Happy 4th/Monday Morning Music

Happy 4th f July everybody! I was debating about whether or not to post a 'patriotic' M3 today since it seems that most patriotic songs of current birth are soaked more in politics than patriotism, and I'm not a fan of politics much of the time. However, I did just finish the 2nd book in a 3 book series that takes place during the American Revolution, so I am feeling a bit patriotic and felt like I needed to put something up. So, found this video of a song I sang in choir every year myself, which has a very 'revolutionary' type feel, AND is directed by Bayard DuBois, who is a fabulous acquaintance of our family and someone I love to sing for! Enjoy the Issaquah, Washington combined high school choir version of BATTLE HYMN!

Family Camp

Every year Jackson and my mom go to Pinecrest for family camp. Usually, E and I go down on Friday, but this year I had a conference for work so E went down on Wednesday and I joined them on Friday (we even got Josh to join us!). The kids had a blast...(disclaimer - there are more pics of E because Jackson spends most of camp off on his bike in the woods somewhere so you can never take his picture!)




Frog hunting...I think they caught 8 or so of these TINY frogs (no kidding they are only about the size of a fingernail)



She was obsessed with the frogs, but when you asked her if she wanted to hold them she would promptly reply. "No, I too little"



She told my mom she was being a turtle....???


Swimming in the lake


She would steal licorice from the bag my mom had and then run under the bottom bunk so you couldn't reach her and eat it...so BAD!



Jackson singing with the Saturday night choir. Notice the "I'm all that" pose in the first one, and how in the 2nd one he has mysteriously lost his shoes!!!!!

awww....

I was taking a shower and came back in the living room to find this :)

Monday Morning Music

This week my M3 is a song that I was introduced to by a friend during a church service :)

just a thought...

I stole this article from another blog and appreciated the honesty in it. If you read the article this blog will make a bit more sense. Now, I'm not writing this to make anyone feel bad, or to throw my politics in your face, but I'm writing this to share my heart. Josh and I have long felt that hopefully we would at some point add a child to our family who did not share our DNA. Both of us have always felt a call to it and with his having 3 adopted sisters it was never a shock, or even a real discussion, just always a plan. I have no idea when that plan will happen, or maybe even if it will, now is certainly not the time for us to intentionally bring a child into our family who may need special needs, be it physically or emotionally, but hopefully someday we will be in that place. However, I know more than one couple, who have adopted children out of deep love and desire to have a family, regardless of how it is built, or what color it is.

"Adoption is an option" is this lovely quote that church-going individuals love to march around with, and YES, it is an option...but personally I remember very clearly those same individuals making an 18 year old, pregnant 'church brat' feel like her only option was to walk into a clinic. Adoption IS an option, one that is beautiful and selfless, but it is also one that requires an immense amount of support and guidance. It is a taboo subject that people are scared to discuss, and I don't understand why...

So, before my soapbox gets so large that it takes over this page, I will simply tell you to read the article and maybe a few of you will be willing to stand up...

Monday Morning Music

Ok, I get it, not Monday morning, but 3pm will do! Ok, this song was actually discovered by E and her constant search of Elmo on the ipad, but I thought you might enjoy!

Flower girl!!!

This is from a few weeks ago, but still to cute not to share. Elliette was asked to be the flower girl in a wedding for a beautiful who I have known since she was 8 months old. I haven't seen Kelley myself several years, but my mom has kept in touch with her and we were honored to be asked to be a part of the wedding. So, the last day of school my mom and I sent Jackson to my aunts and loaded up the car for a long ride to Atlanta! I'm not going to make this post long, because I'm sure you are more interested in the pictures, but I can say the wedding was hot, chaotic and beautiful! We were quite worried about whether Elliette would even go down the aisle but she pulled it off and got her reward in the end. Take a look...

(the rehearsal -the only time she threw the petals!)



(watching Elmo to keep from melting down)






(the baby was her reward for making it down the aisle)