...clear eyes, full heart, can't lose

Courtney & Carrie

Happy Birthday to my fabulous niece, Carrie, & my fellow Dillon Panther/Tim Riggins fan! You're awesome!

i can't wait

...sneak peak

I haven't had professional pictures taken of the girls in such a long time - don't even ask how long it's been. Jordan has such a talent for capturing great moments, and I think she is awesome. So she was the perfect choice for a photo session with Mallory & Jillian. Kirstin came too, and it was so much fun to watch the girls and Jord & Kirst together creating some fabulous shots. I can't wait to see the rest! Thanks Jord!

Moments with Mallory

Mallory Paige

Yesterday I had lunch with Mallory. It's not that we don't have lunch together. We do - at home, when we're out shopping, with Peter, with Jillian, with family & friends, but lunch yesterday was different. It was an intentional "date" & time with just Mallory - inspired by someone who I respect & love learning from (thanks Carla!!!).

School this year is going to be hard with some tough classes & a heavy work load. I know that Mallory will be able to tackle the job ahead of her and succeed, but Wednesday night she was feeling a little overwhelmed. She cried & we talked on the way home since she and I were the only ones in the car (these are some of my favorite moments). I gave her lots of "teacher" advice & practical mom advice about how to plan, organize & make choices about her busy schedule. Then I realized that maybe I just needed to be a mom, not a practical, experienced & wise mom - just a mom.

So we made a date for lunch the next day. I picked up Chipotle, picked her up from school and headed to the great park nearby. We didn't talk about school or classes or homework or projects. She talked about her friends and parties and of course, driving & the old Volkswagen bug or "hippie" van she REALLY wants. I loved spending that half hour with her, and she asked when we could do it again. Now not only does she get to have her "daddy daughter dates" with Peter, I get to have those special times too.

When she kissed me good-bye (love that she still does that) & walked into school, my prayer for her was that she would be surrounded by people who would build her up & encourage her, that the "burden" of school would be light & most of all that her heart would continue to be tender & Jesus would shine through her.

What a privilege it is to be her mom, pray for her and share this role of parenting with Peter!