30 DPC: Missing You

I cant believe I made it through the 30 Picture Challenge!  There were days I doubted it, days I considered giving up (like the umpteen times I posted the challenge without a photo), but I finally did it.  Want to see all 30 days, or get the prompts for your own 30 Picture Challenge?  You can see them all here.


Day 30: A picture of someone you miss

Good Lord, she was a pain sometimes. 


She jumped up on people.


She licked the kids.  In the face.


She tortured the cats.


But she was our dog. 


She loved us.


And some days, I really miss her.

30 DPC Day 29: Smiles

Day 29:  A picture that can always make you smile

No matter how bad my mood is, my three little minions can ALWAYS make me smile. 

30 DPC Day 28: My Fears

Day 28:  A picture of something you're afraid of

Yup.  That's a rattler. 



Little snakes - love em. 


Bull snakes - think they are great cause they keep the mice and rattlers away.


Cobras/Vipers/Assorted Exotic poisonous snakes - never had to experience them, and don't plan on it anytime soon.


Pythons - pretty cool to look at behind glass.


Rattlers - no thank you.  Creepy, nasty, evil creatures.  Been almost bitten more times than I care to count, have no use for them.  Get the willies just thinking about them. 


And that is my biggest fear.

30 DPC Day 27: Family Photo

Day 27:  A picture of yourself and a family member

Nope.  Its not in focus.  Yup.  My hot pink shorts make my butt look huge.  But Kat took this photo.  And she was so excited that I let her take photos with my camera to document our science class that day.  That makes it worth any potential embarrassment.  Isn't that what we do as moms?  Embarrass ourselves for the sake of our kids?

30 DPC Day 26: Meaningful

Day 26:  A picture of something that means a lot to you



On January 31, 1983, my grandparents celebrated 50 years of marriage.


I was almost 3 years old.


My grandpa hunted for months for just the right present.


He finally found it.

Inside, two of the sweetest people I have ever known.

My grandma never took it off.  And now I will proudly wear it. 

30 DPC Day 25: My Favorite Day

Day 25:  A picture of your favorite day



I could have, seriously, posted anything for this day.


Our wedding.


The births of our beautiful babies.


I have thousands of precious memories, and amazing days.


But, lately, only one stands out.

My sweet girls.


Our first day of school together.

30 DPC Day 24: A wish for change

Day 24:  A picture of something you wish you could change


A while back, we played in the river with some friends.

And, as I look back on all the photos I took that day, I cannot help but feel a bit wistful.

When you are a child, summer seems to last forever.

The days never end.

And growing up seems like it will never happen.

I wish I could freeze days like that day.
Even when my kids are being stinky.

Because those days don't last forever.
Kids grow up.

They go from baby dolls to boys far too fast.

And these lazy summer days will only be a distant memory.

Take the long way home today.

Splash in the creek.

Maybe even pick up a bug or two.

Take the time to search for treasures with your child.

Because little ones won't stay little,

But the memories can last forever.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 23

Day 23:

A picture of your favorite book



The first one is kind of a given:

Kind of important to daily life, right?  :)



I love Clive Cussler books.  All of them.  And we have most of them.  But I especially love the Oregon Files series.

The Oregon Files series documents the adventures of a group of ex CIA/military/intelligence pros that have formed a corporation to do what needs to be done, when governments are too tied up by red tape to do it.  They are based on a ship called the Oregon, that is not what she seems to be. 



I have just found Vince Flynn, and his Mitch Rapp series. 

These are great books if you are into political thrillers/CIA/espionage books.  Mitch Rapp is the CIAs top black-ops agent, and repeatedly saves the world. 


Tim LaHaye, one of the Left Behind creators, co-wrote this next series, which is new but great.

The Babylon Rising series follows a biblical archeologist as he uncovers major artifacts that prove the truth of the bible while fighting the dark forces set upon using the artifacts to summon the AntiChrist.


If you couldnt already tell, I love books.  The hubs got me a Kindle for my birthday, and I have already put it to good use.  My Amazon wishlist is rather long already.  These are just a few of my favorites.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 22

Day 22:

A picture of something you wish you were better at

I love sewing.  It is my relaxation.  But I am never satisfied with my skills.  I want to be able to do really cool things.  Not just semi-cool things. 

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 21

Day 21:

A picture of something you wish you could forget

Do you know what this ribbon is for?


It is to fight sexual assault. 


Did you know that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month?


I didn't.


Probably should have.


Maybe I didn't want to face that it happened to me.


A part of me still wonders if it was partially my fault.


My brain says NO WAY!  My heart wonders.


I was young.  Only 15.


And my heart had just been broken by my first real boyfriend.


He knew what he was doing.


I didn't.


Not until it was too late.


Now?


I will NOT allow another young girl to go through the trauma I went through alone.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 20

Day 20:

A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

That beach looks incredible, right?  So pristine, so peaceful.  Perfect vacation spot. 



What if I told you that was Haiti?



Would you still want to go?



I do. 



A part of my heart is on an island I have never seen.



With children I have never met.



But who need someone who cares.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 19

Day 19:

A picture and a letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

First of all, Mom, please do not hate me forever for posting a photo of your behind.  Its just really hard to find a great photo of you - you are always busy (and avoiding the camera).  Hmm...I wonder where I got that from?  But I treasure these photos because they are you - loving your grandbabies and cherishing moments with your treasures.

Happy Anniversary.  You two are the best example to me of love and commitment through everything.  Through good times.  Through bad times.  Through times where it sure looked easier to walk out, but commitment and love said otherwise. 

You have shown me what it means to be a family.  That family isn't always always blood, but heart.  That family is always there. 

You have loved us kids when we didn't deserve it, when we didn't want it, when we tried to avoid it.  You let us be ourselves, but always reminded us where we came from. 

And now that you are grandparents, I get to watch a completely different side of you.  Thank you for spoiling my children ( Am I really saying this?).  They know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are loved and adored.  Thank you for taking a step back when we have to be tough with them.  I know its hard, but it shows us that you respect us as parents.


When I was little, I could not imagine EVER being friends with my parents.  You were parents, not friends.  Now I understand.  And I love that we can be friends and family together.

I love you both.  Thanks for always being there, for being such great parents.


But please, please stop grabbing each others butts in front of me.  It is still gross.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 18

Day 18:

A picture of your biggest insecurity

Maybe it was subconsious.  I had every intention, at least a week ago, of sitting down and finishing all these 30 Picture Challenge posts ahead of time.  And then I got to this one.  Ouch.  Insecurity.  Was I really ready to open myself up like that?


And then, I forgot.  And life got in the way.  And Beth caught me.  :) 


So, I have to get this done.  My biggest insecurity. 


Is me.


It seems like I am in a constant battle.  Who I am.  How others see me.  How God sees me.  How I see myself.  I am 31 years old, and for some reason I feel like I am supposed to have all this figured out.  But I dont.  And rather than cut myself some slack and show myself the grace I give others, I beat myself up.


Slowly, I am learning to be comfortable in my own skin.  But it has taken a while.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 17

Day 17:

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

No, this isnt the greatest quality photo.  Yes, we are eating popcorn on the couch and drinking dark soda.  But we are together. 

I never thought, when my children were born, that I would have to daily entrust their care to another person.  But I did.  For 3 years.  Being back home for the past month has taught me so much about myself, my daughters, my purpose, my Lord. 

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 16

Before I get started on today's Picture Challenge, I have to tell my handsome hubby Happy Anniversary!  I love you babe, and I cannot wait for 60 more amazing years!




Day 16:

A picture of someone who inspires you

This beautiful young lady is Ashley.  We met almost 5 years ago, when she and her family moved here from Oklahoma. She is many things:

• caring
• loving
• generous
• sweet
• silly
• funny
• joyous
• wise
• a survivor

She suffered a massive stroke at 6 months.  You can read the story from her moms words here.  The doctors were certain that if she lived, she would never be able to function on her own.  Then they were certain she would never have the mental capacity beyond a toddler.  Then they were certain...


And every time she has proved them wrong.  She is a fighter.  She is stronger than most adults I know.  She is an inspiration.


*If you would like to read Ashleys take on her life (and continue to be inspired), you can read her story here. I am certain she would not mind a word of encouragement, either.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 15

Day 15:

A picture of something you want to do before you die

Image Courtesy Google

Yes, I want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane into thin air with nothing but a thin piece of plastic strapped to my back.  Yes, I have promised my mother that I will wait until she is dead before I attempt said stupidity.  But I still want to do it.

30 Day Picture Challenge: Days 11 through 14

Oh man!  I did it again!  I posted a post with nothing in it!  GAAH!  Thanks to Beth for pointing out my oops.  So, to make it up to all of you, I have officially caught myself up on my 30 Day Picture Challenge.  Phew!  Now if I could only keep up with it...



Day 11:  A picture of something you hate (to make up for the whoops a few weeks ago)

Image courtesy Google

Yes, I despise jelly beans.  Yes, I could have gone with something deep, like hate, or racism, or Satan.  But I have spent the last hour 10 feet up a tree trying to get a dead branch down, I am tired, and I just don't like jelly beans.  So there!



Day 12:  A picture of something you love

This was my Mothers Day present.  I am desperately hoping that the Wii Fit will counteract this.  Because it has already gotten a LOT of use.  Seriously, I don't know how I have cooked for so long without one.  I have my own pizza dough rising on the top of the fridge right now.  Anyone want to come over for dinner tonight?




Day 13:  A picture of your favorite band or artist

Image courtesy Google

I like a LOT of Christian rock.  And country.  And blues.  And jazz.  And oldies.  And...  But I think my all-time fav has got to be Third Day.  Or Garth Brooks.  GAAH!!!




Day 14:  A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Yup.  He is a keeper!

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 10

Day 10:

A picture of the person you do the craziest things with

This is my friend Jen.

She is the childrens pastor at our church.

She is my sister from another mister.

We have been known to randomly burst out in song,

Or start dancing,

Or just laugh hysterically for no reason.

We are not afraid to make fools of ourselves for the sake of a laugh. 

Or say things to make our husbands blush. 

She encourages me to get out of my shell, to stop hiding and just have fun!

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 9

Day 9:

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

This is my friend Jill.

She is pretty much amazing.

We met when she started dating the youth pastor at our church, and Jerome and I volunteered for the middle school group.

Jill did not want to volunteer with the middle schoolers.  She thought they were stinky or something.

Needless to say, we did not become bousum buddies immediately.

But Jill is still amazing.

She helped me prepare for our wedding - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

She has walked with me through all three pregnancies.

She has sat with me during the pit of my depression, and danced with me on my mountaintops.

Jill has always, always spoken truth in my life. 

You do not find that very often these days.

And she was willing to dye my hair this weekend.

She really has seen me through everything!

30 Day Picture Challenge: Day 8

Day 8:

A picture that makes you laugh


So.  I couldnt pick just one.  Cause my kids take some really funny pictures.  Like this one, of my mini-wizard.

Or the very happy bug:

And you know our family is all about artistic expression:

And cultural sensitivity.

But, in the end, we are just a bunch of red-blooded Americans:

Bonus:  Can you tell which kid is which?