I'm Not a Political Person

I'm not a political person.  That's just it.  However, as I sit here on this rainy Friday afternoon, I can't help but share a few thoughts of mine.

I live in a small Hill Country town, Kerrville, TX.  My high school sweetheart and I chose to come back to the hill country after graduating from Texas Tech University - Lubbock in 2007. We now live and work in the Kerrville community and are deeply invested in the people of this town.

Tomorrow is election day for our sweet little town.  Again, I will say I'm not a political person so I probably will not use the correct terms as you read this.  A friend of mine/former boss/former pastor/non-profit consultant (and many others I don't have time to name) named Bill Blackburn is up for Mayor, his opponent, Bonnie White.  I've been driving around town the last 6 months or so seeing Bonnie White's campaign signs.  A few of them read at the bottom, "Honest, Diligent, Dependable."  I do not know Bonnie on a personal level nor have I ever done business with her so I can not speak to whether or not she is a good candidate for Mayor.  I only know what I've heard from many trusted sources in the community and those are opinions.  I have, however, recently read some facts that have been alarming to say the least.

As this campaign has evolved, it has become nasty.  Heartbreaking for this Momma of 3.  I have heard a number of rumors about my friend and former boss that have made me sick at my stomach.  I know Bill.  He is Honest, Diligent and Dependable. But even more than these 3 words, he loves the Lord his God and people well.  He loves ALL people well and he cares about the Kerrville Community more than I have time to discuss in this brief blog post.  He is the epitome of a trusted mentor, advisor, and friend not only to my husband and I, but hundreds upon hundreds of others in this community and beyond.

I do not get to cast my vote for Bill Blackburn in this election given that our family lives outside the city limits.  This pains me but I hope tomorrow, election day from 7am-7pm, young and old alike will get out and CAST THEIR VOTE.  It's our right and our duty as citizens of Kerrville, TX.

Bill being sworn in.

Celebrating Bill's birthday at Partners in Ministry in 2011.
This was a sweet celebration.

A Lot of Firsts

I am currently very amused by the fact that my last blog post was in 2011 . . . 

That just goes to show you how busy and distracted I've been for the last 6 years of my life.  When I say "busy" and "distracted," I mean that in the best of ways.  Instead of writing a novel about what has happened the last 6 years, I will just say this - it has been some of the sweetest and most precious times in my life.  Having babies was intoxicating for me . . . every bit of it. In the last 6 years, I have been pregnant 4 times and have 3 amazingly beautiful gifts from God on earth and one in heaven I will see one day.   

So here it is . . . the last couple of months have brought a lot of "firsts" for me.  While the parenting journey is a daily series of "firsts," these have been extra special and I have The H. E. Butt Family Foundation and Laity Lodge Family Camp to thank for that.  If you haven't heard of Laity Lodge Family Camp, I would encourage you to run to your computer and start looking at how you can make it possible to experience this place at some point in your life.  

I am one week removed from spending 3 nights and 4 days at Laity Lodge Family Camp (LLFC) with my husband, Charlie, and our 3 babies, Annie, Maggie, and Luke.  The mission of Laity Lodge Family Camp is to create space where families can engage with one another and connect with God in significant ways.

"Create Space"  What exactly does this mean?  Let me explain it from my first hand experience . . . 

Cary Hendricks, Director of LLFC, talks about creating a space where you can be free of all the distractions of this messy life we live and focus on your family and relationship with God.  That's just what we did.  

During one of the activity sessions, our littlest one, Luke (2 years old) was in Kid's Club, and Annie (6), Maggie (4), Charlie and I went to paint pottery with our girls. We all picked out what we wanted to paint, listened to the instructions of painting enough coats, choosing colors, and the process of how it would be "fired" in an oven to give it a perfect glaze to take home as our keepsake.  I chose a coffee mug, Charlie picked up a small floral bowl (for when I take off my jewelry at night), and both the girls chose a heart shaped "box" of sorts where they could store their treasures.  Once we all picked out our colors and sat down, it wasn't 5 minutes before I started to realize Annie's frustration with her painting performance.  Maggie, in her free spirit, was going to town and so pleased at how everything was turning out.  Annie was not.  She started talking about how she "messed up" and got a little dab of another color paint on the part where she only wanted pink.  I gently leaned over and showed her how we could blend the colors together and that it was no big deal.  She went on and it wasn't another 5 minutes before she had silent tears rolling down her face.  I stopped what I was doing and told Charlie I was going to take her outside.

I walked around the corner, sat Annie in my lap in a rocking chair and asked her what was going on.  She started bawling and telling me that she "wasn't good at anything" and that "everyone was doing things better than her." Hearing these words come out of my firstborn daughter's mouth was gut-wrenching.  I sat her up and told her to look at me in the eyes.  I told her she was beautifully and wonderfully made by God and that God, Daddy and I thought she was perfect.  I started crying with her and told her that what she was saying was lies from the devil and that Mommy has the same struggles as she does.  I asked her if she wanted me to tell her all the things she was good at.  She replied "nothing Mommy, I am not good at anything." I told her to look at me again and through my tears, started rapidly naming off all the things she was good at.  While I was naming these things, she started to deep breath and calm down.  I did not teach her this but it is the same thing I do when my anxiety creeps up on me out of nowhere . . . 

There is more to this story but I mainly wanted to write this short segment and say thank you Laity Lodge Family Camp for creating a space for me to recognize that my precious, 6 year old daughter might have some of the same tendencies and struggles I do.  I now know to encourage and lift her up more.  I now know the importance of hammering into her that she is beautifully and wonderfully made in God's image and that we are not what we do.  We are God's children and in His sight, we are perfect and that alone is ENOUGH.

So, from the bottom of my heart, I am eternally grateful that LLFC created a space for me to cry with my daughter and speak God's truth into her little soul.  It may not have been the "right" thing to say or do, but it is what flowed out of my mouth at the time.

Here are our precious children. Annie Grace Givens . . . aka "munchkin" is to the left of me in this picture.

A LOT has happened since my last blog post!  Our little angel is rolling all around (front to back and back to front) and even trying to figure out how to crawl!  In 8 days, she will be six months old.  I can not believe how fast she is growing up.  About a month ago, we started giving her some solid food and oh boy does she like it!  Her favorite things so far have been peas, carrots, and bananas.  Grammy says she likes spinach but I haven't quite figured out that one yet...

Some of my favorite things at this stage:
* Listening to her "talk" and try to figure out her voice. Her facial expressions while she is doing this really tells a story... she is trying to communicate with us! (I am going to try and post a video of this..)
* Laying down with her and letting her feel my face.  She is very interested in reaching out and grabbing onto things and I think it is so sweet when she does it to Charlie and I's face. 
* Seeing her on her tummy holding her head up high.
* Watching how interested she is in everything.  She reaches for everything (including a can of ranch style beans the other night..) and wants to feel and, of course, put it in her mouth.
* Holding her in front of a mirror and seeing her smile at herself.  She actually gets shy sometime and will turn her face at herself!  It is sooo cute!
* This may seem weird, but she has a "bathroom face" that is so funny and cute to watch.  I have to keep myself from laughing because she concentrates and grunts very hard to get relief!
* Rocking her to sleep.  I have loved this from the beginning, but as she has grown, it is easier to snuggle up against her and just hug and kiss her.  I often get teary because I am still in awe of this incredible blessing from God.

Enjoy the pictures. We sure are enjoying our angel pie :)

Eating carrots with Grandpa

Snuggles with GG after bath :)

Shopping with the girls

 With Mommy after my first 8K.

Playing with Uncle Kaleb!

I love my brother so much - this is an awesome picture!

 Taylor came to visit us :)

I love my Daddy!

Raider is so gentle with her!

Snoozin at the river!

We had her at the river from about 11 am - 9 pm and she never made a peep!

I love my Uncle Bill!

This was when she discovered that if her hands hit the water, it would splash...soooo cute!

I gave in and bought her an "I love Mom" outfit since everything else says something about Daddy!

Time is flying...

My Dad has always told me that as you get older, life moves faster... He is SO right!  We can not believe that our baby girl is already 4 months old!  It is incredible to watch her development from week to week.  I am continually amazed with Annie and how she has abundantley blessed our lives.  Almost daily, Charlie says, "It just doesn't get any better than this..."

She started teething about 2 weeks ago.  I didn't think it could happen so young, but there is no doubt that is what is happening.  She has been such a big girl and actually quite pleasant even though I know she is uncomfortable.  The way she moves her mouth and "gums" is soooo cute. 

She has been sleeping in her crib for the past week.  It was really hard at first not to have her in the pack n play right by me but I think she is much more comfortable on her nice mattress.

Charlie thought of a new song while he was on diaper duty this morning.  It's just a start, but goes like this...
"Good morning baby Annie
You have dimples on your fanny"

A few things I am loving at this stage:
* Her smile - wow, it melts me!

* Her coos... I love hearing her "talk"

* Watching how interested she is in everything

* How she recognizes our voices

* Her hands - they are constantly moving and trying to grab on to things

* Her feet (Charlie says her tribe name would be "stinky foot")

* How she will just stare at me, then open her mouth SO big with a smile!  We are still waiting to hear a laugh

Enjoy the pictures!

Lunch with Dad in the park

After our 4am feeding. Charlie was up and snapped a picture (which he never does)... love my snuggle bunny!

BATH TIME! She loves her baths... hasn't cried once since she was born while taking a bath! (Thank you Jess for taking the pictures - I definitely cried when I saw them)

Snuggling with Jess

 Laughing at her hippo...hilarious!

Angel face :)

She is very interested when we read to her.

 First time in the river!  She loved it!

I love my Auntie onesie!

Daddy is 28!

Celebrating at Uncle Chris' riverfront :)

FIRST wedding reception in Luckenbach!  She had fun but it was HOT!