pinterest: more than hair

my pinteresting this morning led me to something good.

i can just go 'round and 'round in circles on that thing. i usually just end up on some random woman's page under the "hair" section which results in me standing backwards in front of a mirror trying to braid my hair in some trendy way. every time it ends up a normal braid. how does that even happen.

so, to my surprise, i clicked on something that led to substance. 

just yesterday the words "all i want is a thank you" came out of my mouth. i asked Him to meet me there. and oh, did He. i had just pictured Him choosing for it all to come from my husband's mouth rather than the redirection of my mind in Him revealing what it was that i actually needed.

"Christ never required praise. He never asked for it. He never wanted it.

...[choose] mothering as He would. Not for praise. Not for recognition. Not for a hug, a kiss, or even a thank you. Not because I can’t stand a dirty floor or because someone coming for a visit might see the display of animalistic behavior my children can exhibit. Not for any type of compensation. 

... [choose] sweeping up crumbs because that’s what He did. With a perfect love."

i hear Him speaking to me today...

it's a choice.

instagram

things i've insta-ed this month, or wanted to.

shines

and there's the days when it does.
and it's glorious.

the morning sun

if you are friends with my friends, then you have seen pictures of what this city often looks like in the winter. it's interesting to see pictures of what some people think is "depressing winter" at home. as i read their blogs, i look out of my window. it kind of makes me laugh. kind of.

the winter here is just a different kind.

i stopped at the top of the hill to take a picture. i was on a walk, desperately needing it. 

time away and time with Him.

i had received an email that morning from my sister. attached was an iTunes gift of a song titled "the morning sun". and the bottom of the email read...

"that you would receive each day as if the sun was beaming there. 

because it IS. you just can't see it"

i love that beyond these clouds is a blue, crisp sky. i just have to believe it's there. 

every day

[love noah's airplanes in the background]

they're my every day.

and it's new.

i once heard a friend say she chants to herself...

"don't be afraid of your own kids. don't be afraid of your own kids."

honestly, each morning i have to say ok. i'm bigger. older. and smarter.

and then i have to convince myself i'm stronger after noah rams his head into my shoulder.

every day.

aunt beth

got an email yesterday. titled "halloween 2012".

of course it was none other than aunt beth. 

i'm very curious about how this picture even happened. 

but it did. and i love it. 

so there it is. not her family by the pumpkins, but her bull dogs. 

bull dogs that noah absolutely admires.

there are few people who could manage to get my grandfather [mom's dad] 

to do some rock-and-roll fingers.

my aunt is one of them.

she's always been fun. my poor mom had to deal with me referring to her being so much fun all my life. i always viewed mom as the straight "A" student who did no wrong.

and while most of that is true, she has a spunky side as well. but i'm convinced

that didn't come until she met my dad.

[during mom's recovery]

photo shoots with dad in charge.
they never disappoint.

bottom line.

i love random emails.

ones that make me do about a bajillion bunny trails

of just why i love those people as much as i do.