Sunday afternoon-Judson is napping, i'm attempting to do some studying- we have no costume and trunk or treat is in 2 hours.
what's new???
this is how we usually roll.
i already had these black pants on and didn't feel like changing, so i glanced in my closet, saw a white shirt, a scarf, some glasses...WAH-LA! and a 1950's couple was born!
isn't my boyfriend just darling?
so cool
GT was out of town, so mom and dad helped me tame the beast for a few hours of trunk or treating at church.
JR was getting kind of grouchy and I was like, "we're out of here" and then Will walked up and things got a whole lot better.
Judson turned that frown upside down and we got a few more minutes out of him
"no way it's good. it's a joke. they can't sing. how silly!"
stop. just stop.
go by the CD, put it in your car...or download it and put in your ear buds. it really doesn't matter how you get the tunes, just get 'em!....and be blown away.
seriously, it's really really good.
featuring some legit crooners:
Josh Turner
George Strait
Luke Bryan
Alison Krauss
a bonus!
one song, "Hairy Christmas" was written by our own Chancie Neal.
as Judson approaches his one year mark (in 2 days!), I find myself on the edge of a good cry all too often.
at random times and during mundane parts of our day
it has been hard for me to admit this, but i didn't feel that instant overwhelming connection with him when he was born-that Hallelujah moment that you hear about.
i loved him, absolutely loved him.
i did feel an instant sense of motherly protection and the need for him to be fed, dry, loved and content.
but, it wasn't the "heart walking around outside of my body" experience that I was expecting.
perhaps this makes me a bad mom. or maybe i'm just like everyone else and we just don't talk about it because we might be labeled a bad mom or whatever else people want to throw at you as a new mom.
(or maybe i was just too tired to feel anything)
but, it didn't take long for that bond to form, grow and become firm.
this day. today. i can't imagine a bond more tight than ours.
he is my heart on two legs. some cute, wobbly and curious little legs.
i didn't expect to be emotional about his turning a whole year old.
part of me was ready for him to become more independent, verbal and interactive.
then this other part of me crept out of now where.
the part that ached for him to never grow or age a day over 6 months.
so is motherhood, i suppose.
recently, i listened to an interview with Natalie Grant on the radio.
she talked about her daughters and how this song, for them, came to be.
then she sang it, "When I Leave the Room"
there i was, parked in a restaurant parking lot, all weepy.
it so beautifully captures the journey of parenthood: from the first days of a newborn to the final days of this life.
of course, i am just starting this journey but it tugged on my heart something fierce
i so strongly desire for Jesus to be with Judson when i'm in and out of the room.
my little desire for him to be fed has been overtaken by my desire for him to be surrounded by angel armies.
i also recognize the amount of grace that is needed on this parenting journey.
little eyes are watching everything and i have and am going to mess up. grace, i need it every hour.
grab a kleenex and have a listen
better yet, grab a whole box
Good night, Looks like we made it through the day The moon sighs and I know that we're okay Sleep tight, I love to watch you drift away I would come with you but on my knees I'll stay
Good night Five little fingers holding mine Take flight Into your dreams and lullabyes There's nothing more that I can do But just fall more in love with you And ask the angel armies to stand by When I leave the room
I'm gonna fail you I already have Ten thousand times I will fall down flat You'll have a seat in the front row of everything I don't know And all I'm trying to be You'll see
Good night There will be storms that we come through In time We will slay dragons me and you I'll always wanna hold you tight Keep you safe with all my might So I will leave Jesus next to you When I leave the room
And you will run ahead As if you know the way And I will pray more Then once you'd have to pray There will be words we can't take back Silences too And I'll be on my knees You'll see
One night When I am old and unsteady You'll want me to fight But I'll tell you that I'm ready When there's nothing left to do I will still be loving you Then you'll fold your fingers into mine And I will let Jesus hold you tight When I leave the room
1. For however much I blog when schoolwork is looming, I neglect my blogging and blog-reading (heaven forbid) when I have housework/party planning/cooking/peeps coming over.
priorities people!
2. We had our first Heart to Home gathering for the season last week. When I walked in I was overwhelmed by seeing so many people I love to be with in the same (perfectly lit, warm, inviting) room! To say I'm excited about this year and our group would be an unfortunate understatement.
3. Our washing machine sounds like a waking beast with the croup at times.
4. Judson Ray turns 1 in 4 days.
we celebrated his 1st birthday this weekend and boy! is that kid loved!
this week, if i get around to it, i will share some things related to his turning a year old.
perhaps i'll even put the pen to the paper and write down the events leading up to and surrounding his birth. riveting, i know.
personally, i like to read birth stories
maybe you could care less about how others labor/deliver!?
really. i like to hear what the experience was like for others
even the details. especially the details.
i don't know.
moving on.
5. the late afternoon is a pretty nice around these parts
the weather is so refreshing (at least when we're there), the ocean is beautiful and the lifestyle is laid-back and active at the same time. a refreshing and quite appealing combination.
a few weekends ago, we flew out to North Carolina for my cousin, David's wedding.
This trip was just as wonderful, except GT couldn't go.
luckily, we had little Judson this time and he was quite the trooper!
thanks to Pa for making traveling through airports super fun and easy on me!
now Judson thinks all suitcases are rides
the little guy NEVER falls asleep on me so I had to document it.
i think we should fly every day just so I can soak up those few minutes
we arrived on Thursday just in time for a little party to celebrate the couple
except, i don't think i actually have a picture of the couple
but this is how we rolled and continue to roll
moving and chasing
my cousin Memory just had a sweet little boy, Griggs. oh my...sweet little sleepy newborn!
so, we rode around with them to the various events and absolutely enjoyed catching up in the car.
we stayed out late all three nights, so little JRay and Griggs snoozed when they could.
little troopers, i tell ya
my Mamaw Lou (my dad's mom) has one sister and two brothers, whose families live in North Carolina, Michigan, Arkansas and Texas. We don't get to see them often, but i adore them all and eat up any time we have together.
My cousin Debbie has a house in Wrightsville beach.
You can actually stand on the top balcony, look to the right and see the sound (bay, or whatever it's called), look to the left and see the ocean. dreamboats.
we stayed in the house next door to hers and I talked about it here
Friday and Saturday were just about as perfect as perfect can get.
we sat on the porch, rocked, ate, drank coffee, went for walks, told stories, walked to the beach, i went for a run, played with the babies and thoroughly soaked up being with one another.
i wouldn't be mad if i had to go back this weekend.
not at all.
Judson sure did love his NC family and I don't blame him one bit.
