A sweet {girly} baby shower...

Today was so special.  My dear, dear friends threw a baby shower for baby girl and I.  Who knew you needed so many girly things! We got so many bows and headbands and pink things -- my heart is delighted.  Although, I may need a tutorial or two on these complicated head bands we got!

I'm truly blessed with the most wonderful friends.  They made me feel so loved.  And all the sweet things that were said today blessed my heart in ways that I may never forget.  It was even sweeter celebrating our little girl with these very friends because they were such a huge part of our infertility struggle this time around.  So many faithful prayers were prayed and so many words of encouragement were offered as we sought God for another child.  Now I get to share with them the joy of this sweet girl.

It's a good thing to have friends who know you so well, too.  Not only did we have spinach dip and fruit and veggies, but there were mini Cheevers ice cream balls for dessert {our favorite dessert, from our favorite restaurant -- just homemade!}!!! And they knew I would get there early -- so they, too, arrived early.  It's just so incredible to me that I have these friends who care so deeply for me and know me so well.  God's kindness overflows on me in beautiful ways.

And here are some pictures!

Hostesses and me. Such dear friends!

Food table.

I guess we are having a serious conversation...?

Ice cream balls of goodness.

A bathing suit!

Let's GOOOOOOO!

Matchy WVU shoes!

A bow board, handmade by a sweet friend! It was so fun to add bows to this when I got home!

Well, I guess now we just need to go a little laundry and wait for this girl to make her way into the world! I'm 35 weeks today, so if she can hold off for two more weeks -- we will be in the clear {term wise}.  Come on, baby, we are READY!

Meaningful Monday.

Do you have friends that just mean the world to you?

Do you have a few that you could talk to about anything? 

Maybe they would drop everything to encourage you, talk to you, pray for you?

Do you have friends that you can laugh hysterically with and make silly jokes with?

Do you have friends you can be honest with?  

Can you call them out and expect them to do the same for you?

Those friends are rare. And a treasure!

My life has been filled with season after season of different friendships.  Some have lasted a lifetime, others I don't even talk to anymore.  But when we were close -- in that season -- it was a beautiful thing!

The more we move and as I mature, I find that my heart desires depth more than width in friendships.  I don't want a thousand friends, quite honestly, because I cannot keep up with them or give them the attention and affection a true friendship requires.

I've noticed that there are a handful of friends that will out last all the others.  I know that there are some friends I can call on -- whenever, wherever, whatever -- and I'm cared for.  I've realized that those few friendships are worth every single ounce of me that I put into them.  And I'm a better person because of it, because of them.

There is one friend that I had a few years ago, we don't talk much anymore, but every time I think about our friendship I can't help but know that God was glorified and we both grew so much.  Until that point I had never been corrected, loved or fought for as much as I was by her.  And until that point in my life, I had never, ever spent so much time on my knees praying with and for this friend.  We were so different, but I loved how God used us in each others lives. When I think of what a "biblical friendship" looks like -- I always think we had an incredible beginning of one! Do you have a friendship like this?

I've been thinking a lot lately about having a "best friend" and what that would look like. But at this stage of my life, only Patrick could be my best friend.  And he's the only person I want to call my best friend.  Not because my friends aren't the best -- but because what a "best friend" requires is all that I give my husband and not even close to what I could give a friend.

Patrick is my most exclusive friend, knows anything and everything, good and bad. He walks with me intimately, talks to me constantly, prays for me passionately, encourages me daily, corrects me and leads me and grows with me and loves me even when it may seem impossible or hard. And I do all of that for him. I can't say that for any other friends at this point in my life.  And I'm okay with that.

I love that Patrick is my "best" friend.  I love that the Lord has provided super close friends for me to walk with and talk with and grow with.  I love that there are other friends, who I may not be as close to, that I can still love and laugh and enjoy life with. I love that every season brings along someone new, someone to grow with and learn about.  I love how God made us all so unique -- and made our friendships connect in perfect ways, to bring us closer to Him and for His glory.

What are YOUR thoughts on having a "best friend" or just "seasonal" friends?  I'd love to know more thoughts on this as I continue processing all of this!

I am loved.

There have been few times  in my life that I have felt overwhelmingly loved.  Sure, I know people love me and have loved me.  But the last two and half weeks have been nothing short of selfless, sacrificial, biblical love -- all poured onto me and my little family. And there has never been any other time in my life when I have been so humbled, for so long.  I have never graciously or lovingly welcomed such humility.  Until now.

I'm not sure my words could do my emotions justice at this point.  In fact, I may start crying as I try to write them out.  I'm so humbled, so grateful for the ways I have seen the hands and feet of the body of Christ move around and in me since my surgery.

My job is not easy, as a mom.  Add being a wife and homemaker to this and it's pretty crazy and requires more than I have to give -- just another reason I'm grateful for the the Lord!  Even so, I have seen my dear friends add all my "stuff" to their to-do lists so I can recover and heal well and quickly.

Not being able to clean my house, wash my laundry, stand for a long time, run errands alone or lift my boys has been so hard for me.  Maybe even harder than you may understand.  When Andrew falls, hits his head and starts screaming -- I cannot run to care for him.  I can't run, nor can I lift him.  When B is having a hard day and walks up to me and hugs my leg, then asks "Momma. I want to hold you. Please." My heart breaks a little because I can't lift him into my arms.  And until just recently, I couldn't get onto the floor to even hug him.

On the other hand, watching my friends clean my house and do my laundry has been not only humbling, but very eye opening!  Ways that I thought were the "right way" before have changed as I have seen their ways work better in making my home.  My preferences on how the clothes are folded or the dishwasher is loaded have been kindly washed away by the Lord.  I simply cannot care how things are being done at this point.  I just have the opportunity to humbly say 'thank you' and be more than grateful that my chores are getting done by other hands.

So you maybe now be able to imagine the gratitude and humility that I feel as I watch my whole life, my whole "job" being done by the hands of people who love me.  You may be able to see now why my heart could never say thank you enough to Sarah (my sister-in-law) who gave up her schedule, her work commitment, her life for five days to be here and do my job. Non-stop.  The job the Lord has called me to do.

She woke up with the boys.  She served meals. She cleaned and did laundry and put my children down for a nap.  She held my boys and loved them just as I would. She drove my car and helped us with errands.  She encouraged and informed me.  She loved me, us, so tangibly, so humbly.  I am still blessed by her visit.

I cannot forget my love, my Patrick.  My incredible husband who has worked so hard.  He has been mommy and daddy for two and a half weeks.  He has taken off work and worked from home. He gets up with the boys at night and in the mornings.  He brings Andrew to me to nurse.  He gives baths and does laundry. He has cleaned and cooked and run errands. He has held me and encouraged me as I cried.  He has run errands with me that stress him out.  He has gone above and beyond to allow me to rest. He has served me and loved me and cared for me in ways that I have never seen.  And he has done it with joy and with the kindness and beauty of God's words on his lips.  What a beautiful testimony of God's love through marriage.

And my friends, my dear, sweet friends.  These ladies have come to my house for ten days.  TEN DAYS!  Taking turns caring for me and my boys.  They have let me nap while watching my children and theirs.  They have cleaned and brought food.  They have prayed for and encouraged me.  They have kept me company and made me laugh.  They have sacrificed their schedules, to-do lists and errands to care for mine.  They have shown me, by their actions, that I am important and need to be cared for no. matter. what. They have gone beyond friendship -- they have become sisters and they have shown me what real life, godly love looks like.

 It's selfless.  It's enduring.  It's sacrificing when you don't really want to.  It's walking into a home that is not yours and making it just as you would want your home to be.  It's reaching out and holding children that are not your own because I cannot comfort them or give them the affection they need right now. -sigh- I am loved by an Almighty God and, friends, He has shown His love to me through my beloved circle of friends, my husband and my sister.

How do I repay this love?  How can I offer my thanks in words that are exactly what my heart feels?  How can I give them what they have given me?  I don't suppose I know, but I truly cannot wait to serve them and love them in this way.  Whatever it is, however it may be, I long for the day to be to them what they have been to me -- more like Christ than any other thing I have ever seen.

I can only hope as they came into my home that they were met with gratitude and a felt the kindness of God here.  And if they did, I can only think it was because of how incredibly they were living out just what the bible has called us to do -- love others more than yourself.  They have cheerfully, kindly and joyfully lived out God's word over and over again.

What a blessing to be so loved.  What a beautiful thing to watch the hands and feet of Jesus move boldly and swiftly.  Grateful.  Humbled.  Overwhelmed by God's mercy.  And so changed by the love of God, through these beautiful people who have loved me.

We threw a party.

And by "we", I mean Patrick :)

I asked for a surprise party this year. It is my 30th year, friends {more about that on Friday}. Patrick does not like parties -- being at them, especially not throwing them. His ISTJ self is not wired to throw and enjoy parties. But that man, my sweet, sweet man, stepped out of his comfort zone and surprised me!

And it was wonderful.

Kent and Sarah were here, which was even more fun. And so many friends stood in my living room, making me feel like the most loved person ever! I was "tricked" into spending the day at the outlets and Sarah and Megan didn't make me think twice about what we were really doing. Sneaky, sneaky people! I'm so grateful to everyone who helped Patrick and came to celebrate me.

Either way, I was surprised. Scared a little, even. And I couldn't be a luckier girl. My love, my boys, and dear friends surrounded me to make sure I knew that I was loved.

What a treasure. What a blessing.

And here are some pictures, thanks to Kent! I do remember the flashing as soon as I walked in -- I'm glad he was ready!

Surprise!

Probably saying, "sneaky, sneaky people!!"
B greeted me right away. And AR is lucky he was in his car seat or I may have dropped him.
Sneaky planner.
Talking to Jamie. Too bad you can't see the incredible cake that Christy brought. Ugh. That thing was gorgeous and tasted wonderful! Please note: My blue kitchen with white cupboards!
I love them.
Sweeeet husband!
" Wuv. True wuv."
Yeah for 30! Yeah for surprises! Yeah for an incredible husband! Yeah for great friends!

Va-cay 2011: part 1

So, we went on vacation. Finally. Just the four of us! We left on Thursday and drove to Iowa, but not without an incredible amount of detours and trying to find new routes. We got up early Friday (because with kiddos, early is normal) and finished our drive to New London, Minnesota. If you've followed my blog, you know that our dear friends the Reid's live there. And we could not wait to see them!

There are a lot of pictures on here. Let's be honest, you might love them, but they are mainly for MJR to see :) We loved introducing our friends to little Andrew, who is named after them (Andrew REID) and B loved spending time with the Reid fam. I think he spent all the energy he saved up over the summer of heat insanity.

We loved talking -light talking and deep talking- and hanging out after the kids went to bed. We watched Tim Hawkins and slapped our knees (and one another). Jeannie and I got pedicures. The boys (minus AR) went on a boat ride. We ate a lot of ice cream, per usual. We just enjoyed one another.

And every time we leave, I can't help but wonder why we can't live a littler closer. And we miss them already. See you next year, sweet friends!

And now a lot of pictures:

Sweetie Hope.

Swinging,

AMM + MJR

Little fam...and the top of Greg's head.

All the kiddos! (there were 12 of these pictures and I got 2 with all 6 kids looking!!)

Friends! And the best family picture to date :)

AR mainly hung out.

Good men, right there. Gooooood men.

Birthday buddies! Just 6 years apart.

Little sugar.

Being what they are. Cowboy and Princess.

Playing and matching...

Having fun!

We didn't stop here, though. More driving and exploring for us! You'll get more pictures another day ;)

Baby Shower!

Just so we're all clear on something: I have really great friends. I mean, they are so wonderful and I love them dearly. I've only known these girls for seven months, but they mean the world to me and I feel like we've been friends for years. I love how the Lord knew which flock to lead us to because if He didn't, I wouldn't know many of these ladies.

I've had the privilege of praying with and crying with and laughing with these friends. We can talk about anything. Their fellowship is so sweet and I'm constantly encouraged, convicted and blessed by spending time with any of them. Seriously.

And they have made me feel so loved and cared for over the last seven months. I just don't think they know how much that has made living in Oklahoma so much easier!

So, these lovely ladies threw me a baby shower today! Yeah! I was always under the impression that if you had more than one baby, especially if it was the same gender, you weren't going to have a shower. I didn't expect one, but I'm so grateful to have had one! Getting together with them and getting things for my baby boy was so special!

As an added bonus {totally not baby related} Christy made this coffee punch/drink/milkshake thing and I'm pretty sure I consumed most of it. I didn't get a picture of it, but I need to make this for you. You'll love it. And you know what, Erin C? I totally thought of you when I drank this incredible drink. Is that weird? :)

Anyways, here are some pictures from the shower! I don't think I made a good face in any picture, but all faces are "normal" so that's okay. It's more realistic :)

Now this is a blurry picture, but you needed to see this outfit with a dinosaur on it. It says, "Big Guy" under it. So cute. Especially since I'm confident that this boy is gonna be big!

And this picture is just fun. And feels very normal. Please don't kill me, Christy...

Calendar!

It says, "A great catch" - a-dor-able!

Being consumed by the insane amount of tissue paper in Kat's present. I'm saving this pile of paper and re-gifting it when she has her baby boy (!!!!!) in August :)

Moby wrap!!!

These are my friends {minus two} - and Cassady...sweet girl :)

Thanks, friends! You're wonderful!

Food blessings...

My friend had a baby last week. He was big and late and so very cute. I get to see him tonight! I love babies.

I remember when B was born and how all my friends brought me a lot of food. I remember sitting on my couch, slightly out of it, holding and nursing a tiny baby and thinking about what I would be getting for dinner. I remember having left overs and being excited when people would knock on the door. Also, I remember eating a lot of jelly toast. Patrick made it for me every morning because that's what sounded so perfect. I ate jelly toast for two weeks straight. It was delightful. Patrick is delightful.

That was such a huge blessing to me. I'm a firm believer in making meals for people - and not just for baby having. Are you sick? Did someone you love die? Are you overwhelmed? Let me bring you food.

So I'm making ratatouille tonight (with sausage on the sides for our guys) - with bread and apple crisp. But then I got to thinking, "Maybe I should take over a little more". And my mind went crazy! And then my hands followed. Never put me in a kitchen with a crazy mind and hands that follow. Well, unless you want me to bring you food.

I made granola last night and thought, "Maybe they would like granola." So I tossed some into a bag, incase Lauren needs a snack. And then I wanted to make cookies today. So I did. But I didn't have any vanilla, so I used almond extract in my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I like the results. So did my child. And so my sweet friends get cookies, too.

The first person to bring us a meal, Marlene, brought with her goodies galore. I mean, she went all out for us! Treats and snacks and fruit AND a meal. It was so kind and so thoughtful! And I want to pass that along. I'm sure Lauren has family and other friends providing and caring for her, but tonight is the night I get to bless her family. I only think it's appropriate to help a sister out by bringing granola and cookies. I'll even stop at Sonic for her, if she wants :)

Anyone else need a meal? Anyone want to come over for dinner? Come to my house, it's always so quite! Really. I won't mind!

To our friends...

Today is the last day of 2010. I have a thousand things to say, but for now I want to say this:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AARON AND JEANNIE!!

This is the thing about those Reid's, we love them. They are, to us, those "friends forever-come what may- epic adventures of everyday ordinary - true blue - so similar - know them all too well - laugh out loud - pray together - sharing grief - just like family - visit often" friends.

We've learned so much from them. In fact, I would say that Patrick and I wouldn't be who we are as individuals, a couple or parents without God using Aaron and Jeanie in our lives so beautifully and so kindly. They are just so dear to us.

Our days in Texas together were nothing short of divine intervention (seriously. That Jeannie and I are still friends after our first interaction shows God's kindness and sense of humor! hee hee). We went through so much together there, and it hasn't stopped. Miles and miles away, we make time for each other. We walk together and pray for each other. We talk when we can and every time we see them life just seems perfect.

So, here's to 16 years Mr. and Mrs. Reid. And to thousands and thousands of days together with beauty and laughter and more and more of Jesus. We love you guys!!!

P.S. Aren't you glad WE aren't watching your kids tonight!? :)

P.S.S It really looks like an APPLE!

Wishful thinking...

Today was a good day, mostly. But it was one of those days where I wanted to pick up the phone and have a conversation like this with Jeannie:

MJR: Hello?

AMM: Haaaaaaaaay.

MJR: What are you doing?

AMM: Calling to see if you guys wanted to do pizza and then drink frozen drinks by Aaron.

MJR: Only if we can do Papa John's. (Just for the record... I would rather Aaron make pizza than order out.)

AMM: Uggggh. You and Patrick have some kind of alliance, don't you? Also, is your blender working?

MJR: Har har har har har

AMM: Papa John's it is. We'll pick it up and come over. B and H can talk about toddler bed rants and reviews while the boys can all play Wii. Please make apple dip for you and I.

MJR: Ok. See you in a bit. Oh, please bring Brian Reegan.

AMM: Done. peace.

I like to think that even those miles and miles and years of happenings separate us (although, we've been apart of most of the happenings somehow), if we lived right down the road again things wouldn't be too different. Only, just a little more insane. I wouldn't mind though. I miss my friend.

Man, these bananas are good!

The Reids came to visit us. I'm sure you know we love these friends. Being with them is so refreshing, uplifting, encouraging...it just makes sense. And even though there are 6 of them and just 3 of us, we work together so nicely. I loved my house being full and loud. I loved waking up and watching little heads pop, one by one, around the corner. We miss them already. Yeah, it was a good visit.

We kept busy. Jeannie's momma motto is this: it's better to have a bad day out than a bad day at home. I'm all for that! We went to the zoo, chick-fil-a (ummm...twice), the pool, Pops, the park (twice, again on this one). And we were able to relax, too. We stayed up way too late talking and laughing and sharing and watching Brian Regan. Jeannie and I were able to get out together and so were Patrick and Aaron. Good, good visit I tell ya!

Kiddos at the zoo...Hope read to B and they really had fun playing together. In fact, Benjamin loved being around all four of the Reid children. He was in his prime!

We made cow costumes to get free Chick-fil-a...oh yes we did.We went to Pops, on Route 66, for a dinner out. We were attacked by mosquitoes, but we made it and had a lot of fun.
Greg - As vibrant as his hair, people....just like a firecracker! Plus, I love me some freckles!
D - tender hearted boy. future geologist? What a helper and so, so good with Benjamin!
Jonny - sheesh. charmer, talker, entertainer, noise maker.
Hope - sweet, sweet girl. She's girly, but watch out because she has three older brothers and can wrestle with the best of them!
Um, I love this. This picture, it's real life folks and it don't get any better than that!
The guys..."If the whole planet is of them...well, that explains these apes..." (hee hee hee hee...Brian Regan...)
And the gals...
We miss you, Reids! Move to Edmond, Oklahoma already - or there will be MANSLAUGHTER!!!!! (Um, that's reference to Brian Regan...in case you did not know that...)