J-E-L-L-O

Pumpkin Patch

Wes found a real pumpkin patch!

It is in North Charlotte, about 30 minutes from our place.

They had pumpkins on a vine.

Wagons for toting pumpkins.

Horse rides.

Baby goats and baby pigs.

Cows.

Hay rides.

Wyatt and Walker ran the entire time.

They were/are still wiped out.

This was how the last portion of our time there went...

Toting our pumpkin...and two sweet boys to the car.

Oh. Wyatt hand-picked our pumpkin:)

Swiss Family Bliss

Tonight is family movie night.

computer screen style.

(and pancake dinner night - which I might be even more excited about)

I waited until the last day to get our movie.

(chosen by Wes)

Swiss Family Robinson

oops.

until I realized, it's rather hard to come by?

I checked the library first. nope.

(only 1 out of 26 locations in Charlotte has it, with 3 requests on it)

Then Blockbuster - nope

Then Walmart - nope only online (I need it tonight!)

Then Target - nope only online (I need it tonight -Wyatt is really excited!)

Then my friend Evyn (who showed her 4-year-old, Walker, the movie a few weeks ago) told me they got it at Barnes and Noble, really close to our apartment.

Ahh.

So I was able to reserve it online.

When the boys get up, I'll drive on over there and get it

Pheww. That was close.

Brothers/Trasition

I wasn't sure how this transition going to be for Wyatt and Walker. In addition to moving into a smaller space, a new city, etc. there were transitions the boys were going to have to endure. And me, being their mom, I was going to have to face the way(s) they would deal with the changes.

for one: they now share a room.

We dealt with many uneventful "naps" in the beginning. Where they'd laugh/giggle/make a mess of the room for 3 hours instead of sleeping. We learned the rules that we needed to establish, and the grace that we needed to give in order to make this good and fun. (they giggle for 30 minutes each night - and we're (i'm) now okay with that. they also nap in two different rooms.)

two: we no longer have a TV.

We will get one, at some point. But that was a transition I hadn't even really thought about. How much I loved having that wonderful box to entertain my kids when I showered, needed "my moment", prepared dinner, proved to be highly underrated. At first, it was very hard. I almost pulled my hair out a few times. And Wyatt asked ALL the time for videos.

But...eventually...they learned to entertain themselves and live life without it. And they've done well without it. And its much less of a problem than I had thought it would be.

three: they no longer have Mothers Morning Out 3 days a week from 9-12.

This was by far, my hardest of their transitions. It was hard on Wyatt, too. He was very bored in the beginning. And I didn't know much of anything for us to do. But we've learned where parks are, the library has designated "times" for Wyatt and Walker, I've joined a bible study where they play with other kids, and the biggest - they + me get to spend LOTS of quality (and not so quality some days) time together. We've also incorporated some bible time, learning time, room time and all that good stuff to make more of a structured schedule.

four: they have had to grow closer.

This was even hard and still is sometimes. Wyatt had his friends in Florence and didn't really "need" or even desire much time with his brother. But in Charlotte, Walker has been here for him in a way that is indescribable. He is his best bud - there with him - all the time - even while he sleeps. This transition has produced a sweet and brotherly love between them. I have had the pleasure of seeing it grow into a friendship. I just had no idea it would be this transition and these circumstances to produce the sweet fruit of brotherly love.

"He is before all things. And in Him all things hold together."

Colossians 1:17

Names

What's in a name?

The meaning of Wyatt and Walkers' full names has both, provided insight and proven true for personality traits they each possess.

Wyatt (warrior)

Richard (brave)

Walker (to tread)

Reeves (servant)

I could go on and on about how this is true for Wyatt (brave, warrior) but I'm just going to post pictures instead.

I think these pictures show a glimpse of his heart

to protect,

to be brave,

to fight for what is right.

He earnestly desires to achieve these things. He assures me daily he will protect me.

Here are some pics of my brave warrior.

With Walker, I feel I need to provide some convincing evidence for this.

Yes, he treads.

He is a "walker" as of the last 2 months.

So yes, he walks/treads through and through.

He walks from here to there with a sweet smile.

My prayer would be that he treads right up to the cross at a young age:)

His middle names is Reeves (named after a very significant friend to Wes, Matt Reeves)

Reeves means servant.

I have seen glimpses of a servant in Walker.

He is 17 months old and has this ability to "see" what needs to be done... and...do it.

Here are a few examples of my sweet treading, servant.

*When its time to go, he gets his shoes and brings them to me.

* I dropped some grapes on the kitchen floor and he picked up almost every one and brought each one to me. Even the one behind his little table, he squeezed himself back there to pick it up and give it to me.

*He hands each dish/utensil to me when I'm unloading the dishwasher.

*Wyatt spilled some water on the coffee table and Walker went into his bathroom, grabbed the hand towel and came out and wiped it up!

*He cleans up his toys happily and initiatively.

*Wyatt now feeds Brighton - Walker helps him by going and getting Brighty's bowl and bringing it to Wyatt. (never asked to do this)

(i would like to add that I've never asked him to do any of this)

And unfortunately I don't have any pics of him doing these things, because typically I am "doing" these things, too. But have some pics of sweet him.

A Trip to DSS

I had to drop something off at DSS (Department of Social Services) last week.

This was a much longer process than I had anticipated.

And this was the second of 2 recent trips.

I had to wait in line....for....nearly an hour.

My, how the darkness in my heart was evident when I began to wait in that line.

I was determined, focused and unwilling to engage with anyone. (darkness again)

I wanted to wait, quietly, all to myself, turn in my paperwork and walk away, practically pretending it never happened and I was never there.

And go on with my pretty normal life.

My thoughts of myself had been so elevated.

"I am not one of these people" kept coming to mind.

As if I was separate. different. set apart.

And lo and behold, I was waiting in the same place, in the same line, trying to utilize some of the same services everyone else in my line was.

At some point during my wait, I remembered that verse that says:

"Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.

And He will lift you up."

My thoughts began to become less of me. And more on...Jesus. ("what you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.")

Compassion began to enter my heart and humility, as well.

It was as if the Lord gave me exactly what my prideful, self-sufficient heart needed at exactly the most appropriate time.

Not even seconds later.

A lady came around the corner pushing a cart full of ice cream.

Each little bowl, full of neatly scooped ice cream, sprinkles and spoons.

Just like at a birthday party.

And we were the guests.

All of our faces lit up.

The lady in front of me, her little boy, the man behind me.

the lady two lines over.

Mine, probably more than anyone. As I, am a sucker for sweets. And have often received them on the same level that I receive someone telling me "i love you."

My thoughts rapidly changed to "I want some ice cream!"

What a gift from the Lord - I mean, has there ever been a recorded ice-cream giveaway at DSS in history? "...and He will lift you up."

But also - the reality of my selfish heart.

"I will not be identified with these people...unless it serves me."

Lord, please change the darkness in my heart. I want to have the heart of Jesus wherever I am, whatever line I'm in and by whomever I stand.

Thank you Lord for the humility moment...and the ice cream.

"humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.

and He will lift you up." James 4:10

Muscle-Shirt

Wyatt adores his "muscle shirt".

(some may know these as wife-beaters)

He lovingly named this shirt his "muscle shirt" and it has stuck.

It began in the Spring.

He wears one every day.

If we're out, its under his shirt (even in 100 degree days)

If he's wearing a T-shirt under a collar shirt, its under the T-shirt

He would wear it swimming if I let him.

He would wear it in the bath, if I let him.

If we're at home, the shirt(s) come off all the way down to muscle shirt.

Dress up - the muscle shirt is on as well.

Here are a few clips that show his favorite attire.