Last weekend we took some time to head to East Tennessee to really take in and enjoy fall.  We busted out the new tent and spent a few days camping with friends.  While we were there we wanted to take the kids on a hike, but our favorite hike in Cades Coves is 5 miles roundtrip…and we had 10 kids with us.

I knew going into it the hike would include a lot of this…

And even quite a bit of this…

But, Brewer’s 3… so it was to be expected.  In fact he smiled the whole trip and even napped on my back for a few minutes.  Yes, a nap.  I felt a little like a momma monkey.

What surprise me the most was the 5 year-old who walked ever single step of the 5 miles.  Every single step… he never asked to be carried.  In fact Pete offered to carry him once and Gage refused the help.  He was determined to finish on his own.

Gage was a trooper… At one point he walked to the front of the pack and was overheard telling someone that his mom and dad said “He was one of the best hikers they knew.”  I decided quickly after that this photo of him at the trail head will hang in his room as a reminder of his accomplishment.  Pete and I were both so proud of him.

Here’s one of the best trip photos.  It’s all 10 of the kids right after the hike… and they’re still smiling!!

I have no doubt it will be a day they all remember… and remember with fondness.  But heck, who knows, they could all refuse to ever hike again!

My husband said something yesterday at Cross Point that I can’t get out of my mind.

Control is the greatest of all illusions that you’ll face in your life.

I’m not a control freak, in fact I think most people who know me would describe me as a little Type A, but not a control freak (I hide my controlling tendency well).  However, I find so much security in control.  Comfort in knowing “what’s next.”  Always functioning from “my plan.”

I know obedience is the key… I believe miracles always happen on the other side of obedience.  Even with that knowledge control still allures me.  Control is still a temptation.

Thoughts???

One of my favorite aspects of parenting is watching the quirky phases each child moves through.  For instance, Brewer is currently obsessed with wearing gloves.  He went through this same phase last winter and wore gloves pretty consistently for a couple of weeks.  Imagine my surprise when he picked up this quirk again last week.  And when I say he wears gloves pretty consistently I mean, even when he’s sleeping…

Or was sleeping before the camera flashed in his face.  Poor guy, but I was determined to document his obsession.

Luckily he rolled over and went right back to sleep, he didn’t miss a beat.

Here he is the next morning at church enjoying his favorite chocolate milk still sportin’ gloves.

I’m not even going to guess how many germs those gloves might have contained.  He only removed the gloves to wash his hands after going to the bathroom… yeah, gross! Sometimes it’s easier to just not fight with Brewer.

Any quirky phases your kids have gone through recently?

Another first for Gage.  Sunday was his first time to help lead worship during our KidStuff service by being a dancer. Doesn’t he look excited??? (That dimple is gonna be the death of me.)

Jett has danced at KidStuff for a couple of years.  In fact, it’s one way Jett and I get to serve together at church.

What made me so happy last Sunday was to see the two of them serve together.  I know, to them they were just having fun, but isn’t part of teaching kids to serve teaching them that it should be something they do naturally?  Something they actually enjoy while doing.

So there they stand… together… serving a Mighty God.  And I couldn’t be prouder.

Last week we received a very generous gift…. 4 tickets to the Sunday Night Titans vs. Colts game.  And yes, I’m very aware the Titans are having quite the stinker of a season, but we were so excited to go because it was Gage’s first NFL game.  The way I understand it a little boy’s first NFL game is practically a Rite of Passage!

He loved watching the Bald Eagle land during the National Anthem.  He thought the players wearing pink accents (for breast cancer awareness) were a little silly.  He yelled at the top of his lungs for the Titans and he jumped every time fireworks were shot.  I was so happy that Momma was included in this boy adventure.

Obviously, this isn’t the year for the Titans, so who do you think we should cheer for?

Each year the Nashville Scene does a “Best of Nashville” issue.  This year Cross Point was recognized, which is quite an honor.  See for yourself.

Best Church for Hipsters:
Cross Point
Forget the flowered dresses and three-piece suits—at Cross Point Community Church in Sylvan Park, you’ll find tattoos, body piercings, fedoras and carefully-styled bedheads everywhere you turn. Pastor Pete Wilson’s funky hairdo has become iconic here in Nashville; rumor has it that Music City’s holiest hipsters show up at Trim simply requesting “The Pete.” But you know it wouldn’t do for a preacher to have a hundred-dollar haircut. Cross Point’s trendy tithers can rest easy—according to wife Brandi, Wilson’s style comes straight from Heads Up in Bellevue. Now that’s what I call a miracle.

Funny, I actually feel quite “un-hipster.”  Hope it gave you a laugh to start the morning.  Have a great weekend.

I’m finally back from the land of perpetual coughing and fevers.  My family has conquered our first sickness of the season and I fully expect everyone to stay healthy the remainder of fall and winter.  It’s called the power of positive thinking, right?

There’s some exciting news I’d love to share with you all.  Remember this little post about “Virtual Roundtables?” Starting this month we’re going to be opening those roundtable discussions to reach a larger audience.  That’s right… if you’re married to someone in ministry you should consider signing up.  If you attend a church please pass the information onto your pastor’s wife.

The virtual gatherings are a great time for us to laugh together, share ideas, and walk away encouraged.  Our hope is they will renew and connect women in ministry.

So hop over to Leading and Loving It Together to sign up.

Hi Friends!  Okay… I know you’re disappointed you’re not seeing Jessica and Angie’s smiling faces, but they both had crazy weekends so I agreed to kick off the discussion of chapter 5 of “Crazy Love” for the week.

I’ll start with some background information.  I live in Nashville as well and happen to be married to Pete (who discussed Chapter 1 with Angie).  Three handsome boys call me momma.  I like to organize and hate to clean.  Ice cream is my favorite food and Diet Dr. Pepper is my drink of choice.  I knit VERY slowly and sew a great straight line.  And I’m blessed to be able to call both Jessica and Angie friends, those two are quite a pair.

Onto chapter 5… Serving Leftovers to a Holy God.  I have to say when Francis started the chapter by saying. “Of all the chapters in this book, this one was the hardest for me to write,” I thought, Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into? He jumps right in by continuing his thoughts on lukewarm Christians and examines scriptural examples of poor responses to God’ love.  He simply states…

Jesus’ call to commitment is clear:  He wants all or nothing.  The thought of a person calling himself a “Christian” without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurb.

It’s a strong statement.  Some will consider it tough to swallow.  But what I love about Francis is he doesn’t claim to be your only source for information.  He consistently challenges each of us to pull out our Bible and read.  To search for understanding ourselves.

As tough as the previous statement was to swallow I was encouraged by a following statement “The distinction is perfection (which none will attain on this earth) and a posture of obedience and surrender, where a person perpetually moves toward Christ.”  Obedience and surrender, forward motion… I’m called to keep striving toward Christ.  To keep growing as one of His disciples. To worship and praise the Most High.  To faithfully love Jesus.

They’re all actions I want to take… but instead I often choose to give God my leftovers.

Leftovers… God isn’t pleased if I just sacrifice something. He deserves excellence. The very best I have.  No one enjoys token praise.  Token praise… I’ve been married for 12 (glorious, of course) years and there’s a conversation that’s happened repeatedly in our home.  It goes something like this…

I’ve purchased a new shirt or I’m having a great hair day and I’ll say to Pete, “How do you think I look?”

Being a man of high intelligence he always attentively adds, “You look fantastic, babe.”

My response is always the same… I always follow him by saying, “Well, it doesn’t mean as much when I have to ask you for it,” of course, I’m referring to his praise.

I know it sounds like a silly comparison… but that’s often how I praise God.  I compliment God out of obligation or guilt.  I offer random praise in order to “mark it off my list” so to speak.  I view praising God as a task rather than an honor. It becomes a responsibility rather than a privilege.

Chapter 5 was a great reminder to me that my relationship with God is an active relationship… one of authentic faith which I am propelled toward Christ.  After all “God measures our life by how we love.”

How are you loving today? Is your relationship with God starving because you’re only offering him your leftovers?

Feel free to hop over HERE and continue the discussion.

Yesterday the last piece of “baby” left our house.  For over eight years we’ve been surrounded by bottles, bouncy seats, bibs, and baby food.  These things have slowly exited our life, often with a lot of relief, but the crib has remained.  Brewer is almost 3 1/2, which is a little old to still be in a crib, but this is the first time I haven’t rushed one kid out of a crib because another was on the way.

I’ll be honest, as I removed screws and slowly took the crib apart I fought tears.  As much as I love the freedom my new season of life has I already miss the life that revolves around a baby/toddler.  Don’t get me wrong, I realize my kids still need me… but their level of need and type of need is changing.

I was struck with the coincidence of this season of motherhood changing as fall enters Tennessee.  I love the vibrancy of summer, but often crave the comfort that comes with fall.  Maybe that’s why “taking a crib down” was so hard on me.  There’s comfort in what the last 8 years of my life has looked like and even though I know I’m going to enjoy the next season just as much… I’ll never re-enter the season I’m leaving.

So as one season of mothering fades, another begins… and how could I not be excited about a new season, I mean check out that smile.

Obviously I’m blessed with a houseful of boys.  Because of my testosterone blessing I often hear the question, “are you gonna try for a 4th to get a girl?”

In all honesty I always thought I’d have a daughter.  Mainly because I have a great relationship with my Mom and I’d love to mirror that relationship with a daughter. But, I have total peace in the fact that God chose me to be a mom to boys, he gave Pete and I the challenge of raising Godly men… and I adore my boys and all the “boy” they bring into my life.

However I have a sweet friend who is a mother to 4 girls (we’re hoping for at least one marriage out of this friendship).  They came over one evening a few weeks ago and guess what they brought with them… sponge rollers!  I know it sounds silly, but I had the best time rolling Madison’s hair in the blue and pink sponge rollers identical to the ones my mom used on me as a little girl.

Sometimes it’s nice to sneak some girly things into my life.

And spending time with little girls is a great reminder to remain in prayer for my future daughter-in-laws.  God is gonna bring girls into my life… I just have to wait a little while!

Does anyone else identify with me?