see how the Lord is building their foundations in Him and in each other. They, too, are hungry to walk in the fullness of their destiny.
The third couple have become over the last couple of years, really good friends. I believe the Lord has placed them in our lives to help heal our hearts. We have walked through life together- the good, the bad, and the ugly- and are walking with a greater respect and loyalty for each other than we have ever known. God is good!
So now that I have introduced who the Lord has put in our lives, on with the party!! Our friend, Misty, made her first ever Boston Creme Pie (Seth's favorite) and it was, shall I say, totally yummy!

By the end of the evening, we were completely exhausted...all four of us. But we were full. And not much of the fullness was from the food...

Party On...and On...

On Saturday, Eli went to his first "big boy" birthday party. His little friend, Isaac, turned 7 and had a water party in his backyard. Water party = squirt guns, water bottles, water balloons, a large blow-up pool. Pretty much the description of Little Boys' Heaven.
A couple of days before the party, Eli started acting very peculiar. Actually, he began acting downright terrible. Talking back, attitudes and the like. By Saturday morning Seth and I were about to put our proverbial feet down and forbid Eli from going to the party. I finally listened to that little voice in my heart and asked Elijah to come sit with me and talk. I asked him what the problem was...why was he behaving so badly the last couple of days. Immediately he answered me and said, "Mom, I'm really nervous about the older kids at the party. I don't know any of them." And we all chime in...Awwww....
That explained it. The poor guy didn't quite know what to do with his feelings about the whole deal, thus explaining the tweaked behavior. So I told him that Daddy would be with him and if he didn't like being there, he could always come home. Of course that didn't need to happen because Eli ended up having a total blast. He tossed water balloons with the best of 'em. (Actually, he and his partner were the best of 'em. They won!)

Okay, so I was blown away by this...(I have a picture of it but for some reason Blogger won't let me post it)
After all the fun and games, the kids at this 7 YEAR OLD's birthday party gathered around Isaac and prayed for him. How awesome is that?? We are raising a generation of Elijahs and Isaacs and Levis and Josiahs and Zions and Ezekials (Seth said it almost sounded like an Amish party with all the Biblical names) who take the time at birthday parties to pray for their friends. I love what they teach children to do here in Kansas City. They believe that if kids lay hands on the sick, they WILL be healed. That if they listen to the Lord, they CAN prophesy. That if they offer their hearts to God, they WILL become lovesick worshipers of the Most High. Wow!

Bragging Rights

So I have to brag on this handsome guy for a bit. Elijah's personality is one that does not do well with sudden change. He has always been like that. I remember when he was a baby and we would walk in a room full of relatives...there was always the "I'll grab him first" rush. And he, without fail, would always burst into tears. Because he needed some time to adjust to the room. Then slowly he acclimated and was fine. He is still that way. When he walks into a room full of children, he is never one to rush into play. He needs time and space to figure things out and then he is okay.
So with Seth's new travel schedule, it's been a bit rough for the little guy. He really misses his Dad. And I think that's a good thing because it shows what a great relationship the two of them have. Before Seth left last week, he showed Eli the website of the hotel he was going to stay at and even Google mapped the way there for him. That really helped the E man because he needs all the information possible to adjust to the change.
Elijah has done so well when Seth is gone. He obviously misses his Dad but he really steps up and helps me out. He and I still have our battles but they are much more few and far between. He's growing up so quickly...physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are times where I just love to sit down and have a conversation with him because we can do that now. I enjoy watching him with Seth. They really have such a special bond. I pray that will always be the case...

Okay, I'm finished rambling...What I really wanted to show off is Eli's new summer haircut. It has never been this short but it's great. It makes me cooler in this 100+ degree weather just looking at him!

Caution! View at your own risk.

These photos were in no way, shape, or form altered or messed with.

The height of the hair is just phenomenal. I tell you, when you have kids with lots of hair, going in to see what a night's sleep has done is always an adventure. I should have taken a measurement on this 'do...

A Long-Distance Kiss

On Tuesday, a Fed Ex truck stopped in front of our house and dropped off a curiously long box at our door. When I opened it, I discovered 18 gorgeous long stem red roses. My sweet husband had ordered them at the beginning of his trip so they would get to me in the middle of the week. He had no idea that it would be such a horrible week. But I know Someone who did. Once again, the Lord used Seth to show me how much He loves me. How even in the midst of weakness (literal weakness...I had to sit down 5 times while trimming the flowers...I didn't have the strength to stand that long), He lavishes me with amazing and timely gifts. He is good, isn't He??

The Longest Week EVER

I won't spend too much time telling the tale of last week. For some reason, I think it would give one of the worst weeks of my life too much credit. Seth left last Saturday morning for a week in Dallas, TX. Early Sunday morning, around 2am, I checked on Josiah and found him lying in a literal sickbed. After 2 hours of 5 baths, 5 bed changes, and 3 loads of laundry, I knew I was in for it. A day later, the bug bit me. Hard. A day later, the bug bit Elijah. Thankfully, not so hard. So, without any more detail, it was literally one of the worst weeks of my life. What was supposed to be a "quick week" ended up feeling like a month long.
BUT the week did finally come to a close. Seth arrived home on Friday. Everyone is almost fully recovered and trying to get our appetites back.
The End.

Lord, grant me patience!

I've gotta say, there isn't anything much more annoying than this- getting ourselves and the kids ready, driving down to the trail, setting up the jogger, sitting the kids in the jogger, and then having to turn around 5 minutes later because our child is screaming at the top of his lungs with no intention of stopping.
It was a beautiful evening. Couldn't have been more than 75 degrees with a cool breeze. There were even a few deer out grazing not 50 feet from us. They just gave us a "hey could you shut your kid up" look and resumed their eating.
I think I almost left Josiah with them. Wolves have raised children before, haven't they? Deer would be a good, herbivorous choice. I just picture in 20 years, a reddish blond curly-headed man timidly leaping out of the forest, neck craning to spot any predators. Nooo, I guess that wouldn't work very well. I guess I'll have to keep the little guy. Good thing he's so darn cute...

It's Over...I think

Halelujah! The 4th of July has come and gone which means so has the obnoxious firework-ing. If it was just the 3rd and 4th when people did their fireworks, I could actually say that I enjoy the holiday...you know, celebration and independence and all that. But here in the great state of Missouri, the sky is the limit when it comes to how soon they start. June 30th? Let's light them at 1am. July 1st? Why not 2pm? I should have counted how many bombs were thrown into the drainage systems. The whole house shook when they went off.

Well, last night we joined the masses if you will and sent rockets screaming into our neighbors' yards. And had a really good time doing it. Eli was so excited to finally get to light the fireworks that had been in our garage since Christmas. (We drove through Tennessee and stopped at the Daddy store of all firework stores, The Firework Supermarket.)
He even got his own punk and lit many of them himself. Of course, with Daddy right there watching.

As much as I enjoy celebrating with friends, I have to say I wait in no great anticipation for next year!

Change

This weekend marks the 2 year mark since we moved up here to Kansas City. Amazing how quickly time goes by! It's been a rough road, let me tell you. We moved up here with so much baggage, so many wounds that it took us a full year to begin to feel "normal" again. Although I seriously question what "normal" really feels like! God is so faithful to take our weak, willing hearts and heal us when we ask him to. I remember that was my prayer every day. "Lord, please heal this part of my heart that has been betrayed, been damaged." He was faithful to teach us how to forgive, that forgiveness is not just something that you do once and are done with. But forgiveness is something you choose and walk out on a daily basis. I remember the agony of this "walking out" process. But you know what I remember most? I woke up one morning and something felt different. I quickly realized that my heart was healed, was whole again. It was awesome!
That was year one. Year two has been a different story. Searching to find what the Lord would have us do. A longing for "community" has taken over. There was the joy and heartache of the birth of our second son, Josiah. That has taken us about 5 levels higher in trusting that God is truly in control of our lives.
We are about to enter year three. Seth and I both feel an urgent sense of change in our lives. We must pursue God's heart because that is what He is calling us to. We are beginning to feel stirrings of our destiny. That the choices we make today will forever affect our lives, our ministry to anyone outside of ourselves. He is calling all of us to greater intimacy with Him for so many reasons but also for the greatest- that we might know Him more!
It's time to walk away from the "old" and walk into the "new". Our past got us here but it does not need to guide us where we are going. We and so many people that we know are at a crossroads. About to make choices that will forever change the course of our lives. Will we choose to walk the way with fear and anxiety of the unknown or will we walk it in freedom, knowing we cannot save ourselves?
I'm very curious what this next year will hold. Hopefully new friendships. I seek His redemption in this area. Hopefully new songs. Because He has been working deep in our hearts. Hopefully greater revelation and vision. Because without it, we perish.

It's a'gonna be a girl

I announced a few months back that little Gianna is going to be a big sister come October. The great news is that Gianna gets to be a big sister to a little sister. We wait in anticipation to meet this new little one. If she's as half as cool as her big sister, then she'll be all right!