welcome October

After dance class yesterday, we joined some friends at the zoo. We made a quick pit stop at the house to change clothes. Madelyn insisted on wearing this dress, her boots and wanted to wear one of my old necklaces. I love that she has her own little style coming through but sometimes it makes getting ready interesting (which is code for frustrating and difficult).

She was so excited to run around with all of her friends. When we made it to the mountain lion exhibit I was ready to run. It was so worked up and seemed to have an eye on MK.

 It lunged at the glass and MK jumped back so fast she went down to her bottom. I ran.

I love that she is still so fascinated. She has such a love for animals!

It was beautiful weather and the perfect morning for a stroll around the zoo with friends. Welcome October, we have been waiting for you all year!

Fiesta Pics

One Sunday night in late August, Madelyn, Luke and I spontaneously grabbed the bag of Fiesta decorations that I had been collecting and headed to Bergfeld park to snap a few pictures of Madelyn to use for her birthday invitation. We had about 30 minutes before we lost all the light so we moved quickly. These are some of my favorites! Cannot believe my sweet girl is almost THREE!

Joshua 1:9

Madelyn Kate,
You have been learning new verses each month in your pre school class at church. Your Daddy and I love your enthusiasm for learning God's word. It continues to amaze me how quickly you pick up the new verses and even recall the ones you've learned in the months prior.

Today you started singing (if you can call it that-I'm kidding) Joshua 1:9 while Daddy played the guitar. Listening to you sing, "God is with you wherever you go" over and over again blessed me. My prayer is that this verse is written on your heart and that you will never forget it. That someday when you go to kindergarten, are taking a test in middle school, walking across the stage in high school, in college or wherever life takes you, you will be reminded that God is with you.

I love you, sweet girl. God is always with you.

Love,
Mom


 

accepting responsibility for our actions...even when it's hard

Just something I am thinking about today.

As Madelyn gets older, I am realizing just how tough it will be to teach her to take responsibility for her actions. She's tenderhearted and breaks down at the thought of disappointing anyone so helping her to see her mistakes almost always results in the most pitiful tears. Even harder than dealing with my sweet little one's crocodile tears is how unpopular it is in society to own up to our (make note that I said our-this is not a "what's wrong with everyone but me rant) mistakes.

The other day MK jumped off a chair and fell straight in to a wall. It hurt. She cried. A well meaning friend said, "That mean wall got you! Mean wall. (pointing finger at wall) You don't hurt Madelyn anymore wall". I laughed a little at the thought of MK's choice to disobey me and jump off a chair that she should not have been standing on resulting in pain being the fault of a wall. Today though, I have been realizing that even at two- nothing is ever her fault. Not even in the eyes of most adults!

I realize sometimes I over think things, but I don't think that is the case here. Working around children in the past and just being around children now, when something happens that isn't desirable I hear things like:

• Who started it?
• Who made you do that?
• You saw _______ do that, didn't you?
• The name an inanimate object  hurt you.

And that is from the adults! The list could go on and on. And I am guilty of it too. It's called blame shifting.

While it might not be that big of a deal at two, I know it will at 22! If MK doesn't learn to take responsibility for her actions now, what is going to change magically that at 22 she will own up to her less than perfect choices?

My sister was hit by another driver a couple of weeks ago that motioned her in to a parking lot to sort it out but then sped away. For whatever reason, he made the choice not to take responsibility for his mistake.

With the situation where I was shot by a dart, for whatever reason, some (lots) of people felt like it wasn't the fault of the people who actually shot me and another woman with a five inch metal dart. They were "boys being boys".

Heck, the other day I was late to a meeting (no surprise there-I am notoriously late) and instead of admitting to the fact that I left five minutes later than I should have because I woke up late, I made sure to mention the wreck I passed on the way.

I know I am rambling, but these are the thoughts in my head lately. My prayer is that in teaching Madelyn to accept responsibility for the choices she makes, she will be more driven to make the right choices. Not out of fear, but out of seeing that there is joy in doing the right thing. One of the most common scriptures that you hear when talking about parenting is Proverbs 22:6, "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not turn from it." I read an old sermon by JC Ryle recently on parenting that gave a list of duties of a parent. One was:

• If you want to train your children correctly, train them in the way they should go, and not in the way that they want to go.

Although it would be so much easier to not address some of Madelyn's bad choices for fear of the hurt feelings or tears (or screaming-let's just be honest) and to let her do whatever it is that she wants to do without fear of consequence-that's not what we are called to do. That is not what will set her up for a life that is pleasing to God and that brings Him glory.

So what do you do with your children to teach them to be responsible for their actions? We are working at it around our house, but I would love to know what you do too!

"capatatin merica"

 This kid loves all things super hero (just like her Daddy) and loves to dress herself.

RAK night

On a whim we called my brother and sister-in-law to see if we could pick up Emily and Allison for a few hours. We picked them up and then headed to Fresh to grab some cookies and cupcakes (each girl picked a package) and some flowers.

Then we set out to surprise some friends.

Each girl picked a friend's house to drop cookies off and run. It was SO cute watching Allison run so fast across the yard! We got caught every time but they loved it and were excited to do something sweet for an unsuspecting friend.

After our deliveries we met Grandma at Corner Bakery for a late dinner and then took the girls home. It was a fun change of pace and definitely something we will do again.

This never gets old...

Three years worth of loving.

I love that this is the doll my mom bought MK the very day we found out that baby Bilberry was a she.

I love that for some reason I packed her in the diaper bag to take to the hospital with me.

I love that Madelyn took to her from the beginning.

I love it all. 

This never gets old.

Insta-update!

I made three 16x20 canvasses for our entry way for $23. Simply awesome and it makes me happy every time I walk through the door.

Some days Luke gets to come home from lunch. I'm pretty sure those are MK's fav days. I'm pretty partial to them too!

Madelyn loves to water the plants and I love that her enthusiasm for watering them has been what has kept them alive.

In addition to plant watering, checking the mail is one of MK's duties that she likes the most.

Luke and one of the students from Chandler got together for dinner and to jam. Loved listening to them play together and Madelyn joined in with her guitar.

She stuck the landing! Dreaming big!

 Buying pink with my precious friend! Cannot wait for them to bring their precious girl home from Africa soon!

 The kiddos were so good while we shopped. TVs in the stores didn't hurt.

Madelyn thinks the mannequins at Old Navy are her BFFs. She introduce Kolson to them and was so proud.

Tink and I went to an estate sale next door. The sweet couple lived together in that house for 50 years. So awesome.

 Estate sale finds by MK: globe and old chalk board. Love her taste.

 My home smells amazing when I burn this candle. It does cause some confusion though...Madelyn usually thinks I am baking a cake when it's burning.

MK usually sneaks in to our bed at some point in the early morning hours. I love it.

This is the sweetest face to wake up to.

Chocolate + 100 degree heat = fun ;)

 Good thing she gets her rhythm from Daddy because if she got it from me she wouldn't have any.

We read no less than 50 books a day. Completely fine with me!

Ordered books of our insta-gram photos from Keepsy.com! I was totally impressed and we will definitely continue to do this in the future.

planking- Bilberry style

We did a little family planking the other night. Luke and I participated too but there isn't any evidence like there is of Madelyn.

Excuse the terrible phone pics.

She's got pretty good form!

I love my family.

water girl

Dear Madelyn,
A few weeks ago we spontaneously bought a few plants on a family trip to Home Depot. I love plants. I think they are beautiful. I dream of gardens full of flowers. I like a pretty yard. But, let's just be really honest, I don't like yard work and I never remember to water them. So...none of those things that I love are a reality at our house except a pretty yard and that is only because Daddy takes care of that.

We were a little hesitant to spend any money on something we were sure I would end up killing, but we went for it when we saw a plant that boasted it kept mosquitoes away. You were so excited.

Since then we have tried our best to water as often as our little plants need. You are such a big helper and you love to do it all by yourself. I think these plants might actually survive since you are the one taking care of them!

You fill up the watering can to the top, try to pick it up, dump some out because it is too heavy, try again, water the plants and repeat.

Sometimes you get distracted and water the yard.

Just today we added watering the flowers to your list of chores (more on that another time).

Watching you experience life is just plain awesome. You want to do everything all by yourself. Your desire for independence is a constant reminder that you are no longer my little baby. You are a sweet little girl who is soaking new things in each day.

This afternoon, obviously, I followed you with my camera as you watered. You just went about your business, but right before we went in you asked, "Can we print those for my room? I love to water the plants and I want to look at them in my room." You are so smart.


I love you.

I love life through your eyes.

I love the little girl you are becoming each day.

You are my sunshine.

Love,
Mom