Role Models

This week I have been working on getting the invitations ready for Little John's 3rd birthday party. He wants a "baseball, tennis, golf, soccer, bowling, boxing party" so we're going with a sports theme. A rocket scientist that decision did not require. I think this child was born loving sports. I mean, his first word was "ball" and he can already throw a ball in the air and then hit it with his bat. I can hardly do that. Anyway, this year has been so much fun because he actually cares what kind of party he has and who he wants to invite. I printed his invitations the other night while he was sleeping and when I showed them to him the next day he said, "Mom!" (long pause while I wondered if he hated them) and then, "That's amazing!" Too fun. I was addressing envelopes and asked him who he wanted to come to his party. At the top of his list were Ryan and Meredith who are a couple in our small group. They were right up there with the family (it's really cute because he always makes sure Kailey is going to be there - melts his mommy's heart). I was reminded again how grateful I am for all of the adults in his life who are so quick to affirm him, make him feel important, and encourage him. I sent Ryan and Meredith an e-mail to tell them just how much it means to me that they would take the time and have the patience to be friends with our toddler, even when his attitudes and behaviors aren't what they should be. It is amazing to have friends who love your family that much! Little John will never remember a time when there weren't people, outside of our family, who noticed him and made him feel a part of what was going on. This interaction is one reason that I love having our kids as a part of our small group. I really think if you asked him who his best friends were right now, he'd skip the kids and go straight to Ryan and Dwight who are right up there with his uncles. I think this is how God meant for the church to be! Church family helping us to raise our children by loving them and being involved in their lives. I cannot possibly thank God enough that my son not only has a wonderful father and other male family members but also countless other male and female role models in his life! What a blessing!

Sweet Moment

Tuesday night when John was practicing for junior high praise band, I took Kailey in to hear him before I put her in bed. She was enthralled with the guitar and hearing her daddy sing. He started playing, "I Will Be Here" and singing to her with her just staring adoringly at him with those big, blue eyes. I teared up thinking to myself, "Baby girl, you have no idea right now what a treasure you have in your daddy!" I'm not sure there's anyone more important in a girl's life than her daddy and I will continue to pour out praise to God for giving my babies this incredible man. I'm so glad for those little moments that make us stop and think a little harder about the rich blessings in our lives!

Aunts & Apes

Today John was sitting at the table eating while we were watching his cousin, Kyndall. All of the sudden he looked at me and said, "Kyle is Kyndall's daddy and Brittany is Kyndall's mommy!" He was so excited about this discovery and figuring out how it all worked! I'm sure that's a little confusing when they were your aunt and uncle first before they became a mommy and daddy. So apparently that is the kind of thing going through toddlers' minds over a bowl of oatmeal.

Later in the day he was watching a highly educational episode of Little Einsteins. I was nursing Kailey and noticed the cute monkey who, upon opening his mouth, sang lovely strains of a classical piece. That struck me as pretty funny. When I asked if the Little Einsteins had found a monkey, Little John said, "It's not a monkey; it's a chimp." Well, excuse me! Guess I better get my ape classifications straight before I talk to my two-year-old! I'm going to have to get up early to stay ahead of this one!

Bread, Visitors & Rain

I was just in my room with Kailey having a little quiet time while John was playing in his room. It was about time for him to come down when I saw his shadow under the door. He came in and talked to us for a while and then walked out, picked something up, said, "Tada!" and handed me a loaf of bread. When I asked him if he wanted some, he passed on that. Not at all sure what that was about. Apparently my children have a good shot at being as strange as I am. He cracks me up!

Today I had a visit from a fun mom friend. I love those little breaks in the weekly routine. Something a little different and someone to talk to. Rach's little girl is only a few months older than Kailey so it was fun to once again be reminded of what's coming instead of focusing sadly on how quickly she's growing and changing!

If you live around here, enjoy your rainy evening. In case you haven't noticed, it always rains on Tuesday nights now. That's because it's softball night. Out of an eight-game season, the guys have been rained out either five or six games now. It has become a standing joke. So, stay dry and safe and never go out on Tuesday without an umbrella!

This Is How My Crazy Mind Works When Fried

We had a long weekend. I have a lot going on right now. I'm a little tired today. My brain is fried and it's hard for me to think of much to say. Here's a very random list of some things I love that sound even better when I'm tired. This is in the random order that they come into my head because one makes me think of the next one.

• Chocolate
• Cookies
• Strawberries
  
• My bed
• My children in bed
• My children being in bed and then wanting to get them out to snuggle them
• Snuggling
  
• Chick flicks
• A good book
• Being able to stay awake to read a good book
• Zzzzzz
  

The Wedding

It was a beautiful, wonderful wedding! Carli looked stunning in her beautiful dress, Jonathan Storment did a great job with the ceremony, Jordan did a beautiful job playing the music Cameron had written for the wedding, everyone and everything looked fabulous and elegant, and it was perfect! Here are a few shots of the day. By the way, my husband was there doing everything from caring for kids to being the only usher due to the other one being in the hospital(!), but he is behind the camera in these pictures! He looked very handsome, as always!

My handsome brothers

My beautiful sisters

My adorable little man

My precious baby girl

John was a big fan of the bubble send-off

The happy couple who should now be on board a cruise ship headed south in the Caribbean!

Tomorrow's The Big Day

Tomorrow Carli becomes Mrs. Cameron Scroggins. Tonight at the rehearsal dinner it finally sank in and I started getting emotional. My little brother will be a husband tomorrow evening. I thank God that Cameron has found a woman who loves him wholeheartedly and wants to follow him as he leads their family in walking with the Lord. She is a gift to him and to us. I specifically started praying a few years ago, when I realized that Cameron was ready and wanting to share his life with someone, that he would find a girl who couldn't see straight she was so in love with him. I know him well and knew he didn't need the games or competition but someone who only had eyes for him. God sent her and I praise Him for the answer to those prayers. I have a special and different place in my heart for each of my three brothers but I am probably the most possessive of Cameron. Tomorrow would be difficult for me if he were not marrying someone who I have all confidence will be fiercely loyal to him for the rest of their lives.

I spent many years of my childhood praying for sisters and God has answered those prayers beyond my wildest dreams. First, I received two of the most incredible blessings in my life when I was eleven and thirteen and my precious girls were born. Then, I married into John's family and became sisters with his sister (and his best friend) who had been one of my best friends for years. As if that wasn't enough, then Kyle married another of my dearest friends and I almost can't imagine what our family was like without her! Now Carli is my latest gift in the string of fantastic sisters-in-law, and I have potential for two more in the coming years if and when John's brother and my youngest brother choose their life partners. I may have waited a while but my prayers were answered with a cup overflowing, pressed down and pouring over. How He does know the plans He has for us when we have such shallow dreams! I have always told the kids I taught to pray away. Yes, you can pray for a big sister. I started with all brothers and now have sisters older, younger, and in-between! God does things in ways we never expect with people we never knew and ones who have been there all along. Thank you, Lord for the way you bless us with relationships and people to love!

If you are reading this on Saturday, please take a moment to say a prayer that this day is everything Cameron and Carli have dreamed of. May their marriage be blessed beyond imagination with a long and joyful journey together!

Just Another Critz Day

A Prayer for Virginia

I can't stop thinking about those moms and dads who sent their babies off to school in Virginia and just went through the most horrifying days of their lives! Waiting to hear from their kids, waiting to be notified that their's might have been one of that terribly large number. Lord, please draw these families to you and do what You do best - making something beautiful out of the dead ashes of our sin. I think most of all I pray for the family of the shooter if and when they know - I cannot fathom what that would feel like. Lord, we are in such desperate need of You!

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."

Revelation 21:1-7

"Jump to Me!"

Big and Little John have this daily routine at bedtime and in the morning where Little John stands on the bed and then jumps off to Big John who throws him in the air and spins him around. It's lots of fun for both of them. Yesterday morning when my very excited son realized that this was another day where his daddy didn't have to go to work, they started playing and then Little John stood next to the bed and said, "Jump to me, Daddy!" It was the funniest thing seeing that tiny guy standing there with his arms wide to catch his 6-foot daddy!

We're always sad to see the weekend end around here. Yesterday we took the little man to eat his first donut at Krispy Kreme. Yum. He loved watching the donuts go through the fountain of icing and thought the sprinkles were wonderful! It takes such small things to make him (and me) very happy!

Mommy Visit

I know, I'm falling down on the blogging job and skipping days here and there. As Kailey spends more and more time awake these days are flying even faster than they were before. I'm trying to make myself get in bed sooner after she goes down so that I actually get some sleep. Tonight I decided to do a little catching up.

Friday I had a few friends over for some lunch and a little "mommy time." Amanda, Ashley, Brittany and I have been friends since we were in the college class at RHCC before any of us were married. It's amazing how quickly things have changed and now there are six kids between us! It was fun to visit. I look forward to Kailey growing up with so many sweet friends. Kailey, Jake & Sydney. . . yes, this was the best I could get of all three of them at once! I think Kailey was just interested in irritating Jake! I'm sure he was thinking, "Get out of my face!"

Awww! Sweet little friends.

Since Kyndall is starting to walk, she wasn't super interested in lying on the floor for a picture! She did agree to sit for just a minute.

My Girl

My precious, happy, bubbly gift from God. While I can touch my forehead with my foot, I cannot imagine doing it quite as comfortably as Kailey seems to! She just rolls into a little ball and chews on her feet! I am getting ready to store away the bassinet because she is doing eight or nine hour nights in her crib in her pink room. What a blessing! Maybe I had sleeping issues with my first child so that I could fully appreciate the gift of a baby who sleeps well early on. I am grateful that my boy now slumbers away peacefully in his room! We've had some difficult days lately and anyone who saw my son refuse to come out of the Chick-Fil-A playland last night before church can attest to that fact. But tonight as I put my babies to bed and looked at these pictures, I can only agree with the Psalmist who wrote, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward." My precious heritage. May God help me to be the mother they need.

More Easter Pictures

Look at those azaleas in my mom's backyard! They're gorgeous!

"Look what I found!"

"Hmm, what is that fuzzy, pink thing?"

Little John thinks his Poppie is so funny!

Easter Pictures

We took over a hundred pictures yesterday. I may have to post some more tomorrow because I don't even have any of the egg hunt on here! It's pretty hard to resist when your kids are dressed up and doing cute things like hunting eggs! Because it was cold we hunted most of the eggs inside and only a few outside. This year was fun because Little John seemed to understand some of it for the first time. He enjoyed hunting eggs, loved the candy, and our little family shared a special time yesterday morning as John and I talked to him about Jesus while he looked through the resurrection eggs. Having him go into my parents house and say, "This is the empty egg!" in a very excited voice made my day. We have always had a tradition in my family that the empty egg is the best one of all because it reminds us of the tomb when they discovered that Jesus was risen! I love seeing Little John carrying on that tradition. I grew up on the resurrection eggs each year and if you haven't tried them with your kids, they're great! We used to make our own with things but now you can just buy a set at Christian stores and online.

Kailey and her aunt Caitlin

Apparently Easter sacks are for chewing when you're cutting teeth (already!)

Little John was very proud to be wearing a belt "like Dad." If he hadn't, his cute little pants would have fallen down! In order for his pants to be long enough they're always too big in the waist.

My friend, Katelyn, gave Kailey the cutest bunny coat which turned out to be the perfect thing for our cold Easter! It was so cute!!!

HE'S ALIVE!!!!

I love this day! You know how sometimes a song from your childhood is very associated with a day in your mind? I love how music expresses our feelings about events better than just words possibly can. My song for Easter Sunday morning is Sandi Patti singing, "Was It A Morning Like This?" It doesn't matter how many hundreds of times I've heard it, I still get chills when she gets to the chorus and breaks into,

"Did the grass sing
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again
Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound he is risen
Over and over in a never ending round
He is risen! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

Later in the day, I'll be sitting there and over and over in my mind will go the words to Don Francisco's song, "He's Alive." Again, the goosebumps arrive with his final ending after the story is told when he sings,

He's alive! He's alive, He's alive and I'm forgiven!
Heaven's gates are open wide:
He's alive, He's alive, oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive, He's alive, He's alive, He's alive!

I don't know how many times I've heard this story but it still brings me to tears whenever I think about it. Those precious disciples grieving the man they followed when all of the sudden the cries began echoing among them as some reported that now instead of following a dead, great man, they were welcoming a risen Savior!!! What a day!!! Last night as I sat in our wonderful Easter service at church during the communion, I thought once again how being a mother has changed my perspective on even salvation. Now, whenever I am thinking of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, I not only thank Him for my own salvation and the opportunity that we all have to come to Him, but with tears, I try to express my gratitude that my babies have the ability to be forgiven, to just reach out to Him and have Him do all the work to save them. That in their baby voices they can pray and be heard, that no matter what happens, He wants them to be His even more than I do! What a comfort to know that He is already seeking after them, calling them to Himself! Thank you, Jesus!

On a random note, for any old school A-team fans out there, do you think when God watched all of this unfold that he looked down with His biggest smile ever and said, "I love it when a plan comes together!" What a plan it was, so many years in the making. What a God we serve! Oh, where are the ones who don't know, Lord? Who needs to know today that You are alive and that they have not lived until the know the risen Lord? Help us to find them, to reach them, and then come quickly back to us, Lord Jesus!

A Day At The Park

We went to the park the other day with my dad for lunch. John and Pa fed a few ducks and John made some new friends on the playground. We met a squirrel who had absolutely no fear and John drove a fun, blue car. I love beautiful weather and letting my boy use up all that energy!

A Boy And His Dog

I'm not sure I've ever introduced our dog, Noel. Here she is in all her chubby glory. She's a beautiful chocolate lab that we bought when she was a puppy for Christmas the year we got married. John is just beginning to really enjoy her and she, in typical lab fashion, has a fun, sweet personality that works great with kids. I really think he could jump on top of her and she would be just fine with it. She is oddly afraid of small dogs and confined spaces. She will walk around a mound of dirt instead of going over it because of some strange phobia. Fear of heights, maybe? She loves to field balls when John's hitting them off of his tee. Sometimes she won't give it back, though. : ) I'm not really sure what standing on the picnic table and showing his belly had to do with anything, but I sure thought it was funny! These pictures are a little blurry because I was taking them through a window. I knew if I went out there it would change everything that was going on!

Funny E-mail

This is one of those e-mails that goes around every once in a while. I recently read it again and laughed so hard! John and I are big fans of maintaining a pretty serious level of insanity at our house. Most people would be fairly surprised at just how crazy we can be with absolutely no stimulants except our love for the funny and silly. We want our children to grow up with as much fun and laughter as we had in our homes as kids!

20 Ways to Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

1. At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if They Slow Down.

2. Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.

3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.

4. Put your Garbage can on your desk and label it "In."

5. Put Decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.

6. In the memo field of all your checks, write "For Smuggling Diamonds"

7. Finish all your sentences with "In Accordance with the Prophecy."

8. Don't use any punctuation.

9. As often as possible, skip rather than walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify that your drive through Order is "To-Go."

12. Sing along at the Opera.

13. Go to a Poetry Recital. And ask why the poems don't rhyme.

14. Put mosquito netting around your work area and play tropical sounds all day.

15. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.

16. Have your Co-Workers address you by your wrestling name, Rock Bottom.

17. When the Money comes out the ATM, Scream "I Won! I Won!"

18. When leaving the Zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "Run For you Lives! They're loose!"

19. Tell your children over dinner, "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."

20. Take the weekend to recuperate from the long, stressful week.