Dear Daddy - On a Friday

Dear Daddy: 

You come home today! I am SO excited to see you and give you the biggest squeeze ever!

For breakfast, Mommy let me eat yogurt ALL by myself! Yeah, I owned that yogurt. 

We went to the zoo with the Duffys and Stahlbergs! We got a special treat and got to see the cheetahs let out of their house - the zookeeper said that doesn't happen to often!

Here I am with MaKenzie, Blake, Logan and Emily. Aren't we, like, the cutest kids ever?

Here is Mommy with some of her bestest friends in the whole world!

This is what we did after nap...we were funning out of things to do!

This is the #1 sign that I missed you this week. I got these out all by myself!

Mommy tried desperately to get a picture of the two of us, but I would rather give her kisses!

I would also rather touch the camera with my finger...

I finally cooperated, but I didn't have to be happy about it. We are coming to get you so soon!

I am finally reunited with my daddy! "Hey, I know that guy!"

I love you, Daddy! I am so happy you are home!

Dear Daddy - On a Thursday

Dear Daddy: 

Last night we spent the night at the Duffy home. It was super fun to play with them all! It was so much fun in fact, that I woke up several times in the middle of the night hoping that the party would still be going on! Mommy assured me that it wasn't...

This is what I did with part of my breakfast. It tastes JUST as good! Crazy, right?

Here I am trying to use the Diet Coke as skis....I just needed Mommy's help to get down.

This morning we met some friends at the spray park. It was pretty fun, Daddy, but it took me awhile to acclimate (yep, I know what acclimate means)!

Here I am getting a little closer to the water...

Finally I got more comfortable....but I was just as happy eating my lunch and watching all the other kids run through the water. Maybe you can come with sometime, Daddy, and run through the water with me?

After nap I got a special surprise! Mommy and I went to Target and guess who was there?! Uncle Nate and Auntie Ann!!! It was so fun to see them! Here I am smiling at Auntie Ann!

Then Mommy and I met Mummy True at the mall for walking and dinner. We ate at Applebees and I was a monkey boy ALL over the place! But once I had ketchup, I was good. Here I am trying to decide what to order. Big boy choices. 

I also got to climb around in the train at the mall. I thought that made me pretty big!

We also got B&G tonight and I got my VERY first  ice cream cone ALL to myself. 

It was awesome. 

Really awesome. 

Super awesome.

I always give hugs to those who buy me ice cream!

It was an ice cream explosion!

Explosion clean up :). 

I sure do love you, Daddy! I cannot wait to see you tomorrow night and give you the biggest squeeze ever! We can't wait to hear all of your fun stories and just be with you again!

Loving and missing you, 

Pinnster

Dear Daddy - On a Wednesday

Dear Daddy:

I gotta be honest with you, Dad, I was kind of cranky this morning. As hard as I tried to not cry and whine, I just seemed to do it anyway! I think maybe it means I am missing you. 

I had eggs and toast for breakfast. Yum yum!!

After breakfast, we played outside for a bit. At first I thought that Mommy putting me in my favorite shopping cart would be fun......but by the end, I was pretty much over it. 

Mommy took me for a walk in my wagon again today, but it wasn't very long because it was SO hot out! While Mommy cleaned out Emilio, I had fun climbing through the car! 

I got pretty captivated by putting change into the old snack container Mommy found!

After naptime, we went over to Mommy's best friend's house. It was awesome! There were ALL kinds of kids to play with, plus a pool and really cool play set with a slide! I went down it all by myself! Here I am playing peekaboo with Josiah. I'm gonna miss him. 

I had lots of fun playing with the Duffy kids and toys. Here I am pushing stuff with Blake and Kenzie!

I like that Blake kid, Dad. He makes me laugh!

Here's Mommy with her BFF. I don't know if you can tell just by looking at this picture, but she misses you, Daddy. We can't wait to see you soon!

Love, love, love, 

Pinny Matt

Dear Daddy - On a Tuesday

Dear Daddy:

Today I decided to give mommy an extra special treat and slept until 9 a.m.!!! Can you believe it? It was perty awesome. 

Breakfast was the best ever - Mummy True's caramel rolls! I even ate a little bit of apple with them. Mommy kept eating caramel off of my roll, but I didn't care too much, 'cuz I love her. 

After breakfast, we had to say goodbye to Aunt Kiki and my cousins. I kept trying to climb up in the car while the door was open because it kind of looked like one big party! 

Mummy True even chased the car a ways down the street. Mommy and Mummy True cried a little, but I kept moving so it kept them on their toes!

We came home for a bit and went on a walk. I got in my wagon all by myself! Here I am trying to give Mommy a hint. 

Yay! Mommy got the hint! She's a pretty smart lady. 

For lunch I had a grilled cheese sandwich, but I kept taking it apart and eating the cheese by itself. That's hilarious, huh?!!

For dinner we met Mommy's friend Christina at the mall. Christina has this daughter named Avy and....Daddy? She's pretty cute. 

Here I am with Mommy! We had our favorite meal - pizza!!! After the mall you called on Skype and it was the best surprise ever! It was so, so good to see your face. 

Thanks for making time for us, Daddy!

Tonight I played outside at Mummy True's with Mommy. My truck had some big rocks to haul!

Here I am swinging with Mummy True. It was SUCH a pretty night and I love to swing!

Then Mummy True was pruning her flowers and I used a couple of them as drum sticks. 

Whaaa?! Of course I did!

We miss you so, Daddy. You are loved, loved, loved!!

Dear Daddy - On a Monday

Dear Daddy:

We sure do miss you already, but are praying that you have an amazing time at camp this week! We know that you will be such an amazing camp counselor!

I had french toast sticks for breakfast. I was an extra good boy for mommy this morning because I could tell that she was missing you already.

After breakfast, this is what I did! Did YOU know that measuring cups fit on top of one another? Amazing!

Mommy and I went on a walk because it was such a pretty day.

We went over to Mummy True and Gamby's so that I could get some quality cousin time in. This is lunch time and it was CRAZY!

After naptime, ummmm.....we did this? A sweeping spree! (Maybe the toys were all packed up?)

We also went to Tuthill and swing swang swung away!

We got Jimmy John's for dinner and after so much playing outside, we needed a bath! Quade and I took one last cousin bath together!

One last matching jammie shot! I will miss my cousins :(

You missed an incredible sunset tonight, daddy! But we know you are doing amazing things where you are! We love you and miss you!

(Mommy says the fireflies were out tonight and that they make her miss you more). 

Love, 

Your Pinners

Carrying Rocks

Finn is all boy! He dumps dirt on his head, tackles his cousins, and he loves to eat.

One of his favorite things to play with are rocks.

He tosses them, holds them, and if I'm not watching closely enough, will suck on them.

Today, we were outside playing for a bit and he picks up two rocks - one for each hand.

Then, naturally, he wants to walk around our house on the landscaping ledge that keeps our rocks contained.

I took his hand to steady him, because he can't walk it by himself yet without falling off.

Since he had rocks in each hand, I had to wrap my hand around his, which did not feel totally secure.

As we are walking, I thought of how if he would just drop the rocks, I could grab his hand in a much more secure way. Then his slips wouldn't be as frequent or pronounced. He would have a better grip on me.

But either way, I won't let go of his hand.

And as I am prone to do, I compared this realization with my relationship with God.

He holds my hand along the path that I walk.

But there times when I cling tightly to burdens, or rocks, that serve no purpose other than to weigh me down or slow me down.

If I would but drop these burdens, I could cling tighter to my Heavenly Father's hand.

Clinging tightly to His hand means fewer slips, better balance, and a lighter weight.

But either way, He won't let go of my hand.

In Worship

Well, my latest blog was kind of an emotional dud. 

I process my feelings very much while I write and that sometimes means that I don't have it all together or have anything figured out when I type. 

It definitely felt a little topsy turvy to me. 

And that's okay. I'm topsy turvy sometimes. 

Sometimes faith is a fight and I think that post reflects that. 

But there are some aspects of my faith that are less of a struggle and more natural to me. 

Worship is like that for me. It is illuminating and strengthening. 

When I worship, I feel as though I am doing what I am called to do - whether or not I have a mic in my hands.

When I worship, things between me and God are in their proper position. He is high and exalted and I am not. I am reveling in His beauty and power and grace. 

A few years ago, Matt was doing an internship at a church in town. A lady came in, receiving a tour. When she realized who he was and who he was married to, she told him that she knew my family quite well back in the day because she had been friends with my sister, Missy. She told Matt that the last memory that she had of me was riding my tricycle and singing loudly to Jesus. When my brother, Matt, told me that I was annoying the neighbors, I told them that at least I was annoying them for Jesus! 

I have loved Jesus for as long as I can remember, and worship is a main way that I get to pour that out.

Worship is even what brought me and my husband together (well, worship and Saved By the Bell), and I LOVE that. 

I remember as a little girl sitting in the front row at church, I raised my hands in worship with gusto. I then peeked out of the corner of my eye to see 2 older girls pointing at me and giggling. My hands came down, suddenly self-aware. 

It is my hope now to lose my self-awareness in worship and become more and more God-aware. Aware of His presence, aware of His mercy, aware of His beauty. 

Psalms has been my favorite book in the Bible for as long as I can recall. King David was a worshiper and I have always identified with him. The highs and lows, the faith that proclaims and the doubt that questions. 

"I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart,

I'm writing the book on your wonders. 

I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; 

I'm singing your song, High God." - Psalm 9:1-2 (MSG)

"I hate all this silly religion,

but you, God, I trust.

I'm leaping and singing in the circle of your love; 

you saw my pain,

you disarmed my tormentors, 

You didn't leave me in their clutches

but gave me room to breathe." - Psalm 31:6-8 (MSG)

"I will bless the Lord at all times; 

His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

My soul will make its boast in the Lord;

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

O magnify the Lord with me, 

And let us exalt His name together. 

I sought the Lord, and He answered me,

And delivered me from all my fears." - Psalm 34:1-4 (NASB)

"Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?

Why are you crying the blues?

Fix my eyes on God - 

soon I'll be praising again.

He puts a smile on my face. 

He's my God." - Psalm 43:5 (MSG)

"Going through the motions doesn't please you, 

a flawless performance is nothing to you. 

I learned God-worship

when my pride was shattered.

Heart-shattered lives ready for love

don't for a moment escape God's notice." - Psalm 51:16-17 (MSG)

"God-you're my God!

I can't get enough of you!

I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,

traveling across dry and weary deserts.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, 

drinking in your strength and glory.

In your generous love I am really living at last!

My lips brim praises like fountains.

I bless you every time I take a breath;

My arms wave like banners of praise to you. 

I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;

I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises!

If I'm sleepless at midnight,

I spend the hours in grateful reflection.

Because you've always stood up for me,

I'm free to run and play.

I hold on to you for dear life,

and you hold me steady as a post." - Psalm 63:1-8  (MSG)

"Come, let us worship and bow down, 

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture and 

the sheep of His hand." - Psalm 95:6-7 (NASB)

"What can I give back to God

for the blessings he's poured out on me?

I'll lift high the cup of salvation-a toast to God!

I'll pray in the name of God;" - Psalm 116:12-13  (MSG)

"He heals the heartbroken

and bandages their wounds.

He counts the stars 

and assigns each a name.

Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;

we'll never comprehend what he knows and

does.

God puts the fallen on their feet again 

and pushes the wicked into the ditch.

Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn,

play music on your instruments to God," - Psalm 147: 3-7 (MSG)

I didn't want to write very long today; I simply felt a desire to turn my attention. 

In worship.