In the Sunshine & Date Night Conversations

* These pics are deceptive.  It still isn't warm enough for me.  But the sunshine is nice.

The kids, however, really are this good looking.

Mike & I had an at home date night last night.  With a glass of wine & conversation.

We talked about lots of things and then I was telling him that I wish I could have our kids do a personality test so I could really figure them out, and by knowing more of who they are, I could let them be and have more reasonable expectations for them.

In talking about that, we were refreshing our memories on who we test out to be.

I am an ESTJ.  Mike is an INFP.  I had sorta forgotten that we really are perfect opposites.  We talked through each of those, him trying to explain to me the difference in an S & N ;).  Today I read more online about each of us & again, my jaw is on the floor at how spot on it is.  

And this brings to the front of my mind: God's faithfulness to us.  

 We could have stayed perfect opposites.  When we got married, I would have thought of myself as superior.  I think I've mentioned this before.  And a lot of it would have been because I didn't really understand Mike.  I think I would have continued on with that assumption (my greatness, isn't that the nature of an ESTJ), but this thing called STINT happened.  We lived in another country (something I didn't really want to do) and we were removed from so much that year and this great couple came over and counselled us and our team that year.  And they helped us to see each other.  I think that helped me to put words to our differences.  And, further living and parenting with Mike has taken it a step further to cause me to love our differences.  To love and appreciate all of the qualities about Mike that are so opposite me.

* Pics below courtesy of Lily.

The Gospel takes it even a step further.  Mike doesn't just get frustrated with me, he loves me (romans 5:8).  And his love calms me and helps me to not be so fixated on my way.  He helps me to let go of my determination and trust his love.  In the same way, I can trust my Heavenly Father, trust Jesus because I know He loves me and acts in my best interest (romans 8:32).

But he doesn't demand my submission, he earns it.  

Jesus does that too. 

{Lily's first word was "kee" for kitty.  Following suit, Ben's first word is "ta" for cat. He likes her a lot.}

Now, I don't do any of this perfectly.  We would both tell you that.  But it made me smile to think on this through our conversations last night.  And it encourages me to know God's faithfulness to us to bring about His will, despite my determination to bring about my will.  (Although I think my will is much less than it used to be.)

You can pray for Mike.  Because I now realize I am the harder one to live with.  

It also encourages me to think about parenting.  Because I am still VERY MUCH at the beginning phase of that process, not knowing what is going on & most of the time sure my sin is screwing it all up.  I am thankful for a partner who loves and seeks God, knows what Jesus has done for him, what it cost, and is iNtuitive in attempting to understand these kids.

I am thankful that God sanctifies us and is stronger, calls us to follow Him over our personality types and leads us to live in ways that are different than our natural tendencies because He is most trustworthy.

I also think my husband is pretty great.

Go Hokies!

Mike scored some free VT football tickets from work.  So since Mommy was gonna be away with some girlfriends for the weekend, he decided to take the kids to the game!  Pretty brave, huh?!  He pulled it off without a hitch.  I'm pretty sure I would have slowed them down.  ;)

He made it a day trip and even arrived in time to stop at the bookstore for a shirt for Lily!    Lily's favorite part was that they got to eat a lot of fruit snacks (Mommy doesn't really allow many of those).  But I also found a bag of celery and apples when I unpacked them. :)

Mike's Birthday

 We spent Mike's birthday weekend at the river.  

 A classic Peter position for playing with Legos.  I love the messy river hair.

We cooked hotdogs at the fire pit. 

 Sparklers.  Peter took note that they were like a fuse on the bottom of a rocket.

Mike has a few quirky tricks up his sleeve that he uses on our kids.  They have worked surprisingly well and we've been wanting to document them to remember. 

*  He has our kids "toast" and say something nice about someone when they are having a hard time eating their veggies.  We hold up our broccoli and say "Here's to Daddy!  The best Daddy in the wowld! (misspelling intentional) ;)"

*  When Peter is having a hard time focusing to put his socks on or another similar task, he counts down from 10 to see if Peter can get his socks on before he gets to one.  It works every time!

*  And our favorite:  When we want the kids to go upstairs to brush teeth, get clothes on, go to bed, whatever, they drag and drag and don't obey.  Then he says "The first two upstairs are GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLIES!!" and the kids BOLT up from where they are and RUN upstairs.  Months later, we glance at each other and shake our heads in disbelief that it the novelty just hasn't worn off.

 Uncle Henry was at the river with us.  He let Lily paint his fingernails!

 These were the best family pics we could get ;)

 Thanks, Maw, for Mike's delish lemon cake!

 The whole gang

 Mike requested a canoe ride.

 my mini-me :)

 Love this picture of Paw :)

 Such a fun weekend and happy to celebrate Mike!

Not Too Bad

I think I need a little mid-summer break from the pool but then afterwards, I'm ready to hit it hard again til the end.  We went three days in a row and then this weekend with friends, who we are desperately trying to convince to join.  

I mean, seriously, look at them.

The pool was mostly empty b/c it was getting cloudy (and it just dies out the second half of summer... which I love!). So Mike and our friend, Elliott, decided to do some synchro flips off the boards.  

Man, was I glad I'd taken my "real" camera for the first time all summer.  

Hello, sports mode.  And laughing til my belly hurts. 

My husband has got some serious good form, huh?  He's a hottie and can flip.  

He said he's gonna start training for a one and a half.  ;)  Paw, are you proud?!

Girlies turn!  Go girls!!

So fun.  I mean life is so much easier in the summer with lots of daylight and hours at the pool.  Could we get a vote for it to be so year round?

TCI: Day Four

Let's go back to Turks and Caicos, shall we?!  Its been too long. 

On our final full day there, we just explored up the beach by our resort... up and around the northwest point.

There is just something so good about no agenda.  Just walking, exploring and piddling along as the mood strikes you... On the first day, we'd made it up to the point but we'd left our flip flops on the beach somewhere so it was too rough on our feet to continue on.  We made sure to hang onto our flops so we could keep going on our last day. 

Some of our piddling finds... 

Now looking down the western-ish side of the island

 The terrain was really cool... we called things moon rock, lava rock, and then big hunks of coral!

 Pools of water up on the rocky area

 Deep quick sandy area... 

 Love me some Michael, esp Michael at the beach, in the sunshine, eating a lobster shell... 

 a shallow area b/t two rocky areas

 Sea biscuit?

 Look at ALL of the shells and coral!!!

 Now we are headed down the western side... Look at the water!  

A new shade of blue... sort of a navy!

 How many conchs did Mike blow?

 This sail boat made us think of Robert, Alvin, and Ski.

 Somebody pinch me!

 An area the water had carved out.

Then we headed back... more beach finds... 

 Going in for a dip!

 We were gone for about 4-5 hours!  So fun to do all of that walking in the sunshine and thaw out after a looong winter.  Just what the doctor ordered. 

Later that afternoon, we sat by the pool (in the shade!) and read.

The interior of our resort.  

This reminded me SO much of Morocco.  And made my heart happy to travel again.  Oh, how I miss it.  Love this season too but it was fun to think back on the gift of a season of travels in our 20s.  And its always fun to dream of living somewhere a little more tropical!

 Squeezing in another late afternoon trip to the beach!

and a paddle boat ride!

 not so fun without back rests.  :(

 And the sun goes down on our last day in Paradise.  

Thankful for every minute!