Fun with Make-Up

Round One... (when I had no idea how hard this would be to get out..)




Round Two (sneaky girl...)



This morning I let Bella Grace have a little too much fun with her make-up... We had a rough morning and I just didn't feel like fighting with something else. So, I gave in and let her do whatever she wanted- knowing that it was made for children. Since it was made for children, I really believed, deep in my heart, that it would come out very easily. Well, I was wrong. We had a birthday party that started at 11:00 and I had just a few minutes to give her a bath and wash her hair. On the way to the party I just thought her hair was still a little damp. I was wrong again. It was just grease. She looked like her head was full of oil and glitter. Oh well, there goes looking like we have everything together... So, tonight James finally spent a while over the sink scrubbing her hair until most of it came out. Within 10 minutes, she had found some more make-up and was again scrubbing it in hair. Lovely. When James caught her, he was not too happy. But, I could not help but laugh which gave Bella Grace much joy in the fact that I was laughing. Her consequence of leaning over the sink for 10 minutes did not make her joyful. I am sure she has not learned her lesson. Or at least, that is what I am learning about a 3 year old. I am not sure if she will ever learn her lesson with the way things are going around our house lately. But, I am trying to remember these moments will be funny in 10 years and to try to make the most of them now.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

In order to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, I made a little taco salada at su casa and then we headed out to one of our favorite joints in Nashville: Las Paletas. This fun little spot is a yummy must-have in Nashville for one of a kind genuine Mexican popsicle. They are all made from scratch and are yum-O! BG & I savor them in the summer months as we walk from a fun park nearby for a break from the heat. A fun extra for the evening was being able to spend some time at the park with the owner/founder of Las Paletas and her family. James knew her husband through some business stuff and so we enjoyed their company while the kiddos played. It is always so fun to meet women who start up their own businesses and have watched them explode before their very eyes! If you have never stopped by Las Paletas then treat yourself real soon! You will not be dissapointed...
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!!

Pink Fun!

So, in the 5 minutes we have had without rain we tried to make the most of it with our new fun chalk paw print set! Thanks Duckworths... And, of course- the chalk color of choice was... PINK! And, needless to say- we definitely needed a bath after we played with it. Not that we really followed the directions well. How can you keep a sack full of powdery chalk out of a 3 year olds hands?? You can't.

Being Real.

There has been a lot of talk in our household lately about being truthful with not only our words but also with our feelings. To be able to name what you feel is sometimes a hard thing to learn. From a very early age we were taught NOT to be scared or sad or lonely. I even find myself telling Bella Grace all the time to not be afraid or to not cry. Why are we so afraid of our emotions? And, why do we all put up fronts to make ourselves look better than we feel inside? This blog has been one of those fronts for me. It gives me an opportunity to show off the glitter of my life. And, believe me- that glitter just covers up all the nasty glue underneath holding the sparkly up. But, why am I afraid to show the glue? Rejection, shame, guilt- the list could go on and on.
There is a great story of being real with our feelings in the book of John. It is the story of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, following Lazarus' death. They waited for Jesus to come and help but Jesus decided to "stay 2 days longer in the place where he was.." When he finally came she did not run to meet him (in her usual fashion), instead she "remained seated in the house." Jesus called for her and when she finally met him she wept saying, "Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died." She was disappointed and was not afraid to say it aloud to Jesus. What shocks me even more is Jesus' response to her feelings. It says that He was "deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled." Her disappointment and sadness affected Jesus even to the point of his own weeping. I know He could not have been sad for Lazarus (for Jesus knew what was on the other side of death) but He was truly sorrowful for Mary and the others grief.
When we get real with our feelings, we find freedom. Jesus has called us to "come to Him all who are heavy burdened and He will give us rest." He has asked us to "cast our worries upon Him because He cares for us." Are you harboring up your feelings and about to go crazy with the burden? Get it out. First, go to Jesus with how you feel. In doing so, you are not only telling Jesus but also yourself. Get real with your feelings. Say it out loud. Sadness, anger, fear, loneliness, gladness, shame- these are not bad in and of themselves. It is what you DO with your feelings that can turn into something toxic. It is the anger that turns in to abuse that is dangerous. But, to tell someone that you feel anger towards them is not wrong. It is healthy and needed at times. And, sometimes all you need to do is just admit to yourself (and to God) that you are angry. Even if it is God that has made you angry or has disappointed you.
May we all find the rest that Christ can give us when we are real with ourselves, others and ultimately to Him who "cares for us." Now on to the sparkle...

My Three Year Old.