This picture popped up on my time-hop this morning, and it stopped me dead in my tracks.   It was the last photo that I ever took with my grandfather before he passed away.   I feel like I should at least have a slight twinge of pain when I see this image as I grieve what “once was,” but instead, I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I stop to remember my Papaw. I am grateful to have been loved by such an incredible man of God.   Never have I known someone who loved the Lord so purely, so passionately, so fiercely and so completely. I am grateful that his legacy lives in me.   I am grateful for the example he set, and I strive daily to imitate his walk with Lord in my own life.   I am grateful for the memories he gave me – summer vacations, family holidays, snuggles in his office, Wednesday dinners followed by Awana at church. I am grateful for the stories he told me and the sense of belonging that came from them.   I will al...

You know those days when you just laugh because you just can't believe how ridiculous your life really is?  That was me today.  Seriously, sometimes I think that I should just write a book because I just can't make up this stuff. As we were leaving for school this morning (late because I forgot that it was picture day) I got a "Remind" message from Eli's teacher that today was flashlight reading day.  I'm not sure how it happens but I ALWAYS miss these little memos.  I'm starting to think that it's not just me and that Eli has my organizational skills, thus he regularly misplaces important documents. In any case, I had to stop the chirping alarm, sit down the 263 bags I was carrying and start rummaging through drawers looking for one of our dozen flashlights/headlamps.  Of course they were nowhere to be found.  I ended up locating a pretty sorry looking pocket-size flashlight...but naturally it wasn't work. Luckily, the batteries were ac...

Saturday marks exactly one month since illness struck the Watson home, and someone has been sick ever since.  Seriously, we were just at the pediatrician's office this afternoon.  It's almost comical at this point, and because of that,  I want to document this whole saga for my own sake.  I'm pretty sure that 20 years from now, I'll still be talking about it.  HA! February 19 - Ellie is diagnosed with a respiratory infection: x-rays and labs are drawn February 21 - Eli tests positive for the flu February 24 - Ellie is still sick, and we find out that she has bronchitis, double ear infection, sinus infection and the flu: gets injection to speed up recovery February 28 - I am diagnosed with the flu (it is more like a mild cold but whatever) March 7 - Eli tests positive for strep March 10 - Eli starts complaining of leg cramps March 11 - Eli has blood tests that reveal white blood cells are 50% below what they should be March 13 - Eli has more l...

I feel so honored to be raising a little boy.  They are the craziest, sweetest, silliest little creatures on the planet, and mine just keeps me on my toes all the time.  Tonight was no exception, and I just had to document this before I forget. After dinner, Eli innocently asked me to give him a high-five, so naturally I agreed.  He then started laughing hysterically and said, "I just had that hand down my pants!" Ugh...so gross and so funny all at the same time!  We're clearly knocking it out of the park by raising such a charming little guy with excellent hygiene. Ha!  I think we may need to work on his manners before the dating years. Oh, and don't worry...we made him wash his hands immediately!

My Sweet Ellie Girl, Today you are four years old, and I know that I should say I don’t know where the time has gone, but the truth is that I can hardly remember what life was like without you.   It’s as if you have always been apart of me, and I am so grateful that the Lord chose me to be your Momma. You are everything that a little girl should be.   You’re sweet and sassy; silly and giggly. You spin and twirl until you wrap us up in your charm, and you captivate our hearts with your precious spirit.    You have exceeded my every dream of what it would be like to have a daughter, and I cherish these fleeting moments of childhood innocence. As we spend countless hours painting our nails, playing dress up, giving each other make-overs, and pampering ourselves, I can’t help but wonder what the future will hold as you grow into a young woman.   Will these childhood pastimes turn into teenage drama as we trade our little nail-painting parties ...

Last fall, the Women's Group at my church did a study called "Looking for Lovely."  Never in my life has the Word of God been as tangible to me as it was during the weeks of that study.  It came during a season where I was desperate for truth to be spoken into my heart and into my life.  I needed encouragement and hope, and every day the Lord spoke to me through the pages of that study in a way that I have never known before.  It was true intimacy with Him, and I am so grateful for that time of maturing in my faith, although the growing pains seemed unbearable at times. Today I'm in a completely different place for the most part, but I've asked the Lord to never let me forget the truths he spoke over me during that time.  Never.  Humble me flat on my face if you need to, God, but let me not forget that your strength was made perfect in my weakness. The quote above more or less sums up the study, and I try to continue practicing this discipline dail...