Garrett's New Year

This is the most precious "bad guy" i have ever seen! He has an angelic face that can melt me - good thing!!

gotta love the rubber camo hunting boots...

Happy New Year or i'll shoot!!

This is how i feel after Christmas!

My head is going to explode

So this morning Kyle is trying to write the grocery list, get breakfast for the boys, make lunches, and have a conversation with me-clearly too many things!
He comments, "My head is going to explode!". To which Garrett responds in the most serious voice, "Your head IS very red."
Have a great day, Honey! We love you and that you take such great care of all of us!

Merry Christmas Cathy!

All Ye Faithful from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Missy, thanks for walking me through this and for letting me steal it! This is an amazing video- enjoy!

Not a marathon, but it counts!

Ok, so we did a few push ups to get geared up!

No way, I am not letting go when you can just carry me!

OK, it was just a few steps but they count! Way to go Wag-Man!

One more time, just for fun....

Time to celebrate!

Can i put a brick on his back-this brings a whole new level of "fun". haha

Proud Wagner! Way to go! We love you!

Garrett Knows It All

Reed: Mom did you know that if you snort really loud it can suck your brain out and you will die? I know this for sure.

Me: Oh really, that sounds scary. Who told you this?

Reed: Garrett did and he is in kindergarten so he knows.

Wow, my 4 year old is afraid to snort his nose because he will die. we are that family that no one wants their first born child to be in class with because we have lots of "words of wisdom" to impart on your precious child.

I am so sorry and Reed did not die.

The Best Gifts

Kyle has been out of town and the morning conversations have been about Christmas, Santa, and when is school going to be out... This morning Garrett had a very special gift he was going to whisper to Santa so no one else would hear (me). For those of you who know me, you know i can't stand snakes (it is not a slight fear- i REALLY dislike slithery things!)

Our conversation went something like this:
Garrett: Grandmother Duke buys the best presents ever! (Grandmother Duke is Kyle's almost 90 year old grandmother)

Me: Oh really. Do you think she is going to buy you a Christmas present this year?

Garrett: Of course. She can buy me the ball python snake I want. (Grandmother Duke is a proper Southern women with the utmost dignity, kindness, and gentleness- not to mention the warmest most loving grandmother)

I am crying i am laughing so hard at Grandmother Duke with her walker at the pet store purchasing a snake...

Garrett: And i know...I can keep it at Mimi and Rocket's house since Dad won't let me have it here.

Ok- for those of you who know Donna (Mimi) this is even more hilarious that Garrett would even consider her with a snake. She had to learn to love Reveille when she lived with them for a summer. Of course, she did...for her son.

So poor Garrett is going to be terribly upset when he does not receive a ball python this year for Christmas. I love that God gave me 4 boys to raise - but i do not do snakes. i try my best to embrace the testerone by allowing wrestling in "designated" areas of the house, encouraging them to be what God has designed them to be....wild and brave. i laugh at how many times they have fought off the bad guys or trapped the wild bears in the backyard (Chili and Rio). I played Cabbage Patch Dolls and played soccer so i could get a uniform (running, no thanks!)

Merrry Christmas and Garrett can visit Shaeffer's snake.....

A Thankful Christmas?

ok, I have missed posting because we have been sick, busy, tired...so get ready i have been sitting on this one for a while. I promised in "Thankfulness or lack of it" several weeks ago that i was going to work on being more thankful- that is why the Graham family was going to base our devos on it for a full month (because I NEEDED it-funny how we intend these for our children and God has a different idea)

We are reading Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges with our community group (amazing book that is about examining the sin in my life that is subtle or even acceptable to me as opposed to concentrating on the obvious sins of others/society... it challenges me to deal with my "respectable" sins such as pride, discontentment, self control, and impatience with the same severity i do the flagrant sins of others). yeah- fun!

So.. one of our favorite verses was 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". I worked on being thankful by not (...trying not) to get irritated and frustrated when we are late. There are many other things throughout each day - toothpaste all over the sink upstairs EVERYDAY, children who don't want to sleep, wrestling....(all the things others do to ruin the plan i had for my day). Yeah, remember when I talked about my selfishness....ouch!

Right after our family devo was about thankfulness we read the chapter on unthankfulness (no coincidence, huh?) In this chapter he makes this amazing connection from 1 Thessalonians giving thanks in all circumstances even those i do not feel thankful about to Romans 8:28-29. Because in Romans Paul tells us, "We know that in all things God works for the good of all those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." God directs the outcome of my circumstances for my good and His glory (even when i am angry, was unjustly treated, or wronged by another).


So in learning to be more thankful in all circumstances, I pray this season i will thank God when things go awry and do not go the way i had hoped. I pray i will, by faith, thank Him that He is transforming me into the likeness of His Son. When the Christmas card picture is not a picturesque scene of 4 boys living in harmony, our annual visit to the Arboretum is not defined by skipping gleefully down the winter wonderland, or someone tells grandma that is NOT what they wanted...i will thank Him for giving me the MANY chances to develop my Christian character and those of our boys. To rid our lives of being defined by what we get and not what we give (selfishness).

This season is not about my circumstances or selfish desires but thanking God for the gift of His Son/our Savior so my sin is washed away. My obvious sins and the ones i am just so used to i don't even recognize...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

i am among the living again! Where have i been? i even got an email from the Internet telling me how neglectful i have been. :) kyle was out of town, we hit thanksgiving, and i got sick...that is 3 weeks of my life. scary how fast it can go!

my favorite Christmas tradition is the Arboretum with the kids to visit santa. here is the Graham family review- my how fast we have grown! It just seems like yesterday we were going with just Mason! i will probably be that mom who makes 4 grown teenage boys go visit santa to get the annual "pic".

Hope your month is a celebration of how amazing our God is and what an amazing gift He sent!

2001

2002

2003
2004

2005

2006

2007

Brotherly Insight Part 2

We were all driving in the car on a Friday afternoon after spending what felt like years at Northpark when Mason spoke very valuable words of wisdom to Garrett once again.

Garrett was complaining about never looking in time to see the cool thingy we are all talking about and Mason was ooing over the dead tree at the gas station. Garrett was really upset he "always misses everything!!!". Remember nothing could ever be fair enough in Garrett's world. Once again mason gave garrett the "life is not fair" speech and God has different blessings planned for each of us.

Mason then drives his point home with, "Garrett just be glad you have eyes, you could be deaf."

I thought kyle was going to drive off the road. After we picked ourselves up off the floor, we had a blind vs. deaf lesson.
I am so glad i have Mason because i don't have to say those ridiculous things my parents said to me when i was a child, Mason does it for me. By the way my mom's favorite was, "Eat your dinner there are starving children in Africa".

i love shin guards- part 2

ok- it's 4:45. soccer starts at 5:30. i have promised "extra" time playing at the park before practice so reed will actually "practice" soccer. the baby is hungry because he went to "school" today and ate 2 whole hours early (suckers). reed needs shin guards, socks, water, a ball, and transporation to practice- oh yeah and early playing time. ouch! where is dad? shin guards are evil.

and then............... i was actually practicing being thankful in ALL circumstances and sweet Garrett (g-muddy) steps in and just begins to "help" reed so he won't miss practice because at this point it is at least 5:15.

just a fun pic and thanks God for giving me each one of your precious children to raise but today i needed garrett. thanks!

a garrett funny- today at school it was ms. owens birthday and they made an announcement during the pledge about it. garrett asked his teacher (ms. lewis), "did ms. owens know it was her birthday?" man i love that kid!

Too cute!

Cutest skeleton ever! He is such a precious baby- and growing way TOO fast. It is such God's design to finally REALLY enjoy the good and bad times with the 4th child. It took 3 "trial" runs to just relax and "enjoy" even the 3am wake ups with kyle out of town!
miss you kg!

Implosion- of a building, not a child

This morning before church we woke the kids up really early and went to a building implosion on central south of royal. it was so awesome; we got to stand just behind a chain link fence and watch it go down. It was so loud and such a rush. it amazingly folded into a sandwiched pile of rubble without even a tree being harmed. Check it out! The boys LOVED every minute of it- except when they thought the birds would get blown up too, but they weren't even that concerned about them either.
http://www.wfaa.com/video/?nvid=301633

Thankfulness or lack of it...

Where have i been, why haven't i posted in a while?? I have been in a hole since the time changed last Sunday- i am exhausted and i have no idea why (no i am not pregnant for those of you with dirty minds...)

We have had sickness (babies and kids) that will knock you back several weeks and the general busyness that accompanies raising and feeding 4 boys. Well, I have been wondering what to write about (a little brain dead) and i always pray the Lord will encourage me to share with transparency what is going on with us so... here goes.

This month our family devos are about thankfulness and our verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We have shared the cliche thankfulness statements..."our family, home, dogs, food..." But we had a family celebration (turning a sitter-less Saturday night into steaks and "family fun") and each boy got to share something their brother had done for them that they were thankful for. It amazed me how well they remember the times someone extended grace, a kind word, or encouragement.

Reed was thankful Mason threw the football with him. Garrett was thankful for our baby (surprise). But as i was thinking back on the week and sadness swept over me. True heart wrenching disappointment and just plain sorrow. The Lord has been nudging me all week to be thankful and do all things without complaining or arguing. ouch!! We are training (I mean attempting to train) our boys to run the race with greatness and i am standing at the starting line.

You know those moments when you have to wipe up Izze off the kitchen table (and it is VERY sticky) and when the baby poops AGAIN; I was not thankful. And when garrett cannot read a clock and comes down at 5:30am to tell you he is ready for breakfast or Mason is tired of Garrett copying him; i was NOT thankful. When mason has a full on asthma attack during flag football and Garrett has killed one of Shaeffer's snakes; i was not thankful. (see pic of the snake before Garrett accidently stepped on it with his cleates on) Does it really say ALL circumstances or just when the circumstances are convenient for me?

How selfish am I? The Lord shows me a million times a day His forgiveness, His mercy, His love, His sovereignty, His grace, His majesty, His wisdom....i could go on forever. And i complain about the circimstances of dirty dishes, piles or laundry, sinfulness in my family, and baby puke down my sweater sleeve. i have such a small perspective of God, i put Him in a box so that I can comprehend this world. God is bigger than world we'll leave!

I am thankful He is who He says He is, who He has given me to share my life with, who He gave me to be raised by, and where He is taking me. "I am blessed" seems such an inadequate way to describe my life. And i don't mean blessed because my life is comfortable; blessed because He is the God of second chances and has the power transform me - not just my circumstances.

Well, i guess that is why we are talking about thankfulness for a full month. Maybe his week I will get it a little more than last week.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday Coach Ames!!

I am no Betty Crocker!!

May of you experienced the "great ghost cookie debacle" with me (thanks for your support!) . Why is it that bammm! when you least expect it the slightest thing sends you ever the edge? I wanted to be that mom who can make homemade cookies for an entire class of 4 year olds, check homework, run the laundry, take kids to parties and practice, and have a warm nutritious meal on the table all from 4 to 6 in the afternoon. Instead i am the mom who can only make cookies, asks Kyle to bring dinner home for the kids, calls Laura to help carpool, and still looses it!
Oh well here is a pic of the cookies that most moms can make with their eyes closed (my gifts lie elsewhere- out of the kitchen). They were yummy and i have conquered the ghost cookie- way to go!!

Happy Birthday Reed!

man time

ok - first off i feel like an inadequate blogger. As i spend time (senseless hours) reading random blogs, i realize i am just a mom with a computer stuck at home during nap time. There are people blogging about "real" things, adopting children from foreign nations, changing the world through missions... I never promised to change the world just to make you laugh and cry while you read about a life the Lord has blessed me with immensely! I love this life and thank my husband for making me open to what the Lord is doing!

Now for the real stuff...garrett and kyle went on their first official camp out with the kindergarten boys of wre. it is a group called Building Christian Men that 10 or so dads and sons are involved with. i was thrilled to see him on Sunday when they returned (it is scary that with one kid gone i still had 3 to care for - frightening!)

First of all, a little about our second son. He is the most tender child stuck in the toughest body. Nothing is fair for Garrett. He is just close enough behind Mason that he realizes what he is missing. He hated his blond hair and blue eyes because Mason has brown (until Wags was born).

He spends hours in the backyard harassing nature. He loves to hunt, ride bikes, sing in his head "out loud", go on dates with mom or dad, and be the life of the party. He has probably never worked a puzzle with me or read a book all alone. He has always had a brother sandwiched around him. He has claimed the role in our family as Wagner's protector. He gets angry if you laugh at Wagner's hair and carries him everywhere he can. He is so passionate and loving - i love being his mom!

This is the child who is so particular about his clothes, sometime is is no collar, sometimes only a collar. he did wear a "uniform" to preschool because mason wore one to WRE. He is the first to notice and compliment my pedicure, new hair style, or a new outfit. He gets excited about sugar and will eat ANYTHING you put on the plate! His birthday is the highlight of his life - where on earth does he get that???

Garrett has taught me loud is ok, messy is fun. Just when i put Garrett is a box he surprises me. He is the first one ready for school (for those of you who know Mason, this is a shock!), and he can do ANYTHING by himself. He reminds me to see the beauty God has created - the roach is even a gift...

This is why it was such a treat for he and kyle to spend such great one on one time together. I fear he will get lost being between Mason and Reed- we did have 3 boys in 4 years. Ouch! I thank God that He made Garrett such a unique and lovable child for this reason.

I hate green beans!!

I remember a very similar experience several years ago with Mason. My dad asked my mom to NEVER serve green beans to Mason again. I guess Reed is just following his brother's legacy???

october 19

ok- on my first blog ever i said i was not tech savvy. well...i have been unable to sign in to the blog for a week or so now. thanks to don dinnerville (amazing computer/tech guy) i am back in action. so here we go...

For those of you who knew michelle parma, october 19, 2002 was the day she went home to be with the Lord. the circumstances were shocking and tragic (a car accident with her cousin) but the fact she went is divine. every year i forget the week before the anniversary of her death, but the smell of fall and the sight of pumpkins triggers the feeling of loss in my heart. i dread the day because of the sadness and so i pretend it is not here. she would expect this from me but tell me how so wrong i am (amy and becca are not surprised!!!).

from the moment i was told of her accident to even this moment i have not forgotten for one second that God is sovereign. life on earth is temporary we are all preparing for eternity. she just got there faster - must to the sadness of an extraordinary number of friends and family who knew how remarkable this woman is. she was created for purpose and she had more life and love in her pinkie than i have in my entire being.

the Lord reminds me (by hitting me on my thick skull) life is not about me and my comfort- even in tragedy. He is the God who "...has plans to give you hope and a future". i still forget that just because i don't like some of the things He does, He is always a loving Father. i don't understand and never will.

I loved Michelle like a sister and she knew me, my struggles, my strengths, and everything in between and loved me anyway.
i miss her. i miss her laugh. i miss the way she would fight for you even if you were so wrong just because she loved you. i miss the way she brought people together. i miss the way she loved the Lord. i miss the way she cared for my parents. i miss the way she would listen. i miss the way she freaked out. i miss the way she drove (well kinda). i miss the way she danced. (i hated dancing with her at clubs!) i miss the way she loved Neill and thought he hung the moon. i miss her strength. i miss her room. i miss her nasty feet. i miss her passion.

but i would never of asked for it to be any other way. thanks michelle for loving me and kyle and our children like they were yours. i would never ask for more- God knows what he is doing. thanks for the privilege of sharing 22 years of my life with such an extraordinary friend, daughter, girlfriend, and sister....

check out the non-profit her mom stared to finish serving, loving, and helping others in her daughter's name. http://www.dancetolive.org/

A fast catch up of the past several weeks!

Just because he is so stinkin' cute! Our baby is growing up was too fast! I am sure the Wendy's kid toy is completely safe for an 8 month old to chew on??????

Fair Fun! He could care less about a pic with mom - he wanted a candy apple. is he my kid or what?

Why eat the apple?

More Fun at the Fair- love those forced smiles! Kevin and Anna met us for hours of endless food, fun, and farm animals.

Kevin and Anna came for a visit this past weekend and we had a blast hanging out with them. The boys cried for 2 nights asking why they have to live so far away from their "favorite" aunt and uncle. (Yes, Wes i am trying to taunt you into coming to visit!) Anna had no idea what she was getting into when she said "Yes!" to Kevin. I love having great catch up time with them - they are the best!

I spent 3 days on "vacation" in Roundtop, Texas with several girlfriends shopping for antiques. This is what the boys ate while i was gone. haha Kyle did a fantastic job running the show solo! I have the best husband in the world!

Reed and his favorite buddy Sam at warm up for their soccer game. Reed scored 2 goals this past Saturday. He is just excited to have a uniform of his own! I think i am going to send the next 20 years on the sideline cheering someone to victory!

i am a boy mom!

Garrett and Jack Hutton found a "friend" in our backyard. I did not include the pic of Jack with the rat because i don't want CPS to come get me.

Brotherly Insight

As Mason and Garrett were slowly making the hike down the alley for school yesterday, Garrett was attempting to negotiate with Mason for equal time pushing Wagner in the stroller. After several surprisingly civil comments, i overheard Mason say, "Ya know Garrett, life is just not fair." it was spoken with such authority and with a matter-of-factness.

it struck me as hilarious that Mason, in all his 8 years of wisdom, is training Garrett to know what it is taking me 33 years to realize. Get over it sometimes, life is not fair.
Mason did finish his lecture to Garrett with, "God has different blessings planned for each of us-so it can't be fair." funny... i pray they will share many more conversations that will influence their hearts for God.

This reminds me of the time all three older boys were riding in "Grammy's" car while i had a doctor appt. After several inappropriate words were spoken, in a Grandmotherly way, my mother told them to pretend Jesus was in the car. Garrett so eloquently responded, "Why would Jesus want to ride with us?" I love those kids!

HI I AM MASON

Hi I am Mason,
I am in 3rd grade I am 8 years old. I live in Dallas,Texas USA.I love the LORD. I became a Christan at PINE COVE my second time there.I love sports,video games and adventure.I have 3 younger brothers.I love to play with friends.The sports I play are baseball,basketball,soccer and flag football.
I think I have the best parents ever.

MASON

Am I really an ADULT?

OK, so i am sitting at a very pleasant dinner with six of the most incredible friends i know on a patio enjoying the cool weather. We are sipping on great wine and i am not apologizing for my toddler, wiping any ones mouth, or "negotiating" with a child about food that actually has nutrients- it was a wonderful night out without my children! FYI- there were 22 children represented by the 7 mothers at the table. Our ever so kind waiter was doing a phenomenal job balancing checking in on us and pestering us. Then it happened- the bomb hit. i could forget the first or maybe even the second - but not the third time he called us MA'AM! i am OK with being old (Mason -the oldest- will be legal to drive me home from my 41st birthday party-ouch) i am slightly intimidated about being an adult. This waiter was not a highschooler, he was also an adult - hairy beard and all (not flesh colored for all you Talk Soupers-Lynn).

Adulthood is scary- it means i am the one they call when there is need for a superhero, i am the one who helps her parents get groceries when they are sick, i have to do science projects and pretend my kid came up with the idea (just kidding dad). I have 4 kids and have avoided adulthood for some time. Adulthood means you stop seeing life with the star sunglasses you get in every birthday party bag, it means realizing you are as nuts as your next door neighbor. You probably have a friend who will someday be "the crazy lady down the street" - and you embrace them.

Luckily, the Lord has bleesed me with amazing friends to enter into adulthood with - and welcome me there since i have been in denial for some time. Thank you!

Wagner does exhist!

From the Dad

This blog is one of the top ten reasons why I love you:

You are real and honest – even though you know people will be offended by the misspelled words and grammar mistakes

Here is the rest of the list (in case you were wondering) in no particular order:

You are passionate about relationships
You keep our family moving forward – some days it is inch and some days it is a mile
You hold me accountable
You love to shop for your home
You pray passionately
You like technology and believe I can make it work
You have embraced the fact that God blessed you with 4 boys to raise and understand that means He knows you can handle His future leaders
You like the simple things in life – car washes, pedicures, flowers without vases, etc.
Your smile and eyes say it all

And one extra, you have been my Best Friend for about 20 years (yes – 20 years!)

I love you – Kyle

Am I Smart Enough?

For eight blistful years i have been having babies, monitoring diapers to make sure there are no legos, attempting to feed Mason something besides chicken fingers, and loving every minute if it. The question is if i am smart enough to figure this blogging thing out. Technology is always something that can send me over the edge - i don't know why. I can get a family of six fed, dressed, and out the door by 8 for school. I can host a birthday party for 25 boys. But for some reason i cannot manage to download digital pictures from my camera.
I promise this will make you laugh, cry, and wonder how we survive the adventures the raising four beautful boys. It will be real, honest, and a glimple into the gift of life our Mighty Lord has given us. The words will not be spelled correctly, it will not have correect grammer, and it won't always make sense. Have fun!