My parents and four of my siblings are in Oklahoma again for the summer. They went last year and decided to go back again this year. They are at New Life Ranch. My parents are working at the camp and my brother is a counselor-in-training and my sisters are campers. They had a blast last summer and are having a great time again this year. This video is a message for Mami and Pops and Uncle John, Aunt Kaitlin, Aunt Annie, and Aunt Meghan from Riley (and his special blankie "B"). We miss you and can't wait to see you in August!!

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Mom Confessions

Last night I became the mom that all the other moms talk about.

Michael and I had a much needed date night last night. It had been too long since just the two of us had gone out. We enjoyed an early movie (Prince Caspian) and a nice dinner at one of our favorite local places.

Michael's parents were watching Riley for us. We knew we wouldn't be too late, so we told them just to keep him up. When we got to their house it wasn't very late, but we spent a little while talking and catching up. They were just finishing bathing Riley, so we put him into his pjs.

A little bit of background--the night before when we were going to bed, Michael had taken the egg crate off of our bed because it was pretty much falling apart. That was fine, except our mattress is ancient (really ancient!) and it felt like we were sleeping on the floor. So, we moved to the guest bedroom (aka the Wolfpack room) and slept in there on Thursday night. The bed in there is comfy but it's up against a wall. I am a tosser and turner and so all night I kept hitting my head on the wall. So, yesterday, I told him we HAD to get a new egg crate for our bed.

Back to the story...so, after leaving Grammie and Granddad's we had to make a pit stop to get the egg crate. It was late so our store choices were pretty limited. We stopped at Wal-mart. It was 10:45pm on a Friday night and we were shopping in Wal-mart with our 2 year old in his pajamas. C'mon, Moms, admit it, I am the mom that you other moms roll your eyes at and talk about how you can't believe I would have my child in a Wal-mart that time of night, much less in his pajamas. I have become "that Mom"!

What are some confessions you have as a mom???? (C'mon, help me feel better!)

"Sweet Jesus" is an old song that my mom used to sing to us as we were going to sleep. I don't remember her singing it to me as a young girl (maybe she did), but I do remember her always singing it to the "little kids" (aka: my younger siblings). It is a song that is very special to me, bringing back a lot of happy memories. I have always sung this song to Riley as I rock him before he goes to bed. He began singing it himself a few months ago. I tried to capture the moment on video, but he is being a little bit silly and rocking in the rocking chair, so please bear with the shakiness!

Here are the words:
Sweet Jesus, sweet Jesus
What a wonder you are.
You're brighter than the morning star.
And, fairer, much fairer,
than the lily that grows by the wayside.
More precious, more precious
than gold.

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Next Weekend

Next weekend two of my sisters and one of my sisters-in-law and I will head to Atlanta for the "Deeper Still" conference with Beth Moore. I am so excited and looking forward to being with some of the girls and looking forward to what God does at the conference!

When I tried to buy tickets a few weeks ago, I found out that the conference had sold out the day before. I was so bummed and had pretty much given up on going. But, my sister Karoline found two tickets for my sister-in-law Jenna and I on Craigslist! So, we're heading to the big ATL!!

We had so much fun at the beach and now we're back to our normal routine. The local waterpark opened for good yesterday. We have season passes again this year, and Riley and I headed there yesterday. We had a great time!

Below are just a couple of pictures from our beach trip. In the first one you will notice that Riley is eating a chocolate ice cream cone. (It actually would probably be more accurate to say the cone is having Riley!) This may just look like a messy toddler picture, but it's actually more. It actually is a visual testimony to the fact that I am learning to let him be a boy and enjoy things and not trying so hard to always keep him clean and mess-free! I have come a long way!! Have a great weekend!!

We have been enjoying some time at the beach this week. We have had wonderful weather and have enjoyed good food, good company, and a lot of fun.

As I have watched Riley splashing in the ocean and seeing his huge grin as he is having the time of his life, I can't help but get a little choked up because this is one of the scenes I have always wanted to see play out in real life. In my dreams I saw myself with my husband sitting in the sand watching our child(ren) splash in the ocean, building sand castles, and enjoying family memories like the ones I had as a child. So many times I can still hardly believe that my dreams have come true. That I am a mommy to such a precious child still blows me away.

I cannot imagine loving my child anymore than I do. That he did not come from my body makes no difference to me in my love for him. He is my child, my son, and I am his mommy. We may not look alike and he may not have any of my genes but he is mine and I am his.

When I think of one of his birthmom's requests that we would love him like he were our own it makes me want to fly across the ocean and find her so that I can look her in the eyes and tell her that we could not love him anymore than we do. We love him like he's our own because he is our own--maybe not our flesh and blood--but he is our son and I do not believe any child has ever been more loved. This is the child we have longed for, cried for, groaned for, and now have the privilege of raising. He could not be anymore our own.