Friday, May 30, 2008

Silly bubbles.


This is Aspen's version of smiling when you're taking a picture! What a goof! Kelly thinks she looks like Michelle Tanner from Full House in this pic.




Aspen LOVES "bubbo's" Thank you Kuhlman's for the bubble maker!



Sweet kicks from Uncle Benny and Aunt Jennie.


Attempt at a picture with Uncle Benny and Aunt Jennie. Aspen? Hello...?

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Rain drops fallin' on my head!

Yesterday we had a HUGE rain storm. It hardly ever rains here, but yesterday was a doozy! Big ol' raindrops, hail, thunder, black sky...the works! So, it was the perfect day to pull out our first pair of rainboots. Aspen decided to test out their mud puddle jumping ability in the Target parking lot. We were the silly parents standing by encouraging her to jump and splash while snapping pictures. HA!



Turns out the rainboots are a hit with Aspen. She put them on all by herself (on the wrong feet) this morning. Hmmm...shoes she can put on all alone...mommy likes this idea! She's pretty cute in her mismatching jammies and her new favorite boots.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Just another day in Paradise

The kids screaming, phone ringing
Dog barking at the mailman bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Friday, you're late
Guess we'll never make our dinner date
At the restaurant you start to cry
Baby, we'll just improvise
Well, plan B looks like
Dominoes' pizza in the candle light
Then we'll tippy toe to our room
Make a little love that's overdue
But somebody had a bad dream
Mama and daddy
Can me and my teddy
Come in to sleep in between?

Yeah it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place
that I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Well, it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place thatI'd rather be
Two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

For just another day in paradise
Well, it's the kids screaming.
The phone ringing
Just another day
Well, it's Friday.
You're late


So, here it is. One of our favorite songs. Why? Well, first of all, because I'm pretty much convinced that Phil Vassar spied on us and wrote this song. :) Second of all, I love this song because it is about contentment and perspective. Finding contentment and even (gasp) joy in the midst of any circumstance. This is a lifelong struggle for most, it definitely is a struggle for us. It takes a concerted effort to focus on the positive and not the negative. But, the reality of our life is that most days it's just plain a mess. Things go wrong. People dissapoint. But it's in that mess that we cry out to a God who fixes the broken places, a God who grants peace that passes understanding, and a God who shows us how to be not dependent on the outward. Those moments with God produce the most beautiful thing---contentment, joy, happiness, peace, and strength.
And that my friends is where we find ourselves in paradise on earth. A true state of bliss and delight. Thus the title for this blog: A beautiful mess, a glimpse into our very own paradise. This blog is us, and I am mostly writing it for us. I want a written account of these times in our life. A time when we go through hardship after hardship and learn to see how truly beautiful and blessed our life is. A time where we change our perspective to believe that we can delight in what God is doing right here and right now, in the midst of a mess. It's really quite beautiful. You are welcome to read and comment if you'd like.

Oh yeah, it's just another day in paradise.

(You can listen to the song on the player below)