The Shack

I just finished The Shack - it was amazing. If you haven't read it, GO GET IT! I have heard so many things about it being "unscriptural" - a word that just makes me laugh - but for some reason that deterred me for awhile. After reading it, I can definitely say that it is one of the clearest portrayals of God that I have encountered. The book made me feel completely, utterly CHERISHED by God. It's a story of redemption about a man whose little girl was kidnapped, assaulted, and brutally murdered. I know that description doesn't sound like a feel-good story of love, but it totally is. The theology in it is BRILLIANT and also probably a little bit controversial, but it stretched me in my thinking and in my perceptions and assumptions about God. If you've ever struggled with why God has let bad things happen in your life, this is exactly the book you need to read.

Houdini

Izaih is so funny. And way too smart and sneaky for his own good. We have converted his room into a "safe room", meaning that we have taken everything out of it except his mattress and covers. He gets a little fan at night, and of course, all his stuffed animals. We put him in there and have to lock the door when he starts being aggressive and/or unsafe. He usually has to go in there at least a few times each day. He kept breaking his door and the locks we had on it, but we finally have one that he can't break. We also had to jam his window because he kept opening it. Even after that, last week, while in his room, he pulled the entire window out of the frame!!!!!!!! And it is HEAVY!!! He has also started picking up his mattress and moving it around the room. CHILD!!!!

Anyways, so here is how our afternoon went today, after I put him in his room for running away and kicking me in the face:

#1 -He got out by using the plug on his fan to pick the lock. I put him back in his room.

#2 - He then reamerged by picking the lock with a nail he had found and hid in his pocket for whenever he (inevitably) would have to go to his room. I put him back in his room.

#3 - He escaped once more by using the zipper from some jeans that were on the floor to pick the lock. I put him back in his room.

#4 - He came out in his tighty whities after picking the lock with the zipper of the pants he was wearing. Mommy gave up.

A Little Mother's Day Announcement

My cute little domestic Mom


True Love

I am so blessed on Mother's Day to have such a great mom and such a great son! The boys took me to Crepes in the City for lunch and it was YUMMY! Last night I realized that I have officially become one of those moms that talks about their kid nonstop. Friends, strangers, coworkers, at work, at parties, in lines, and everywhere in between. It's like word vomit that just doesn't quit - I can't keep myself from gushing about Izaih!:) By the way, we just learned that his name is IZIAH, not Izaih. WHOOPS! Pronounced differently and everything! How'd THAT happen???

And on that topic, I can't think of a more fitting day to officially announce that we are indeed adopting Izaih! We decided together (all three of us actually) months ago, but have been waiting for things to die down before we made the big announcement. Not sure when the adoption will be finalized. It doesn't really matter to us. He's our son, official or not!

At the humane society checking out potential pets


First day of FRC preschool - Waiting for the bus

Izaih Being Calm

The moments I live for:)

Celebrity Gossip

When it comes to celebrity gossip, I am the worst! I would log onto Perez Hilton several times a day to escape reality, and I would consume myself with the lives of celebrities and all their drama. I was sooooo hateful and judgmental of some of them, especially Britney Spears. I could rant about her with the best of the gossip columnists. Then I heard the song by Bebo Norman that was written for Britney, and I felt very convicted. They're celebrities, but they're also human beings. Human beings with real problems, real struggles, and feelings. The difference is that they are locked in a reality that only cares about how hott they are NOW and spits them out when they become boring (aka healthy and settled) or run out of money. This all happens in the public eye with millions of judgmental jerks (like me) scrutinizing every detail of their journey and pain, criticizing them and discussing how much they suck. It occured to me that, for being so against gossip, I sure was taking part in it a LOT. Instead of taking part in the gossip and scrutiny, I need to set myself apart and love and pray for them, just as I would any person in my life dealing with rehab or their partner's infidelity. I am a week clean of my Perez Hilton vice. Check out Bebo Norman's song - it's playing on my playlist.