Africa Bound Andrews: April 2011

Apr 27, 2011

1st Wordless Wednesday: Speechless

Apr 20, 2011

My Mother's Day Gift

Last weekend, I received my Mother's Day gift a little early. My fabulous friend Vanessa at So Darn Happy Photography, took us out and let us just be goofy. I absolutely adore the results:

Um, yes. My 6 year-old daughter's legs are almost longer than her Mommy's! Wow! She'll be locked inside the house until she's 45.

This picture just melts my heart. You'd never know it took her 3 months to fall in love with her daddy.

So sugary sweet! I love it.

Thank you Vanessa for capturing my fav things in the world on film.

Apr 18, 2011

No Longer a Hero

I understand that you originally said "No."

Then it was "Linz, I'm serious."

And finally it was "No one cares that I'm 36 this year and don't you dare post that."

Well, I don't like being told no. And I know when you're really being serious.

And...I absolutely LOVE the fact that you're 36 this year and so do 2 other people.

You were fixing the sink and the kids were finishing lunch.

You were grumbling because one more thing needed fixing.

Your kids were staring because they believe you can fix anything.

The Dinosaur asks "why Daddy fix it all?"

The Angel informs him "because Daddy fixes everything."

The Dinosaur instinctively "Why?"

The Angel, matter-of-factly "Because Daddy is a superhero silly."

So there you have it Daddy. You are no longer just a hero.

You apparently have super powers.

Happy birthday and no matter how old we get, I'm thankful

for every year we spend together,

every day you are home,

and every hour I spend in your arms.

And you still look 25 to me!

Happy 36 Super Hero!

Apr 11, 2011

A few weekends ago was Mommy's mandated "Clean Out the Garage Day". While the Hero and I purged our garage of a winter's worth of junk, The Angel and The Dinosaur played in the front yard. They drug out toys and trinkets that they had spent a winter forgetting existed. As the Hero and I feverishly worked to move things around, we pulled an old box that had once housed the Dinosaur's car seat from the garage. The Angel wanted to know what we were going to do with it and I told her that it was not useful for anything and we'd be throwing it away. I sat it towards the side of the garage and went on digging through Christmas ornaments. A few minutes later I noticed the Angel and the Dinosaur were playing in the box. They played there ALL day. Even after Daddy and I finished cleaning, the box remained a consistent plaything. It was a fort, a house, a raceway for cars and a host of other afternoon adventures for a two and six year old.

As the Hero and I cleaned up and I watched my babies play, I suddenly got really emotional. I didn't want to forget this moment; watching a sheet of cardboard have a million new adventures. I ran inside and got the camera. I wondered how many children's lives would be different if I and millions like me would take off their "adult glasses" and start seeing things through the eyes of a child. I wondered how many more afternoon romps could take place on our pristine manicured lawns and be made perfect by a child's laughter?

I wonder if we stopped seeing what the world sees and see what Christ sees. I wonder how much more of this world would only love to be loved in return.

I wonder how many children are discarded because we think we are too busy to sit one more place at the table or do one more load of laundry.

I very much believe that the Hero and I were headed down an extremely lonely path only a few short years ago. I know that only Christ changed our perspective on life, but I believe our children were His eyeglasses for us to change how we see the world.