It's been over a year since we have wanted to do a cute picture of all 7 of the grandkids. This week we finally got the opportunity. After celebrating my oldest daughter Crystal's birthday, we headed to the park. Looking back now it might have been a better idea to wait and have the cake and ice cream after the photo shoot. Fully loaded with sugar from the sweets we set out in 3 separate cars. (It takes a lot of carseats to get all those kids everywhere.) We arrived at our destination with smiles on our faces and thankful for overcast skies and a nice cool breeze. This was going to be great!
My photographer daughter Lauren gets everyone set with the help of her sister Crystal and the camera starts it's rapid fire of clicks trying to catch that just right moment. I amused myself by taking pictures of my own of all the action. That's right, I was of little help with the actual true photos. When you are the grandmommy you get to do the fun stuff and leave all the fussing to the parents.
First pose baby Lauchlan decides to grab Annalee's hair. Anna happens to be our most sensitive headed child but no tears since it was baby Lauchlan who dealt the injury.
We didn't last long here before it was time to move on. Once released from the pose they all took off in separate
directions and immediately thought the photo session was over and it was time to play.
After a few choice threats by the photographer, they regrouped and moved on to the next pose area. Mckinlee whines because she has sand in her sandals but I quickly brushed it out and that crisis was over. It took some compromise on who would hold the baby and who got to sit in the chair or on the ladder but we were still all smiling. Yippee!
Deuce had a little trouble holding up his letter in this pose. He likes to play and he loves his cousin Mikey. It didn't take long for everyone to start complaining in this area. Seemed that all that sugar made them very sweet and therefore extremely tasty to some bugs. We are a little itchy at this point but we are still somewhat happy. I think we might can get in a few more shots before the sun sets if everyone cooperates. We gather up and head to a less buggy area.
All moved and reset and Miss McKinlee has had about all this picture taking stuff she wants. Nothing will do, she is just not going to smile. Mikey clasps his head in disbelief that we have to wait for someone to smile.
Grandmommy decides maybe it's time for us to make a silly face picture. This gives us a little time to cheer up and possibly smile for just a few more shots. Tanner is too cool to make a face for us of course and Kambri is just trying to hold a pose and a baby.
Looks as though one of those bugs flew up Deuce's nose and when Lauren counts heads she notices someone is missing in this pose. Uncle Mike is having a good time playing with the baby. Lauchlan is delivered and the photo taking proceeds.
Crystal and Lauren think maybe we can get a quick shot of Grandmommy and all the kids so I hand off my camera to Mike and have a seat. The wind kicks up a bit and by this time control is soon to be a thing of the past. Check out Deuce in the bottom left corner of this picture. The final blow is being dealt to Mikey's tummy as baby Lauchlan looks on! Smiles turn to tears and it's unanimous, THAT'S A WRAP!
So at the end of the day, Lauren did manage to get some good shots and we made a fun memory. Now it looks like maybe we should go and work on our spelling!
Do you always engage when you are singing praise songs? Do you really listen to the words and take them to heart every time you are singing them? Do you really mean those words? I would like to think that I do, but the truth is, I don't always. Sometimes I sing along just because I like the tune or I've sung it a hundred times and I simply like singing it. Honestly, sometimes I'm not truly worshipping when I'm singing at church. Yes, I'm letting the cat out of the bag. Sometimes I am just a clanging gong in the Lord's ear and it has little to do with my aging vocal ability. My mind often wonders and I don't always take to heart the words that I'm proclaiming at the top of my lungs.
Another confession...I like to raise my hands when I'm praising. Label me charismatic if that's not your thing. It's fine by me. Yes, I'm one of "THOSE people". There were times when you couldn't have pried my hands from the back of the pew in front of me let alone get me to lift them in praise. I've matured a bit since then and learned that we all praise differently. I can't see me playing the tambourine anytime soon but I did do a great deal of dancing in Africa and Guatemala when I went to church there. Maybe it was just a bit of the old saying, "When in Rome". Truth be told though, I kinda liked it! I've decided there is nothing wrong with being exuberant when we praise.
Last month I was struck by a phrase in a praise song. This particular time I was truly engaged in the words of the songs I was singing. The overwhelming theme of two of the songs was God's love for us. I'm singing along to a song I know I've sung at least 100 times and fully agreeing with every word out of my mouth when all the sudden, I felt a deep sense of sadness. I'm joyfully proclaiming that the riches of Your love will always be enough, when I become painfully aware that not everyone can sing those words and mean them. I'm also aware that there have been many times in my own life when those words were not true for me either.
Is it really enough? We sing about God's love being all we need but do we live our lives every day as though we truly believe what our lips are professing? What about when we are alone or lonely? What about when we have been cast out or abandoned? What about when we feel utter desperation or fear? What about when we feel defeated or cheated? What about when we feel wronged? What about when we get a diagnosis that shakes us to the core? Do we believe with all our heart in those moments that God's love is enough?
We may not always believe it but it is true. God's love is enough! It can break through any barrier and through the blackest night. It can cover over a multitude of sins. It gives us hope when we have none. In God's love we find our freedom. We find courage to believe. In God's love we even find the courage to believe that His love is enough.
The bible says love never fails. This means, it never stops, it is never insufficient, it never disappoints, it is never undependable, and it never falls short. That sounds like it's enough for me!
Gosh, I'm in the mood now to go do some praising. If only I had a tambourine! Hmm....
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My photographer daughter Lauren gets everyone set with the help of her sister Crystal and the camera starts it's rapid fire of clicks trying to catch that just right moment. I amused myself by taking pictures of my own of all the action. That's right, I was of little help with the actual true photos. When you are the grandmommy you get to do the fun stuff and leave all the fussing to the parents.
Looks as though one of those bugs flew up Deuce's nose and when Lauren counts heads she notices someone is missing in this pose. Uncle Mike is having a good time playing with the baby. Lauchlan is delivered and the photo taking proceeds. 
Crystal and Lauren think maybe we can get a quick shot of Grandmommy and all the kids so I hand off my camera to Mike and have a seat. The wind kicks up a bit and by this time control is soon to be a thing of the past. Check out Deuce in the bottom left corner of this picture. The final blow is being dealt to Mikey's tummy as baby Lauchlan looks on! Smiles turn to tears and it's unanimous, THAT'S A WRAP! 
So at the end of the day, Lauren did manage to get some good shots and we made a fun memory. Now it looks like maybe we should go and work on our spelling!
