silly boy.

I cannot believe how many pictures we have of this kid inside of something.
Baskets, boxes, buckets, you name it.
This night he was hiding from Corey in his bathroom hamper.
Pretty sneaky, huh?

umbrella.

Lawson loves his new umbrella!







He loves his mommy, too! :)

broken things.

God uses broken things.

Broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain,

broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength.

It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume.

It is Peter, weeping bitterly,

who returns to greater power than ever.

(sermon quote from Pastor Dave)

I don't know about you guys, but I am so unwilling to allow myself to be broken, AND be okay about that. I want to look like I have my act together, like I know what I am doing, like I don't have any problems, like I don't ever argue with my husband, or argue with my children, like I don't worry/become angry when 10 pounds appear in one summer! etc.

And how sad, due to my refusal to be broken, God can't use me.

Remember Steve's message about Mary offering herself to God to be Jesus' mother? And Steve said that the heavenly angels must have celebrated when the message reached them...."She said yes!"

I want to be broken,
So I can be asked,
So that God can celebrate by saying,
"She said yes!"



A friend of mine sent this email to our group of girlfriends this week. I love it. You are amazing, GB. So wise. I'm so lucky to have you as a friend. Praying that I will learn to embrace my brokeness instead of wishing it away. Thank you for the reminder.

family night.

Last night we went out of town to our favorite family pizza place, and then to Aunt Heather and Uncle Brian's house to see their new "babies," Max and Ozzie. Sophie spent the first 30 minutes of our visit hiding from them and jumping on the couch whenever they came near. Lawson was a little braver. :)




Despite how the pictures look... no little boys were harmed in the following photos:






I like how Corey's reaching in to help here... I'd hate to see that brush get trampled on by a feisty little dog. Nevermind the child that the feisty little dog is standing on... let's get that brush out of the way.





Though it looks like I am just sitting here snapping pictures while my toddler gets mauled by dogs, he really was okay. He was shrieking and laughing and giggling the whole time. We would get the dogs off and he would lay right back down again, just begging to be jumped on!




We're calmer now... let's just sit with daddy and pet the dogs.




Maybe not.


His face was pretty red and he had a few scratches, but none that are still visible this morning. (Which is good, because we had his pre-school open house and we were afraid they might report us to SRS!)


Vicious looking creatures, aren't they?

i am very loved.

It must be "make your teacher cry week."
Happy crying.

I got another note from a student yesterday. This one was written by his mom, though.

"Dear Amy,
I just had to send a note about Nicholas' bedtime prayers. Tonights included... "and God bless Mrs. Jones because she is just awesome and what more could a kid want... So thank you she is my teacher and keep her safe and happy." (totally filled my eyes with tears!) Then more kind words from the mom and dad... words than any teacher would love to hear.


I love my job.

i am loved.

One of my 1st graders brought me a card today. (It's a K-State postcard, actually!)


Dear Mrs. Jones,
I love you more than my fish.
Your my best 1st grade teacher.
I adore your help in math.
And one more thing,
I will always remember you.

Love, Rebeca


The last line makes me a little teary.
But the fish line has to be my favorite.

for pam.

Sophie: "These are the bestest cinnamon rolls ever!"

Lawson: "Deez are yummy cinnamon wolls!"

"We need to tell her thank you."

Thank you Pam! Your cinnamon rolls are truly the bestest ever!

fyi: She mills her own flour.
Seriously.
I don't even have an idea how you would do that, besides using 2 rocks, and I'm kinda hoping that's not the method she used.
I said she could totally have been a pioneer.
Corey said if he ever becomes Amish, he's taking her with him.

She's amazing.
So glad to have you back in KS! (Sorry, Iowa folks.) :)