laughter – The Broken Smile

1. Picture it…all 5 of our crew were squished up in a queen sized bed. Proof positive that there WAS room for Jack on the door, Rose. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

2. Being all squished up together is one of my favorite things. I know that time is coming that it won’t happen again so I’m trying to burn those memories deep into my brain – the giggles, the smells, how my hand is holding two sometimes three little hands simultaneously, how we all just fit together. Family.

3. Our daughter, ever the romantic, asks what special thing are we doing to celebrate our anniversary today. I used to feel super depressed if we didn’t have something grand planned for that particular day, but I looked in her bright eyes and said, “Sweetheart, today is so special! That’s true! However, what your dad & I have learned is that there are 365 days a year to celebrate our love. We celebrate by loving Jesus, by laughing, by making memories with y’all.” She giggled. I continued, “Yes, we have set aside special time to celebrate because that’s important, but it may not be fancy or grand and we’re content in that. How big or small we celebrate does not equal how much we love each other.” She nodded thoughtfully. “What’s made our marriage great is that it’s foundation is Jesus and then laughter.” I thought about that statement and how the order of those two tenets is extremely vital to a marriage that thrives and lasts. One that’s rooted in Jesus will inevitably be filled with laughter because of the joy of the Lord’s salvation, without it there’s no hope.

4. When I say Jesus is our foundation I mean it in the deepest way. We pray together and for each other. We point each other back to God through God’s word. We stumble and fall individually & sometimes together, but there is grace and forgiveness because what’s been shown to us on the cross has radically changed our hearts & how we live.

5. Luke said, “Happy Dozen Years of Marriage, Babe!” 🥰 “One whole dozen,” I thought, “like a carton of eggs. 🤔hmmm, each egg is unique. None exactly like before. Some have had a few cracks, but by God’s grace He’s held us in his hands similar to the styrofoam carton. We’ve felt the cracks but He’s always there holding us and protecting us and even if there is ever a crack that’s big enough to break the egg…it’s not going anywhere, the carton has it & will get us home. *disclaimer: This is an imperfect analogy regarding a perfect God so take it with a grain of salt and go with it. ☺️

6. If you are squished into a queen-sized bed with your spouse and 3 children, then you obviously want to play – “there were 5 in the bed and the little one said”. It’s fun and there’s lots of laughter when one-by-one everyone rolls out of the bed, until the littlest is alone in the bed crying because he doesn’t want to be alone. 😭 So we ALLLLL happily piled back into the bed and cuddled. And everything was right once again. 🥰

7. Lastly, I shared my above analogy with my darling husband of 12 years and he chuckles replying, “Of all the things that come in a dozen you chose eggs. Like there’s donuts, cupcakes, etc. haha”. I referred him to the disclaimer. 🤪😂 Laughter, y’all. It’s an important ingredient in our marriage. 😍

Luke Robinson, I love you more than I ever thought possible. I’m so honored to be your bride, your ride or die, adventure partner & lover.

With all that I am, I’m yours. Always. 💜

12 years of marriage…15 together…lots of memories made & a lifetime to go. 😍

Kids

*Warning: Not for the Squeamish

August 24, 2017 Amanda Robinson

I mean I’m not a parenting newb and I’ve been around enough kids to know that parenting is not for the faint of heart…nor the squeamish. Ha! The Booge has eaten his fair share of nasty things…food off public floors, a bug, boogers, etc. But today the kid reached an all-time low.

We headed outside to play, I was wearing R and had glanced down to make sure his head was positioned correctly and that I had his head out of the sun. So, for all of 5 seconds I had looked away from The Booge, at which point, I look up to see him squatting in the grass. I thought, oh good he’s exploring! How exciting! Then…I see his mouth move as if chewing something.

I know this isn’t going to end well. Y’all, I know. I just know it’s going to be another bug. I immediately take off towards him. As I get closer I see a slight smudge on his cheek. A brownish-green smudge…

And as I reached for my darling blue-eyed cutie I smell the smell. Y’all know that smell. DOG POOP! Lo and behold, what is my little cutie about to do? Stick his fingers back into a big pile of dog feces!! UGH! Come on, son!

Now, being a good ol’ Southern mama, and part tomboy at heart, poop does not phase me. There have been many a times that I have stepped in it…both literally and figuratively, but those are other tales for other days. So, while wearing my one-month old, I grabbed the fifteen-month old up, held him at arm’s length, and quickly ushered him inside to inspect the damage.

Upon further scrutiny there was, in fact, some residual fecal matter on his little tongue. Yep, that’s right folks…my son ate poop. And bless him, he wasn’t fazed a bit. The kid didn’t gag, didn’t cry…nothing. I mean I think I saw him second guess his decision about going in for seconds when I think back, but, it was kind of a blur so I can’t be for sure!

Anyway, there should be a lesson in here somewhere…

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. – Proverbs 26:11

Here’s to a good laugh and a great reminder – don’t eat the poop.

Faith

It’s a…

August 15, 2017 Amanda Robinson

Three weeks ago today I wrote my very first blog…and since then nothing. Now, some of you might not be aware, but there was a pretty good reason for that. The very next morning, actually about 4 hours after posting the Transparent MOMent post, I woke my husband up and said, “Get up! We’ve gots to go!” Thankfully my precious mother-in-love was in town staying with us so we woke her and Monkey up to tell them bye. Poor Monkey was sad that she couldn’t go with us, but with the reassurance that she could come visit as soon as Baby R was born she went right back to sleep.

Arrival in the wee hours…

Getting settled in

The Duke & I ❤

Later that morning we received some pretty adorable visitors. It thrilled Mommy’s soul to see her older babies!

The Ringleader – Monkey

It was nap time and he was done waiting. Ha

We had a few hours of waiting…and about 30 minutes before Baby R’s arrival the little stinker turned to the side! My doctor decided that we would try turning me on my side first and if that didn’t work, the next course of action would be what I feared most…a c-section.

At this point, baby’s heart rate was starting to drop. It was a very emotional time ya’ll. But the Lord was neither dismayed nor put off by everything that happened and was faithful to sustain us during that time of uncertainty. Thankfully after 30 minutes baby DID turn and after only TWO pushes we FINALLY met our newest blessing! Can I just say that we LOVE our OB! She has delivered both Robinson #2 & #3. And both times as the end neared, I felt weary or scared she was ready with encouragement and each time she rejoiced with us – laughter, tears, and hugs! That dear friends is a great doctor and we are truly thankful for her.