oops

So I wrote two posts on the same day and saved one to be published today. When I went to post it, it showed up as older than the last one so it was placed below "Gigi and Pap-pa Packages" so scroll down for the latest. Still new to blogger.........

GiGi and Pap-pa Packages

These are often the long anticipated deliveries, the kind that drive a parent nuts...."when's my package gonna get here"? Anyway, my parents love sending the kids little care packages. Sometimes they're filled with a bit of candy, notepads, pez dispensers, play jewelry, crafty things, etc. Its like the jackpot around here. They couldn't be more excited if it were Christmas morning really. My parents love that my kids expect packages from time to time. Part of being a grandparent :o).


The big box for the girls and the little one just for Mason....his first!


Oh boy


A hippo water squirter... The girls also received puzzles and hair bows!

He's not sure what to expect

"But boy, do I like it". There's a shirt to match but he didn't feel like putting that on.

"And a cell phone!!"

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.....