It's Autumn!

It's AUTUMN!

Yesterday was so beautiful I decided that we just couldn't stay home! Charlie had gotten up early in the morning so he was ready for a nap at 11:30 which gave me perfect time to pack us a lunch and get everything in the van- all I needed was Charlie!

 

So we went on a picnic! We had PB&J, yogurt, strawberries and cantaloupe, some veggies and a juice box! Quite the Food Guide Pyramid of a lunch, huh?!

  I love his looks when he's eating peanut butter! His favorite thing is the jelly!

 

Yummy! He's become such a good eater- he's been eating on his own for a while. Things like cereal still make a big mess though, but he's getting there!

 When I decided to go have a picnic with Charlie, right away I knew exactly which tree I wanted to sit under! This one! Can you blame me? It's gorgeous! It's huge! I was so glad it wasn't taken!

The sun was giving us just enough warmth and light in the shade! It was like it kept peeking through the branches saying, 

"Hey guys! Enjoy your lunch! It looks good!!"

I kept trying to get a really good picture of Charlie for his 18 month picture. But I had no such luck. There were too many other things to look at beside the lens of my camera!

This one I kept because it was so cute sneaking behind him! His chubby little tummy makes him look like an old man in a pair of blue jeans! Haha!!

Here he is at the base of the tree. I just couldn't believe this tree wasn't already taken by earlier picnickers- but I guess because we were later everyone else was taking naps!

 Here he is again pointing at something interesting I'm sure...

You'd think out of all the pictures I took that ONE would be a good one... but at least he's making some kind of reactionary face!

So after a few pictures by the tree it is now time to swing! We were down hill from the toddler swings the whole time and Charlie just couldn't handle it any longer! This was a tractor thing we found by the jungle gym. He got on and off this several times!

But at least he was enjoying himself!

 I didn't get any pictures of him swinging. I figured there are enough pictures of him in the swings! He LOVES to swing! 

But this picture was when he ran back to the tree to see if there were bugs...

 

Well, this was our adventure. I wish somehow you could have been there and sat in the shade with us! I haven't been on a picnic in a very long time and it was so nice to not have humidity to ruin your time. The wind was nice and soft, the sun was hot but the shade actually made you cool. It was not like Cincinnati weather at all! In fact, at that point I could have taken a pillow and fell asleep with a book! But Charlie doesn't have that long of an attention span!

After wards we went to the mall  to look around and maybe buy a CD from the Family Christian store, but they didn't have what I wanted. It's a peaceful CD called "Sleep Sound in Jesus" by Michael Card. I want to use that Cd when I'm in labor with the next baby. I didn't get to do that with Charlie, unfortunately.

Anyway, thanks for visiting us again! Have a great day! 

Looks like it'll be another beautiful one!!!!

"This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

The Thing About Life Is...

I've been pondering many things in my life lately. What's in my life, who's in my life, where am I going with my life, what do I do for others with my life...It's so easy for Mom's to look around the house and not be satisfied with their cleaning, the pile of laundry on the laundry room floor, the kids need baths, dishes in the sink, and then to sit and think "I'm so tired! I don't know how any of this is going to get done!" Then hubby comes in the door from a long days work, wants a shower, dinner and to sit down with a few minutes to himself. GREAT! It's also so easy for Mom's to feel last on the totem pole. "Hello Honey- I'm glad you're home and you need a moment to yourself- but I need YOU! When is someone going to take care of me?!" And then somehow Mom gets this guilty feeling that there's still one more person in the house who needs tending to, and that's just what she was made for- and she gets this gusto of energy and she pulls a little more out to give of herself for a couple more hours before she can fall face first into her pillow and zonk out till someone cries in the middle of the night and needs her again. 

And then she gets to do it all again the next day. 

And she doesn't mind really--- because she waited her whole life to get to wipe that runny nose and kiss that little boo-boo. And she doesn't complain about the dishes when she's cleaning tiny forks and sippy cups or folding little socks and singing her way through a zillion alphabet letters she's finding underneath the couch. And as she's putting away the ten thousandth book she comes across the photo album- the one that boasts of the day she brought him into the world- the sunrise the morning he was born, she sees it again as if it's the first time. And she remembers how that tiny face used to fit in her hand and just today he pointed in the sky and tried to say "bird" and then ran off to catch a ball and throw some rocks. She wipes away a tear or two, sniffles, puts the album in the bin and breathes a breath of achievement. No amount of clutter and dust could make her feel any less empowered. She is a Mommy. Forever.

So then I thought: the thing about life is that it never stays the same. It changes constantly and you'd better keep an eye out because you will miss it! Those flowers that were just in full bloom are now cut down. Those shoes that Baby used to wear, they're in the storage bin in the basement. That 1st birthday came and went. And what matters most, isn't the clothes we buy, the shoes we wear, the luxurious vacations we take- life is about living! And never wanting it to stay the same. Don't hang onto the past- live and love wherein you are- because all too quickly it's over...

The thing about life is that you only get one chance to love. Then you die. So I had better start loving as much and as deeply as I can. And you know what I found? It doesn't hurt me anymore to do so. It makes me feel like I have a purpose. I'm needed, see, because someone else just couldn't possibly love my husband and kids the way I do. That's why I'm here. I know God loves His children just the way I love mine, but even more. I hope to love as closely as God love us. 

And the other thing about life is it teaches you everything you need to know if you let it. It teaches you how to be selfless, loving, patient, compassionate, grateful, faithful and hopeful. If you watch carefully the wise people around you, you will see that sparkle in their eye- that trophy of experience and a life that was lived to it's fullest! Try and look for the glitter in the eye of an elderly person the next time they smile your way. It's almost as if they're saying, "you've got it right, gril! Love those babies with everything you got and enjoy the best friend you'll ever have sleeping right by your side, because one day- one of you may not be there anymore." And then that twinkle will flicker out as quickly as you saw it. 

So remember to LIVE everyday. Because the thing about life is it's over almost as quickly as it began.

Old Fashioned Day!

OlD fAsHiOnEd DaY!

Our Church has Old Fashioned Day every September and it's a BLAST!

This year we had:

~ Great Gospel Music ~

~ Fantastic Lunch on the Grounds ~

~ Old Fashioned Outdoor Preaching at 3PM*~

~Sharp Shooter Championship~

~Dessert Contest~

~Greased Pig Catch for the Kids~

~Pocket Knife Display~

~Tug-of-War~

*Amens and Handkerchief Waving Encouraged!

Of course I had to take a picture of my little man!

 Looking at the goings-on! :)

There's my smile!

 Now for the Pig Catch! 

 Charlie really thought this was cool! 

I think he wished he could have gone in, too! 

 Charlie and Allie!

 Poor Wilbur! That's who this pig reminded me of!

 But~ let's take it up a notch~ grease it!!

 Go get him Wesley!!!

 Good job Connor!!! 

 He finally pulled the pig to the middle circle!

 And the poor pig was so wore out he was afraid to move a muscle!

 Now that he was wore out it was time for the little kids to try their hand at it!

 Almost! The grease was really making it tough!

 C'mon Mikayla! :)

 "Not so fast!" said the little pig.

 Maybe a towel for more grip might work!

 Yay! Finally! Whew!!

 Now for the knife show!

 Wow! These were avid collectors of some pretty amazing knives! 

It's hard to see from this picture, but this case holds knives of every president with their picture on it! Except for the 44th president, he doesn't have one yet.

I wish you could see the one on the bottom left- it's Abe Lincoln's. Really neat! This was my favorite collection!

Then we had the singing! This is our men's quartet, most of the songs they sing are acapella and they are awesome! Scott, the guy in the black hat also plays the piano, which he did today as well. It was really good!

~Notice I didn't get any pictures of me and my 2 plates full of food!! The desserts were amazing, too bad I did not get to try the 1st place winner's cherry struesel! But the cheesecake, apple pie and eclair cake were awesome!!

Tiffany sang a beautiful song! 

It went right along with her beautiful voice!

As I finished my dessert (the same ones mentioned above, not round 2, although if no one was looking and there was any left, I might have had more!) I decided to go photograph the Tug-of-war. I got all the way over the match and everyone turned around and walked towards me! I had missed it! So, no pics of that!

I also didn't get any pictures of the Sharp Shooter Championship. It's tough trying to keep all the gear I had with me in sight and Charlie! He was off and running on everyone's blankets and seeing what they had in their cups! 

We really had a great time! The Pastor's message wasn't about the "Old Fashioned ways" and how things should stay the same, however, it was about the things that MUST change; In particular, "Lord, Change ME!" 

We also opened a time capsule from 1994! 

It was neat to see all the old tapes, pictures of people that had passed away, and art work from 3 year olds that are now 19 and off to college! 

Time flies. 

We only get one life. 

Makes me love more, hug longer and be slow to get angry at the things that don't go "perfect". 

It's life. Live it for God and you'll have a life well lived; with no regrets, little heartache, and many memories! 

Baby {Lillie}

My sister Sarah had her {adorable} baby girl yesterday!

Baby Stats:

Lillian Gabrielle Matthews

Born: September 13th 

Time: 3:30pm

Weight: 6lbs 14oz

Height: 19 inches

{PICTURES}

Little feet

Looks like Mama

Uncle Jeff holding {Lillie}

Aunt Kelly holding {Lillie}

Mommy holding her precious darling {Lillie}

Darling!

I {love} this one! 

And this one!!! 

A {baby's} cry...

I got to visit my sister this afternoon at the best hospital for delivering babies {IMO} The Christ Hospital!  It was so good to see her and the baby!  I really enjoyed my time visiting with her, I could snuggle with that baby from now till Kingdom come! She was just beautiful!  Sarah said she's nursing very well and Sarah looked a little rested, too!  She's still on clear liquids as she heals from the C-section, but all in all she's recovering well!  I can't wait to see {Baby} Lillie in her home and take some more pictures!!!