Come see what I’ve been working on….
http://barefootwalks.com/2012/05/22/would-a-50-gift-card-kickstart-summer-for-you/
Little by Little May 17, 2012
Click here to watch the kindergarten classes perform little by little
Little by Little
(Amber Thompson and Madison Easter)
I started walking when I was small
And I’m learning new things as I grow
Now people say I am getting so tall
Where did that little kid go
Inside and out God is making me new
You may not see it happening
Until He is through
Little by Little
I’m changing, I’m growing
Little by Little
I hope that it’s showing
I’m not who I’ll be
I’m not who I was
I’m somewhere in the middle
But God is changing me little by little
Sometimes it feels like I’m so far away
From all that I know should be
But His word says that He’ll finish one day
All that He’s started in me
I look at me and don’t understand
But God has a vision and God has a plan
Every tiny step of faith
Gets me a little bit nearer
I can’t wait till the brand new me
Shows up in the mirror
Mothers Day May 14, 2012
Sweet words written on handmade cards, handpicked flowers, simple gestures made to make me feel special, treats all weekend long, but mostly lots and lots of time with the 4 most important people in my life.
Steve did everything imaginable to make me feel appreciated and loved over the weekend. He took on all duties that I would normally perform, he even went to the store (with Andrew so I could have a break) and bought and packed everything for a picnic. A special breakfast date with Zachary, a lake picnic afternoon, a lengthy nap, breakfast of bagels Sunday morning, gifts, and sweet words that I will treasure forever.
Several times my boys would say things like this, “I was about to say something I shouldn’t, but realized it is Mothers Day. So I’m trying to be as good as possible.”
Zachary even surprised me at one point by taking Andrew upstairs, picking out his clothes, and dressing him for me. Then smiled and said, “Happy Mothers Day”.
I’m the blessed one. They told me over and over again how much they love and appreciate me. The crazy thing is that I’m the lucky one. To have each and every one of them. They are indeed blessings, rewards, and gifts from the Lord.
I just crack up at this picture. Jacob, one day when you are a man (as you say), you will ask us why we don’t have any pictures of you simply smiling. And we will laugh and say, “Oh honey, don’t you remember how you loved to make silly faces or silly poses. And daddy and I would say, ‘Jacob, please just smile for this one!’ “
Though we didn’t get to see our moms this weekend, we are grateful for moms that loved us well and showed us how to love our families well!
A Holy Experience posted a post today that just sums it all up. For those of us who still have our children home with us, it is a great reminder of what is most important. I particularly like #8-11 on her list. http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/05/the-happy-mom-manifesto/
A good kind of busy May 7, 2012
This past weekend might be the best weekend we have experienced with our kids in a long, long time.
It was busy, but not the kind of busy that our culture is entangled in. It was a different kind of busy. The kind that left all 5 of us laying together in the family room Sunday night absolutely spent. Empty of energy, but full of life. Too tired to move, but not too tired to continue to retell to each other our favorite moments from the weekend.
How many times did we say, “Wow, what a great weekend!”
Friday started off with a last-minute gathering with friends at their home. The weather was amazing. Steve and I had such a fun time spending time with our friends while we watched the 5 kids doing what kids do. They ran, chased, splashed in the lake, played corn hole, and simply enjoyed being together outside. We ended the night with a sunset boat ride. My boys were in heaven. They love to be on a boat, especially Andrew.
Saturday started off with a baseball game and a soccer game, home for a little down time, then over to a friends for dinner with their family. The day was perfect for some water fun. The kids played on the swing set, sliding into a pool of water, for hours! They never tired of it. Again another wonderful night spent with friends while watching the kids have an absolute blast with their little buddies.
Sunday morning we went to church and came home planning to have some lunch, rest, then head downtown to enjoy an outdoor concert. However, as we were making lunch, one of our friends stopped by the house and invited us to join them at the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament. We quickly ditched our PB&J sandwiches, hopped in the car, and we were off!
Andrew loves golf, so we did have to explain that he wasn’t getting to play golf, but he would get to watch some amazing players. The day was an absolute treat! Our friend was hosting a Chalet at the tournament, so we got to enjoy the tournament in a nice shady spot while filling our bellies with yummy food. What a treat for the kids this was. To experience a golf tournament up close like that created quite the memory for them.
Jacob, Zachary, and Emma (our little friend) spent most of the tournament right on the hole rather than in the tent with us. They wanted to be as close to the action as possible, and it certainly paid off. As Robert Karlsson finished up on the 15th, his caddy handed Jacob his ball! He was ecstatic. When the caddy handed Jacob the ball, Zachary put his hands together and held them out in case anyone wanted to fill his sweet palms with a treasure.
After the kids came running over to tell us all about it, they flew right back down to their posts. A few players later, Phil Mickelson was at hole #15. Emma’s dad instructed the kids not to move from their spots because he knew the masses that were following Phil would soon be making their way over. His strategy paid off because as Phil was walking off, his caddy handed Emma his ball! Again Zachary’s precious hands were held out. Still trying to get his own little treasure. We were all so excited for Emma!
At this point Zachary was determined to get a ball. Meanwhile, Andrew and I had to take a stroll to the potty. On the way back, a little girl came up to Andrew and gave him a practice ball she had been given. He was as excited as Emma and Jacob were for their balls. When poor Zachary saw that everyone had gotten a ball except for him, his little face looked so sad.
So on our way out, we stopped at the area where the players will sign autographs. It just so happened to be Phil Mickelson there. I thought there was absolutely no way possible the boys could get his autograph. But I was so determined to try to get Zachary something that would be special to him too. It was quite a surreal experience to be 12 inches from someone you watch on tv. As he signed autographs all around us, it seemed to us our papers would not be chosen. At the very end, he took Jacob’s paper and signed it but still wouldn’t sign mine. Now, I’m not one that would normally say a word, but I couldn’t imagine Zachary’s sad expression when he would see his brother come away with 2 special mementoes. So, I just did it. I blurted out, “Can you please sign this for my 6-year-old.” He looked at me, nodded, and signed my little piece of paper.
The boys couldn’t believe the events of that day. I can’t count how many times I heard them say what an amazing experience the entire day was. If they weren’t golf fans before, they are now.
We carpool with Emma and her sister, and it was so sweet to listen to all the kids exchange stories from the tournament.
Steve and I have done the same thing over the entire weekend. After the kids were all tucked in their beds, we too were filled with such appreciation for the gift of this weekend. The weekend was full of experiences. Time with friends, sharing meals, sharing stories, sharing our lives. Nothing productive got down around the house. And it was great! The house was a mess last night, yet I was filled with such peace.
Steve left for work, the kids were off to school, and I looked around the house. No anxiety crept in over all that I didn’t get done. A smile spread across my face as I looked at the dirty handprints on the door. The house was quiet and still. Only remnants of the little treasures of my life lay around me, shin guards still on the steps from Saturday morning, water cups left on the table, grass stained baseball pants on the laundry room floor. For once I was ok with the signs of life all around me. I didn’t see those items as inconvenient or something to be dealt with. Instead they were memories, experiences, and life. Life lived fully is messy.
Steve sent me a sweet email that I read right as I was pondering the wonders of this life. My eyes filled with tears as I read the words that reminded me of how precious life is. He said we get one shot with the kids, and we need to make the most of it, when they leave our nest, we need to know we made the most of it.
And that is my summer goal. I’m planning an intentional summer. One filled with loving my kids well and pointing them to their Creator. These summers are flying by me. I look forward to them like a child does Christmas. I long for my kids to be out of school and back with me all day. Days filled of conversation, play, and just being together. I can’t wait, absolutely can’t wait.
Last day of school is next Friday!!!!
Sweet words to God May 2, 2012
Zachary sat down and wrote this letter to God recently. He asked for no help, even with spelling, which is why I’m typing it rather than posting a picture for you to see.
To my God,
I love you my God. You are the Christ, my Lord. Bring me to heaven. You do things that make me proud. I like that.
Your precious one,
Zachary
3 words: Moved to tears
How precious a gift when God allows us the privilege of seeing worship in the hearts of our children.
Potty Training Triumph May 1, 2012
Jacob=easy to potty train. In underwear within days. At 22 months. No magic formulas. No tricks. Just let him run naked and go when he needed to.
Zachary=potty trained himself. Seriously. We didn’t potty train. He simply removed his diaper at 2 years old, went to toilet, peed, and never looked back. Even went straight to underwear at bedtime.
Andrew=a different story. Potty training began last summer. Was potty trained to pee within a couple of days. The other? Well, that has been a different story.
Basically, he just simply refused. No reward motivated him. No consequence bothered him. It was a power struggle. Simple as that. Except it wasn’t simple at all. His refusal led to all kinds of issues like him holding it, which required multiple doctors visits, medicines, removal of dairy, etc.
He also liked the negative attention he received when a fuss was made over him not going.
The doctor finally advised us to stop training completely. Simply let the entire issue go, which we did. That didn’t work either.
I finally reached the end of my patience though. He is nearing 3 1/2, which to me is just way beyond when a child should be comfortably in underwear.
I asked for prayer from my Bible study and Life Group. Aww, the power of prayer. Why we don’t use this power more often I will never understand. Through the prayer of friends, the Lord revealed this very helpful article on Toilet Training Resistance http://www.cpnonline.org/CRS/CRS/pa_btrainin_hhg.htm
The method we took from this article was to remove from Andrew his favorite thing. Movies. Now, we watch little tv as it is. They might get a 30 minute show a day. But how he looks forward to that movie. Particularly Jake and the Neverland Pirates!
I explained that he would be losing movies until he began going on the potty. Each time he went on the potty he would earn a movie. After a month of consistently going, he would have his movies back for good. Would you believe within an hour, he hopped on the potty and went!
1 and a half weeks later, he has it down pat. No accident in 11 days. A major breakthrough occurred when he began going on the potty at school and Bible study.
What a turning point this is in the Robinson household. With the exception of a few months between Zachary being potty trained and Andrew being born, diapers have been a part of our budget for 8 years.
Life is good!!
And today we celebrate at Chuck E Cheeses. We’ve promised this reward since we began last summer. And he remembered. Today is a big celebration, and we are making the most of it!
We are so proud of our sweet boy, who is officially a big boy now. This is one of the milestones that is NOT bittersweet 
Happy 60th Birthday Grandma April 23, 2012
We hope you had a wonderful birthday weekend and hope today brings much joy! You are much-loved!!
An update on Anne Jackson April 16, 2012
If you have followed my blog for a couple of years, you will remember when I posted about a friend from Atlanta whose child suffered a brain injury in a car accident. Many of you have followed their caringbridge page and continued to ask about this family. I thought I would post this link to her blog marking the 2 year anniversary of the car accident.
http://kathrynjackson.com/2012/04/13/two-years/
This family is an incredible inspiration to me. When I read their blog, my faith is strengthened by reading of their personal journey and faith. Please continue to lift this family up.
Sports, Sport, and more Sports April 15, 2012
A first for us. Boys playing different sports at the same time. Until this point, Jacob and Zachary have always chosen to play the same sport. Soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, you name it, they have done it together. Separate teams, but same sport, same season.
This spring Jacob chose soccer and Zachary chose baseball. Andrew would choose anything given the chance. The kid is DYING to play on a team. Any team. His day is coming!
The season couldn’t have worked out better. Soccer and baseball only overlap about 2 weeks, which allows each boy to have their own time rather than sharing it. And it is fun to see them doing different sports so they can each focus on what they enjoy individually without being compared to each other.
Opening day for Zachary’s team was this weekend. His first at bat sent the ball sailing into the outfield allowing him to make it to first base. He was able to play on first base, which he told us before the game he was hoping to get to do. He had a fantastic game and was absolutely pumped when he got home.
Jacob’s season is nearing an end. He has taken turns at both offense and defense and is quite the little defender. Interesting to see the level of play taking place at his age. Long gone are the days of scoring 6 and 7 goals a game.
And then there is Andrew. On the sidelines he is a fiery little guy playing his own game with me or a friend. Decked out in sports gear, he wants to be like all the other athletes. I absolutely cannot wait for the day he is old enough to play.
What a joy these boys are. Each incredibly unique in their own way. Each with their own special mark. Each a complete gift to us.
Spring Break April 14, 2012
We took a Spring Break trip to James Island in South Carolina with my sister’s family and my dad and step-mom. The trip was a blast!
We started the trip at Patriots Point. Definitely a highlight for the boys! They thought it was so cool to be on a real aircraft carrier. We did a flight simulator that was really fun for them. Adorable to watch them shooting as if they were actually flying the plane. Real jets, real guns, real man stuff. They were in awe!
We spent some time in Charleston before heading to camp at James Island. What a fantastic city!
For this trip we stayed in a cabin rather than a camper. It spoiled us.
Day 2 was spent at Folly Beach. Perfect, perfect, perfect beach weather. 70 degrees and sunny. The kids didn’t care at all that the water was freezing.
The last full day was spent at the campgrounds. Pedal boats, long bike rides, crabbing, and resting. Paw-Paw taught Andrew to “rest his eyes”. When Andrew heard Paw-Paw say he was going to rest his eyes, he voluntarily went with him and crashed for 2 hours! We ended the night with a volleyball game and a bike ride looking for alligators. The kids are still talking about the adventures. Our cabin overlooked the salt marsh. I’m still cleaning marsh mud off clothes and treating bug bites, but it was worth every second for the memories the boys came back with!
The trip was great. We love James Island. And we loved spending time with family.
The final morning while we were busy packing up, the boys were jumping on the bed. Andrew took a fall off the bed hitting the back of his head causing it to split the skin on his scalp, looking much worse than it was. I absolutely panicked while my dad, Francine, and Steve remained calm and assessed the situation. Thankfully, he was fine, but it was quite a scary experience. We had a friend, ER doctor take a peek when we got home and all is well.
Never, never a dull moment.
