i needed to hear it

Tonight as we were getting ready for bed, Danny was flipping through the religion channels. Normally I can only take about 45 seconds of the religion channels before my blood pressure sky rockets and my head starts to throb. I think it has something to do with all the yelling and wacky arm movements. And the really weird clothes. And flashing lights.

Well tonight, a very well known pastor said something I needed to hear. It was an oasis of truth in the midst of the noise. Those kind of words that pierce straight through your heart and bring on the tears.

"You are not what others say you are. You are what God says you are."

He was talking to me. Maybe He was talking to you too.

friday night lights

Last night we took Tutz to her first live football game. She attended a Mizzou game last year, but at the time she was still in-utero, so that doesn't really count now, does it?

Some of the youth kids played in the half time show. We were able to support our beloved band members and expose our child to the art of grown men chasing each other around a field, all in one night. Gotta love multi-tasking.

We made the mistake of sitting in front of the cheerleaders. And by cheerleaders I mean an army of 200 girls screaming in unison. I've never seen such a massive cheer squad. Except on ESPN.

Here's Reese witnessing a herky for the very first time.


Well, is that a familiar face I spy in the background?

It's Sarah! And not only did she come to visit for the weekend, but she also helped us get dressed for the game. (The second time.)



A group shot. Because the hat alone deserves a second look.


If you're looking to get $20 off your next tanning package, Reese can hook you up.


Stay tuned. We have another special guest blessing us with her presence. Say it isn't so!

and it shall be called...

The Claw of Destruction.



No earring is safe from its grip. No computer cord is spared from its grasp. In one swoop the Claw descends upon magazines, books and mail. Shredding anything within arms reach of its path of destruction.

Like the mighty bald eagle who plummets through the sky, seeking to devour its prey, The Claw slices through air with its ill-fated target mere seconds away from its inevitable demise.

No wad of human hair can withstand The Claw's determination and fortitude.

Every so often, The Claw unites with its counterpart...




...er, The Other Claw.

With their powers combined, they wreak havoc that cause even bald men to quiver.

And their wake of devastation is always paired with the expression of a contented command center.

5 months!

Can you believe it?


No lamb was harmed in the making of this picture. (This time anyway.)


Yeah, we're really going to have to work on the whole how to sit in a dress thing.

On the bright side, we'll never forget what the back of a five month old knee looks like.

coasting to complacency

In high school I dated a guy who loved to ride bikes. And by bike riding I mean, he was a real deal cyclist. He had one of those legit bicycles with really skinny legit wheels. He'd ride all over town, rain or shine in legit spandex outfits. And when it was really hot, he'd wear a legit back pack with an attached straw so he could drink without having to stop. Clearly, I knew how to pick them. :)

One afternoon, I had the brilliant idea of going on a bike ride together. So he came over to my house and helped me fish a bike out of my garage. The fact that said bike had streamers on the handlebars and very little air in the tires should give you some clue as to the last time it had been ridden. But I wasn't about to let a little thing like outdated equipment deter me. This bike ride was going to be fun! I was supporting his love of traveling on two wheels by joining in.

About 15 minutes into the trip, my brilliant idea backfired. Before I knew it, we were going uphill. It wasn't a steep hill, but it was long. A steady, gradual incline that went on and on and on.

So I did what any girl who hasn't ridden a bike since she hit double digits would have done. I stood up on the pedals and leaned in to the hill.

About this time Lance, who was a little ways ahead of me, looked over his shoulder.

"Rach, sit down on the seat!"

Huffing and puffing, "It's easier this way."

"No, it's not, you need to sit down."

Gasping for breath, "But all those guys on TV ride standing up!"

"That's because they're riding up the French Alps."

I'm gonna show him a French Alp.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how Jesus prepared his disciples for persecution. How he warned them that a life lived for Him was not going to be easy. (John 16:33)

Danny and I have felt attacked by a certain situation for almost a year now. Just as we think we've seen the end of it, it rears its ugly head, bringing us to our knees once again. I have found myself pleading with God to just take it away altogether. To please, be done with it already. Enough!

When I get really discouraged, I find myself wishing I could just crest the hill of a spiritual battle and coast down the other side. Just to have a little break. To rest my weary legs.

Then last night, this thought hit me. If God granted me the relief I seek and allowed me to coast it out, eventually, I'd come to a stop.

A spiritual ride that coasts will end in complacency. It's just a matter of time. And our God is not about complacency. He is moving. He is going somewhere. And He has called us to get our feet to the pedals and keep on keeping on. (James 1:12)

Any human on the planet can find rest in an easy situation. Even I can coast downhill on a bike with ease.

But

How much bigger is it to find rest while still going uphill? It is other worldly to be in the midst of a difficult situation and to find peace anyway. To spin with all your might and know the strength the task requires does not have to come from you!

That is what God is about. Not making our lives easy. Or making all the obstacles disappear. Rather, He's about getting us through the fire and carrying us over the mountain so that when we have made it to the other side intact, we can stand in awe of what God and God alone has done. He has done great things.

"I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."
Psalm 34:4-7

memo to reese

*Update*
Apparently, the Chica got the memo. Sunday night she slept nine and a half hours, woke up for breakfast and went back to bed for two more. She is a child after her mama's heart! Woo-hoo!

Dear Baby Girl,

While I'm sure you were only thinking of me, a 3:45 am party in your room wasn't exactly how I envisioned capping off my Friday night. A good time was not had by all. If you insist on hosting another scream fest, could you at least postpone it to a night when Daddy is in town? Please Tutz? Consider it as a favor to me, mmkay?

Love,
Mommy

a few more

A couple of more pictures from our spontaneous photo session.


If those lips don't make you smile, I don't know what will.


So serious...yeah right!!

she's just too sweet for words

"rolling, rolling..."

I hope after reading that title, you're channeling your inner Tina Turner with a little Proud Mary action. You know you want to! This Proud Mama has been humming that song all day. Oh yes, not only can our Sweet Girl type out her inner most feelings for the world wide web to see, she can also ROLL OVER!

Here's how it went down.

Last night after Girls Bible Study I put Reese down on her tummy so she could impress the girls with her neck strength.



Just as I had put her down, she pushed up with both arms, higher than she's ever been. As she reached the peak of the push up, the weight of her head tipped her to one side. As she toppled over, she oh so gracefully tucked one arm under her body and ended up on her back with a huge smile on her face.

Immediately I started screaming. Mid-cheer, it dawned on the girls that this must be the First Roll. They started screaming with me. We put her right back on her tummy to get a re-play. But sadly, Tina had left the building.

Now, I know in a couple years I might not appreciate rolling over. Like when she decides to roll around in the grass in her church clothes. Or maybe when she rolls over in bed for five more minutes of sleep after I've yelled 15 times for her to get up already. Or even when she rolls onto a sibling as payback.

But for now, Reese's roll, it's perfection.

"Big Girl keeps on turning, Proud Mama keeps on burning..."

a milestone

Finally, after all these months, she's done it. And so much sooner than most babies her age. We can't believe it. Everyone we encounter today will fall victim to the inevitable, "Do you know what Reese did today for the first time?" And then we will show them pictures. You better believe we got this on camera.

Drum roll please...

Ta Da! It's Reese blogging!!



I turn my back for one minute, and she starts going at it on the computer. Her doctor said most babies don't blog until around 9 months.

Not only do we have it on camera, but we also managed to save what she typed.

asl;kdjfioans;dklfnia;sdfn;ioaefmilkals;difamsoeiflataocnaodijfakdofiasdlnsiodfioaishfksdlfnlcjoaefmilkalsidfoaisdjflakhewofiamajdsifoialekmilkasdifhlektiahaskdlmffiasdflsfdwwwwwefmsodfjiothaksdfpmilk

Did you notice her preferred subject?

Any sliver of doubt we had regarding her giftedness has been erased. The picture says it all.

"Could you please leave me alone? I'm trying to blog here."

a list of random stuff

1. Tonight was the first night of women's Bible study at our church and I am bouncing off the walls excited. We're doing a study by Angela Thomas. Each week we watch a message on DVD and then there are five days worth of homework you're supposed to complete by the next Monday. In the past, I haven't been incredibly diligent with my homework. I'm hoping to improve my homework record this time around. We'll see.

2. As I pulled out of my driveway tonight my next door neighbor was standing in the street aiming a crossbow towards his garage. Should I be concerned?

3. While I was burping Reese tonight she spit up all over. Order of the clean up: the couch, my pants, Reese's face. Clearly my priorities are in order.

4. Speaking of the Chica, recently she has fancied herself with grabbing hair and shoving it in her mouth. Painful, yes. But even more perplexing is that a mouth full of hair has got to be one of the worst sensations in the world, yet she continues to do it.

5. I bought some curtains for our bedroom and they aren't tan. That is a feat, in and of itself.

6. After all this happened, I wrote the world's most boring post. I apologize.

7. You guys have a great night. We love you.

as promised

Here is Reese's first day of school picture.



Of course in her scrapbook, that title will forever have an asterisk next to it. It's the Barry Bonds of baby pictures.

a chili's disgrace

The Reester and I did a little shopping tonight. While we were out I called Chili's to order some food. Nothing works up an appetite like sorting through the clearance section at Pier 1. When I got the take out girl on the phone I ordered the lettuce wraps as usual. Then she broke the worst news I've heard all day.

Chili's no longer serves lettuce wraps and they haven't since June.

What?! What am I going to do? I'm the girl who has her "thing" at each restaurant. When I sit down to order, I might flip through the menu. But I always end up ordering the exact same thing I did the last time I was there. And at Chili's, my "thing" is lettuce wraps. Now when I go there, I'm going to have to actually read the menu and *gulp* choose a rookie meal that could go either way!

So sad I tell you. So sad.

a faux first

This week Reese started school. No, not real school. While we are convinced she's undoubtedly gifted (don't all parents?), she's not quite ready for kindergarten. Well, a more accurate statement would be kindergarten isn't quite ready for her. :)

Anyways, she missed her first week because she was busy meeting Slugger on our family vacation. And while I was a tad worried about her being the new kid with the good swings taken and all, I figured her tales of meeting giant lions would definitely win over her fellow classmates.

The first day Danny went with us for moral support. Can you guess which of his girls actually needed it? Miss Thang has two teachers and they were both very nice. It turns out there were five other babies in her class and they were ALL BOYS. Thank goodness she wore her I Love My Daddy bib. It made it apparent to those boys she was only interested in platonic friendship.

I am proud to say, I postponed the crying until I was back in the car. When the ignition started, so did the tears. I can't pinpoint a specific reason I started crying.

She was in perfectly capable hands.

She smiled when we handed her over.

For some reason I just felt pained. Not physical pain. But a twinge in my heart. Maybe the tears were flowing because I knew that this is just the first of many heart pains that are sure to come.

The terrible mom I am, I completely forgot to take a picture on her first day. So I took one on her second day. And that will forever be her fake first day of school picture. I will post it asap, but I can't right now. Dan has the blogging machine (aka laptop). Plus it serves as an incentive to come back soon!

he's never been prouder

It was the highlight of our trip. We have more pictures from this one event than we do of the rest of the week. Peaked your interest? I knew it would. :)

Behold, Reese's first trip to Kauffman.


Watch out. She's official and she's got the certificate to prove it.


It was the proudest moment of his life. Those were the exact words out of his mouth.


I wasn't about to miss out on the fun!


According to Dan, this is a picture of Baby enjoying the Friday Night fireworks. If you ask me, it's a great shot of her FABULOUS bow.

story of my life

So, I don't really have what you would call a green thumb.

We moved into our new house a year and a half ago. The flower beds were "builder standard". Loosely translated that means they stick five plants in the ground right up against the side of your house, give you the keys and call it a day. We bought the house in April, a few months before Mississippi summer reared her ugly head. Little did we know that a few months later those poor, unfortunate builder plants would be scorched halfway through. I am not exaggerating. Any branch that touched our house was a goner.

Enter Mom.

And my sweet sister.

And her baby girl.

They came to visit mid-July. Now for those of you auspicious folks who have yet set foot in Mississippi in July, DON'T. Unless your idea of a good time is searing an appendage when you open your car door and being unable to mutter an expletive because the air is too dang thick to breath. If that's your idea of entertainment...by all means, come on down!

Where was I? Oh yes. Mom, Manda and Esther braved the weather because, well I was just too selfish to warn them. Heat advisory, schmeat advisory, they were coming to visit!

Upon arrival, my mom took one look at our plant cemetery of a flower bed and immediately had mercy on the shriveled up remnants.

I'll spare you the details, but the remainder of their visit included 26 bags of mulch, 200 pounds of top soil, a rented tiller, miles of garden edging and enough water hose accessories to douse the Sahara desert.

When they left, our yard was a sight to behold. Have mercy! Our flower beds were tripled in size and number. You'd have thought HGTV had been there. It was the Lazarus of all before and afters!

Fast forward a year or so. The beds are still there. Everything survived the winter.

Then came baby.

And well, I've slacked off a little.

Unfortunately, as the temperature went up, the plants did not follow suite. Weeds started creeping in. And now, we're somewhat lacking in curb appeal. And that's putting it mildly.

So imagine my surprise when we came home one day to find this:



Yes, you saw that correctly.

Epiphany. The reason all my plants keep dying on me must be because I've got them in the wrong place! While troubling myself with resuscitating plants in the bed, I've overlooked the fact that the best soil is in the cracks of the driveway. Man, if only I had known that to begin with, I'm sure my driveway would look like Martha Stewart's garden by now!

I realize there are many spiritual implications regarding this story. But I am just too befuddled to go there.

And if you have made it to the end of this post, bless your heart. You truly are a loyal reader, Mom. :)

long time no post

Hello blog world citizens. You can breath a deep sigh of relief...the Hinton home is still intact.

Why has our little blog fallen victim to recent neglect? Well, because we are currently on our family vacation.

And where have we ventured? Sunny Mexico? Disneyland perhaps? Europe? Nope.

We loaded up the Buick and hit the road for our happiest place on earth. Reese was adamant about spending her vacation with her grandparents. And who are we to stand in the way of her dream? We traded in the five star hotel, fancy dinners and Mickey Mouse encounter for the guest bedroom, Mom's potato casserole and a passel of family members itching to get Miss Thang in their hands.

For us, it was an upgrade.

This is Reese's first trip to the land of her forefathers so, needless to say there are about 2,117 pictures documenting the trip. :)

Here are just a few of my favorites (so far!):

Here's Baby with her Great-Great-Aunt Edith, whose middle name is Eileen. She's one of the women in our family with whom Reese shares her middle name.


Who needs the Flying Dutchmen when you have your very own exer-saucer plus a fabulous big cousin to play with?


Loving her Uncle Bubby. Sorry ladies, the rumors are true...he's off the market. :)


With a few of her adoring fans. AKA Auntie Sandra, Grandma Kristy and Auntie Michelle. She LOVES these women!


At the office of her namesake (Nana). I've said it before and I'm saying it again, she looks too young to be a nana!


Stay tuned for more vacation updates. I know you are on the edge of your seats. :)