A big day

El turned two on July 6, but due to the crazy 4th of July weekend and our 10 year high school reunion, we postponed the party until yesterday. We had about 25 of our friends and neighbors come over for a BBQ to help with the celebration. There were many highlights, including the large Elmo bouquet of balloons and tricycle, a beautiful quilt made by Grammy Wendy, dress up clothes and accessories including a fancy skirt that has plays the chicken dance song...what more could you ask for? Puzzles, books, shape sorter, blocks that make animal noises, a chariot of little people and blocks, a baby doll, chalk, Target gift card, and a pink boa.

It is truly an incredible thing to watch her grow, increase in her vocabulary every day, and develop a two year old personality seemingly overnight. She still is sweet, mind you, she just has stronger opinions about things and isn't afraid to let you know about them. I am trying to figure out how to get videos on here so hopefully in the next couple of days you will be able to see those!

Father's Day Weekend

The past few months have been crazy and this week is the 10th week that Graham has been out of town for training, therefore, El and I have been by ourselves for quite some time. This past weekend, Graham was able to come home for the weekend and we had a great time together. Saturday was spent at home with ice cream cones and just hanging out. We then drove down to my parent's, dropped off El and continued on to Ouray where we ate at one of our favorite restaurants, the Bon Ton (courtesy of dear friends, John and Aleta!). We celebrated our 6th Anniversary which will officially be this Sunday...my how time flies! Sunday was fun because we were able to spend it with my parents and brother and his family. We had a big bbq together and played in the new kayak that my parents bought. El loved sitting in it and singing 'row your boat' while doing the motions too. So for lack of time and creativity, I am just posting some pictures from our time together.

Let's dance

Ok, I must make a confession...I absolutely LOVE to watch So You Think You Can Dance on Fox! I don't know why I enjoy watching people dance so much, probably because I am not a good dancer. I enjoy dancing but only in the privacy of my own home or at weddings here and there. For those of you who have not watched this show, I just had to share this audition that was amazing! This is a popper from Cali and he is unbelievable at what he does...what an entertainer! ENJOY!

Random pix

I haven't shared many pictures very recently so I thought it time to do so. I look at these pictures and am amazed at how Ellie has somehow morphed from baby to little girl so quickly. She is now talking up a storm, and able to communicate fairly well and understand us even better. (Even though she doesn't always want to hear what we are saying) She is such a joy and blessing!

On a hike in Colorado National Monument:
Playing with her cousins- this just cracks me up
you have to click on the pic to make it bigger:

Playing in the water on our hike:

The Fam:

Yesterday was her first time in piggy tails
"Moo" the cow, courtesy of Diddy and Nana!

Restoration

I have been convicted lately of how much time I spend consumed by what is going on in my life, my family, and my job. I love it when you find something that touches you and is so much bigger and deeper that opens your heart up to more. For those of you who have heard about the genocide in Rwanda, this is an amazing story of restoration, hope and healing that can only take place because of God's power in the lives of His people. I found this article through a friend's blog and just had to share it here. Read it, find out what Macy's and Rwandan basket weavers have in common...and be blessed!

My desire

I felt compelled to share this song as it speaks what is on my heart right now. Aren't we called, as Jesus' hands and feet with the power and authority of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to set the world on fire??? My heart is that if we really took the Lord at His Word, nothing less than this will happen. What dreams has He given you?

What is Joy?

I love to laugh and I love to hear people around me laugh. The sound of laughter coming from those closest to me are among some of my most cherished memories. I recall so many times growing up when our family shared big belly laughs around the dinner table, playing games together, and just through our general conversations. Every time I hear my mom, dad, and brother laugh I am brought back to those great times we have shared. There is just something so sweet and unforgettable about the unique ways they each laugh. Then there was the time a few Christmases ago that we were sharing a game of Balderdash with Graham's mom, Wendy and sister, Hilary. Graham wrote something so outlandish and hilarious that Wendy couldn't even read it and every time she started to, she would just wipe the tears from her eyes and try to get in a good breath between the laughter. I crack up just remembering it.

Motherhood has provided ample opportunities for me to laugh, especially lately. It is an amazing thing to be able to go from seeing the first smile and hearing the first tiny giggle to causing your child to belly laugh and then watching her do things that make me laugh so hard it hurts. I love to experience these times!
However, I often confuse laughter with joy and happiness. We are so into trying to place ourselves into positions where we will only experience happiness that we have lost the true meaning of joy. I keep thinking about something Bill Johnson said at a conference we were watching in small group. He talked about standing beside his father as he was dying, praying for the Lord to heal and restore him, but the Lord didn't choose to heal him and he died. At that moment, Bill realized that because of the Joy he had in the Lord, he had a unique opportunity on this side of Heaven to praise and worship Him in the midst of such deep sorrow. He said that the fragrance of the worship that he was offering to the Lord at that time was different than anything he would be able to give Him in eternity. Isn't that just a beautiful picture of true Joy? I deeply desire to live in that and not this plastic, sugar-coated happiness management society that I find myself most days.

These are a few things I found that I like:

"Weeping is for a season, laughter is for a season, but joy goes on and on. Don't put your trust in temporary emotions like laughter. Laugh at appropriate times, weep at appropriate times, but put your trust in the Lord and His Word, and you will have abiding joy forever in your heart."- unknown

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. ~Woody Allen

"Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell..." - William Saroyan