Bath Baby

I know... I just did a post with pictures of Leila. But I don't care; she's cute. So here's another.
Love,

Leila these days

Leila Christine McCoy

A few days shy of 9 months old.

Crawls, rolls, scoots. Says "da da da da da da" and a funny little growling noise. Wants no binkie, no bottle, no cupie. Only mama. Likes pears, apple sauce and cereal. 6 teeth. Oddles of rolls and squishy softness. 16 lbs. Loves playing in the bath and wading pool. Loves people! Any people... oh if only people would look at her and play with her all day she'd smile all day long. But when the people go away, she's sad.

She's my baby. But she's getting big awfully fast!

Love,

My Best Friend

Last Sunday, my Beloved and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. I know it's cliche. I know it sounds cheesy. But I really do believe our marriage gets better and better as time goes on. We know each other better, we appreciate each other more, we understand each other more, we communicate MUCH better, we simple enjoy each other more.

Seth is an amazing man. And frankly, I feel sorry for every other women in the world who isn't married to him. ☺ Seriously, he's wonderful.

When I was a teenager, I was so bored that I resorted to reading the celebrity biographies that my mom collected. Along with learning some weird non-useful information about Yul Brenner, I read something I've never forgotten. When George Burns was asked what  was the secret to his long, happy marriage to his wife Grace, he said the secret was being married to Gracie. She was the reason it worked. And that truly is the case with Seth and I. We're happy. We don't fight. We don't argue. We don't need breaks from each other. We don't belittle each other. And it's not because of me. I'm likely to pick fights. I'm pretty good at arguing. I can have a tongue so biting and belittling, you'd be shocked. But Seth just doesn't participate. Ever try to argue with yourself? It's boring. From the very start in our relationship, he has set a tone of peace and loving kindness.

Seth is a man of principle. This is probably his greatest attribute. On matters of right and wrong, he doesn't waver. Do I occasionally disagree on what is "right" and what is "wrong"? Yes, of course. But I'm happy to pass the buck to him, because I know that one day, he will stand before God and give an account for our family. I want him to have a great judgement day. If he chooses to err on the side of caution, I can find security in this. And there have been several instances when I initially thought he was being more conservative than necessary but later came to see a great deal of wisdom in the decision. And on those occasions where I feel like we're doing or not doing something that God would want, he's always very willing to hear me out. We both have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us, after all. And then the rest of life's choices... the opinions and preferences... Seth is always willing to surrender his wants to mine, or our children's. Or just about anyone. Seth is slow to express opinions. I'm literally happy when he does so that I have an opportunity to do something the way he likes.


Also, it doesn't hurt that he's such a good loookin' guy. I mean, just look at him... you'd never guess he's had 3 children. ☺

 We enjoyed a delicious dinner out on our actual anniversary. Today, we took up a baby sitting offer from my husband's fantastic aunt and uncle, and went golfing together for the first time in way too long. (Last summer I was way too pregnant!)

As we headed to the course this morning, we both set goals for the 9 holes: Seth was aiming for 50 while I hoped for 90. Yes, I'm a bad golfer. I get the same score golfing and bowling. This is not good. But I do really enjoy golfing... with JUST Seth. I'm too self conscience to golf with other people. For one thing, I take a very long time, and another is that part of the correct golf stance is sticking your hiney out, which I try not to do in front of people, if I can at all help it.

 But after Seth snapped these pictures of me, I now have a new reason to never golf with anyone else. Just look at this expression on my face!

 We need a close up of this monstrosity:

 Wow. Please tell me I don't make this face all the time! I literally had no idea my face could even do this until I got the pictures off the camera. Scary! Wow. I'm abandoning all vanity to even post this but it's so comical yet freaky I must share it with the world. I really wasn't concentrating that hard!

Despite my face's look of consternation, we had a very relaxing, fun time. Not only did I reach my goal, I surpassed it! I got a 61! Yeah!!! This was the best I have ever done. Seth didn't do as well as he would have liked (52)... but he looked happy none the less:

The course was beautiful and quiet, and the temperature was absolutely perfect. By the time the heat of the day began to come, we were finishing up. Golfing is a great date; I highly recommend it. Get a couple cool drinks, snuggle as you ride the golf cart, give each other saucy, inappropriate names on the score card, and pretend you need his help with your swing (wink, wink).

I'm looking forward to many more anniversaries with my best friend!

Love,

Exciting days

Oh where to start? We've had some busy, exciting days recently.

Firstly, let me just begin with my thoughts on this blog.

I occasionally get visions of blogger grandeur in my mind and I think: I am going to consistently pay good attention to my blog and build it into something good and helpful and entertaining: a real real blog. But the truth of the matter, as you may have already guessed, is that I just simply do not have the time to devote to it, on a consistent basis. My life's priorities just don't allow it. So you'll just have to tolerate my on again, off again, mediocre style of blogging. =)

Now, on to the glad happenings of late:

Last Sunday, Father's Day, Madison trusted Christ as her Saviour! Yeah!

She is 4 and a half and has been, for quite a while, been discussing matters of eternity with both Seth and I, and her other spiritual advisers, her cousins- ages 8 and 9. ☺It's only natural for a child who has been in church since birth to ponder Heaven and Hell a bit younger in life than most... but still, sometimes I wonder what people who are not in church, or not as involved in church, would think of the unusual conversations we have with our young children. It probably seems bizarre, or even morbid, for my 3 and 4 yr. old to easily talk of Hell, Heaven, the Devil, God, Jesus, sin or eternity. And I'm sure I have raised eye brows as I push my (at the time) 2 yr. old Maddie around in a shopping cart in Wal Mart while she happily, and loudly, sings about God hating our sin. I did try to direct the song's theme to more happy truths about God but no, God hating sin was all Maddie wanted to sing about that day. But this is how our girls are raised. In church. With the Bible, and it's topics, openly discussed. So we talk about what Heaven and Hell are like. They play baptism in the tub. We pray for healing when we have boo boo on little knees. And we are okay with youngsters thinking about where their souls will spend eternity.

After eating out for Father's Day, we had stopped by to visit a family who had unexpectedly lost a loved one. Maddie wondered why the house was so full of people. Why had the man died? And then she really wanted to know where that man was right now. All of these topics have been covered many times, of course. After leaving the house full of mourners, I took the younger girls home for afternoon naps while Seth and Maddie went off to run some errands. In the van, on Father's Day, Seth got to lead our daughter in a prayer to become a Christian.

The following day, Seth went off the a week of summer camp.... as a counselor. I think. ☺ Camp went really well. The boys from our youth group who went seemed to open themselves up and allow the preaching to work in their hearts. There were many fun activities for them and they all returned very tan, sore, tired and smiling.

I was exceedingly glad to have Seth home!!! I do. not. like. being home at night without him. I'm really fine during the day. I miss him, but I get things accomplished... do my own thing. Eat yogurt for dinner. Put the girls in bed at 7:30 in the evening. ☺Put them back in bed for the next hour and a half. Regret trying to put them to bed too early. Take Motrin Pm so that I have some hope of falling asleep. Turn the fan on super high to drown out the noise of every axe murderer walking by. Wake up freezing. Then repeat it all again for 5 days.

Somehow we survived. There was an embarrassing moment during the week, however...

In the 7 yrs. we've been married, Seth has always filled the tank with gas. I don't really even pay attention to the gas gauge at all. Occasionally, if Seth knows I plan to drive all over the state to shop or visit friends, he'll remind me to look at the gas gauge once in a while. But generally, he takes care of it completely. Well.... his perfect record is now tarnished. With a bazillion things on his to do list before leaving for camp (it was the last week of school, so lots of records work, preparing for schooling program, preparing for Father's Day at church, financial mumbo jumbo at church, etc) he did not fill up the tank before abandoning... um I mean leaving me for his life's work. ☺So as I headed to the park on Monday with the girls all sun blocked and ready to play, I for some reason looked at the big "E" on my dash. Uh-oh. Do I even remember how to pump gas? It's embarrassing... I know. A 27 yr. old mother of 3 really should be able to pump her own gas without issue. So I pull in, and start the process. I'm simply following the prompts. But something isn't working!! I did everything like I'm supposed to but the stunkin' (and it really does stink) gas is NOT coming out!!!! I'm started to get flustered. And yes, a bead of sweat or two is forming on my brow. Grrrrrrr. I'm pretty sure the other customers are looking at me wondering how an idiot like me even has their license. And then, from the back window of the van, I hear the sweet voice of my 4 yr. old.

"Mom, what's taking so long?"

"Mom, maybe you should just go inside and ask for help."

Grrrrr.

Cell phone out, calling Seth... in the middle of whatever he is doing, 5 hrs. away from me and our gas-less van.

"What am I doing wrong?"

He doesn't know. He can't see. He doesn't have good reception where he is.

I abandon that gas pump. It's obviously defective. After pulling up to a different pump, I start anew. It doesn't work. The whole station must be broken. Was there an explosive episode in the OPEC nations that I hadn't heard about? Can a girl just get some gas????

We go to the park. Still on "E".

I drive home, stopping at the only full service station I know of and pay a ridiculous amount of money for my ridiculous gas.

I'm ready for electric cars. I think I can mange plugging in a cord.

After the week of Seth being gone, we were so happy to have him home again. He came home 15 shades darker and tired to the bones. After a day of recovery, which was actually a busy day as all seem to be lately, we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary on Sunday. I intend to dedicate an entire post to our anniversary but for now, the highlights:

Steak dinner. No children present. Amen.

I brought my wedding veil to church with me and plopped it on my head for a while. Just wanted to make sure everyone knew that it was no ordinary day. ☺

Love,
 

Do I win an award?

Mundane Mondays? Nope, not here, not today, at least!

Starting shortly after breakfast, my girls and I:

- Went to our favorite park, bringing Maddie's bicycle along, and went around a long trail, picking flowers, trying fancy bike tricks and "looking" for frogs (just between you and me, I wasn't looking too hard).

- Played at the playground, swinging and sliding with glee, for about 2 hrs.

- Ate lunch at McDonalds. Played in Play Place for over 1 hr.

- Napped/read books at home.

- Had pancakes for dinner

- Went to a Farmer's Market

- Walked to the library, checked out 8 books and a video.

- Had ice cream cones at home.

- Watched rented video.

The girls are filling out the nomination forms for my "Mother of the Year Award" as I type. Of-course we all know that tomorrow could disqualify me.

But for tonight, it is a house full of happy little women.

Love,

My favorite Daddy's on Father's Day

Dads everywhere woke up this morning to coffee mugs, t-shirts, card or banners reading "World's Greatest Dad" In fact, those are all inaccurate because I just so happen to know the world's greatest dad - the real one.

It's Seth.

Honestly, he is amazing. My girls are very blessed to have the Daddy that they have.

We gifted Seth with our customary photo coffee mug, a giant poster declaring our love and appreciation and a batch of "No Bake Cookies", which the girls helped make him. Maddie also had a the idea of wrapping up a DVD (one that we already own) for him. ☺ She picked Pride and Prejudice. {ha ha ha ha} That was funny. We also took Daddy out to the restaurant of his choice. Of course, since I have no income, he paid. ☺

On Father's Day, my mind goes straight to my husband. Then to my father in law. It wasn't until today, as I observed others celebrating Father's Day, that I realized my mind doesn't naturally go to my own father. I don't think of him at all. I do have a step-dad that I call Dad, and send him pictures of my girls periodically, but I honestly don't think of him primary on Father's Day either. There is no anger or ill will for either of them in my heart. Honestly, I feel mostly pity, concern for their eternal destinies and just plain old acceptance of the circumstances of my childhood. There is no changing any of it. God knew what family I was born into and in His mercy, He came to me. He sought me and saved me, in more than one way. I can be nothing but grateful.

As I see my husband interact with our daughters... the pure love between them, the security the girls find in Daddy's arms, the fun they have in his company, the instruction he gives them, the material needs he provides for them, the genuine interest he has in them.... all the elements of this vital relationship in their lives, and I am filled with hope for their future. By God's grace, they'll have a foundation they can stand on as adult women one day.

As for me, I distinctly recall the day when I was 12 yrs. old when in prayer I said to God, Be my Daddy. He was already my Creator. When I received Christ as Savior, He became my Father, and I became His child. But I needed Him to be even more. I needed Him to be my Daddy. I needed Him to protect me as a Daddy protects his little girl. When I was interested in a certain boy, I had to go home and ask my Daddy: my Heavenly Daddy. When decisions came my way and the counsel of an earthly daddy couldn't be found, I turned to my Holy Daddy. As a 16 yr. old girl headed across the country to college, I needed my Daddy to make sure my school bill was paid. And to make sure I wasn't joining the wrong crowds. And I needed my Daddy to check out the handsome young man that wanted to date me. My Daddy said Seth was a keeper. ☺

So Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband, and to my Father, the King of Kings.

"...your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things" Luke 12:30

Love,
 

Commenting Issues

Several people have mentioned to me that leaving comments on my blog is difficult, if not impossible at times. I'm at a loss why that is, but I dug around in Blogger Help to try to find some solutions. I changed some settings on my end, and I am hoping it helps. I am sad thinking of all the comments I've missed! But I also understand how annoying it is to try and re-try to leave a quick little comment with no success!

So give it another try and let me know of your experience. I do moderate comments so it will not appear immediantely, although you should be told that it was entered successfully.

Love,