Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Our team in ACTION

Tate on defense...
(football)

Jack on offense...
(scoring a touchdown no less)
Bill as crowd-control...
In the above sequence, Bill is administering "the tool". This is a pseudo form of discipline whereupon he uses his index finger (the tool) to tickle the attitude out of a child. I love it because it reduces what could have been a long and drawn out discipline process to giggles in a matter of seconds. And voila! The attitude is gone.

The cheer squad...
(claps)

(lifts)

(poses)

(tricks)

(splits)

The dance team...
(a lot of slow dancing takes place in our kitchen. Not the most romantic place,
but that's just the way it is)

The dutiful mascot...
Mom as a (bad) pitcher...
(but a pretty good multi-tasker)

But the very best kind of action involves laughter...
Kisses...
And hugs...
Now if only I would put more action into washing windows and other household chores...

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Wearing our hearts on our sleeve (sort of)

I'm so excited about the new shirts Lulu and I got this weekend...
The best part isn't even how super cute and comfie they are. It's that they are an adoption fundraiser for sweet Dennis and Beth. We love Dennis and Beth and their family...
You might notice that Dennis looks like Hugh Grant and Beth looks like Kate Hudson. But they are more than just an adorable family. They are seeking the Lord and following him to a life-changing child. I love that that is the name of their website. They are fully expecting their lives to be changed.

We would buy these shirts no matter what because of our relationship with Dennis and Beth. But, I legitimately adore these shirts. Dennis designed the adult shirt and after their son Baden saw it, on his own, he made his own design. How precious is that? He did a fabulous job...
Lulu loves it too as you can see...
They also have unisex and girly tee's. Mine is the girly tee. I got an XL and it fits perfectly. I L.O.V.E the look, fit and feel. Please check them out here. Happy shopping!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

"and bring your camera"

When Bill calls me and adds those words on the end, I know it's gonna be good. This time Lulu had put on her own headband...
Except that it wasn't really a headband...
It was a pair of Emmie's (clean) underwear...
'Cuz that's just how we roll.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Searching for the WOW factor

Lulu recently turned 19 months. I had intended to have professional photos taken when she turned 18 months. It didn't happen, which is not too surprising.

So, I took matters into my own hands. Lulu and I had our own spontaneous photo shoot in the back yard. I figured I have a nice camera and a cute baby, so I would give it a whirl.

Now you will see the reasons why I am not (though I desperately want to be) a professional photographer...
The bark on the tree is in perfect focus, but the baby (my focal point) is fuzzy

I was going for an artsy look through the tall grass, but it just didn't work

I was trying to get a cute little shot of her peeking out from behind the tree, but
it turned out more creepy than cute.

Again, dead grass in perfect focus. Baby running in darling rumba outfit? Blurry.

Not our finest moment, but it makes me laugh.

I definitely caught her being ornery on film...

(trying to eat a rock)
Ended up with some pictures I like...

And some I love...


It was a fun morning activity, and I'm happy with the photos, but I don't think I'll give up my day job. It would help if I knew how to use a more advanced photo editing tool than Picasa and Picnik. I tried to play around with color and only ended up with nauseating brightness...
I'm looking for more of an antiqued look not some sort of nuclear glow.

I want my photos to look like the ones in the Pioneer Woman's photo contests. I want the "wow" factor. But I have to ask myself, what is more important: the photo itself or the subject of the photo? I don't want to be so concerned with being a good photographer that I forget the reason I am taking photos in the first place. To capture a moment and remember it. And that can be accomplished with great photos, just okay ones and really horrible ones.

The reason for the photo shoot was to remember what Lulu was like at 19 months. And I think our little session captured that not because of my skills or editing. But because as her Mommy I know that it's Lulu, not the photographer, who has the "wow" factor...
Wow.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Job Satisfaction

Last week I got to give the talk to the students at our weekly meeting. It was so fun to be around them. Even though I am old enough to be their mother, I am still passionate about ministry to college students.

The process of giving the talk was really beneficial for me. One thing I realized is that I love being able to create something and see it through to completion. But I don't get this opportunity too often. I am an ideas person. And I am not a follow through person. That means that I always have lots ideas rolling around in my head, but very few of them ever make it out of there (such a scary fate). And even fewer come to fruition. But the process of writing a talk and giving it allows for the creative process to come full circle.

It also allows me to process on my own with the Lord as I write and then to experience what I've processed in the context of community as I speak. I also get to weave stories into it, try to make people laugh, and maybe just maybe I also like being the center of attention a wee bit. But even more, I love God getting attention or glory. Despite my admitted craving of the spotlight, His fame is the deepest dream of my heart.

Another benefit of speaking is, I am forced to examine my heart before the Lord and evaluate my relationship with Him lest I be disingenuous. I don't want to be merely entertainment. And I certainly don't want to stand in front of all those students as a sham. Inevitably, what happens through the soul searching, is that by the time I am standing in front of the students, it is almost just icing on the cake if the talk impacts them in some way because the process has already impacted me so much.

Such was the case last week as I prepared and just enjoyed God in the process. I have started reading "The Jesus Story Book Bible" by Sally Lloyd Jones in my times with God. If you don't already own it: buy it, read it, love it! We have read this most nights at bedtime with the kids for several years now, but we are currently walking through the Proverbs with them. With the "Jesus Bible" not in nightly use, I decided to pick it up for my own use and then read that story from the "real" Bible. It has been very sweet. The "Jesus Bible" is one of the most well-written Christian books of all time in my opinion, in that it is both simple and profound at the same time.

That's exactly what I needed. I thought it was time that I got back to the fundamentals. There are a lot of dynamics to being a team. I can forget to cheer the victories and instead wallow in the defeats. I lose sight of the goal. When you have so many balls to juggle, how can you possibly "keep your eye on the ball" without going cross-eyed? I feel like I drop more balls than I hold onto and that I let down this team far more often than I would like. But, I know that the best thing I can do for Team Kollar is not to be a good leader as a Mom. But to be a good follower as a daughter. Help me, Abba Father, to follow You. Thanks that you lead me smack dab into Your grace. Every time.