A long time coming

Yes, this has been a long time coming. Two and half years or more, actually. It's a poem I wrote, you see, and I've been nervous to put something I wrote, you know something that was intentional and from the depths of my hearts, onto the blog. But my friends, the time has come. I think it'll be good for me and it's been on my heart to do it for over a year and I've just shied away from it, so here goes...

Be

If I was a doctor would You love me all the same?

A teacher, preacher, executive,

Would You give me any other name?

If I moved across the ocean blue to spread Your name’s great fame,

Or settled in a safe suburban town to stand upon Your claims,

Would You love me deeper, longer, truer,

Or compare me, remind me that I must be a doer?

No dear Father, Your word speaks loud and true to my heart,

I’m not what I say or do,

But what I am in You, I’m written on Your heart.

I am a shining star,

A beacon of light,

Your glory rests upon my head.

You’ve sealed me in and hold me tight, never to leave my side.

In day, in night, when I don’t measure up,

When I’m weighty with humility,

You lift me up in the palm of Your hand,

Breathe life and hope into this dry and weary land.

In You there is no measuring stick of who and do and go,

But only love, mercy, and grace

To be, and see, and know.

If I would just remember these truths all the time and not let the annoyances of life fluster and frazzle me. Ah, but life does happen and when it does I am anything but the child adopted and grafted into a good Father's perfect love. But isn't that glorious, too, that I can be reminded to just stand back up. I've had to remind myself of that a lot lately; get back up. It's the last part of our armor...remembering to stand (Eph 6:13). My identity is not about what I do, it's about whose I am. I will try to remember that today.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. You're a real trooper.

Beach time!

I don't know whether its the +100 degree heat index or what, but I just don't know what to say these days! We're sizzling over here! And wouldn't you know the pool pump and pool vacuum decided to go out just when we needed them the most. However, on a happier note, we did steal away to Wild Dunes in June with my family and it was fun times.
Here's a glimpse into that fun time...

Now that's a Christmas in July miracle...everyone is smiling and at the camera, too!

Twinkle toes cracks us up.

Some boys conveniently dug a huge hole the previous day and my sister found a long board and Oila! A pirate ship complete with a plank is birthed. That hole brought many hours of fun to my kids.

Kids R Funny

Jessie and Woody are back! For a limited time only of course, because about ten minutes after this picture Jessie pee'd in her shiny red boots. Well then.

 

She's at it again! Climbing and hanging around!

 

 Kick hard little fishy! Z's been really into swimming in the pool sans swimmies and with his big eyes wide open under the water. We got to get some goggles for the man-cub!

I wondered why Z wanted his belt outside with him one morning, but just thought he'd put it on as his Superman belt or something. As I poked my head out the back door for my routine kid-check I noticed the little fellow found a smooth stone and wedged it under the strap. He'd just begun to whirl his belt in the air three feet from the glass door when I yell out, "STOP!" And then I actually asked "What are you doing?" His response, "I'm David and I'm gonna shite Go-why-ush." Funny  little character we've got on our hands. I love that kid.

Oh say what a May!

Oh May, how I miss your cooler mornings and pleasant afternoons. In May we...

...swung from vines. We saw a lot of Tarzan. You like that orange and pink loin cloth don't you? He has a brown one, too. Characters and costumes are still a daily routine ranging from Tarzan to Larry the Cucumber and any one in between. Make a good solid impression on him and he may pretend to be YOU one afternoon, you just never know.

The brave little lassie doing what she do best

My sister friend, coined BBB by my kiddos, got married to Mr. BBB and the event was more fun than I had always imagined it being. From glowing rings to full moons, the event was a happy one to say the least.

And Hb was the flower girl and a pretty one at that. She was so pleased with the princess she transformed into. I love this picture. At the rehearsal she was hamming it up with everyone and I breathed a sigh of relief that perhaps she would make it down the isle in one piece on the big day. Then the big day came and she clammed up tighter than, well, a clam. Luckily she did make it down, but I was begging, I mean, motioning her down at the other end of the isle. At the reception she put a grip on Chris and me that rivaled the Jaws of Life.

i.e Jaws of Life

Z on the other hand might have enjoyed himself more than the Bride and Groom. He was posing with the life size Justin Bieber cut-out and dancin' with all the available ladies all night long.

Mr. Dashing himself, the hat was his idea fyi.

Hannah was dedicated at our home church on Mother's Day (what beautiful timing) since, maybe you've heard, she's an official MIZE! Woo hoo!

Get this...the white dress she has on is the actual dress she wore to her first dedication way back in August 2008. The day we brought Hb home from Greenwood, her birthmother wanted to have her dedicated to the Lord and to us and this is the dress she wore in that service. It has her birthmother's monogram, my monogram, and Hb's birthname monogrammed on the hem of it. What an amazing thing that the dress still fit her and she was able to wear it again.
I LOVED that.

Mother's Day with my mom and all her babies. Just to clarify... some are my cousins, but the way my mom rolls, if you're her niece, nephew, or one of her kid's friends, you're like a pseudo grandchild. By the way, Chris wear'd your face go?

Remember that feat of strength?

And then we went to the lake. Here's Z with one of his heroes, cousin Charlie.

Happy to be swimming in the lake! Summer heat, maybe you're not so bad after all. If it means long days at the lake, mornings and afternoons in the pool, and weeks to the beach, bring it on with your 100 degree heat!

What glorious hair!!

Seriously, that Hb has some glorious hair. It never ceases to amaze me. I mean, can your hair defy gravity? My hair sure can't. Though it has been and is quite the learning curve to my only slightly wavy hair, I've come to appreciate textured hair with all its ups and downs. Hb's hair is made up of zillions of tiny perfectly tendrilled curls, so tiny that if not moisturized properly they'll end up frizzy and knotted, and even THEN, we love that glorious hair. I'm learning and studying from those that I think do it well (many of them have blogs listed there to the right) and still have a lot to learn. Cornrowing, plaiting, two strand twisting, parting, co-washing, these words have become normal in our house. I'm the only one who understands it most of the time, but nevertheless they're here. So, here's to you Hb and your cutie curls! Girl, all of your hair is good!

How'd she get in that swing?!

We looked outside the window tonight and saw two year old Hb sitting in the infant swing buckling herself in...how in the heck did she get in that swing? I mean our three year old Mr. Incredible is strong, but not that strong. We asked her to show us and this is what we got...I don't think this is normal...

Hb's got hops!

You'll be tempted to think Chris was pulling the lightweight up onto his shoulders, but do not be deceived...he merely provided a little boing, a jumpstart if you will, for this child has springs in her legs.

National Foster Care Month

Did you know May is National Foster Care Month??? Well, it is!

I bet you didn't know this...

There are nearly 5,000 children in foster care in South Carolina. That's right. Nearly FIVE THOUSAND. And to make matters worse, there's not near enough foster families to provide a safe and stable and environment for those young hearts.

Have you ever checked out the SC Heart Gallery? Just do it. You won't regret it. Please pray for these children all over our state that deserve a safe haven and a forever home...

Introducing....

Hannah MIZE!!!
It's officially official! Our adoption of Hannah Belle is finalized!
Father has fought for this beautiful sweetheart. He has won the victory. He has gone before us into the battlefield, won the victory, and given us the prize. What a GOOD God.

"You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you."
2 Chronicles 20:17

Sealed

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into the bondage of fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons and daughters, by whom we cry blissfully, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15

A page has turned in the battle for our daughter and God has done it all. She is unofficially official (we still have to do Adoption Decree stuff), so she is not legally a Mize as of yet.

These are the words that are listed on Adoption Decrees. As I read them today relishing in what this means for sweet Belle, I couldn't help thinking about my own adoption to Father God.

"biological rights in and to her terminated and forever barred"...in Christ, that which we were formally bonded to is FOREVERMORE BARRED.

"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the name of the minor Defendant shall be changed"...He gives us a new name...literally.

"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the papers and records of this adoption shall be sealed"...we are sealed with a promise (Eph 1:13), bound and bonded to Father.

Glory to God! God's fingerprints are EVERYWHERE. What a joy to be adopted into His love...even as I write this, you know what's playing on the radio? Mark Schultz' "Everything to Me"...a song about being physically and spiritually adopted...I'm not even kidding. I'll soak this one up.

"IT IS SO ORDERED."

Who done it?

That is a lot of sand. A whole bowl full actually. When asked who done it, neither child would fess up. Each said they didn't do it. I'm surprised they didn't blame it on Luda, the dog. So, here the victim sits, in a cooler.

"Hannah, did you put sand in your hair?"

"Hannah, listen to me. Did you put sand in your hair?"

"Hannah! Did you put sand in your hair?"

Good grief.

Just a reminder...

...if you decide to bake a cupcake in the microwave, it doesn't take as long as you think.

Shenanigans etcetera

Goodness knows we've had our share of shenanigans lately. It's like whatever I say not to do, they do, for crying out loud! In an attempt to stay positive in this moment I'll chalk their disobedience up to curiosity and in that case, my what bright children I have! My nerves are shot today, I'll save the endearing "I love being a stay at home mom" post for another time.

What part of "Don't play in the water" and "Don't play on top of the sandbox" isn't clear?

Don't let that adorable quivering lip fool you.

I don't mind the kiddos getting dirty, it's fun to get cruddy in the mud. I get that. HOWEVER, this scene took place right behind the pool and what you don't see is Hannah playing in the pool pump hence all the mud.
Note: the pool pump is not dangerous, just not a fitting play place

Notice that orangey splotch around the hairline... Carolina red dirt. If there's mud that close to the hairline you better believe there's dirt IN the hair, too. Dirt and sand in those curly locks do not fare well together...seriously, atleast a week later we were still scrubbing out a gritty head. It's definitely not boring figuring out how to manage her glorious hair.

Who cares if it's low 50's outside? If you're covered in dirt from head to toe,
sounds to me like you need a good hosing off.

Anybody out there recognize this? Whoopsies. I'd like to blame this on the kids, but it seems I'm the one changing diapers around here. So yes, that is what happens when the item below gets thrown into the wash cycle. Perfect illustration for the term "Swoll up".

Onto a more cheerful side of my psyche, here's Zeke the Wonder, donned in cowboy attire, cape, and skullcap and below an adorable fire fighter.

And lastly, here's Zeke in the toilet. Pure to the tee Tomfoolery.