Yes, that's my son

We have a funny family story...five generations of the first-born sons have be given the middle name of Edward, Jacob being the fifth. However, the story goes that Jacob's great-great grandfather was skipped over for this honor. Being born one-day before a horrible cyclone hit his birth town, his father opted to name him James Cyclone after finding the newborn and his mother alive in the rubble. Story says James hated that name, went by James C. and once his son was born quickly re-established the tradition of Edward.

Well, this story was shared with me during my pregnancy. I thought it was a super cool story. I kidded Philip that we should name our child Cyclone. He certainly moved within my frame like a cyclone. In the end (and after a YOU WANT TO CALL MY GRANDCHILD WHAT? response from my mother) we named him Jacob Edward.

Fast forward a few years. Jacob loves the cyclone story. Jacob has always been a cyclone! And now, Jacob sports a "cyclonic" look on his head...the cock-eyed, crooked mohawk. And...sh...don't tell him (because I had to show the obligatory motherly eye roll at first)...I actually kind-of like it. Makes me laugh everytime I see it!

I should have gone with my instincts 15 years ago...He is Jacob Cyclone!

Who's Driving?

Our family now has a teenager with the treasured "temporary permit" that allows me to hand over my keys and let him drive. Ugh, ugh, ugh and more ugh.

It's not that I think Jacob cannot handle the task. Really, I know, he needs the practice and, for the most part does very well. But I had no idea how much WORK it is to sit in the passenger seat, knowing what needs to be done, and NOT DO IT and NOT SAY ANYTHING! Of course, if it's a major obstacle, I will speak up. It's those small things...the not slowing down soon enough for a stop sign, the hesitant gas pedal, the too fast gas pedal, (you know everything all of us have done during the learning process) that it is so hard to stay quiet about!! Because, he has to experience the herky-jerky stop, the extremely slow starts, the jump of the car to learn not to do these things.

It makes me wonder...when God gives me the keys and sits in the passenger seat how can He possibly stay so quiet when I'm about to make a wrong turn? Isn't it amazing that my creator sits patiently and quietly, allowing me to make my own wrong turns, quick stops, false starts in order to allow me to learn and become closer to Him? Wow. And, when I realize my mistake and have an oops, He's right there, encouraging me and telling me to try again, you will get this right...I am right here with you.

I am going to try to keep this in mind the next time Jacob is driving. If God can allow me room to learn from my oopsies, surely with His help I can let Jacob do the same! And thankfully, I know that God is with both of us when in the car!

Summer Fun

We enjoyed a week at Hilton Head with family in June. Philip and I even managed to escape a couple of nights to Charleston for some alone time. Thank you Bill & Becky!! Not many are willing to take on our fabulous four!

One of our favorite stops on the way home from down south...the Tamarack in West Virginia. We woke Sam up in order to stretch our legs...can you tell? Jacob, Asher & Anna were all wide awake and ready for a break - Mom & Dad were, too!

Summer Fun

It's the first full week of summer. Jacob & Sam are off running...training for their upcoming cross country season as high school teammates. Asher & Anna are getting in a groove of sandboxes, Jenga, computer, naptime (YES!), school review & late dinners. Asher loves to be outside. He also loves to pretend he's playing the guitar, hence the middle photo. Anna is working on her fashion model poses. Oh, MY!

Next week - VBS! Summer sure isn't as lazy as I remember it being when I was a kid!