Sometimes mail is fun.

These little happies were in our mailbox this evening......

And when we opened them....... we found.........

Four little passports, sitting in a row......

Sometimes you just need a little happy.

Now all we need is a completed home study, approval from Immigration and Homeland Security, a Dossier, a Log In Date, a Letter of Acceptance, and Travel Approval.

We're coming, baby girl!  We're coming.

Living WELL.

My sweet friend, Laura, met Jesus face to face Saturday night.  For the last 48 hours, she has been in the presence of the Savior that she so desperately wanted others to know and love.  Her journey through cancer was not one that she would have chosen for herself..... but, she would often say..... it was a journey that led her into the arms of God time and time again.  (A precious place to find yourself, I'd say......)

You see, Laura RELISHED one simple truth.  A truth that is available to all of us, but one that we rarely REALLY think about.  God loves us.  GOD LOVES US.  And everything that we do in life, every word we say, every action, every relationship should come back to that..... God loves us.

So, what did that mean in Laura's life?

It meant that, although she was suffering terribly, she talked freely about the goodness of God. It meant that when she was given bad news from doctor after doctor, she said, "But have you met my God? My hope is in Him." It meant that she pointed people to Christ with every single breath..... until she took her last.

Laura got it.  And once you get it, apparently, you spend the rest of your life explaining it to others.
Through her testimony, teachings, and writings, Laura lived her life proclaiming His love..... For years now, the way she has lived her life has challenged me as I live mine..... I want to live WELL..... resting in and relishing the truth.....

God loves us.
Simple.  Beautiful.  Powerful.  Life-changing.
God loves us.

So, what does that mean in MY life?

It means more diligence in knowing the Word.  It means more conversations in my house about how we can show God's love.  It means more patience.  It means being obedient to the tugging and nudging of the Holy Spirit.  It means more time spent in prayer.

Laura lived well..... and she finished well.
What an awesome example.

If you haven't found Laura's Caring Bridge site, you're missing out.  I'm new to this blogginess, so I don't know how to post a link that says to go *here* to find stuff...... so just Google "Caring Bridge Laura Black"...... you'll find it, and you'll be so glad you did.  (I highly recommend her "Letters to My Children" series..... oh.  the.  goodness. that.  it.  is.)

I'm happy to have known you, Laura Gautney Black.  Thank you for your friendship, your witness, your courage, your insight, your wit, your joy, and your legacy. Well done.......

My Max.

Two days after Jack turned three years old, Max Powell was born.  He spent his first few days in the NICU and I remember being extremely anxious about the fact that no one was holding him in his first few hours of life..... would he bond with us?  was he scared?  was he sad?  was he hurting?  would he ever trust us to protect him?

That was ten years ago.  I can't believe I have spent ten delightful years with Max Powell.  I have been around a lot of ten year olds in my day, and I must say..... this one is unique.  He is constantly thinking about things and processing information, but he really doesn't want people to know that he's smart.  He enjoys spending time with his friends, but he would rather not have to talk to grown ups.  He gets really, really scared during storms, but he knows for certain that his peace during those times comes from the Lord..... and doesn't mind praying about it.  He likes to stay busy..... down time is not his friend.  He collects things....many things.  He hates haircuts.  And new books make him happy.....which totally makes his Mama happy.  

I had the awesome privilege of having Max in my fourth grade class this past year and, about half-way through the year, realized that I spent EVERY single moment of the day with this child.  Every.  Single.  Moment.  Literally..... 24/7.  I wondered if either one of us would begin to tire of the other..... cause, you know..... that's a lot of time...... but we never did.  He still cuddled up with me on the couch at night and talked about his day.  He still asked me to read out loud to him at night or watch Storage Wars with him.  He still started every sentence from the backseat with, "Hey, Mama...."  

I adore this boy.  He and his brother make me smile.  Here's are a few smiles from Max through the years......

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

And, just to keep things even..... here's my favorite video of the Maxer..... 

This one was a "hidden camera" experiment to explain to Joe what I go through in the afternoons before he gets home from work.  You gotta watch all the way to the end..... Oh, dear....

I think you are a mighty fine man, Max Powell.  It is my pleasure to be your Mama!

Happy #10 Birthday!

My Jack.

Today, June 16, my Jack turns thirteen years old.  That's a lot of years.....THIRTEEN.  I tend to get all sappy on these days and start thinking back and remembering things.....funny things they've said, places we've been, special events and holidays.  The boys went out to breakfast this morning and came home to find me buried deep within my closet going through old pictures. I started thinking back to how hard it was to take pictures of Jack because he never would look directly at you.  I laughed at the picture of him in his Cat in the Hat costume and how he wore it EVERYWHERE.  I cried when I found the picture of his baptism.  I smiled back at the boy listening intently at the National Book Festival and hugging characters at Disney World, working at the school store, and playing the violin.

 It's barely 10:00 in the morning and I've already told Jack like a hundred stories of things that he's said or done in his thirteen years.  And I must say, they've been the most marvelous thirteen years of my existence.  We have had such fun.  Just so you all can experience the absolute preciousness that I get to live with everyday as Jack's mom, I've found a few photos to share...... Here's Jack:  Through the Years......

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

I'm in awe of this young man.  He is patient, kind, talented, smart, funny, happy, content...... He's learning what it means to serve the Lord and use his talents in worship...... He enjoys reading a great book...... He helps me when I don't know how to do things with technology...... He's the best big brother on the planet.......

Now if I can just get him to write down his homework and pick up his shoes, we'll be all set.

Here is my all-time FAVORITE video of the Jack:  We call it "How to be a Man".....

Also starring:  Dad and Max

I love you, Jack Powell.  

I am SO blessed to be your Mom!

Don't smile.

Today was passport photo day.  Usually a fairly easy process.....walk up, snap a picture, wait for them to print, pay, and you're off...... to wherever...... like China...... to pick up a new little Powell......

Sure.  Passport photo day.  Easy.

Unless you're Max.  Cause the first thing the sweet lady said to us when she held up the camera was....DON'T SMILE.  

Huh?  

You DON'T want me to smile.  

If you've known Max for ANY length of time, you'll know that he doesn't necessarily appreciate his mother's efforts at photography.  He likes to TAKE pictures, but he doesn't love my enthusiasm in taking pictures OF him.  And. He. Never. Smiles.  I have to literally force (pronounced bribe) him to smile in any pictures he's in.  So, today, when she said NOT to smile, that was his dream come true.  He was pumped.  Jack and I set our faces into a glare (I actually decided a smirk was a better look) and we were done in about two seconds.  See?  Easy. 

Then it was Max's turn.  Max's turn to FINALLY be able to NOT be expected to smile while getting his picture taken.  He was so happy...... until she said, "Remember, don't smile....."

And then, he couldn't stop smiling.  He giggled and guffawed and bit his bottom lip..... his eyes got all teary and he kept taking deep breaths.... his dream photo moment and all he could do was....SMILE!  

Then I started giggling and Jack started laughing.  The lady taking the picture got to chuckling and the person at the cash register got tickled.  It was quite the scene in the Rite Aid......  It took several minutes for everyone to calm down.....and for Max to hold a "serious" pose long enough to snap ONE little picture.... and then we all started laughing again.....  We left the Rite Aid smiling..... 

And I started thinking..... that's what having JOY is all about.  Even when the world says that there's nothing to smile about, there's joy.  Even when there are lots of really good reasons not to laugh, there's joy.  Even when everyone around you finds reasons not to be happy, there's joy.  Even when there's sadness, there's joy.   

That's weird, isn't it?  To smile when there's every reason not to.  But that's what living the abundant life is all about.  We must find joy..... on purpose.  We must look deeper than the day-to-day circumstances and hassles and to-do items and zone in on HIM.  That's what I'm praying about this summer.  Making time to sit at the feet of Jesus and..... well....that's it..... just sit at the feet of Jesus.  And NOTHING.  Cause that's where the joy is.  It lives in Him.  And so must I.

And although life is full of stresses and requirements and worries..... there's joy in the stillness at His feet.  So, the next time the world tells you NOT to smile..... get tickled.  Cause His joy can come out of you and spread right through the Rite Aid.  Or wherever......