Just Another Adorable Kid

She's just adorable.

Fiesty and adorable. Clever and adorable.

Sweet and adorable.

Charming and adorable.

Adorable.

Watch Me!!

"Watch Me! Mommy, watch me!! Mommy, Mommy, watch me! Watch this!"

Have you ever been to a swimming pool with a small child just beginning to love the freedom of water? Have you ever heard the incessant "watch me, watch me, watch me"? Did you watch? Did you watch the whole thing?

I heard it today. Many, many times. The pleas of my 3 kids calling out for my attention. They were asking for a moment. My undivided attention for a moment to see what they could do. They couldn't do it just a moment ago, but now they can. They couldn't. Now they can. And could I please take notice? And be happy with them?




You know where this is going, don't you? Yep, another life lesson straight from the heart of God spoken to me through my little disciples.

Here's the thing. When the "watch me" starts, usually it's after they've already accomplished the goal. That's when they want to show somebody.

Do we do this? Do we ask God if he's pleased? Do we say, "Look at me, God! Look what I did!"?

I think more often than not, we do the exact opposite. We feel so beaten down for our failures, we're too ashamed to ask God to watch. We think He'll be disappointed with our successes because we didn't always succeed. We might call up a friends and say, "Hey, I did it! Today, I didn't yell at my kids. I relied upon the power of God's spirit and I stayed patient." But rarely do we seek affirmation from God, Himself. He saw us yesterday and we know it. And we think that somehow affects how He sees us today. The Bible tells us that the love of God is unconditional. Not depended upon any condition: past, present or future.

That's the lesson. Do the thing. Whatever it is God's having you do and instead of relying on another person's affirmation, look straight to heaven. Then wait. Wait until you know your Creator loves you and is pleased with you.

The thing about watching my kids perform their wonderful feats of water agility and bravery, is that if you knew the truth, I've usually already seen it. They just didn't know I was watching. Or sometimes, I watch the event, but I don't wait for them to surface the water and look in their eyes, so they know that I was really watching the whole thing.



So, of course, God knows what you're doing and how you're doing it. But do you know that he knows? Do I think God is so smitten with me that He'd like to see that one again? Do I actively engage his attention, his affirmation, his love in my life? Or do I rely on humans to fill those needs.

Okay, last one. I was wondering what it was like before I had kids of my own at the pool. What did I do then? I sat in a lounge chair and read my book, and when I began to sweat, I'd go cool off in the water. (At least, that's what I do now, the one time a year when I'm at the pool without my kids.) And it's great fun to occupy my own thoughts. But, I don't remember those moments. I do remember the first time I saw Caleb put his whole head in the water. I remember the time Clarie jumped off a high-dive. I remember seeing Luke's face break out in an uncontrollable grin the first time he swam the length of a pool with arm floats.

And I'm so glad I was there. I'm thrilled that we have those memories, and that my kids know I was watching. I'm thankful they engaged with me today even if yesterday, they blatantly disobeyed. God loves us. He is watching. And I think sometimes He's just waiting for my face to reappear through the crystalline water and make eye contact. So I know that He knows I'm doing it.

A Blueberry Pickin' We Went

We went blueberry pickin' one day
The clouds rolled in and the sun went away.
But happy were we
it was shady you see.
And we picked while the heat was at bay.

I went blueberry pickin' with kids
Hoped to pick more than would fit under lids.
But while hands became blue
pickin's were few.
Got some pickers? I'm taking up bids.

We went blueberry pickin' with friends.
Share the adventure and fun never ends.
A dog followed us.
We didn't put up a fuss
Till it started a' licken' my lens.

The kids went blueberry pickin' with me.
We picked and we picked till one had to pee.
Filled up a pail
Before the baby did wail.
Oh, what a fun family!

Days with Daddy

Cleaning gutters conjures up all sorts of images for most people. A guy on a roof. A guy with a ladder. A guy reaching up really high with a hose. A guy sort of grimy with a bunch of leafy crud stuck to him. These are all images I think are common place with cleaning gutters.

This image is a little less common.

What can I say? The man's got connections!
This monstrosity was requested on a Sunday night and was delivered to our house by 10:00 Monday morning. (Thank you, Uncle B!)

With much enthusiasm all the Robinson children gathered round watching Daddy go up higher and higher. Sort of shifting from foot to foot wondering if they got to go up there too, but a little embarrassed to ask for fear that the answer would be no.

But because we love fun and there's not a whole lot of entertainment to partake of here in the middle of cornfields, of course, they got to go up!

Two days before the Clean the Gutters Event we went to our local carnival. And I tell you the truth, riding up in that basket 30 feet off the ground elicited much more jubilation than the $4 mini-roller coaster!

It's pretty far up there. However, I do have limits. I would not allow our little baby girl to go up with Daddy. I have limits, people. So she just had to watch from afar, but she knew she was missing out.

This photo I include just to keep myself humble and honest.
This is probably one of the most unattractive parts of our house. Just last month, a nice big Elderberry tree (whatever that is) reached all the way past the 2nd Floor. But it blew over in the storm. It's previous purpose was to hide that plywood above the door to the basement. And to shelter all our trash bins. When there was a tree there, all that stuff was under cover of the leaves and I didn't notice it as much. Now, I see what the rest of the world saw when the tree was still there. Redneck Backyard. I know. I need help.


But let's not make this about me, let's make it out the Clean the Gutter machine!


Later, Mark used it to trim some tree branches in the back yard. Later than that, he got stuck up there! It wouldn't come down! I'm serious. He had to climb out and tie himself to the tree and lower himself down. All in a day's work.