Fletcher's 3 week pictures with Nikki

I am blessed to be friends with so many awesome photographers!  Graysen, Fletcher and I took a trip to Kansas City to visit one of my good friends from High School when Spike was 3 weeks old and she snapped these pictures for me!

He had a clogged tear duct at the time, so that's why his left eye looks a little funny.  Bless his heart!

This is the "Spike" hat Graysen's pre-school teacher Miss Carrie made for him.  Isn't it precious?

His "Baby Spike" shirt that Grandma Marcinda had made for him and brought to the hospital when he was born!

Pretty much the proudest big sister around.

Photography by Nikki Eads.  If you're anywhere between St. Louis and Kansas City give her a call...she's fabulous!

Fifty Shades of "No"

I've been hearing a lot about the book "Fifty Shades of Grey" and the movie "Magic Mike".  I have not read or seen either one...and I won't be either.  It seems that I probably shouldn't be giving my opinion on something that I haven't read or seen, but there's a reason I don't want to expose myself to them.  I've thought a lot about writing this post, knowing that it probably won't be a popular one - even with some of my close friends...but I feel like I need to document this opinion for my children.  I read a post by Jill Savage this morning and I think she states my feelings very well...I'll let her do the talking for me.

"... Why then are we not concerned about what we’re feeding our minds?

What I’m talking about are the droves of mothers who are grabbing girlfriends and heading out to see the movie “Magic Mike.”  I’m also referring to the thousands of moms who are snatching the book Fifty Shades of Grey off bookstore shelves or downloading it onto their Kindle or Nook readers.

Let me tell you right up front, I haven’t seen the movie “Magic Mike,” nor have I readFifty Shades of Grey. I won’t be opening my heart up to either one.  Why? Because I firmly believe they are junk food for the mind.

In the same way that potato chips do nothing to nourish my body, movies about male strippers and erotica novels about extramarital affairs do nothing to nourish my mind.

There’s a reason God tells us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

He clearly wants us to consume only what is good for our mind.

I won’t be reading an erotica novel or seeing a sexually tantalizing movie for these reasons:

• They can cause me to compare my real life to something that is not real. This can cause me to be dissatisfied with my real life and ultimately become discontent.
• They can erode my sense of right and wrong.Sex outside of marriage is wrong, no matter how you paint the picture. I don’t need to feed my mind any message that desensitizes me to what is right and what is wrong.
• They can cause me to think about another man. The Bible calls this lust and God says it’s not healthy for our hearts and minds.

Don’t get me wrong. I like sex. A lot. I wouldn’t have written a book on the subject if I didn’t!

However, I’m intensely aware of how easily the human heart can be led in the wrong direction.  A movie here. A novel there. Before you know it, your heart has been drawn away from the things most important in this world.

For me there’s fifty shades of “no” and there’s no magic in Mike…only Mark."

Will you join me in fifty shades of “no?”

more ramblings

This morning in church we sang "I have decided to follow Jesus" and I literally could not make myself sing the verses that say "where you lead me I will follow where you take me I will go, Where you take me I will follow, anywhere Lord I will go"...because for the first time in my adult life I'm afraid He will ask something of me that I don't want to do. I'm afraid He might ask me to leave my home -my hometown, my extended family, our comfortable, stable jobs. I knew better than to say it if I didn't mean it, and so, I sat quietly...

Two sleeping babies.  The best!

I've entered a really hard stage of parenting...once again. Blake and Silas are working through some issues again. For our family, this means a LOT of boundary pushing, some outright defiance, and many hurtful words. We're in the middle of another power struggle with them, and I need Jesus more now in my parenting journey than I ever have. I want to "be Jesus" to these boys, to love them unconditionally as a mother should, to help them learn to trust, be productive citizens of the world, and most of all to point them to Jesus. I'll be perfectly honest and say that it's VERY difficult to do those things a lot of days recently.  I'm basically exhausted every day, and feeling like our home is no fun to be in anymore.  Anyone with older adopted children have any encouragement / suggestions for me?

Graysen playing Dr. with Daddy

  I'm preparing for a trip to Asheville, NC this upcoming weekend to do some Sole Hope work.  I am so excited about this trip!  I'm sure there will lots of late nights...although I don't know with one of us with a baby who doesn't sleep, and the other pregnant!  Tons of awesome things about it:

• Time away to refresh
• Time with my sister (11.5 hours each way and the entire weekend)
• Possibly time with another fabulous friend if she's able to sneak away and join us
• Visiting the Sole Hope Headquarters for the first time
• First time to visit Asheville (which everyone says is fantastic)
• Participating in a 5k to benefit Sole Hope
• Time with Asher, a girl who I've come to love!

love.

This post has been in my drafts for days, so I'm just going to go ahead and hit publish...

Meremac Springs

We took a family picnic out to Meremac Springs a few days ago.  We so rarely get unscheduled family time, so we wanted to make the most of it!  

 a little momma i tell you!

i always want to remember how calm they were there.  it was something about the fresh air, the sound of running water.  they were all content to just stare at the water.

crazy about this man.  i'm not sure that we've taken a worse picture together, but hey, it's okay, right?

this picture sums up what my heart longs for.  the promise that God has given us for Blake's life.
kindness, gentleness, calmness, family, love, contentment.

oh my first born.  you will always hold the key to your momma's heart.

God has given so much beauty right in our own neighborhood!

we can look normal...sometimes.

but this is really what we're like!

She would throw some food in there and the fish would splash so much that we would get splashed!  This was her reaction every time!

exploring God's creation together.  perfect.

we saw an albino trout!

Hunter's baptism video!

The awesome video that my brother in law put together for all of the baptisms from Lane Springs 2012...wait for the end!  Nothing brings me more joy than to share this moment with all of you!

Lane Springs 2012 from Justin Renaud on Vimeo.

spike's photo shoot {with the big boys}

To my kids,

Thank you for loving each other.  I know it's not always easy.  I'm sure that having so many siblings is trying sometimes.  That you for being gracious to your Dad and I as well.  We're doing the best that we know how.  We want nothing more than for you each to love the Lord, and in turn, love each other.  I think you're all well on the road!  

Loving you always,

Mom

Light Gives Heat

The Hansow family from Light Gives Heat took a small summer road trip this summer to show their film "Moving On", and raise support for the contest through Cultivate Wines that they are in.  (PLEASE VOTE FOR THEM ONCE A DAY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS!)

They stopped in 13 cities, and we were number 3 on their tour!

You know, sometimes I look at people who run awesome organizations like this and think that they are some elite group.  Sadly, (but seriously) they are kind of like celebrities in my world.  

Dave and Morgan were honestly some of the most down to earth, nicest people that I've ever met!  They saw a need and stepped out in faith to help meet it.  They followed their dreams.  How awesome is that?  

They stayed with us for about 24 hours, and we had a showing of their film at the Firehouse Coffee Shop.  My kids so enjoyed meeting new friends!

I'm pretty sure I'll be in contact with them for the long haul.  Isn't it neat when you meet someone that you know will be in your life forever?  Light Gives Heat works in Uganda, and so does Sole Hope...I would love to see a partnership of some kind some day.  Both organizations are run by fantastic couples striving to follow God's commandment to care for the widows and orphans.  

Dave, Morgan, Silas, Hunter, Asher, Graysen, Jadyn, Blake, me, and Fletcher.
Wish Lincoln hadn't had to work!

If you are from my hometown, but missed the showing, I have the movie, and I would love to get together with you and watch it!  Just get in touch with me (ashley@solehope.com) and we'll set up a time!  Also, please go check out Light Gives Heat and see if God would have you partner with them in any way!