The Macs

Around this time of year we always go to the Flint Hills with Joel’s family for a picnic. It is my favorite picnic of the year.

I was talking to a friend today and she said that she has never been to a picnic with such good food. My mother-in-law always makes fried chicken. It is soooo good! My friend is right…it is the best picnic food ever. Fried chicken in one hand and watermelon in the other.

The kids always eat really fast because they can’t wait to start playing in the creek. Levi couldn’t even wait for us to get everything out for lunch…he was in the creek before we even started eating.

All the cousins bring their rubber boots. Some little boys even have to wear pink ones.  Next year I should try to line them all up in their boots for a picture. I’ll have to try to remember that.

Hadden is the only new cousin this year. Such a cutie!

Griffin loves rocks. He would stand and throw rocks in the water all day if he could.

He was trying really hard to keep up with his brother. He’s still a little wobbly!

The oldest cousins are starting to venture off further and further.

They are always on some kind of adventure. Catching tadpoles was one of them.

Levi and Griffin didn’t want to be left out so they followed behind too.

I’m pretty sure the adults have as much fun exploring as the kids do.

They couldn’t catch any fish but found several tadpoles and a crawdad.

While we were splashing in the water I looked over my shoulder and saw these cows that were getting closer and closer.

Griffin and I went to check them out because cows are his favorite. He just stood there and said “moooo-moooo”. He is a man of few words…luckily moo is one of them.  I think he scared them off.

There was lots of swimming. Who needs swimming suits?! Jumping in with your clothes on is much more fun.

Leo loved the water. He was so funny. He ate his watermelon, splashed it in the water, ate some more, and was grinning and laughing the whole time. Happy boy!

Those are Levi’s muscles…in case you were wanting to see them.

Griffin wasn’t a fan of swimming (again!) so we did lots of walking…

…and more walking.

And we threw some more rocks in the water too.

After all that we managed to get all the kids cleaned up for the annual cousin picture by the tree. That was an amazing feat considering how dirty they all were.

After a few silly faces and a runaway (it was Griffin every time!)…

…we bribed the runaway baby with a cookie and got our picture. It was such a fun day and we got out of there just before the storms came through. Phew. I can’t wait to go back next year.

You can check out a few of our past Flint Hills picnics here:

2012 + 2011

Mother’s Day.

It is such a special day. One definitely to be celebrated. I am so grateful for the moms in my life…my mom, my mother-in-law, and my grandmas. All women who have impacted my life in some significant way. But as each Mother’s Day comes and goes, so do the reminders of heartache that often come with this special day. Before Cora died I took being a mom for granted. I thought that when I was ready to be a mom, I would have kids and we would forever be a happy little family. It basically happened that way and I continued in my blissful little world…until that world was turned upside down and I was forced to face Cora’s death. I was a mom…and then all of a sudden I was not anymore. That first Mother’s Day without Cora was dark. I know that Jesus carried me through that day because I felt like I could hardly stand. All I wanted was to be Cora’s mom again.

I always miss Cora a little extra on Mother’s Day. I will never forget that day she made me a mama and I held her in my arms for the first time. A gift that I will be forever grateful for. God has used those 341 days I spent as Cora’s mom to mold me and change me into the mom I am today (a mom who still needs a lot of molding!). And while that sadness usually creeps in as I think about that little girl who is missing from our family, the Lord continues to heal my heart as each year passes. But as the intensity of my own heartache lessens, I am reminded of those who faced Sunday with an aching heart. I am reminded to pray for those who are missing their mamas, or those who are missing being a mama, or those who are longing to be a mama.

Mother’s Day has become a reminder to pray for those who are hurting but also a reminder of the gift that motherhood really is.

It is a privilege to be a mom. I am so grateful for my two boys. They are an incredible blessing to me. Each day that I get to spend as their mama is a gift…even the hard days.

It is a gift to put my own needs aside and seek to meet their needs.

It is a gift to nurture them.

It is a gift to give hugs and be hugged.

It is a gift to comfort them when they are hurting, like only a mama can.

It is a gift to seek to know them as individuals and speak life into their little lives.

It is a gift to train them up in the way they should go…even when I often wonder if I will ever know how to do that.

It is a gift to lead them into an understanding of the person and character of God…the Only One who can truly satisfy them.

It is a gift to play and laugh and cry together.

It is a gift to pray for them.

Even the sleepless nights are a gift.

It is a gift to be their mom.

I read a blog post about a mother’s prayer last week and loved this song that Keith and Kristyn wrote for their daughter, Eliza. Oh man, seeing that sweet little girl running around brought tears to my eyes, but the words of this song are so beautiful. So much truth that I want to be praying for my own children too.

The Lord has given me a job right now and that job is to be a mom to Levi and Griffin. I am thankful for His grace because I mess up all the time. It is a job that I could never do on my own without His wisdom and guidance. On my own I get sidetracked, and selfish, and begin to put other things above this important task of being a mom. But I want to be faithful to the job He has graciously given to me. I want to be faithful to pray for my boys through all of their days. And I don’t ever want to take these days as their mom for granted.

Before I posted this I looked back in my archives to see what was on my heart last Mother’s Day. It looks like there is a theme!

This past weekend we took a little road trip. It actually was more like a big-long-thirteen-hour-each-way road trip. We drove to Ohio to celebrate and be an encouragement to my sweet sister-in-law as she graduated from college…little did I know that I would be the one who would leave feeling encouraged. So often that’s the way life works, isn’t it?

My sister in law is the best aunt to these kids. They love her. Levi kept saying, “I’m so es-ited to see Aunt Ivy!” the whole way there. She probably won the award for the most children who came to watch her pinning. And my kids won the award for the squirmiest and noisiest children during the pinning!

This is Ivy’s roommate. They were both nursing majors and worked so hard…I’m pretty sure they had a lot of fun together too!Aren’t college roommates the best? My college roommate is still one of my best friends. We’ve been through a lot together and I am so thankful for her.

Our first day there was Ivy’s nursing pinning. I’m just going to brag on my sister-in-law a little. The character award they gave her was joyfulness and that so fits her. She just overflows with God’s love everywhere she goes. She loves others well and as a result has had many opportunities to share where her true JOY comes from. I love that about her.

Ivy also won another award. I can’t even remember what the award was called but basically it meant she is an awesome nurse. As her professor talked about Ivy and why she was getting the award she shared how Ivy had felt God’s calling as a nurse…specifically as an oncology nurse…after spending time in the hospital with her niece as she battled cancer. Ivy has shared that with me before but there was just something about seeing her up there and hearing those words again that just made me weep. We don’t always get to see glimpses of God’s purposes in our pain, but I feel like God has been so gracious to give us many glimpses of how He is using Cora’s death for good. These glimpses don’t make the pain go away and they sure don’t make me miss Cora any less. I still hate cancer and death with all of my being. But glimpses like we got this weekend remind me of our God, the Redeemer. I don’t always understand His ways but I can always be confident in who He is. He is completely sovereign and infinitely loving. And He is redeeming the things that happen in our lives for our good and His glory. Until the day when He makes all things new, to see just a glimpse of that “good” is a gift. Thank you, Jesus.

The next day we got to watch Ivy get her diploma.

A few attempts at an auntie picture. My boys apparently weren’t in the mood for picture taking.

Way to go Ivy! We are so proud of you!

We stayed in a hotel for three nights while we were away. Levi thought it was awesome. He brought along his John Deere sleeping bag and set up a little bed for himself in our room. Griffin would only sleep if I was right next to him. We tried letting him cry it out in his pack-and-play but Levi kept sneaking over and saying…”What’s the matter buddy?”…”It’s ok. Don’t cry Griffin!”…”Do you want to sleep with our mommy? Mom, he wants you!” It was really helpful.The hotel also had a pool. Levi loved the water. I’ll let you guess what Griffin thought about the water. Ha!

We got to make a few fun stops for mom at Pottery Barn Outlet and IKEA. My time at IKEA was much too short…and possibly a little strenuous on my marriage.I can’t wait until the Kansas City IKEA opens! The boys got a few late night trips to McDonalds for ice cream. They thought that was pretty great too.

Levi and Griffin were such great travelers. I wasn’t so sure it was a good idea to take a thirteen hour trip with them but they did awesome!

We borrowed a DVD player from some friends and we bribed the boys with movies and sugary treats the whole way. I might not be able to stand hearing another Veggie Tales song for awhile…but it sure made the trip a whole lot more peaceful. Whatever works, right?