A Challenge in Forgiving

I'm 100% sure of the fact that God will use situations in your life that allow opportunity to grow spiritually and shape your character. When you're disrespected, mistreated, or hurt it's SO hard to forgive. Isn't it just easier sometimes to move down the road, hold a grudge, and forget about it? Maybe...but if there's one thing I've learned about being a Christian and trying to live a life more like Christ it's granting forgiveness no matter the circumstance. An even harder part about forgiving someone the way Jesus did is to do it over, and over, and over again. All with compassion. No exceptions.

He has especially shown me how to forgive compassionately in the last few weeks and I am so thankful for that. An answered prayer! Jesus never turned his back on anyone, and how could I? Life is SO, SO short, let's just forgive one another! Sometimes easier said then done, I know, but it honors God and we can only be truly forgiven of our sins when we forgive others. When I was reading this morning I found a part in Colossians that says it all - Col 3:13.

Kid Tested, Mommy Kegley Approved

Being in sales it's natural for me to want to brag about products I really believe in...especially if it'd make someone else's life a little easier like they have mine. As a busy mom there's no doubt I wouldn't want to live without this! Money well spent!! There'll be more of these types of posts to come...I might just have a few other mommy gadgets around the house :)

Hotslings

This simple piece of fabric has given me two free hands when I've needed them most and Lilly a comfy place to nap. It's said to create a womb-like environment for newborns and I've always heard the benefit to "baby wearing". Although I didn't take it quite as literally as some people do (each to their own!) I have loved having this as an option for her. In the early days it was about the only thing that calmed her during the screaming spells. I'd want to be carried around like this when I'm cranky and tired too! I literally couldn't have done without it during our trip through the airports last weekend...it was a lifesaver!! http://www.hotslings.com/

Crab Feast

We spent the last weekend in Baltimore, MD, where I'm originally from, with my family for a great surprise birthday party for my grandfather. We braved the airports to get there a little faster than driving and it was a TON of work, but so worth it in the end. I swear people thought we were crazy watching us juggle it all in the airport! Now that I think of it a couple people did stop us to say "wow, you guys are brave!". We really are blessed with two cooperative children that let us drag them wherever we want to go. They were troopers! Tim and I learned a few things about flying, however...airlines are NOT designed to make it easy for families to travel, changing a diaper tens of thousands of feet in the air with a red-faced, screaming infant in a space half the size of a coat closet is slightly stressful, and the glares you get walking through a plane with two young children are piercing!

On to the fun stuff! So in Maryland, we don't do family cookouts...we do crab feasts!! A tradition I really miss. The requirements are simple - tables covered in newspaper, piles of crabs dumped in the center, wooden mallets, lots of paper towels, and some cold beer to wash it down. You'll see from the pics that it's no clean way to eat, but completely worth the effort. I have to admit it still grosses me out to rip off the crabs lungs and organs to get down to the meat, but there's nothing like steamed blue crab smothered in Old Bay! Grant was brave enough to try a little with Daddy's help but was most excited to use the mallet.

Grandaddy George (the birthday boy) and Gran Marie

To top off all the fun we had the trip really reminded me about how special family is, no matter what the distance is from porch to porch. Making sacrifices of your own time to spend it with family is so important and a lesson we hope Grant and Lilly learn. The time is never often or long enough, especially with my MD family, but is God given time that I do cherish and always look forward to.

Playing in Great Grandmother's garden

Driveway Art

With Grant being the outdoor boy he is, we try and spend as much time playing in the yard as we can, especially while Lilly is napping inside. He spotted this easel in the back of my car today that I've been trying to hide (not very well apparently!). The chalk didn't last long and he seemed to have the most fun with the water. One of the most enjoyable parts of being a parent for me is watching how proud of himself he is when he does something new or hears praise from Tim and I. He was so fascinated with what he was creating! As you can see, I'm savoring the last days of my maternity leave with Grant and Lilly. Wow, did these weeks go WAY TOO FAST!

Liftoff!

Daddy and Grant had a good time yesterday watching Papaw Kegley take his first hot air balloon ride - something Bob's always wanted to do. It looks like he was excited from the pictures! It wasn't a clear night to see the sunset, but I'm sure he enjoyed it! Tim said Grant was fascinated watching each of the balloons being filled and taking off. Grant even managed to find a playground near the field - they're a magnet!

Cousins Olivia and Isaiah

Our precious gifts, Grant and Lilly!

Yes! I've discovered yet another way to show off my wonderful, beautiful son and daughter, Grant and Lilly! Well, more than anything I want their family and friends to enjoy watching them grow up even though it's sometimes from many miles away. These incredible little people have made me laugh, opened my eyes to the true joys of life, taught me patience (whether I wanted to learn or not!), stolen HUGE pieces of my heart, and made me fall deeper in love with their daddy. And now our precious angels have their own space (along with my random thoughts) in the crazy world of blogs! There's days I still can't believe I'm a mother of two. God has been so good to us! Lilly is now 9 weeks old and Grant is about to turn in 2 in November...seriously - where does the time go??? Enjoy!

Look at those rolls!!

One of the first camera-captured smiles :)

Can you believe I'm already 9 weeks old!!??

The lights one the play gym are apparently fascinating

Waiting for lunch with his new cast