Splish Splash

Well summer is here and school is out. We don't have huge plans. In fact, the only thing we have planned is a weekend at Disney over the 4th. I always say near the end of year that I need to be thinking of some things to do with the kids to have a little structure in the week. Still working on that but a couple of days ago, we went to a splash park. It also had two playgrounds that were completely shaded which is very nice. You would think being in Florida that would be more common but its rare to find one that has a lot of shade. And the splash pad was perfect. The kids had fun. Mackenzie was the most fun to photgraph this time around. She just has the best expressions and when she is having fun, she is joy filled and that shows up on her face. Mason is still hard to catch and Madalyn had fun but was a bit laid back today.








Love this one!

On the playground

Love the unintentional wink!

Probably my favorite shot of the day...

Change

Most of you know that I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and work at Grace Clinic Christian Counseling. Grace was established five years ago by my friends Brad and Becky Young (to be referred to as B and B), and Monica Taffinder. Prior to this, the four of us counseled together at a local church. In total, we have been together for 10 years now. What began as professional relationships has turned into deeply connected, intimate ones rooted in vulnerability, honesty, fun, and laughter.

A couple of years ago, B and B began talking about moving to Portland to launch a Grace Clinic out there. Becky is from there and has a lot of family in Portland. Desires became clearer, plans solidified, business plans were written and now we are less than two weeks away from their departure. This is a huge loss for me and my colleagues professionally but where I will feel the greater impact will be in the day to day absence of their presence in my family's life. They have three kids, like us, and our children are "best friends". Our oldest two, Riley and Madalyn (in that order because Riley likes that she is 9 months older than Madalyn) do battle over who is in charge, argue, and make up in true feminine fashion. Our middle two, Luke and Mackenzie, are easy going and are often lost in their creativity. They don't need to be right but just like sharing what they know, even if they're wrong. The youngest two, Jake and Mason......well they are just trying to figure out how to share. But it's all fun and our families do a lot together....Disney, dinners, pool, etc.

While I have known this is coming, I am beginning to feel it. In staff meeting today, we prayed for them and the tears flowed. The first of a million I'm sure. True girlfriends are hard to come by.

This stinks and I don't like change.

Memorial Day Beach Pics

Not much to say here really. Had a great time in Jax with Uncle Time and Aunt Jennifer. Here are our fun beach pics.

Building sand castles with Daddy

Matt's Sandman

Toes are some of my favorites, even ones with half the nail polish coming off

This totally cracked me up

Tuckered after a day in the sun....

Camp-In

On Friday, Matt went looking at motorcycles with his friend Dave so I decided to let the kids have a bit of fun. I had just purchased a small tent at Aldi's earlier that day. We love to camp and realize that at some point we are not all going to fit into our current tent and this one was a deal for $25. So Matt put up the tent in our den before he left and kids had a camp-in. They were beyond excited. We pulled out their sleeping bags, camping chairs and the small camping table. We made the night authentic by making smores....in the oven. It's easy. We did this for the first time last June when we were visiting our good friends, the Blasingims, in Colorado. We spent the night in a cabin and cooked smores in the oven. It was great.


A cozy set-up

They'd eat the whole bad of marshmallows if I let them.

Chillin'

So, you just lay the graham crackers out like this. Don't put them together until their warm. Place the marshmallows on top and then the chocolate. It will melt nicely and when done, squish them together. The only thing missing is the toasty-ness of the marshmallows but its just as yummy.

Mason's first marshmallow.

See the stringy mess? I kept asking him if there were good and he just kept shaking his head yes with big eyes and a big smile.

Jon and Kate......Men and Women

Ok, so I will admit to referring to them as if they were personal friends of mine and will also admit that I have been anticipating the season premiere with mixed feelings. I just got done watching it with my girlfriends. Now most woman I talk to seem to either love Kate or hate her. I really like her because I can relate to her, her sinful desire for control, as well as her independence that may have once been her survival but is now isolating and lonely. I like Jon. I like their marriage, including all the parts that are ugly, because it is so classic of every marriage I encounter in therapy. It is classic of my own marriage....my desire for control especially when feeling insecure, and Matt's tendency towards passivity. This is the core struggle for any marriage....a women's proclivity towards control and a man's towards passivity or taking the road less traveled when feeling inadequate. Most women hate to be told we are controlling and it brings upon us much shame. It is our response to being hurt or feeling afraid. Similarly, when men feel inadequate, they pull back, go within, avoid. It takes tremendous courage for men to step up the plate and follow the call given to them by God to lead even when they don't know how. For women, it feels very risky to get off the field, let him lead, and give up the control that makes us feel so in charge and safe. But the reality is is that it feels good to be lead, to be cared for in this way, to be ushered.....like the way it feels when your husband places his hand on the small of your back and guides you in and out of places, a strong but gentle leading.

I wasn't sure where this was going when I began processing on here but here it is. My favorite kind of therapy to do is marital therapy. It doesn't always have a high success rate but I believe it is the most intimate relationship we have outside of our relationship with God and I love to see couples who are willing to risk their hearts to deepen their intimacy. I always say that a good woman will follow a good man. That's just God's design. May you have the courage to offer your vulnerability in such a way that brings greater intimacy and connection to your relationship.....

Beach Bums.......

A few weeks ago we were in Jacksonville visiting my family. My parents, and my brother and sister-in-law live there. We spent the afternoon at Hugenot Memorial Park which sits on the coast. Beach photos are some of my favorites. I spend most of my time with my camera in hand trying to get the good shot. The kids love the beach and this was Mason's first visit. Last year, we treated ourselves to a month at Cocoa Beach in a condo there. We just commuted into work which wasn't too bad. That was quite a treat for us and created memories of a lifetime. Anyway, these are some of my favorites from this day.......


Trying out my black and white feature on my camera

Just the day before, Mackenzie had picked out this bathing suit....one with purple monkeys and a leopard print skirt to match!

One of fun things about Florida....its a treat to find a whole, unbroken sand dollar.

That's my brother, Tim, in the background

Mason got braver and braver in approaching the water

Madalyn searching for tiny little clam like shells

We're heading back there for Memorial Day...stay tuned.

Crafty Kids.......

Matt was out of town this weekend on his annual "guys only" camping trip. I survived my first weekend alone with all three of my bugs. By Saturday night, I was a little stir crazy so off we went to "Denny's Kids eat free Saturday nights" where you get two kids entrees with each paying adult........who can beat that? We played hookie from church since we aren't yet leaving Mason in children's church and one of us usually sits in the lobby with him. So we did craft time instead. There is a website at www.dltk-kids.com with lots of crafty ideas that I use a lot. The crafts are fairly easy and they range from simple coloring pages to more elaborate things like cross stitch patterns. Well here are the results........


Madalyn slightly irritated I have interrupted...


Mason entertained himself with a crumpled up piece of paper and a blue chip clip....

Proud of their masterpieces.........