This is probably his favorite spot in the whole house.  He spends far too much time perched in this window seal.  I like him.

Key fob order I finished up a few weeks ago.  I’m done with all my April orders…hahahahaha…it only took me over a month to complete.  It was sad.  Life was crazy.  Now I’m gearing up for some Saturday Sales…I hope you’re as excited as I am.

Delaney and Amon’s first date.  I’m totally not against arranged marriages.

A sick kid on his last day of MDO when they are having a popsicle and pizza party is really sad.  I hated it for him, but a nap in the middle of the morning = legit sick.

Smile/Cry.

Sol got more xrays taken last Friday.  I wasn’t really thinking and let Huddy take his play western six shooter into the hospital.  No one said anything…except Sol’s doctor.  Hmmmmm.  And Sol’s 5 broken bones are now all growing new, nice and strong, so off with the boot.

Huddy: “So I guess Amon’s not a baby anymore?”

Me:  “Why do you say that?”

Huddy:  “Well now he’s a toddler.”

Me:  “You shut your mouth Huddy Kelley…you shut it right now.”

So I didn’t really say that last part, but I wanted to.  How dare he point out that Amon…baby Kelley…itty bitty baby Kelley…isn’t a baby anymore.  How did this happen?

Third time seeing the Avett Brothers.  Great show.  Every.Single.Time.  They don’t disappoint.  They have certainly arrived.

She’s big now too.  What is happening to my small Kelleys?  Time makes me want to use curse words…lots and lots of curse words.  How did she get so big?

I told you today was Random-to-the-Ness.  Always.  Hope you’ve had a great day.  Hope the start to your week has been shockingly good.

Happy Monday!

]]> http://pitterpatterart.com/random-to-the-ness/feed/ 3 http://pitterpatterart.com/best-day-ever/ http://pitterpatterart.com/best-day-ever/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 18:52:32 +0000 Laura http://pitterpatterart.com/?p=4854 Sooooo, yesterday was amazing.  I love my kids, but goodness, sometimes a mom has to get a little alone time…and mine was glorious.  I had the entire day.  Like everyone was out of the house at 7am and I didn’t get home from dinner until like 11.  It was incredible.

Started my day off with some miles.

I spent time alone…in our house…alone.  No cleaning…only working on art.  Be still my heart.

I jammed to loud, catchy inappropriate music which I usually have to turn because of the young kiddos typically riding in my car.  Not yesterday.

I got my hair did.

Ate lunch alone.  Word.

Got a massage.  I wanted to stay forever under those warm blankets in that dark, relaxing room.  Sigh.

I had like a 6 hour dinner and drinks with a sweet friend.  Such yummy food.  We indulged.  Pot stickers and shrimp skewers were up first.

Raspberry goodness.

Next was fried okra with super delicious dipping sauce and then 2 plates of sushi.

Laura Kelley Fun Fact #401  I’ve never eaten sushi…ever…until last night.  It was amazingly good.  I might even have it again on Saturday night.  Is my life changed?  Maybe.

It was such a good day.  All moms everywhere need a day off every now and then.  I’m a firm believer that one of the best things you can do for your kids is to take care of yourself and your marriage first.  So much easier said than done, but when a free day is presented, you grab it and run like crazy.  Enjoy it.  Make a plan.  Don’t feel guilty, feel special and loved.  Your kiddos will survive without you.  And you will be sooooooo glad you did it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Happy Friday.

]]> http://pitterpatterart.com/best-day-ever/feed/ 3 http://pitterpatterart.com/if-you-need-me/ http://pitterpatterart.com/if-you-need-me/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 13:03:03 +0000 Laura http://pitterpatterart.com/?p=4851 I’ll be alone…in my house…All.Day.Long…zero wee Kelleys to be found.  I feel like a curse word is in order…wait for it…It’s going to be a damn fine day!

I’ve already been alone in our house for an hour and I killed the largest fly I’ve ever seen that I’ve been stalking for the past two days.  Extra good day plus.  It was huge and needed to die.  Now I’m going to put on some music…I’m thinking today is a Of Monsters And Men kind of music day…and get my create on.  I also might have added a hair and massage appointment to my day…thank you very much gift cards from my birthday last November…I knew you would come in handy.  So I’m peacing out for the day.  Going to soak is up like a sponge.  And just because I have zero shame, please enjoy my ghetto super fly selfie.  And…you’re welcome.

Have a crazy awesome day!

Oh Happy Completely Alone Thursday…you’re going to be grand.

]]> http://pitterpatterart.com/if-you-need-me/feed/ 4 http://pitterpatterart.com/ink/ http://pitterpatterart.com/ink/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 14:47:40 +0000 Laura http://pitterpatterart.com/?p=4840 Inquiring minds have been petitioning me for tattoo info.  You guys are funny.  So here’s the run down on my tattoos.  I wish I had more picture documentation of them, but I’ll do my best…and it’s hard to take pictures of yourself when you’re getting tatted up.

All of mine are on my arms and my first tattoo was my anchor.  It’s for my Mom and for Hebrews 6:18-19  “They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been given.¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and strong.”

Josh went with me to get it.  Here we are…me waiting and him checking out the tattoo books.  These guys are crazy good artists.

Next was my ship.  I wanted a really simple ship because I feel like our family is a really simple vessel and that God is our captain.  We had experienced one hell of a year and through out that year I constantly referenced our family as a ship and that we were venturing into uncharted waters and braving some pretty major waves.  I love all the stories in the Bible about Jesus in boats…He is always in control…He is always the captain.

Brea accompanied me for this one.  And that’s James.  He’s done all of my tattoos.

I went by myself for the remaining three.

I have a sparrow.  This one is to remind me not to worry…that God has clearly got this…whatever ‘this’ is.  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry…Consider the birds of the air:  They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds.”  Luke 12:22-26  Also, the last canvas I made my mom was a “His eye is on the sparrow” canvas.

This is the temporary tattoo before he got busy inking it up.

I have the word ‘family’ in Amharic.  Amharic is the primary language in Ethiopia.  I don’t have a good picture of this one.  You can kind of see it in this picture.

And I have an Africa tattoo.  I wanted it to look like it was stitched because God has so perfectly stitched our family together.  Obviously, we’re quite tied to Africa because of Sol and Amon being born in Ethiopia, but we are also quite crazy about Swaziland and our carepoint Ngungwane through Children’s HopeChest.

Huddy keeps asking me when I’m going to get a United States tattoo for he and Harper He cracks me up.  This is really the only good picture I have of this one..it’s upside down.  The picture was taken by Cheyenne of Shots by Cheyenne.

So there you have it…some details of my tattoos.  Not really sure what else to say about them other than I really like each of them and the reasons and meanings behind them.  And they didn’t hurt that bad.  No tears.  I think the Africa one probably hurt the worst because my arm was flexed the whole time and that area is kind of boney.  This is all making me laugh now.  Any who…hope you enjoyed.

Happy Wednesday!

I would eat sweets multiple times through out a day.  It wasn’t just a treat anymore, it had become an antidote.  Something that I had put stock in and hope in.  Something that made my pain feel better and that WAS NOT cool with God.  I joked while Amon was in the hospital how I had gained the hospital 15.  All jokes aside, in our nearly month hospital stay I gained almost 10lbs.

I like food in general.  I like your normal food and organic.  Healthy and non-healthy.  Restaurant food and fast food.  I do not discriminate.  Sweet, salty, and spicy.  Tell me you want to get together and I’ll be the first to say, “Let’s grab breakfast/lunch/dinner.”

My friend Jess is probably one of the healthiest people I know and she doesn’t even work out.  Her two famous quotes…”I think God gave us food and drink to enjoy.” and “Everything in moderation.”  She buys mainly organic, but the girl will have a coke…regular, straight up coke and will also eat food that clearly is not organic…cough, cough Krystals.  I love it.  And God used her words to reach some problem areas in my heart.

I’ve always been my biggest critic.  I think a lot of woman out there can relate to absolutely critiquing your body until there’s nothing left to critique.  I come by this honestly too.  My mom was her worst critic about her body.  She struggled with her weight and as a child I made up a song called the “You’re Not Fat Song” to sing to her to make her feel better.  Everyone thought it was cute and funny, but as I grew I saw the problem in this.  In her defense, she had been in a toxic relationship that had emotionally beat her up and torn her down.  She had not been loved how she needed to be loved.  She had not been cherished and treated like the lovely queen God saw in her.  So I got it.  Her mind had been trained to only see certain things and to absolutely pick herself apart.

  When I found out I was having a daughter I made a promise to her and myself that she would never hear me use the word “fat” to describe myself or anyone for that matter.  I promised her and myself that she would never hear me critique my body or question it’s God designed beauty…no matter how I really felt on the inside.

So why did I break up with sweets during the week?  Because God convicted my heart of the power I had given sweets in my life…that I had given food…and that I was letting my mind absolutely critique my body of every little problem area and skip completely over how purposely God had designed me…inside and out.  I thought sweets would make me feel better.  I thought they would make a bad day better.  I thought they would provide help and comfort and God clearly said I was to run to Him for help and comfort.

So I took them out of my week.  I got Ashley on board with it and we decided to give it a try for a solid 7 days and see how we fared.  We ended up going 10.  And we both did well.  It was hard, but freeing.  God started to move in my heart that week and started changing my thought process about food in general and about how I see myself in the mirror.  I’m still working on it, but He is stirring in my heart still.

I agree with Jess…I think God did give us food and drink to enjoy and I do think moderation is key.  I’m not the type to diet or to cut things out completely.  I love the tastes of all kinds of food, especially sweets.  I don’t want any of them gone forever.  So after talking, Ashley and I decided to not eat sweets during the week and to just enjoy them on the weekend.  We do slip up, but are accountable to each other and the accountability I have with her is so good for my heart.  God has reminded me of how nothing on this earth can compare to His comfort and healing.  How nothing can even come close to being held in His hands and feeling that genuine love and assurance.  He has reminded me that He made me.  Does He make mistakes?  Nope.  I was purposefully and intricately designed.  I am beautiful.

Now I’m trying to put good stuff in my body and see myself in the mirror as God sees me.  I’m practicing moderation and I still firmly believe baked goods can change the world.  I have sun spots and wrinkles and dark circles under my eyes…oh, the dark circles (help).  My thighs touch and my muffin top clearly loves me because she has been around since middle school.  I have chicken wrists and love handles.  But I’m coming around to not hating these things anymore and that they do not define me or make me unbeautiful.  And that when I finally meet Jesus He’s not going to say “Well done my muffin-topped, chicken wristed, dark circled eyed servant.”  He does not see me with those eyes.  He cares about my heart.  And He believes I am truly a work of His artful hands.  I’m still not my biggest fan, but I’m getting there and instead of eating some jelly bellys when I’m feeling down, I am reminded that God is the God of my heart and the Creator of the universe…of course, He is going to be my greatest comfort and antidote.  I’m constantly working on it, but I’m aiming to choose Him more.

]]> http://pitterpatterart.com/on-quiting-sweets-during-the-week/feed/ 22 http://pitterpatterart.com/its-going-to-be-a-good-week/ http://pitterpatterart.com/its-going-to-be-a-good-week/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 20:56:28 +0000 Laura http://pitterpatterart.com/?p=4834 What a weekend.  It was actually pretty darn great minus a few major cryfests…nothing too uncommon though.  I wish I could tell Mom she totally turned me into this emotional wreck, cry at the drop of a hat type of person.  She would have loved it because she was a crier too.  Me, not so much…but that was the old me.  Sigh.

I did my best to soak up the joy of Mother’s Day because I really do have so much to celebrate.  Josh Kelley knows exactly how to make me feel special.  He knows I don’t need fancy flowers or jewelry or lots of gifts.  He hit a home run with a card and completing my coffee table project for me…caster wheels, some poly, cleaning the inside and taking care of all the pesky nails that were sticking out everywhere.  I love it.

And I also get an entire day to myself this week.  Like were talking AN ENTIRE DAY…alone…in our house.  I don’t know about you, but getting out by myself isn’t too hard.  The hard one is being alone in our house.  There are always these little wee Kelleys hanging around.  And an entire day having the house to myself, well I could weep.  Needless to say I’m super excited.  Oh the possibilities.

And the kids loved that I chose ice cream for dinner.  Hey, it was Mother’s Day.

This week is one of those that is absolutely full to the brim, but with all these really fun, amazing things.  I’m rarely thrilled for a crazy busy week, but I am actually totally beside myself with anticipation for this week.  Every single day holds something really great.  Today was Harper’s field day.  Too much fun.  The rest of the week is full of K-5 graduation and the last day of MDO for the boys and my day off and baseball and Avett Brothers and just lots of other fun things.  Bring on the week.

We loved being at Harper’s school today for field day.  I wish you could meet Harper.  She is such a happy kid.  We always say, “She’s just happy to be here.”  Because she is.  She’s just along for the ride and thrilled to be.  Field day was crazy fun for her and crazy fun for us to watch.

She won the 50 yard dash and absolutely grinned ear to ear while she was running.  My mind is always wondering and looking for little clues as to what she will be like as she gets older.  I wonder if she will carry this love of running on with her as she grows.  Either way…we’re crazy proud of her and her attitude.

When we were driving home from school she asked to see her ribbon.  I passed it back to her and she exclaimed, “Whaaaaat?  I won 1st place?  Like I was the fastest runner?”  And that’s my girl.  Love, love, triple love her.

Here’s to a grandly fun week.  Hope it’s outstanding for everyone.  Thanks for stopping by and reading.  See you tomorrow.

Happy Monday.

PS:  Thank you to whoever left the kind goodies in our mailbox.  You are too sweet and I am so grateful.

]]> http://pitterpatterart.com/its-going-to-be-a-good-week/feed/ 3 http://pitterpatterart.com/mothers-day-2013/ http://pitterpatterart.com/mothers-day-2013/#comments Sun, 12 May 2013 19:07:56 +0000 Laura http://pitterpatterart.com/?p=4824 The last two Mother’s Days have looked like this:

2011

2012

Although Mother’s Day is both crazy joy celebrating that I had an amazing mom and that I get the incredible honor to mother 4 stellar kids, it also holds such a sadness in missing my mom and for all the unknowns for Sol and Amon.  I know a lot of you can relate to the mixed emotions the day contains.  This year I’m trying to dwell on the sweetness of finally having Amon home.

Today I am praying for all of you who are mothers, who long to be a mother, who have lost your sweet kiddos far too early, who are birth moms, who miss your mommas or who do not have that special relationship with your mom for whatever reason.  Wherever your heart may be today, I can only imagine the shoes you walk in, but please know I am praying for your hearts today.

Today I am thankful to God for the honor I hold in being “Mom” to Harper, Hudson, Solomon and Amon.  I am incredibly grateful for Sol and Amon’s birthmoms who changed our family and gave us an outstanding gift I could never repay.  They are a powerful and important part of Sol and Amon’s stories and our lives.  I hope they know they are valued and beautiful beyond words to us.

And I am thankful for my Mom…she was grand…truly, truly grand and rare and I miss her Every.Single.Day.  She was the absolute best mom for me and I thank God every day He allowed me to be her daughter.  It is an honor.  She was quite the lady.

*Mom, thank you for loving me like no other.  Thank you for the millions of prayers, for my sense of humor, for tight hugs and rice krispy treats in a bowl.  Thank you for your words and notes that will continue on through hopefully many, many generations and thank you for always telling me, “If anyone can do it Laura, you can.”  Thank you for your sincerity and your honesty and belief.  Thank you for the example you set…it’s marked on my heart and I strive to be like you.  Thank you for being loud, having an infectious laugh and for just being fun.  Thank you for loving so hard and so big and always giving of yourself and doing for others.  You invested in people…you showed me and so many others Jesus in the best and most genuine way.  Thank you for loving Jesus.  Thank you for just being you…I couldn’t have asked for anything more.*

  Happy Mother’s Day.

And this is a shameless ploy to locals in our area, but we are still looking for a house or land in Goodlettsville.  We’re all over Realtracs and watch it like a hawk, but are also looking for houses or land for sale by owner.  If you have something or know of someone who does, I would so love additional info.  Thank you so much.

  Okay, so on to Instagram pics for the week.  You can find me by pitterpatterart.  Amon kind of ruled my feed this week.

Teal hair + pink hair + silly only lady child = big like.

I promise he’s not always pantless.  Pretty often, but not always.  Sleeping with no pants though, is kind of glorious.

I call this one “pantless baby stuck in laundry basket”.  #pantlessagain

Star Wars and cosmic bowling and foam noodles…tucking this little combination away in my mom file.  Crazy good fun.

BTW:  Zero filter here.  Cosmic bowling is way trippy.  I really wanted to break out my Pink Floyd black light posters and incense.

He was playing the role of a pantless, award winning accountant this day.  #pantlessagainagain

The best running shoes ever…like ever ever…Brooks Pure Flows, have been discontinued.  Jami wants me to make a complaint to go along with hers.  I got lucky…like lucky lucky…to find a rare size 7 online after weeks of looking.  I considered it a good day.

He only sort of kind of liked the Oreo I let him have.

I die.  His cuteness is too much.  #pantlessagainagainagain

They are wearing their bikes out.  And I love it.

Josh having to work at night means I get him during the day.  Windows down and me in the passenger seat.  Rare & Awesome.

Hardworking legs and feet.

It feels like the doctors appointments never end, but I am incredibly grateful for good medical care, health insurance and a resilient kid.  We are blessed.

Campbell played the best big bad wolf ever.  She was awesome and Amon was slightly terrified of his wolf cousin.

Hey Time, why don’t you come a little closer so I can punch you in the face.

Whew!  That was a lot of pictures and a lot of pantlessness.  Now I’m off to enjoy the day with my 3 little Kelley boys.  There is stuff to do and fun to be had.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I hope it is crazy grand.

Happy Friday.

]]> http://pitterpatterart.com/local-info-insta-friday/feed/ 5 http://pitterpatterart.com/walking-like-a-boss/ http://pitterpatterart.com/walking-like-a-boss/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 11:59:27 +0000 Laura http://pitterpatterart.com/?p=4794 He took his first steps after his birthday at the end of March and little by little he’s been getting better and better.  Now, it’s how he rolls…his primary choice of mobility.  And it is awesome.

High-5…or fist bump if you prefer…for a walking baby and a centered video.  Word up.

Happy Thursday.

PS:  Thank you for all the sweet comments and emails this week.  They are bright spots in my days.  Genuinely, thank you!

I still remember the emotion wrapped in taking a picture with a group of ladies I had only shortly known with our Waiting for You sign…the tears shed and the sincerity that these woman showed on behalf of me, our family’s wait and our child we just so longed for.  It is etched on my heart.  And the hugs of these woman…my Mom’s hugs are the #1 thing…tied with her voice & her words…that I miss about her.  And as these ladies embraced me with hugs I just let the tears go because I needed those hugs.

I came home exhausted, but so thrilled and blessed to have had the opportunity to attend Craft Weekend…the privilege to meet all these ladies and to spend good time with Rebecca.  It was an amazing blessing.

It was back to normal life and things picked up right where I had left.  Huddy had been sick so he didn’t go to MDO that Tuesday and we had a late doctor’s appointment to get him all checked out.  Josh’s parent’s picked Harper up from MDO and I sat at the doctor’s office for forever. Then my phone rang.  I saw the number on my phone and noticed it was long distance and didn’t answer.  The doctor seeing Huddy that day, who was not our normal doctor, was about to be in and we had waited so long.  I didn’t want to appear rude to anyone…the doctor or who ever was on the other end of that phone call.  Then instantly it hit me…I knew that was our agency’s number.  I sat for a moment and took a deep breath.  The phone had quit ringing and I knew this was about to be a grand moment in our Kelley family history.  This was the moment our family of 5 had been waiting and praying for for so long.

  Oddly enough instead of immediately calling back I did two things very quickly.

1)  Took a picture of my phone because I did not want to forget this very moment.  And I knew when I called the number back my heart would be filled with hope again.

2)  Snapped one last picture of our Waiting for You sign before we finally knew and saw the face of who we were actually waiting for this whole almost 18 months.

Then I called back.  And I heard those words my heart knew I was going to hear, “Well, I have some information for you about a little boy.”  I immediately began to bawl like a big baby, but told our director we were seeing the doctor any minute now and I would have to call her back.  And I said, “Can you just give me a little bit of information before the doctor comes in?”  And she did.  A 6-week-old baby boy.  Teklehaymanot was his sweet, long, Ethiopian name…Tekle for short.  We still call him Tekle sometimes.

I called Josh.  Gave him the 1 minute shocker of a phone call and hung up so we could see the doctor.  We finished up and off I drove, like a bat out of hell to Josh’s parents where he was meeting me.  We closed ourselves off in their playroom with cell phones to conference call with our director to finally hear all about our son.  And our hearts flurried with joy and our hearts grieved.  Adoption is amazing, but adoption contains both loss and gain.  As adoptive parents, Josh and I grieve for what was suppose to be in a sinless, perfect, povertyless world for Sol and Amon.  We grieve for their loss and for their birth families loss.  If you ask me details of their life before joining our family…their time in Ethiopia…please don’t be offended when I don’t tell you.  It’s just how we have chosen to handle our kiddos’ stories…not right or wrong…but just our choice.

Then Josh and I opened our email.  I wish I could accurately put into words this moment.  We were finally seeing this face we had absolutely longed and ached to see.  And there he was.  And he was beautiful.

I cried and cried and cried.  For days.  Emotional wreck.  I specifically remember texting a picture of Amon to friends.  My friend Susan responded with, “Now that was worth the wait.”  We were instantly his.  He had our hearts…all 5 of our hearts…from the very beginning.  He was the newest Kelley.  And what hope God brought not only to our family, but to our hearts as well, through this baby boy.  We hadn’t had the easiest last 6 months and we had suffered a great loss and we were all injured and wearing our scars clearly.  But God used Amon and his perfectly God made heart to bring hope and joy to ours.  God used Amon to help us heal…specifically me…and Harper.  To bring smiles to our faces.  To bring this crazy amazing hope in Jesus Christ and all His plans for us.

And then it was time for a new picture.  One of my favorites.

I wish there was something beyond being grateful and thankful and humbled and honored and just amazed…because I would most definitely be it for the chance at being Amon’s mom.  I am so grateful to God.  What an outstanding blessing…a truly outstanding blessing.  Amon, our ace of hearts, we adore and love you like crazy!

Happy Wednesday.

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