blessed beyond measure

We're nothing if not consistent. In a replay of last year's day o' fall Americana, the boys and I took a trip to the farm amusement park, and then Daddy, Mama, and two little punkins scooped out some gunk and carved lovely faces into two more punkins. Gotta love this season. Especially when stocking caps are involved. Why is it that when I ask my kids to smile, they give me this? Costume pics coming. Prepare to be underwhelmed.

Never a dull moment. Well, I guess there are plenty of dull moments here on the old blog, since apparently I just can't handle a regular posting regime. But life behind the blog...never dull. We've had our first bout with illness for the season. Poor Aden. A simple cold complicated drastically by severe reflux. Oh, the vomit. So. Much. Vomit. And sleep deprivation. Spreading in mild form to both Trey and me, sans vomit. We're all coming out of it, hacking all the way. But before the sickness struck, the boys and I struck out on a downtown tour. Not the downtown of our town, since that consists of an old abandoned bank building, train tracks, and a dumpster. But the downtown of the next town over. To do a couple of things we never have before and one that we had. We went back to the library. Yes, we did. Even after the disaster that was last time , over one year ago. Not sure what it was that made me think things would go better. Or if I even did. One o...

When Trey was in Kindergarten, his teacher had a discipline system involving clothespins. Each student began each week with two clothespins attached to the rim of a large bucket. If at any point during the week the student's behavior disappointed the teacher, one clothespin was removed and placed inside the bucket. Of course the goal was to get through the week with both clothespins still up. The kids who did that received a reward. If one clothespin was lost, no reward. If both were down, there were consequences. I have been saved, covered by the blood of Jesus, since the single digits. But y'all, every night for as long as I can remember, I have crawled into bed feeling like I had lost both of my clothespins. As I, for the millionth time, would approach the throne of grace with my tail between my legs, begging forgiveness for repetitive sin, there was the same picture in my mind. That of God in all His glory, seated on His throne, sighing and shaking His head. Not...