Christ, Chipotle and choo choos, respectively.

I'm going to try something new and different and just say that, yes, it's been awhile since I posted. And it's possible it will be a long time before I post again. Or not. I am non-committal that way.
Also, who stole 2/3 of the summer straight from under my feet? How rude.
What have you been up to this summer? We have apparently been busy!  Let's see...there have been graduations, road trips, holidays, anniversaries, friends visiting, family visiting--and also life is happening and the wee ones continue to grow before our eyes. We have had fun in the midst of it all, I assure you! Want proof? Here she be.


There are now 5 Smith cousins.  Contrary to popular belief, we now know we are capable of producing the female variety of human. Amen!


Hanging out in front of Standard Style on the plaza, having a snack. He is Jerry's son.


Schliterbahn fun with Smith's for Abram's 5th birthday.  A good time (and a good tan) was had by all.


Hanging in Arkansas with Jon, Tonja and co.  Nani helped my fearful swimmer gain confidence in the water.


Though I have never done even a smidge of yoga in my life, my child can do (what I am told is) a plank. W2G Henry!

Cousin Kya came to visit.  Happiness ensued.

This? This is just life happening.

This boy and his trains...

As a side note, I want to share something I've been trying to embrace as a mom.  Do you know those people who you see at Target? Or Chipotle? Or the DMV? And they take a brief glance and say to you, (all together now!) "Wow, you've got your hands full!" I have never hated these people, but as I have learned, many moms do.  Some even come up with sweet (albeit cheesy) phrases like "Yes! Full of blessings!", etc.  I have no cheesy phrase to offer. I have no deep wisdom.  I do have this though.  Those people represent myself in about 20-30 years.  I will be a grandma or something like it.  My house will be quiet and my laundry minimal.  I genuinely will miss the constant noise/correction/bodily fluid that goes with the little ones.  I hope I won't miss it too much, but I guarantee I will think once or twice, "I wish I had been patient when it was the hardest" or "I wish I had left the laundry on the couch and played trains with Henry when he asked me to for the 35th (I kid you not) time that day."
I am trying to genuinely live now as if I am that person who misses their children once they're gone. Is that weird? It's the only way I can figure to have perspective on this crazy time in life.  I don't have a beautiful bible verse to go with where I am headed here....but I do believe God shows up in the midst of this.  Fine, take this one if you need it: Titus 2:11-14.    Either way, God has taught me this: Megan, I have given you this life. My gospel is not separate from parenting, not separate from being a wife, not separate from household tasks or finances.  How will you choose to let my gospel intersect with it in those million moments throughout the day when you often choose to bypass it?
If I don't at least try to figure this out, I guarantee I will have lots of regrets. I am working on it, as I imagine we all are learning to see how Christ's grace can intersect with the moments in each of our days. It's hard work, but I am seeing moments where I (shocker!) actually get it some shade of right.

-----get ready for whiplash.

I am trying to recreate this tank top that I have an outlandish affection for.

Why? Just, why? I have no answers. I am working on it.

Also, I have never shown pics of Ingrid's room, because, well, it's still in progress.  Here is what I do have:

But home is where the heart is, right? Not where the decor is perfectly coordinated or timed in accordance with your birth? I'm counting on it.

This may well be the only blog in the world that addresses gospel-centered living and a motorbike tank top at once.  That might just be me in a nutshell though. Thanks for visiting.