Archives for September 2013

Jesus & His Uppercut

This day was weird.  It was a roller coaster of emotions.  I know you guys think I dump everything out here on the ole’ blog, but really, I don’t.  There’s good and bad and joy and sadness and laughter and anger and everything in between which I keep for me…for our family…and our friends.  Can you imagine the ear fulls they hear sometimes?  You can all just take a moment of silence for Josh Kelley right now…in sweet southern words…God bless him.  Now I just feel guilty…and it makes me laugh.  My point, today was wild.  From the highest mountain top to the lowest valley…all in one day.  Cra-to the-ziness.

I wish I could list out each and every thing.  Tonight I’m sitting here, my mind going in a million different directions.  Praising God for His goodness and mercy and for answered prayers and then in the same breath asking Him questions filled with the word ‘why’.  Looking to Him for guidance and for His leadership in my heart, feeling His spirit leading and directing.  Asking Him ‘what do we do’ and ‘what can we do’.  And being in complete awe of how His hands are wrapped so tightly around every single detail.  Feeling humbled and in awe of how much He cares for every detail big and small.  It’s just amazing.

For the people who do this wild ride called life without God, oh my goodness, I cannot even imagine.  Just go ahead and send me off…I’d be a flippin’ basket case.  Lost.  Completely hope less.  Without faith.  Without hope for change and answers and love.  I don’t ever want to do life without the grace and love and hope I have in Jesus Christ.  Never.

I saw this quote by Donald Miller on Instagram today, “The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: life is a story about me.”  Amen Mr. Miller, Amen.  Satan wants to suck us into ourselves.  Satan wants us to get all wrapped up in the doing for me…the looking out for number one motto.  Here’s where I’m at now.  The gloves are off.  This life isn’t about me…it isn’t about my pain or my joy or my heartache or celebrations or my success or my failures.  It’s about Jesus.  It’s about love and love that’s stubborn and sticking around for the long haul.  It’s about loving others the way Jesus did.  It’s about dying to my selfish ways…my wants and desires and realizing life is about big love and what Jesus can do through someone who puts themselves to the side and decides they are going to get busy doing…get busy loving.

We have been given instructions…the greatest commandments…to love Jesus and to love others.  It’s not always easy.  It’s not always what we want to do.  It takes work which is hard and not fun.  It’s putting our selfish wants and desires on the back burner and learning quickly that allowing God to guide our hearts is going to work out much better than doing for ourselves.  It’s not about us.

As I once heard a wise man say, “Everything filters through His hands.”  As children of the Most High we are not promised an easy life.  We are not promised everything will go as we ‘planned’.  We are not promised a smooth ride.  But we are promised life…abundant life.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  John 10:10

This verse makes me feel all hyped up and ready to fight.  And now I’m just all fiery…I’m feeling fierce.  I’m all like, “Let’s do this Satan.  My gloves are off and I’m ready to go round and round.”  There’s fighting to be done…determination, compassion, empathy, joining of hands…that’s spurred on by love which is welling up and spilling over.  I’m ready to be His vessel.  I’m ready to put in the hard work.  I’m ready to follow Him.  I’m ready to go where He guides.  I’m ready to listen when He says ‘do’.  Will I make mistakes…Absolutely.  I do every single day.  Thank God for his mercy and grace…for His compassion on my sinful heart and self.  But I’m ready to try and to love the best I can.  I’m ready to fight for the people I love…to pray and do and act on behalf of others.  I’m ready to watch as Satan cowers in the corner…beaten down…bruised and bloody…and God continues to reign supreme.  I think Jesus probably has an amazing uppercut and impeccable hand-eye coordination.  Yes.  Yes, the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy…to lead us astray, to misguide…to get us all wrapped up in ourselves, but Jesus, well Jesus came to give life…and not just any life, but abundant life…one bursting with love.  And that is one stellar promise I’m banking on.

Photo Craze

She’s my jam.  I enjoy her and our conversations.  She’s compassionate and tenderhearted.  She’s deliberate and creative and loves a good book fair.  She made a wish list and everything.  I’m so thankful she’s my girl.

This is how Amon really feels about doctors appointments.  Yep, me too Amon, me too.  Do you sense the anguish…the despair?  It was pretty dramatic.  Why is it socially unacceptable for adults to melt down in the corner?  I feel we would all be in better moods after a release like this one.

Halloween is going to be the bomb this year.  I’m a fan.  Love me some Halloween…and yes, I love Jesus too 🙂  Amon’s costume hasn’t arrived yet, but let me tell you, it’s quite possibly the most appropriate costume for Amon…like ever…like ever, ever.

A very happy, appears to be a flicker-offer.  Totally cracked up at Huddy.  We are completely far too familiar with Target’s bathroom.  It’s quite unfortunate.

Huddy’s birthday is Sunday.  He’s been excited for the last 83 days.  Josh said, “I’m afraid he’s going to be disappointed.  He’s expecting unicorns to wake him up and sing Happy Birthday.”  He’s super excited.  I purchased this for one of his gifts and yep, it’s going to be his best birthday yet.

Work.  Taggie blanket and letter a letter C shirt.  I’m kind of diggin’ the anchor…of course.

Full Count baseball makes for a really good night.  Sol is smitten.  Completely and utterly smitten.  He’d throw ball all day long and he enjoys watching.

I kept seeing all this crazy buzz about honey crisp apples.  Then I saw them in the store and I had to try them.  I was surprised…shocked a bit…they are actually totally delicious.  Very deserving of the name honey crisp.

One day I’ll shop alone again…one day…but until then, we’ll keep rockin’ on with cookies and laughter.  Laughter is a must.  It’s my main survival tool.

He’s still my sleeper.  Random places.  All the time.  I’ve never had to use the baby lounge buggy until yesterday.  I’m totally making a calendar.

Hair cuts.  Kelley boy hair cuts.  I can’t even stand it.

Mountain biking on our date night was a fantastic idea.  Too much fun.  I could become a mountain bike junkie.  I told Josh he did not warn me about helmet hair.  He said, “I didn’t know.”  Oh yeah, he doesn’t have much hair.  Word.

And hey locals, don’t forget about Madison Creek’s Pioneerfest Saturday from 12-4.  Tons of fun, games, prizes and food.  And lots of great auction items.  I have art pieces and key fobs up for grabs at amazing prices and all the money stays in the school.

I told you…photo craze.  Now the boys and I are off to hang with Ashley all day.  I can barely contain my excitement.  She’s my jam too.  Have an awesome weekend.

Happy Friday.

That Time We Went To The Allergist

Today is a better day.  I showed myself some grace and got a hold of my emotions…maybe ate a cookie…or 2…or 3…and today is better.  Thanks for understanding.  Glad to know there are other people who have bad days.  Glad to know I’m not alone in my crazy emotions.

Yesterday we went to the allergist.  Huddy is my allergic kid.  Always has been and it’s looking like always will be.  Since the moment he came into this world with his bowel issues and broken collar bone and cut up head from my small pelvic bone the kid has been on the not-so-typical side.  Allergies and asthma and allergic reactions and eczema.  He was even hospitalized when he was a baby because of how severe is eczema was.  Who gets hospitalized for eczema?  Our kid, that’s who.

He’s been having severe asthma lately…telling us he thinks he’s going to die.  Like days of trying to get it under control with steroids and his inhaler and breathing treatments.  He also loves food.  There is not much Hudson Kelley will not eat, so when he started turning down cheese, chocolate and ice cream we knew something was up.  He also puked his guts up after a new blueberry granola bar which he was super pumped about.  We finally decided it was time to get him legit, skin allergy tested.  We’ve done the blood tests, lots of times, but it was time to get down to business for reals.

I’ll go ahead and place the blame on me for how the appointment went.  It was hellish.  Harper, Huddy and Sol are sweet little pieces of chocolate cake at any doctors appointments.  They know the rules.  We can communicate with each other and they know what I expect from them.  They are easy.  But then throw in Amon…our wildly wild, struggling to communicate child and should have known what the 2 1/2 hour appointment would hold.  Holy flippin’ moly.  Let’s discuss a few of the highlights:

-Amon is apparently really not so great at being trapped in a small doctors room for an extended period of time.  Any time I tried picking him up, he would just scream and squirm and fight like mad to get down.  He just wanted to be down and wreak his little havoc.  Was that too much to ask…to raise all sorts of hell in the allergists office?  Apparently so.

-The nurse who we spent most of the time with displayed not much personality or even the slightest bit of tolerance for kids.  I have drawn the conclusion that she and Amon would probably be arch nemesis.  No smiles.  No comments pertaining to or related to kids.  Nothing.  Strictly business.  She was totally annoyed with us.

-Amon only wanted to stand in each of the tiny little chairs at the child sized card table.  And then try and jump off.  Don’t be fooled by this picture.  Shortly after he was standing and ready to fling his small body into the air whether I caught him or not.

-When the doctor, who was super nice, would come in and chat, Amon would wedge himself in between the doctor and the tiny card table and then proceed to take any treasure the doctor had in his coat pocket.  #littlethief

-Amon also got in quite a bit of typing skillz when the doctor, whose computer was just close enough to the edge of the counter, would be checking Huddy out.  I would be watching and focussed on Huddy, trying to listen to what the doctor was saying, and then I would hear hands banging on his key board.  Busted.

-Another time, as I was trying to listen to the doctor give me important information, Amon stood on one of the little chairs and then tried hoisting himself onto the window sill above to try and reach a box of books.  It’s hard to pay attention to someone talk as you watch your toddler try and pull a clip hanger.

-See that purple basket on the window sill in the picture above?  Yep, it’s full of crayons.  Oh, why yes, Amon did dump the entire bucket out onto the floor and that is why it is on the window sill.

-While the nurse, who keep in mind doesn’t seem to enjoy the craziness Amon is bringing to this appointment, is poking Huddy with about 16 different possible allergies, Amon proceeds to take our stroller and run it into the back of  her legs…over and over and over.

-While Amon is running the nurse over, Huddy is crying his little eyes out because the said, “it’s just going to feel like a tooth pick is giving you a little poke” skin test, clearly does not just feel like just a little poke from a toothpick.  I did my best to manage Amon, the heel killer, and sweet Huddy.  I wanted to throw that dang umbrella stroller through the window.

-Amon not only got into the regular trash can in the office, but yes, also the biohazard trash can as well.  I wanted to dip his entire body in a huge bath of sanitizer.  He also tried pulling that bright red trash liner completely out of the trash can casing.  Pretty sure Amon could be classified as a biohazard himself.

-Throw in lots of screaming because Amon just wanted out of the little room.  Out I say, out.  Exhibit A, B & C.  I should tag them crying, blurry and snotty.

What was Sol doing this whole time?  Chillin’.  It’s how he rolls.  Huddy was even chillin’ too…after the initial burning and itching finally subsided.

Afterwards, when we finally made it to the car, I took a big deep breath, shed some tears and then let Huddy pick any place he wanted to eat for lunch.  He wanted pizza and he asked if we could eat at an actual pizza place.  Pizza Hut it was.  It was the best dang pizza I’ve ever had.  Who cares if the joint was super creepers…dim lighting, bad old school music, sketchy looking folks including us, super sticky table…it was perfect.  Our waitress was super nice…I think she could tell I’d had a rough day so far.  In order to keep Amon from flippin’ his lid while we waited for our pizza, she let me get him a plate of food from the buffet for free.  She’s my hero.

I’ve learned my lesson.  Amon is no longer allowed at the allergist.  Personally, I was just super thankful there wasn’t a toilet in the room with us.

Happy Thursday!

***UPDATE…I’m well aware of the hilarity in the insanity.  I laughed about the train wreck our appointment was.  I still laugh.  I re-laughed when I wrote this.  Josh Kelley laughed too.  It is wildly funny.  Feel free to laugh along with us.***

Give Your Burdens To Me

Today was a hard day.  I know what’s hard for one isn’t necessarily hard for another, but it was a day where I wanted to pull my hair out and rock in the corner.  Just lots of junk and a long appointment with the boys at the allergist did not go so smoothly.  Huddy and Sol were fine…Amon on the other hand…well he was a hot mess.  I think he’s verging on the crazy side…comparable to his hair.

There were several moments within the day…and I do realize it’s only 2:30pm…where I wanted to just sit down and cry…and hard…or maybe have a stiff drink.  Amon is finally napping now and the boys and I are sitting on the couch watching a Veggie Tales.  The verse that just flashed across the screen was Psalm 55:22 “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.”  Preach it Larry and Bob…preach it.

Aren’t we all just covered up with burdens.  I could type out a list a mile long.  I’m really hard on myself too.  I’ve found out that most woman are.  I set these impossible standards for myself and then run hard after goals and expectations which are unrealistic and unfair.  Why do I feel like I have to prove something to anybody?  Why do I feel like the world will crash and burn if certain things don’t get done?  It makes no sense when I really think about it…no sense at all.  When I set these standards for myself they get a bit heavy.  And life is already heavy on its own.  Why add more to it?  Burdens, both big and small, are too much for me and I know…I know, I know, I know…God did not create me to carry them.

I need a nap.  I’m feeling quite run down.  Nothing on my to-do list got accomplished today.  My stress and anxiety is high.  My worries are big and small and burdensome.  Dinner is no where close to being on my radar.  Stuff needs to be done.  My energy and enthusiasm are quite depleted.  Satan is most definitely having a field day with me today.  And yet God is whispering.  He’s whispering “give your burdens to Me”.  So simple, yet so hard.  I have a need to control and I’m prideful as all get out.  I don’t want to need or ask for help.  I don’t want to hand over control…I don’t like things being out of my hands.  And as I think these thoughts and type these words, I just don’t have it in me today to be stubborn.

I’m making the choice today to chill out on myself.  Solomon is snuggled up on my left side as you read this.  God is reminding me I have amazing kids.  Amon will be his happy/crazy self when he wakes up and we’ll go right back to our signing for communication…eat, please, more…repeat.  One day he will talk.  One day he will communicate in a different way.  And even if he doesn’t, that will be just fine too.  God will still be God and He will still be good.  A friend got incredible news this week about her job.  We watched baseball last night, Josh and I have a date night for tomorrow night and I get to see Ashley this weekend.  I miss Mom…I long for family, but God is teaching my heart to trust in Him…find my hope and joy and peace in Him…not people.  Our house is dirty and laundry is piled high, but I have a warm house to land in each day and clean water.  I’m trying to hit my 50 miles for running this month, but I’m exhausted and I’m thinking about just crashing tonight…and the world will still spin.  Ideas are running crazy in my head, but I might just go to bed when the Kelley kids do tonight and that will be alright.  I have lots of things to do, but I’ve decided it’s a-okay if some get put off…I need to show myself some grace.  The sun will still set tonight and rise in the morning.  There’s no time or energy to be stubborn today…I’m giving these big and small burdens to Him…the One who can really take care of it all.

Josh Kelley & Amon

This weekend we celebrated both Amon’s 1 year heart day and Josh’s birthday.  There were strings of hearts and happy birthday banners.  There were heart cookies and mini red velvet cheesecakes with homemade whipped cream.  There were sweets for breakfast and Mexican food for lunch and more sweets after that.  There was time together with our tribe of 6.  There were movie nights and Josh getting to sleep in and do yard work…it’s his thing…he likes it…I don’t get it.  There were cards and presents, one of which was a Millennium Falcon tshirt Huddy and Sol picked out for him.  Yes.  It was a really sweet time.

Last year we celebrated Josh’s birthday in the hospital.  Amon had his open heart surgery the previous day before, so there actually wasn’t much celebrating going on.  More like anxious, nervous, on pins and needles…a semi crying irrational mess.  That sounds like the ideal birthday right?  Yep.  I felt terrible…it was the combination of the worst/best/most memorable birthday ever.  So this year was nice.  A drastic change from last year and it made me very weepy with how far we’ve come…how far God has brought Amon and our family…how He has worked and moved and just amazed us.  I am very grateful for Josh Kelley and all these little humans we have been entrusted with…and this weekend we were all thinking heavily about Amon and his heart and the crazy good guy Josh Kelley is.

Laura Kelley Fun Fact #13  Since the time when we first met as kids I always referred to Josh as Josh Kelley.  All his baseball friends called him JK and it’s so fun to hear those same guys still call him that even today.  I love it.  It contains memories which I am so in love with.  For some reason, I just always referred to him as Josh Kelley.  When we started dating at 15, slowly but surely the “Josh Kelley” went to just “Josh” except for every now and then and when I write, it always come out as Josh Kelley again and it makes me smile because the boy who comes to mind when I say those two names together is the guy I fell crazy in love with.  He’s much radder now though.  I love him more than I ever thought I could.  I even like him too…most of the time.

This gig as wife and mom I have the privilege of doing is not always easy, but it is full to the brim of love and laughter and grace and mercy and forgiveness.  It can be madness.  There are days when I want to run far, far away, but these people…these faces…Oh my word.  This weekend He reminded me of how crazy, insanely blessed I am…that we are…to have each other and to be loved by our Savior.  It’s completely overwhelming in the most stellar way.

Happy Birthday Josh Kelley and Happy Heart Day Amon!  You two, are quite the pair!

This & That

This weeks Sevenly is raising money for children with cancer.  They are purchasing toys and games for these sweet kids.  Seriously just makes my stomach turn.  I cannot even imagine how these children and parents feel.  Can’t even imagine.  I purchased this week for sure.  I can’t purchase every week, but love to support organizations like this one.  I even got Harper a tee too.  Check them out and sign up for their weekly emails so you can see each week’s organization being supported.  Love me some Sevenly.

Also Mightee Kids tee this month is supporting Baby2Baby which provides essential baby gear and clothing to families in need.  Sign me up…for reals.  Harper is going to be rockin’ her new digs well.

The American Heart Association’s Nashville Heart Walk is just a few weeks away.  October 12.  We’d still love for you to walk with us.  And you can still make a donation in honor of Amon HERE on our personal fundraising page.  If you make a donation of $15 or more I will mail you a ‘thank you’ key fob as a small token of our appreciation.  After you donate don’t forget to CLICK HERE and send me your mailing address.  Today I found the most perfect fabric for some tees I’m going to make for the Kelley kids to walk in.  I’m pretty excited.  Team Ace of Hearts.

I’ve tried a few more of those healthy recipes I’ve been pinning.

This Chicken Chili was not my favorite, but feel like it just needed a little more punch in the spice department.  I think I may give it another go and add some cumin, black pepper, red pepper and chili powder.  That may do the trick.  Let me know if you figure something out.

picture source

I was actually quite the fan of these Banana Chia Muffins.  Quite tasty indeed.  I like seedy stuff though, so they were right up my alley.  The Kelley kids liked them too.

picture source

And lastly I tried out these Oatmeal Waffles.  I added like a 1/2 cup of ground up flax seed and I realized I added too much.  Next time I won’t add that much, but even with the over flax seeding, everyone gobbled them right up.

picture source

Our Monday has been very tiring…therapy and just lots to do.  Excited zumba is just a few hours away and even more excited we’re closing in on bedtime 🙂  Monday’s can be tiring.

“If I Can Just Make It Through Friday”

That was my slogan this week.  So many things to get done.  So many deadlines.  So many things to accomplish and Friday was my big day.  If I can just make it through Friday.  And I did.  And I’m happy the week is done.  And now I’m sitting on our couch absolutely exhausted and ready for bed at 7:22.  Oh and I’m working on my new computer which is very exciting and semi paying attention to GI Joe.

Tomorrow is the 1-year-anniversary of Amon’s open heart surgery.  It’s a big important day for our family.  It makes me really weepy because the transformation that occurred in Amon was absolutely crazy amazing.  God has just been so good to us.  The time while Amon was in the hospital was definitely one of the hardest things our family has ever done. The people in our life who stepped in and really helped us out made a very hard time a bit easier.  I made lots of cookies this week to deliver today and tomorrow as a small way to say thank you.  I wanted these special people to know we didn’t forget the ways they supported us.  I wanted to say ‘thank you’ again.

You guys have helped us rock Amon’s heart fundraiser.  We still have two weeks to raise money and right now we have raised $5,600.  THANK YOU!!!!  If you haven’t donated and wanted to, there’s still time and if you make a donation of $15 or more I’ll mail you a ‘thank you’ key fob.  I’ll make key fobs until I’m blue in the face when the money is going to heart research.  Absolutely.  You can donate HERE on our personal fundraising page.  Then don’t forget to CLICK HERE and send me your mailing address.

And I also had to finish Ms. Flower’s silent auction basket for Harper’s class.  All you locals…here’s a chance to snag some art for a great price and all the money stays in Harper’s school.  There will be a set of 5 key fobs up for grabs as well as an individual piece of art too.  Then there will be class baskets…Ms. Flower’s is full of these:

4×12 “Where you invest your love, you invest your life.”

9×12 “Let me be singing when the evening comes.”

8×10 “Where there is love, there is hope.”

11×14 “Nothing more beautiful and true than the love we’ve found in you.”

DISCLAIMER:  I do make mistakes…all the time…this picture was taken before the fix.  This is what happens when you work with 3 little wild boys in tow.

12×12 “I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”

There will be lots of different baskets at the silent auction along with games and prizes and food.  It’s Pioneerfest yo and it’s one of Madison Creek’s biggest fundraisers.  So come out next Saturday and bid.

Happy this week is done.  Happy to have finished up some big projects.  Happy tomorrow is Saturday…and I’m sleeping in.

Happy Weekend!

Things I Like

In no particular order:

**You guys.  Glad you liked the vlog and my semi terrified looking face at the beginning of it.  It was new to me.  You are such an encouragement and I have no clue why you stop by and read because I know I’m a bit out there, but I’m thankful…so very very thankful for you.

**These guys.

**Our house rule about throwing things:  You only throw balls.  Yes, we are a house where you can throw balls inside.  It’s a rule we made when we had Harper.  Indoor baseball and football happens often.

**Huddy pushing my grocery cart for me.  It’s pretty cute.

**Full Count Ministry.  Sharing their love of baseball and Jesus.  It’s pretty amazing to be apart of this group.

**Dressing up like Darth Vader.  Thank you Kirsten for the costume treat.  I felt very empowered.  What I really really like is that Josh Kelley put the costume on too.  I’ll let your imagination run wild for a bit with that golden slice information.  I want to make it our Christmas card this year.  Hilarious.

**Forward facing Amon in the car.  It only took him 18 months, but he finally hit 20lbs.

**The old lady who purchased my senior picture at our yard sale for a whopping .25 cents.  It’s amazing right?  I’m bringing back the zig-zag part asap.

**Falling asleep in random places Amon.  The saga continues.  Someone on Instagram said I should make a calendar and for each month use his random falling asleep pictures.  I think this is a grand idea…profits to charity.

**Happy mail.  Thank you Ashley and Janet and Erica.  You ladies made my day.

**And Buccaneer supporting kiddos.  We’re kind of smitten with #16.  Our favorite guy named Luke.  Every Friday they rock these out.

You can follow along on Instagram.  I’m pitterpatterart.  It’s pretty fun.

Happy Thursday.