Some Journey

Halfway there. . .

Sam graduated from elementary school today. Puts us about halfway through his compulsory education. . .

5th Grade graduation pics

Aubrey Pics

Okay, they are all uploaded now. Here are the links:

Photo Gallery

Slideshow

Visit with Rebecca

I just realized I never posted pics from Saturday. Sydney's friend, Rebecca, was in town from Nashville for her brother's soccer tourney, and we got to spend the day with her on Saturday. We took her to the zoo and aquarium.

Pics here.

Aubrey Dylan

Announcing the arrival of Aubrey Dylan Reel, 8 lbs 7 oz, born to Leana and Michael at 8:21 am this morning. Big sister Abbie was overjoyed, and can't wait to take her baby home.

I will have more pics later, but for now this will have to do.

Mini Charger Challenge

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Kite

Kite--U2

Something is about to give
I can feel it coming
I think I know what it is
I'm not afraid to die
I'm not afraid to live
And when I'm flat on my back
I hope to feel like I did

‘Cause hardness, it sets in
You need some protection
The thinner the skin

I want you to know
That you don't need me anymore
I want you to know
You don't need anyone, anything at all

Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to know what it is will break you
I don't know which way the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
Don't wanna see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye

In summer I can taste the salt in the sea
There's a kite blowing out of control on a breeze
I wonder what's gonna happen to you
You wonder what has happened to me

I'm a man, I'm not a child
A man who sees
The shadow behind your eyes

Who's to say where the wind will take you
Who's to know what it is will break you
I don't know where the wind will blow
Who's to know when the time has come around
I don't wanna see you cry
I know that this is not goodbye

Did I waste it?
Not so much I couldn't taste it
Life should be fragrant
Roof top to the basement
The last of the rock stars
When hip hop drove the big cars
In the time when new media
Was the big idea
That was the big idea

U2

Those of you who know me know I have been a U2 fan for a long time. A while back a friend who was working on a paper about U2 for a college class interviewed me about why I like U2. The best summary I could give him was that apart from really liking the sound of their music, their lyrics so often express the thoughts of my heart. The fact that U2 is not pigeon holed into a particular genre, being Christians who are Pop artists, I have always felt that their lyrics have met me where I'm at better than artists who have conformed to a strictly pop or "Christian Music" genre. They ask the questions my heart is asking, they confront the emotions I am experiencing. I find that much of "Christian" music only expresses a small, often shallow, part of my heart. And much of pop, while expressing my heart, tends to exclude the context of my Christian worldview. I find in U2 the marriage of the two.

Scott recently passed on to me a copy of a book called Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 and I very much enjoyed it. Due to this, I have had so many U2 lyrics running through my head lately, that I think I will start posting U2 lyrics on the blog from time to time. I'll probably post some quotations from the book, too. Or I might forget about it entirely. But at least if random lyrics start popping up here, you'll know why. :)

The Way Joseph Thinks

ME: What is 50 + 20?

JOSEPH: Hmm. . .well, 20 + 20 is 40, and 40 + 40 is 80, so 50 + 20 would have to be 70.

Tn Aquarium

The little boys and I spent the afternoon at the TN Aquarium yesterday. It was the first time I have gotten to see the penguins. Too many school kids there yesterday, so I still haven't really seen the penguins except for the few glimpses I could get over all the 3rd grade heads. Anyway, we enjoyed it and here are a few shots I took while there:
TN Aquarium Visit

NoNo

I was devastated when I found out I was pregnant for a fifth time. I was SO done after my fourth. I had prayed that I would not get pregnant again. And now, six years later, I continue to thank God every single day that he did not give me what I wanted, but instead granted me the adorable bundle of cuteness we know as Noah. Noah is a delight. I love every square inch of him, including his world famous belly button. And every time I look at him, I have a flesh and blood reminder of the goodness of God's sovereignty, and how freeing it is to walk in faith that what God has planned for us is always best, and usually better than our wildest dreams.

Noah turned six years old on Monday. We had a party for him at Nelie's house Sunday after church. Here are a few shots i took:

Noah's 6th Birthday