"don't tell your mother"

Happy Father's Day, Matt! You make really beautiful babies and you are handy with a firearm for the teenage years- did I score or what??

return to joy

Years ago a saw a counselor that taught me about "return to joy." This is a quote I found on a website that summed it up pretty well; "Returning to joy means finding a resolution to the distress we feel when our “personally important” people are not happy to be with us. Strangely enough, this requires someone to share our distress with us and achieve a “mutual mind” state with our control center...When someone cares enough about us to share our distressing feelings and still be with us we no longer feel alone. Our brain starts to run smoothly again and we start learning helpful ways to stay in relationships when we are upset or others are upset with us." 

Collin is the human embodiment of this concept. He has the most amazing thirst for life and radiating joy. He also drives everyone nuts ;) He reboots every morning with fresh grace for himself and others. It has been so soothing for my weary people-pleasing cynical soul. So blessed by this kid!

par-tay

Lazy blogging going on over here. The pictures above are from Collin's birthday in the spring. I just smooshed them up against a fun little sleepover we had for Aden this weekend. 

Parties have evolved into something new around here. I used to go all out, themes and decorations and spent a lot of money. Now I set the table with cute napkins and some baby carrots. (Trying to make up for all that sugar somehow.) It is low key, and much more fun. The boys focus on flag football or Nerf wars with their friends, we didn't even do a cake for either party. 

Never short on celebration with all these kids in my life.