I left the bedroom for just a second and come back to find this - the most hysterical of sleeping positions - for both my favorite peoples.

No one can accuse my child of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Now, lemon-colored glasses, that's an entirely different story. Guilty as charged.

My bro Josh, Brooklyn's favorite uncle, went native this weekend at the Farm. Something about holding guns and shooting at coke cans makes him want to shave his head and run around shirtless. Ok, so at the Farm, everyone runs around with the fewest pieces of clothing we can get away with - cause it's HOT - but Josh gets extreme. While working his scalp clean, he decided to try out a mohawk for a few minutes. Wanted to make sure we got it on film for posterity. So, here you go, Posterity.

The Dennis' headed south to the Farm for Labor Day as we are wont to do on holidays. And I was delighted to discover that Brooklyn's hair is now long enough to sport pigtails! And even more delighted to see just HOW cute she looked with them.

And what goes great with pigtails? Why, corn on the cob, of course! We have discovered that Brooklyn is incredibly fond of corn on the cob. She grabs both ends and goes to TOWN! Every now and then I have to manually rotate the cob so she doesn't chew clear through to the other side, but like me, she appears to rank corn on her top 10 foods list.

One evening, Brooklyn fell asleep on the way home and stayed asleep while we took off her clothes and got her ready for bed. She looked so LONG stretched out on our bed!

I realize I could give Brooklyn a bath using the WHOLE tub, but it would take twice as long to fill it up, and she gets the biggest kick out of her little blue tub. So, we continue to use it - when she isn't just hopping in the shower with me, that is. Showers (showa as she calls them) are so much easier and quite fun!

I just finished my quiet time for the day (the time when my house is silent except for the whir of the air conditioner or birds chirping...Brooklyn is asleep...the dogs are sleeping...it's just me, my steaming mug of tea (yes, regardless of the temp outside!), my Bible, my memory verse book, my prayer journal and my current Bible study. Sounds like a lot of things with me, now that I look at it. In any case, it's my moment with God. My alone time with God.

Today, I studied the friendship of David and Jonathan. Two men who were uncommon friends - joined together by a common bond: the Spirit of God. It's been years since I looked closely at the friendship between those two. Against great odds - Jonathan's dad was trying hard to kill David - the two men recognized a common thread in the other - they each loved the Lord and knew that God had a plan deeper than the two of their lives. My study today (Beth Moore's 90 days with a Heart Like His) highlighted 3 characteristics of an uncommon friendship:

1) Uncommon friends can speak their minds without fear.
Be willing to listen, let insults blow by when you know there's more going on in their hearts and you just need to get to the truth. Allow your friends to speak their fears, even when you can't understand- this is part of an uncommon friendship.
2)Uncommon friends can share their hearts without shame.
My husband, Kyle, has a group of friends (the Fellas) who are closer than I have ever seen men be. It is inspirational and humbling to see these men hug for longer than 2 seconds, to genuinely tell each other they love each other, to beam with affection at one another, to cry with each other during rough times and bow their heads together in prayer for each other and their families. I can imagine how God's heart must have welled up as he watched David and Jonathan cry together and hug in parting. This is what I feel when I watch the Fellas. Vulnerability with dignity.
3) Uncommon friends can stay close even at a distance.
Praise the Lord for this one cause I feel many of my dearest friends are long-distance. And I believe these friendships succeed despite distance because our souls connect on the deepest level possible - we are fellow believers, fellow sojourners for the Lord, fellow sisters in Christ.

I cherish my uncommon friends for it is truly a blessing from the Lord to be able to be vulnerable, share my fears and my concerns knowing I'm safe and be assured that neither time nor distance will diminish the bond between us. Why?

Because a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. You and me and God = 3.

Tonite, the Dennis family went to The Butcher Shop for my birthday dinner. My parents are incredibly generous and take the whole family to the restaurant of the birthdayee's choosing. I typically choose the Butcher Shop because I love the thrill of cooking my own steak. Don't ask me why. I'm not really a meat person, but I make an exception once a year come birthday time. I also adore those buttery, garlicked bread slices that you toast yourself. YUM. Plus, it's just a dadgum good steak. This year, Kyle did the honors for me and he did a stellar job. I was too busy socializing. ;)

The funniest thing happened. Two older Japanese gentlemen were seated adjacent to our table, and one of them took a liking to Brooklyn. Who doesn't, really. He squatted down beside her high chair just as she had crammed a crouton into her mouth. He touched her arm to get her attention and her blond head swiveled in surprise to face him - one cheek pooched WAY out filled with the unchewed crouton. She stared at him, nonplussed. He grinned disarmingly at her. His adoration of her was so adorable. She continued to stare, no change in the size of the cheek pouch. She looked like a chipmunk. Suddenly, without warning, she pulled the mushy crouton out of her mouth and practically shoved it into the Japanese gentleman's MOUTH! And, to the absolute surprise of our entire table, he chewed and swallowed! Brooklyn grinned in delight and proceeded to feed him several croutons from her plate. He was a totally good sport about it! His companion remained in his seat, laughing at the whole thing along with everyone at our table!

Apparently, he was the father of a 4 year old little girl and was missing her, and Brooklyn was a charmer he couldn't resist. It was one of the funnier things I've ever witnessed.

Today at our church (Fellowship Bible Church), it was our annual State of the Church "address". For the past several years, this day has been one that I have thoroughly enjoyed, looked forward to, even. A day when our pastor, Tim Lundy, sets forth where the church is, where it has been over the past year and where we are going. I'm sure it's many different things for different people, but for me, it never fails to stir the embers of my heart and inspire me. It holds special meaning for me as well because this is the 30th anniversary of our church, and coincidentally, the 30th anniversary of my life!

I learned something interesting today. Apparently, there's a quote in business that if the gods want to destroy your business, they give you 30 years of success. Interesting. I suppose that 30 years is a point at which you could quite easily become complacent, set in your ways, stuck in a rut, fat, lazy, etc. Or not. The not is what makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up with anticipation.

Tim pointed out that if 30 years is a point of danger for businesses, then a church must be no different. I further extrapolate that 30 years is a good point to take stock of your life. Evaluate where I am right now. Here. Today. Honestly look. It's time for a reckoning.

What do you see? Are you making a bit of difference in your life. Are you wasting time on things that have absolutely no meaning once your breath leaves your body or are you investing in things that are forever. These are the questions that must be asked at reckoning time, because they will be asked by God one of these days. Better to know now how I'm going to answer Him then.

Folks, listen. It's time to get serious. Life is flying by. Believe me, where did the past 29 years go?! And now, more than ever, there is a blazing fire in me that makes me want to grab the faces of those I love and those I don't love to tell them what it is - to RADIATE Christ in this darkening world. I - YOU- can be more than just an EMBER. If the tongue is a fire and can set the world to blaze, set it on fire with the love of Christ - with the incredible truth that there is hope. There is a reason for getting up each morning and it's not to earn a paycheck. It's because there is a God who made us who gave us a message to tell others - there is more than just this life. There is eternity. There is more than this.

Who knows but that we were born for such a time as this.

Your day of reckoning is here. What are you doing? Where are you? Come to life. Know life.

Hugs from my two of my favorite gals - my darling, precious sister Rachel, and my dear friend Lauren. AND, Josh and his best gal. Good taste, he has. Hers...questionable. Just kidding.

Olympic Hopeful
Best Friends...Melissa's married to Chad, Lauren's dating Josh....Someday Sisters?

In spite of my protests, time has passed rather of its own accord and turned me 30 years old. Part of me feels I ought to protest - isn't it what you do? Fight the passing of time? The other part of me could care less. I have this memory of being a little kid and a good friend of my mom's - a beautiful, classy lady (who remains so to this day) turned 30. I remember it being a big deal, and I wondered why. I thought this woman was incredibly young and full of life. And now - in a blink- I find myself exactly there. It's surreal. I feel so young! Oh please, I AM young. What's 30? What's 50? What's 60? I see people at those ages and even older, and I think, they're not old! That's young, even! And when I look at what my life has been in each of those 30 years, I am utterly humbled at how blessed I have been. At how blessed I am. I've graduated from college, have my MBA, worked for 7 years for my dad in a job I adored, still get to work for him from time to time, am currently staying at home to be a mommy and wife, I have the world's most amazing family, so many wonderful friends, the most loving, incredible husband EVER and one truly delightful daughter. So far, so good.

The day was wonderful. I woke up at 9:30 and Brooklyn slept until 10:15! I had spent the day prior making Alice Baden's home-made bread - Alice, you're my hero. It's divine. I actually made one loaf of bread and then cinnamon rolls with the other half. In honor of you, Alice. My favorite events in history have been celebrated with a scrumptious, gooey cinnamon roll at the beginning of the day, and since I was turning 30, I felt this day should be marked with equal culinary delight.

I worked out(chest and shoulders and cardio), got a compliment from a stranger on my shoulder muscles - sweet! - and then had a wonderful lunch at home with Kyle. Brooklyn took her nap, I did my quiet time and balanced checkbooks, Kyle came home early and we went to eat Indian food. The second culinary delight of my day. YUM!
THEN..as a surprise, Kyle arranged for us to go ice-skating! Seriously fun! I hadn't done that in years! It was wonderfully chilly and refreshing! My crazy brothers, Michael, Joshua and Chad, took it upon themselves to turn the rink into an iceskating derby - racing on their toe-picks and vaulting over the entrance to the rink. Michael even befriended the local experts, some young Asian girls who were more than happy to impart their wisdom to him. He managed to learn some cool spin moves, but immediately negated his newfound coolness by rolling his jeans up to his knees to let his "sweaty legs breathe". Ug. Brooklyn even tottered out onto the ice, although I'm pretty sure she was flummoxed by it.

All in all, a very very nice day.

My friend Sarah came down to LR to take her son and some of his buddies to see the Wiggles. Since her 18 month old Lily and Lily's friend Gavin (14 mo), are too young to appreciate the show, they hung out at my house with me and Brooklyn. They all napped for awhile, then played together admirably. Brooklyn was very tolerant of them playing with her toys and poking into her business. She decided she'd rather watch a "bideo" - one of the HBO Classical Baby series. She loves those. Short and sweet, they provide her with culture and some exposure to art! Meanwhile, Gavin tried on her innertube and Lily gnawed on a glue tube. Which is now suspiciously missing.

I dared sneak into Brooklyn's room while she napped to capture this bit of sweetness. I love how she tucks her arms up under her to sleep. And her tan lines are adorable. Although my ancient hardwood floors creak like the devil, my little darling has been well trained to sleep with a fan blasting on her, so it masks the sounds of my creeping about. And the clicking of the shutter on the camera.

After months of tolerating the afternoon sun streaming through my shade-less windows and drenching me in sweat, I broke down and ordered some shades from JC Penneys - the unsung hero of the blinds world. And I confess, I have also fallen in love with a little bistro set from there and a torquoise lamp which I purchased for my turquoise room. Kyle finds it funny that I refer to it as my turquoise room, because we have yet to paint it said color. That's because I'm biding my time for extra cash to get the paint! Anyway, like I don't keep myself busy on other projects. I have a list for each room of our house.

Meanwhile, the blinds in the library took priority because when I have the opportunity to work for DD&F, I absolutely can't do it while sweating. SO - enter the new blinds. And best of all - they work. Problem solved. Check that off the list!

Ever try explaining to an 18 month old that not only can she not drink the water, she can't splash it either. She repeatedly stood at the base of the holy water and said, "Wan Some!" "I wata" (the latter meaning, she wants water). It was only a matter of time before she started say "Ice!" because in her world, water comes with ice, and she LOVES ice. Very soothing on her sore, teething gums.

I find it hilarious that both Brooklyn and I are apparently engaged in conversations with someone off-camera. I love her mid-"sentence" or mid-exclamation face.









Brooklyn just loves her Aunt "Missa" or Melissa who also goes by "Sissa" when Brooklyn feels like it.









The Dennis Ladies - Brooklyn, Melissa, Rachel, Ashley and Anna

Recently, we were up in NWA for the wedding of my cousin, Seth, to Anna. We spent most of the day at the church waiting for the family picture (1) and then attending the wedding. Brooklyn has officially moved past the point where she will sit quietly for such events and must now be entertained or rather, supervised, while such events unfold with or without us. I watched the wedding from behind the safety of the sanctuary doors along with several other toddler moms. There is a sort of indifferent cameraderie that binds you to to other toddler moms. Once you establish the ages and names of your children, you each lapse into a sort of limbo - alternately keeping one eye on your child in case they should grab a stack of low lying programs and trying to pay the appropriate amount of attention to the ceremony. You're constantly coiled, ready to spring into action should your child grab a handful of another child's hair or worse, topple the table bearing the wedding programs. Brooklyn immediately established herself as a ringleader and went up to a set of twins nearby and belted out her standard "HI!", before immediately plunging her finger into one of the boys mouths. His mother yelped and lunged, but I was quicker. Brooklyn's feet were in the air before she knew what had happened. Apparently, this guy was a biter and I wasn't a moment too soon.

Brooklyn then took turns playing a game I like to call "Weeble Wobble" where she would alternately knock down each of the twins. They would immediately pop back up, giggling and jostle into position to be the next one knocked down. And to think I sometimes wonder if she can hold her own. I was so proud. Fortunately, the twins' mom and dad thought it was hysterical.