Willow Grace Wednesday

(Two little princesses! Willow Grace and her 2nd cousin Madison playing dress up at my parents' house. Don't they look sweet?)

(She's hanging out with her daddy on the hearth at his parents house, already in her pj's because we knew she'd be asleep by the time we arrived home. And of course she was!)

(In the car with Leroy the zebra whom we picked up at the zoo last Friday and her Curious George. The girl seriously loves stuffed animals.)

(In her room watching her current favorite movie, The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. She loves hanging out on this love bug. She's constantly dragging books off her shelf and sitting there to read them. I know the cups look weird, but for some reason she wanted to hold them. )

The Nashville Zoo

Chris and I went to the zoo a year ago with Willow Grace, and she loved it then. Her favorite thing at 11 months old was the elephants which she kept calling "dog" or "Bella" like our massive Great Pyranees/Lab. On that visit, we bought her a little stuffed elephant whom we call Ralph, and she has loved Ralph well this last year.

I was anxious to see how she would react at 23 months, and she did not disappoint. Even as we approached the gates, she was trembling with joy and saying, "I go see the animals!"

This time she walked for most of the time there and absolutely loved seeing all the animals. This year's favorite? The zebra. She had been talking about zebras for days, so I knew she would be giddy about seeing them. She giggled and pointed and tried talking to them. And, of course, to commemorate our trip, we bought her a little stuffed zebra whom we've named Leroy. She loves Leroy!

I didn't take any cool pics of the animals this year, just a few of us and Willow Grace. We have a little video we shot which I hope to post soon.

Willow Grace Wednesday

I have a wealth of pictures to share this week. I guess I've made up for all that time I forgot to snap a shot or two. I can't believe that we have less than a month before she turns two! Oh, I guess I better get busy on my party planning!

(Her favorite On Demand episode of My Friends Tigger and Pooh was about to expire. In it Pooh dresses as a queen bee and looks for honey. So, Willow Grace got to be queen bee too!)

(I suppose she's judging her wings to see if she really can fly.)

(Wearing Daddy's hat and having a little conversation with Pluto. She loves wearing her daddy's hat.)

(Tickle fest with Daddy!)

(Such a Daddy's girl!)

(So excited to be wearing Papa's Nikes!)

(Willow Grace and her sweet Papa!)

I hope you're having a great Wednesday!

Metamorphosis

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

(I took the picture above in the flower garden where I work.)

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement

The title was taken from James 2:13b (NIV).

(Let me pause to say that I know I've been guilty of the very things I'm about to rail against. This is just as much about learning to better myself as it is an observation of the world I see.)

I've been frustrated lately with the lack of mercy, understanding, and patience in dealing with our fellow man. It's astounding how often as of late that I've heard people complaining about "stupid people." I'm tired of hearing others say that they are annoyed by stupid people. It's an arrogant and insensitive thing to say. Being a teacher (though one without a current classroom) who worked to keep that particular S word from being used in my room and a person who formally struggled with a learning disability, it truly bothers me to hear others make derisive comments about individuals they've deemed to be stupid.

People make mistakes and forget things and are often uninformed and maybe really do have problems understanding certain concepts. And, yes, sometimes they just don't think before they speak or act. Who isn't guilty of that one?

We should be helping others, giving them a hand up not pushing them further down or even sinking to a lower level ourselves by displaying ugly, judgmental, and harsh attitudes.

And, here's the real rub for me: Yes, I've been guilty of being impatient with my struggling fellow man, but I've also been guilty of unmerciful thoughts those who judge others as stupid.

So, today (and each day forward) I will pray that mercy, patience, and understanding will flourish in me.

Willow Grace Wednesday

Just a couple pics this week. But the big news is that I think we've officially broken her from her bottle. It's been four nights straight of going to bed without it! Woo-hoo! (OK, so it's happy but also a little sad b/c it really does mean that she's growing up.)

(Nap time a few days ago - She likes to go down for her nap with a book. She usually looks at it, maybe even quoting it, and then snuggles in to sleep. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that this little girl is crazy about books! See her little bunny she decided to use as a pillow? So sweet!)

( This was taken at the Ashland City Wal*Mart. I think that smile says it all.)

life and trials

What if all of it really is about more than I ever thought it could be?

Today, I'll ponder those possibilities.