Growing Boy

Caleb is now 4 1/2 months old and a man on the move. He has been rolling both ways for about a month and has recently been playing in the exersaucer and jumping johnny. He really pushes up on his arms and rotates himself to get things he wants to play with. Mostly...he smiles! It usually just takes a glance his direction and he grins with a wide open mouth. My, how they grow!

Fun at the MOG

I have told Jason all summer that we would go to the Mall of Georgia sometime and play in the fountain, so during our latest visit with Papa Ron and Nonna we did. They had to warm up to it a little but eventually had a great time.

Colleen thinking about it...

There she goes...

That was fun!

Jason the Wild Man

Caleb enjoyed being dry with Nonna

Pretending to drive the car

"What you talkin' 'bout Willis?!"

Granddaddy's Grave

I think Granddaddy would be more pleased with these two fixtures than any flowers!

"The Holy Monster"

Jason wasn't feeling well at Church yesterday so we allowed him to sit in the sanctuary with us during Pastor's sermon. He taught on the Holy Spirit and the role He plays in our lives. At one point Pastor joked about how he grew up somewhat fearful of the Holy Spirit because He was so often called the "Holy Ghost". Well, today as we were playing cars in Jason's room, out of the blue he looks at me and with a laugh says, "Momma, Pastor was so silly yesterday talking about that Holy Monster!" I love the way his little mind works and Praise the Lord that he is becoming familiar with the things of the Spirit (however misinterpreted they may be!).

Driving Miss...

Our poor neighbors see one or all of our children naked just about once a day. What are summers for if not an opportunity to shed some clothing, right?!

A true hand-me-down

Most of Colleen's clothes come from generous cousins, but this little dress was from when I was a little girl. Like the ice cream on the front, she was a treat for the eyes!

Great Grandmother Kirkland

After a good visit with Great Grandmother Kirkland for a couple of days, we took her back to the nursing home in Blairesville. She loves to ride the kids around on her scooter and show them to everyone. Even Caleb got a turn!

Dress Up

I was ironing the other day and discovered that some of the clothes went missing. This is where I found them!

She must be lovely

Dear Lord,

I need Your help today. I would request the same for tomorrow, but will wait for the dawning of that day seeing as this one holds enough challenges for the moment. You see, I do not like who Hannah Kirkland is today. She is not the same woman who exists in my mind's eye, gently and beautifully fulfilling the truest most sincere intentions of my heart. No, today she is an unlovely creature in a brutal war with the flesh, over which she is most certainly not the victor. This is not who I desire to be, so please Lord, change me. Father, don't just "help" me. That is not enough. Empower me, dwell in me, live through me. Or better yet, eliminate "me" and allow Your Holy Spirit to permanently exist in my stead. Use this corruptible flesh as the habitation for your incorruptible Spirit and make Hannah Kirkland the image of Christ, because only then will I be pleasing to You. I give You free reign to "work outside of my box" in order to accomplish this. Take my expectations to a different place, the place where Your glorious wisdom and creativity become my greatest treasure. Make what there is of "me" into the woman I know You must see in Your mind's eye. I want to be her...she must be lovely.

I can imagine she is a woman who is more concerned about the condition of her children's character than that of the bathroom floor. Surely she disciplines with patience and love, not anger or irritation. Perhaps she stops dinner preparations to play a game of make-believe simply because her son asks her to, and dinner can wait. Most likely there are days when all she does is hold her baby because he likes it and feels safe with her, or lets her 2 year old put on makeup with her at the bathroom counter when it will probably make them late. I hope she turns to snuggle in closer as her husband embraces her at the kitchen sink, having the wisdom to know that he is a far greater treasure than clean dishes. She prays with a fervency for her family because she knows that the power released by such prayers is unparalleled. She is physically taxed, but does not weary in the task at hand. For hers is a work of wonder and mystery, a labor of love that is reaping a harvest for the kingdom, and on that her heart is set. Yes, she is lovely. Please Lord, make me her. Please Lord, make me like You.