InstaFriday

Oh. My.

It's Friday afternoon already.

Whew! where has the week gone?

Seems that I cannot be counted on to give any kind of update or any other kind of post on a regular basis.

Sorry.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Life gets hard.

I do have some snazzy pics to sum up my week...

Rigg found a bike helmet in the car... and then he proceeded to wear it in the car... in his car seat.

Safest.kid.ever.

this made me ponder what Rigg thinks of my driving...

This kid is the most adorable thing in the world.

Then he turns monster and ruins the whole affect...

Dude has no middle ground. Sweet, cuddly-adorableness... crazy monster child who might not belong to me...

still... love that face!

The crazy monster child listed above may have absconded with the Captain's toothbrush. It has not been seen for many, many moons. So after seeing that the Captain was using a hot pink toddler brush to clean his pearly whites, I bought him a nice adult, manly orange number.

Your Welcome, Captain.

As a mom to young children, I have found that the bathroom is not a room I can enter alone. In fact, when I really need to use the bathroom, this seems to be the exact moment my child's world will fall apart without me. So they creep in and take over when I am mostly incapable of doing anything about it.

It's moments like this when the thought that I have boys, and one day their dad will take them on boy-only weekend camping trips, is the only thing that sustains me.

The boys have been requesting UP, lately. Ryder even says uuup!

Sniff, tear, sigh... I love and hate this movie.

But mostly love it.

Cranky, old Mr. Frederickson is a kick.

The line about walking to the falls in a timely manner with "no rap music or flash dancing" kills me every time.

flash dancing..hehe.

We got a brand spankin' new next door neighbor this week.

I decided to be extra neighborly and bake him G-ma Barb's famous chocolate chip banana bread.

I baked 3 loaves.

We ate 2.

Thank you neighbor.

Life was imitating art around here this week. The very fought-over and coveted Buzz Lightyear's arm broke off. Rigg was beside himself in horror for his favorite toy. I told him as soon as daddy got home, he could go to the store with daddy and buy glue so mommy could fix Buzz's arm. The glue was bought, surgery performed, and all former mobility restored. When I was done reattaching the limb, Rigg saw Buz and declared " Mommy! You fixed Buzz Lightyear! You Fixed Buzz Lightyear!"  I was the coolest mommy in all the world right then.

I'm still glowing from my victory.

This week has been filled with grief for me. Not just over my little girl, although there has been some of that. There is some other changes going on with us and I am grieving the loss. And it hurts. I need a quiet place to go and process. This was the spot I chose. God was good to me that hour. I cried until I had a headache... but it was very, very good.

My God is cool like that... taking the heavy from me.

I am throwing a baby shower for my friend Lauren.

Tomorrow.

And this week I have been obsessed with all things baby shower.

I don't like to brag... but it is going to be the most awesomest shower ever.

I have been making decorations like a crazy person.

This is a centerpiece that is going to hang above my dinning room table.

It's ok... you can be awed into amazement.

Also, I kinda feel like a baby girl shower should have lots of flowers...

So my mantel is now a holding place for lots of flowers...

eeek!! I love them.

I kinda went overboard on art for the nursery. I made some prints for her wall... and thought, ah, heck... let's use them as decor for the shower... and I love it.

Maybe she won't be allowed to take them home...

maybe...



I'll do a whole post on the shower. But first, I really, really, really need to clean my filthy house.

InstaFriday

YEAH!!

InstaFriday!!!

Because I used instagram like an addict this week.

but mostly

because I remembered in enough time to actually download my pics and post them...

details...
(you can follow me on instagram, my username is carichastain)

So... my week in picture and comment form...

My boys love playing under the blanket. It makes for hours minutes of enjoyment and laughter... and fighting, and shoving, and concussions and suffocation...

but mostly enjoyment and laughter.

a church semi-near me has an awesome play land. Seriously. It's this huge room full of padded things to climb on and tunnels to crawl through and slides...  a kids dream come true. As well as a mama's. 2+ hours of happy play while I got to sit and chat with my friend. Amazing.



So Ryder is in love with Mickey Mouse.  He covets Rigg's stuffed Mickey. When Rigg is otherwise engaged, Ryder sits on Rigg's bed and rubs noses with Mickey... it happens everyday and it might be the cutest thing I have ever seen.



This picture totally is my life.

Rigg was singing Veggie Tales and Ryder was yelling "GO! Go!Go!" at the top of his lungs. 

everyday... all day, this is what we do.

oh... and this picture makes me so happy I could just die.

When one gets up way too early, one gets to watch Larry Boy save Bumblyburg on the "pa-pu-ger".

It's also a big bonus because you can bring your favorite dog friend.

Rufus seems to like Larry Boy.

Good friends, Pixar, sitting way too close to the TV...perfect day.

A card came in the mail with a gift. No name. No return address. Just one simple overwhelming desire. Be blessed. It's in this kind of love-made-tangible that I see my God. He is once again, in a not so subtle way, reminding me how He loves, cares and provides for His own.

To whomever... thank you is not enough...

and you...

Be blessed!

uncomfortable

I have not been handling my life with grace and finesse lately.

In fact, I am a bit of a mess.

There seems to be too much change happening all at once.  I like to think I am a person whose down with change... who enjoys and even delights in the new and the excitement of it all.

But in reality, that is only how I feel when I want and/or direct the change.

Turns out, when change is happening and I am not on board... I'm a bit of a cry baby.

Who knew?

I had an excellent conversation a few days ago with a lady I just love.

I was explaining how The Captain being out of work for a time, and how our bank account being tumbleweed central has been uber stressful for me. I have been surprised at how poorly I have been handling it... given this is not my first rodeo... or however it goes.

I mean... I should be able to handle a crisis better by now... I have been trained. I have been shaped, molded... I have experience!!

But there is a deeper lesson I have not really learned.

I have coped. I have grieved with grace, I have changed my perspective, I have seen the faithfulness and graciousness of God firsthand...(granted all these are lessons that are learned over and over and over again) however...

I have not learned how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.

I still struggle and try to change things... I still long for and wish and pray for ease... for sight. I want to see the road on which I walk. I want to know which direction I am headed. I can handle not driving the car... but I want to look out the window and see the signs!!!

I am uncomfortable.

I am discontent.

And it is a slap in the face to my God.

He has my life under control. He loves me and wants what is best for me. He has given me things to accomplish and He will provide.

And I am unhappy with how He has directed my path.

How ungrateful.

How selfish.

and I still struggle.

My heart has not caught up with my head.

So I have been praying.

Praying for contentment in every circumstance.

Praying for rest in His plan.

Praying for Peace in His provision.

Praying for comfort in the uncomfortable.

Philippians 4:11

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Philippians 4:12

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Hebrews 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

smorgasbord

Wondering where I have been?

I took a mental vacation... which included all things app-y, interwebby, and bloggy.

And I wish I had something more substantial to come back with... but I do not. I wish I had all kinds of fun news and interesting updates...
but all I have is this:

I have very dirty floors. You would think with all this vacation from all things electronic I would have a cleaner house...not so much. VERY dirty floors.

Don't tell CPS, or A&E, I think the producers of hoarders would call if they knew...

I have a new straightener. A friend purchased me a small bit of sanity in a fun teal number that now resides next to my red blow dryer.

Happy.

I am planning what could possibly be the cutest baby shower in the world for my friend Lauren... who is having a baby girl. They have decided not to name her Cari... but I am still being a loving and supportive friend... I can rise above like that.

The Captain has a new job.

However, I am not jumping up and down with joy.

It's not that it is a bad job, I actually think he will love it, and he will be great at it... so in most respects, it's awesome.

But the pay is... minimal. As in still not really making it.

So we have some tough decisions to make... and some praying to do... and some more stretching.

Seems like God keeps asking us to stretch.

Maybe I should take more yoga...

I also want to thank you for all your comments and prayers. I love it. I love bloggy friends. I have come to know some people through blogs that I have never, and may never meet in real life. Some don’t even know I stalk them... because I never comment. But I love them, and pray for them, and get the biggest joy out of reading their comments on my posts, their posts on their blogs...seeing their kids grow up in pictures before my eyes.

So if you fall into any of those categories, know that The Captain and I recognize you... and we are thankful for you... and we love you.

SO

In keeping with that last thought, a blog friend gave me an award... and it had rules... which I am too lazy to follow... But I will tag her here: Ashley

and I will answer all of her questions, which are:

1. Name three items that are always in your purse.

I still carry a diaper bag... and it is filled much more then I need... and I just emptied the bottom of goldfish remains about two days ago. So diapers, wipes, chap stick...

2. What is your go to make up item?

MASCARA!

3. Do you prefer Sweet Tea or Coke?

Diet Coke in a can, ice cold, might be my most favoritest thing on the planet...

4. How many kids do you want?

no idea...

5. What is your favorite movie?

Depends on the genre, I love movies and love a ton of them, but the one I love almost any day, no matter what is Pride and Prejudice. swoon.

6. Do you have animals?

a loud, tolerant of my children, dog named Bo.

7. How long did you date before you married?

just over a year and a half.

8. What is your favorite book?

I do not have just one. I love reading, I love getting lost in a story. I have fallen in love with so many books it's ridiculous. I know the ones I love the most because I have read them over and over again.

Francine Rivers' books are some of my favorites. Redeeming Love... So good. The Mark of the Lion series... page turner.

Harry Potter series... nerd.

9. Who is your favorite movie star?

Don't have one.

10. How long have you been blogging?

Since April of 2008

11. What was your reason for starting your blog?

I wanted to chronicle my life as a mother, of Caden growing up. God had much different plans for this blog, but He has let me keep some of my original intention... I still get to tell you about how I am a mother... and how it is a job that tries to beat me across the head with lessons and humility and much more poop then I ever really intended to deal with.

and that, as they say, is all for today.