a little on the deep side...

So, I know this blog is typically filled with superficial posts about zebra-print sheets or pictures of my darling daughter Hailey, but something I read this morning just won't quite let me move on until I get a little vulnerable.

My morning "blog-checking" routine includes a visit to a blog that Christy showed me a while ago. I don't know the author, but I feel like I do. I find myself reading stories she writes and really identifying with her southern life in Texas. This morning's post was almost exactly the thing that I've been wrestling with in the past few weeks.

From when I was young I've always been a "people pleaser", and lately I realize that that is affecting my view of God. For whatever reason, even though I know in my head that God loves me unconditionally and that my position as His daughter isn't contingent on ANYTHING that I do, I struggle with knowing that in my every day life. I entertain thoughts of, "I'm not good enough to be called a christian" or "a godly mom wouldn't have been so frustrated with their kid" or even "a godly woman would have better self-control with their eating and exercise". But here's the truth...I can't be good enough! That's what Jesus did. Gave himself so I can have a relationship with my heavenly Father anyway.

My mom always tells me that when I'm thinking wrong things that I need to "replace the tape" in my head. It's pretty good advice when God's word also says to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind". I need to stop the wrong "tapes" that play in my head and give myself room to hear the sweet whispers of truth that say "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence" (Ephesians 3:12) and "Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

It's not my job to sanctify myself from the outside in...it's His pleasure to sanctify me from the inside out.

I'm free.

fierce...

I can't believe how absolutely adorable these sheets are!! And a bargain at that...I've been waking up every morning with my face nuzzled into my sheet-less mattress for the last several days. Not cool. My other ones stretched out so bad that they wouldn't even stay on! Hopefully I have better luck with these babies...these wild and crazy zebra-print sheets. Awesome.

Attention all mommies...

We're going to pay a babysitter to watch Hailey for the entire day soon (the first time in the last year and a half), and I have NO clue what the going rate is for that. Any thoughts??

the seattle children's museum...

Auntie Ti-ti, Case, Nana, Mommy and I had the best time at the Children's Museum on Saturday! It's a place where no one ever tells you "don't touch that"! I was real sad that my Mom's camera batteries died about 20 minutes after we got there. We still got some great pics, though. :)

Although you'd never know it by the looks on my face in these pictures, I had the best time and for sure want to go back. Maybe when I'm a little bigger.

Thanks Auntie Ti-ti for this fun day! :)

Our jet-setting summer...

Here's Hailey's new easel. Now if we can just teach her to only color on the paper. :)She does love to put the crayons back in the box...weird.

Here's one of our first attempts to let her feed herself a whole thing of yogurt without parental intervention. You can see that it went very well...if you consider needing a bath right afterwards a success. :)

And here she is in all her glory with half of a banana stuffed into her mouth. Lovely.

Someone (Christy) brought it to my attention that I have been a bit neglectful of my blog lately. Consider this a big "I'm Sorry" to the 6 people who read it. :) In an effort to justify my blog laziness, let me give you the run-down on the insanity that's been our summer...

It all started with the oh, so very awesome trip to Kauai. Good times! We spent 10 glorious days there and had the best time. Sorry, Hailey...next time Mommy and Daddy are leaving you HOME! :)

**INSERT WEEK OF CRAZY LAUNDERING HERE!!**

Then we spent a week CAMPING at Dworshak in Idaho. Todd's former Youth Pastor invited us to bring our boat to Wakeboard Camp and we delightfully accepted. It was only just before we packed up to leave that I really realized that we were camping without running water or electricity. Yes, people, this meant outhouse. The week started out a little rough with me trying to corral my curious 17-month old, but in the end it was great because all the kids at the camp fell in love with Hailey and it turned out to be easier than it would have been to be at home! :)

**INSERT YET ANOTHER WEEK OF CRAZY LAUNDERING HERE!!**

We then came home and began to prepare to go to Wildhorse Canyon with our YL kids. In the midst of the preparations, we had a bit of a major family crisis...our excitement over the expected arrival of our second baby was crushed by the devastating news that I'd miscarried. For whatever reason I never felt like I wanted to share this with the world until now, but when the Lord prompts, you obey. Who knows, maybe someone who reads this needed to hear about my story. Thank you to those who did know and prayed for us.

We picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and headed to Wildhorse two days late. It turned out to be such a good distraction and time with the Lord. I know God used it to heal my broken heart, and for that I'm grateful. Hailey split the week and stayed with both sets of grandparents and did GREAT! Apparently there was only 1 time-out all week...whatever...we don't get through breakfast at our house without time-outs. :)

We made it home after a great week and again began preparing for our next adventure...four days and three nights at Mason Lake! This, mind you, was a little over a week after we got home from Wildhorse, and included our nasty bout with the flu.

Well, we're back home and doing our best to get back into the swing of things...that is, after we remember what the swing of things was like!!

Hailey is growing like a WEED and saying new things every day. Her latest favorite words are "apple" and "fry-fry" (french fry)...although I swear she eats more than junk! She ate salmon and asparagus for the first time the other night. I couldn't believe it.

(I did mean for those pictures to go here, at the bottom, but you know blogger. So aggravating.)

Mason Lake...

You've got to check this out!

You can thank my dad... :)