4th of July Pie!!

Popping in to share my favorite Independence Day treat with you all...but first of all... can you believe it's almost July?! Where in the world has half of the summer gone already?!

Oh yes, it's flashing right before our eyes... on the baseball field.

I'm madly in love with my little ball players (especially their cute bottoms in their baseball pants...), and actually really enjoy watching the sport (though I'm still working on the newly-turned three year old to acquire the same affection), but geesh, what a commitment. Just when we thought our season might be over, Trey had to go and make All-Stars. Super proud of that fired-up first baseman, but I'm trying hard not to drag my feet about the season now being extended by three more weeks.

The league, however, will be thrilled to know that the Daugherty siblings will be around a little bit longer to contribute to the concession stand fundraiser. :)

Ah yes, back to the pie. It's fresh, light and in-season, and it's one of those recipes that looks really impressive even though it's super easy - my favorite kind (you might want to splash some flour on your face at some point so your guests know it's homemade!)! And it's so 4th-of-July-like that we just have to make it every year. Inspired yet?! You can find the recipe here.

And, because they're too cute not to share, check out some other kid-friendly Fourth of July ideas on this sweet blog.

What's YOUR favorite 4th of July tradition?

Someone has the giggles...

... and I love it! Cherishing moments like these this summer...

Father's Day every day...

Do you ever click through old pictures and get to one that brings back a flood of memories? I did that recently with this one. Jack was four, and was admitted at St. Vincent Children's Hospital. A day or two expected hospital stay post-surgery had turned into five, and we were all a little bit weary at this point. One sweet, patient daddy took over and helped Jack finally visit the playroom down the hall, IV pole, loads of tubing and all. You look at this picture and see a pale, puffy four year old working on a puzzle. My heart knows the full story of how much that daddy loved on his boy that day.

A few years ago I read an article encouraging wives to affirm their husbands with spoken or written words. I took the challenge and left a note showing my appreciation for him on his bathroom sink the next morning.

And I learned something that day.

Men need to hear those words. Even if they act like they don't.

Seven years later, that note is still tucked away in his vanity drawer, in full view when he grabs his toiletries each morning. I'm humbled by that, and reminded that I need to do it more often. Father's Day is a great day to recognize Tyler, but my spoken affection for him shouldn't be limited to just special occasions.

I'm thankful for pictures like these that give me a good place to start...

“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. " Proverbs 31:11-12

One year older...

I think we've found a regular family photo spot on our Florida vacations. I only wish we had started this little tradition when we first began traveling here with our kids, when Jack was just six months old. This fountain is in a huge outlet mall outside of Rainforest Cafe... the only place all week we venture away from the pool with our kids in tow (and trust me, since they were used to bumming at the pool all week, they quickly complained about wearing collared shirts and having to do their hair...). This was us this year: ...and this was our family exactly one year ago: It will be so fun ten years from now to compare how they've grown each year (look at the difference in Tess's hair alone!).

No more swim diapers :)

Summer, with a little bit of intentionality...

I feel so out of the loop. We just returned from our nine day family vacation in Florida, and funny enough, everyone else's life went on while we were gone. Heh. Friends had babies, houses went up for sale, our lawn grew much taller, and the weather improved by forty degrees (what in the world?!) while we were gone. My pile of ironing is still here (darn that) and weeds seriously need pulled, but for today, I'm soaking in the fact that it is officially summer around here.

Now I am one of those mommas who sincerely looks forward to having all of the kids home for the summer. I also love the much less structured schedule... for about the first week. While we love being together, it's a trick having varying ages of kids in the house all day every day. Nine, eight, five and three... quite a range of interests, abilities, concentration levels, and ideas on what's entertaining.

And we haven't even talked about four different sets of emotions yet. Oh, dear. Wait, make that six.

So, the longer we venture into this parenting thing, the more we learn about how children work best. Every child is different, but this much I know - every kid needs structure. Some thrive on more and some on less, but their worlds run much more smoothly when there is some predictability involved. So instead of leaving our summer to chance (within God's master plan, obviously...), I must plan enough structure in each day to set them up for the best possible scenario for success. Because when I skip the intentional part, all that's left to show for our special time together is way too much Wii, and not nearly enough love. Enough said.

I've jotted down my summer ideas and have somewhat of a master plan in place, but I'm still working on tweaking the fine details. We have bigger events scheduled each month, weekly activities that we'll revisit, all the way down to daily time slots set aside for reading, chores, and honing spiritual disciplines. Not scheduled so much that we can't change it up if necessary, but scheduled enough so we won't all completely loose our minds by week two.

If I'm starting to sound too structured for summer, don't you worry. We'll fit in plenty of time for the ball field, popsicles for no reason, water fights, picnics, star gazing, Dog 'N Suds, and fires in the fire pit. And that's just getting started, ya'll...

It is summer, after all.

Movin' on up!

Look what we took down this past week! For as much as I feel like we've been in the baby stage forever, I can't believe that after ten solid years of use, this thing will no longer take residence in our house. If I thought about it too long, I might get a little emotional. That is, until I remember the schemes of this little daredevil.

She and Trey, my two little climbers... up, over, and right on out of the crib. It only took one time to shake Trey up. Tess on the other hand... oh dear. It takes a whole lot to sidetrack this girl. I haven't had to get her out of her crib for the last month and a half. Spunky, that kid.

So the new big girl bed is working out quite nicely, and she's even slept past six a.m. a couple of times in the last few days. That alone is a miracle, and worth the switch, if you can credit it to that. The first night she slept in her new bed, I listened to her sing herself to sleep through the monitor. It was soft, sweet, and purposefully tender and melodic, and it went a little something like this:

"I like you new bed... you look like Jack's bed.... you're so pretty and cute... I no climb out.... my momma 'pank my bucket... I love you new bed...."

Sometimes instead of blogging...

You have to take on the world. Or at least engage yourself a little more in it.

Parenting with Tyler has taught me many lessons over the years. About how daddies seem to be able to hold their ground with a little less (ok, a lot less!) emotion involved. I've noticed (with some longing, I might add) how they can often times be more efficient, because clingy two year olds don't hang on their legs like they do ours. Fact. He also gets kids to fall asleep on his lap sometimes, because he actually sits down with them and enjoys them, instead of always trying to get every last thing on the to-do list accomplished. And for the record, he doesn't video our kids. We do have some sweet footage that we'll be able to look back on and embarrass them with when they're about to graduate from high school, but many times we pass up the urge, because as Tyler says, "If my eyes are behind a lens, I'm not engaging in the moment."

This past month has been a lot like that. Sometimes the social technology, the urge to document it all takes over the living for me. And this past month, I happen to have had a lot of living to do.

It was one of those reevaluation times for us. The start of baseball season always seems to do that. Heh. Tyler and I had late night conversations about how we spend our time, and how that is affecting our children. We talked about goals, and what we wanted our kids to remember about their days at home with us. We asked hard questions about our commitments, and how those reflect our priorities. And we walked away a bit discouraged that we might regret the craziness that we found ourselves in.

That being said, it's not all about the schedule, is it? Tyler and I make very deliberate choices, realizing our limits with four young children. Sometimes it's more about the attitude I wake up with in the morning. Sometimes it's the discontentment in my heart when I take my focus off of others and onto myself, or when I try to move onto another season in my life, instead of embracing the one I'm in. Sadly, it happens when I put my to-do list before my family and my time with God.

So we went to the Bible for answers. I tell myself it wasn't a last resort effort after all of our logic and hard work didn't pay off. God pointed me to verses that confirmed my need to live in the moment - daily with my children - taking every opportunity to teach them about Him. I was reminded to love God with my whole heart - not just my leftovers - and then to love and serve people well. I needed to hear again that this world is not my home, and to stop acting like it. That God's purpose and plan in my life often goes far beyond my limited view.

We're making some changes in this house. That doesn't mean that life will ever be simple, or even that it will slow down all that much with four busy, needy kids. But it means that my perspective is beginning to take that needed shift.

Up earlier, less facebook, more relationships, less wasting time...

I don't think it's any coincidence that God placed some significant people with some pretty significant circumstances in my life over the past month to remind me of the shift that needed to happen in my life - and to do it much sooner than later:

A precious mommy friend whose world has been blessed and turned upside down by a sweet boy who happens to have Williams Syndrome. Megan, you've taught me a lot about embracing and finding joy in the life God chooses for us.

My Grandpa Fincher, whose life we will celebrate this coming weekend. Just weeks after being diagnosed, he lost his short fight with lung cancer. Thank you, God, for reminding me that life is short - and precious - and can be over when we least expect it.

My dear friend Tammy, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Our late night talks have reminded both of us that God is up to something, and that His promises never fail. Tammy, your courage and faith have inspired me, and so many others. I am privileged to walk alongside you on your journey, and to call you friend.

My dad, who retired last week, and is embarking on his new carefree adventure across the country! You have not only taught me much about hard work and sacrifice, you've taught me to enjoy every minute of every day... as if it were my last.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Sometimes instead of just blogging about it, you have to simply live it.

Five years ago...

I was wondering if I would go into labor during the Easter service at church. :) I do remember having a few contractions, but Chase held on five more days, just so he could follow two important Daugherty baby trends - being late, and officially weighing over nine pounds. Thanks buddy. Not that I'm complaining... I should just be thankful that we made it to the hospital in time that day. The crazy kid was born thirty minutes after we walked through the hospital doors (uh, that would include registration and all), just after Tyler hyperventilated and I lost complete sanity. But oh, was he worth it! Thanking God for my third, sweet, almost Kindergartener boy today (who is napping now, hopefully recovering from his party at preschool, followed by a fun lunch playdate with three of his boy classmates...).

Happy 5th Birthday, Chase Dylan!!

Blessings...

Feeling a little reflective today, maybe because of all of this rain coming down outside. The house is quiet, Easter is approaching, and I am longing to see Jesus. Simple as that. Nothing major going on in my life right now, but my heart is burdened for a couple of very special friends going through trials they thought they would never have to face in this life.

I heard this song on K-LOVE a couple of weeks ago, and again today. I don't know what you're going through today, but if you are searching for something in the midst of your suffering, this song is a powerful reminder that Jesus is near, and He cares.

Listen here.

"What if trials in this life, are Your mercies in disguise?" - Blessings, by Laura Story