re-entry

Have you ever had a season of life that seemed as if you were in the middle of the ocean fighting to stay afloat? Yeah, me too.

The past year has been a wild ride for our family. It wasn't full of major trauma, just lots of new experiences and challenges that overwhelmed us and forced me to choose those things that were necessary for our daily survival. Blogging didn't make the cut. 

Maybe some day I'll go into great detail, but for now I think I'll keep that for a rainy day and jump back into the blogosphere with our current goings-on.

And here is where I should go into an account of all that we are doing, but I'm still half asleep in my attempt at rising before my children every morning. But, consider this my official return. 

Now I'm off to search the pantry for some type of breakfast that won't put my children into a sugar coma for the rest of the day.

A List of Things

1) Seeds Family Worship CDs have been a staple in our home for a few years now. I love that the lyrics are straight from scripture so my kids (and me & Kyle) are hiding God's word in our hearts as we memorize the songs. And Kyle appreciates that the music is cool and not the intolerable kiddie music that many children's songs are made of. Lucas even likes it - and that's saying a LOT since he's going into middle school and so-very-cool-now and all.

2) Pinterest has become my summer addiction.

3) This will also be a summer addiction. Mostly due to the incredibly large numbers of cucumbers we have coming out of our garden right now.

4) And if this chalkboard contact paper lives up to its claim, it just may change my life. Or at least my house.

5) I'm reading this book right now. It's definitely challenging and convicting. And, unfortunately, much needed in our home.

Vacation Video Diary Episode "I lost a tooth"

**Edited to add: these videos are playing very strangely on my computer. It may be my internet connection. Or it may be some weird technological thing that I don't understand. Please let me know if the people in the videos are moving rather quickly while they're words are not.**

Well, it wouldn't be a Brogdon vacation if somebody didn't lose a tooth. Actually, I don't think anyone in our family has ever lost a tooth on vacation. But, it totally sounds like something that would happen.

A few things to note about the following videos:
1) I have noticed it is a trend for Ellie to turn to me several times throughout her recordings to verify her answers are correct and ask me for advice. This does not follow her normal way of doing things.
2) It's obvious that Lucas is incredibly shy about sharing the spotlight with his brother. And why is he eating in the bedroom in front of the mirror?
3) The day is only half over. Why am I having to give verbal cues as to what we have accomplished so far?

Vacation Video Diary Day 1 (& bonus birthday footage)

Things I Never Though I'd Hear Myself Say #778,912

"Get the cat off your head!"

Perfectionism

Upstairs I hear the rat-a-tat-tat of drumsticks beating. More than likely, they are not hitting the intended target. Sounds more like a wall. Yes, that's definitely a wall. So much for the "newness" of our house.

I yell at Lucas to stop the incessant drumming on the walls. I'm told he's not the culprit.

Jacob quickly speaks up and says he is the one practicing the drums. Which is great, except Jacob doesn't know how to play the drums. He tries, bless his heart, but the boy has not an ounce of rhythm (I just spelled that word at least 52 times before I got it right.)

Jacob suffers from what I like to call "I have to be able to do everything anyone else has even remotely succeeded at" syndrome. If Lucas plays guitar, so must Jacob. If Lucas hits a home run, so must Jacob. If Lucas can dive into the deep end, Jacob can surely do the same. If Lucas can play the drums, then it's obvious that the same talent must course through Jacob's veins.

The problem is ..... for most of those things ...... Jacob can't. Not that he won't ever. As he gets older, he will certainly accomplish many things that his older brother can already do. But, for now, he can't.

Sometimes this can be good. A little determination goes a long way in trying to learn a new skill. But this intensity and drive mostly just makes him miserable. He is a little boy with huge ideas. And when he can't do those things just the way he envisioned, his life falls apart. It's perfectionism at its deepest.

God has shown me recently (as in today) that these moments are God-given. Moments where the gospel should step in. Instead of taking 10 deep breaths to lower my blood pressure when he is in a heap of tears against the pool fence because he can't dive perfectly the first time, I should be using that time to remind Jacob that no one is perfect. Not me. Not his dad. And certainly not his oldest brother who he tries to keep up with.

But, we do know one who is. And through Him we can do all things.

So I teach Jacob that only through Christ will he ever succeed.

Will Christ work in Jacob to do that perfect roll on the snare drum? Maybe. Maybe not.

But, when we find our identity in Christ, when we seek Him and allow Him to work through us, we will be successful. Maybe not as the world defines success, but certainly as God defines it.

And that, my friends, is all that matters.

Now, if only I can explain that to the 8-year-old upstairs throwing drumsticks against the wall.

Random Thoughts

1) I thought life would slow down when school ended. I was wrong.

2) Our family has grown by two four-legged, furry creatures. We adopted kittens about 3 weeks ago. They are extraordinarily cute.

3) The poor things have become Ellie's sole source of entertainment. She follows them. She carries them (like newborn babies). She scolds them. She bosses them. She "reads" to them. She would like to brush their hair and teeth, but that hasn't happened. Yet. I'm also waiting on the "kitty hair cutting salon" to happen.

4) I'm amazed the cats have survived the past 3 weeks in our home. (See previous bullet point for explanation.)

5) I have only recently been overwhelmed with the realization that my eldest offspring will be entering middle school in the fall. MIDDLE. SCHOOL. M-i-d-d-l-e S-c-h-o-o-l.

6) I think I'm way more nervous than he is.

7) When in the world did I become old enough to have a child in middle school? Shouldn't I still be in my dorm room wondering if I have enough "skips" left to ditch my night class in order to go to IHOP with friends?

(Not that I ever skipped class.)

8) This is the last week of the summer that has nothing on the schedule, which means this will be our busiest summer in, well....., forever.

9) Kyle & I have started P90x again. Though we haven't made it consecutive days, we are doing pretty well and have lost some weight. Okay, so he has lost some weight. But, I haven't gained any. So I consider that a victory.

10) I don't have a 10 but needed one to even out my list. (My old college roommate, Robyn, will be the only person who understands this need in my life. That, plus the fact that speaking the word "infinity" before bed will only lead to insomnia. And, yes, I did just call you old. And, yes, I am speaking to an individual in my blog post. Told you this list was random.)