It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the hap-happiest season of all!

With great sunshine greetings

And Popsicle eatings when friends come to call

It's the hap-happiest season of all!

The pool is now open

My skin's good for toastin'

And playing around in the sun

There be happy cute stories

And tales of the glories

Of summers long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There be much noodle splashing

And kids will be dashing

To to get to the pool so near

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Summer is my favorite time of year! And yesterday, it officially began! We spent our first day at the pool. When I walked through the gates and saw the pool, I sighed. So glad to be back!

After about an hour at the pool, Gracie and I have this conversation:

G: "Ready go home?"

Me: "Are you ready?"

G: "No! I stay alllll day!"

She's my kinda girl!

Well...

"And when they had plated a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after they mocked him, they led him away to be crucified"-- Matthew 27: 29-31

I suppose I don't truly know what it means to be striped of rank or honors...

What's the Secret Difference

Lately, I have been wondering what the difference is between humbling and degrading. In my mind the former has always been a kinder gentler word. Denoting a kind of love or caring behind the action. Whereas degrading has always been meaner. Representing a bit of malice behind the action. I guess I always really considered these two words to be different. But the reality is that they mean the same thing.

According to Webster, Degrading means:
a: to lower in grade, rank, or status : demote
b: to strip of rank or honors
c: to lower to an inferior or less effective level
d: to scale down in desirability

Online dictionaries define humbling as:
a: Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly
b:To give a lower condition or station
c: To bring low; to reduce the power, independence, or
exaltation of; to lower; to abase; to humiliate.

And of course, one of the top synonyms for humbling is ..... DEGRADING.

So, really what is the difference. Have I been wrong all these years? Or does the intent of the actions really dictate the choice of words? And when do you move from "humbling" to "degrading"?

I suppose it all comes down to pride. Doesn't it always? If you can strip away all your pride then trials and difficulties can be seen as humbling experiences. A reminder that someone more powerful than you is guiding your ship. But if you keep any of that pride then really the trials just seem degrading.

So tell me, how do I manage to strip away all the pride in my heart and still keep a sense of self worth? How do you let humbling experiences lower you in rank or station but still keep the quality of the person you are? How can you let these experiences remind you that your power is all in the Lord and not scale down your desirability of character? But instead be used to strengthen you and cause you to be more valuable?

I don't really expect any of you to have the answers. I think this is a timeless question with an individualized answer for each person. I just hope I can find mine soon.

Go Mommy Go! You can Do it! Goooo Mommy!

I had this thought running through my head at about the ninth mile! Just had to share my "souvenir" from this day:

Update: Gracie's Secret List Completed

Hip hooray it's time to see Noah!

Grace had a long list of things she planned to do with Noah when we saw him in Idaho. And I am happy to report that she was able to complete all of them.

First up, go to McDonald's with Noah. The stairs were a bit to high for Gracie, so Noah helped her get up them:

Next, the Zoo to see giant animals and snakes:

She also had a very specific plan to go down a green slide. There was no green slide at McDonald's, but luckily we found one at the zoo:

Next up was swimming with Noah. They had a blast in the pool, though I have to wonder what my sister is teaching her son about chivalry when he started yelling out, "Don't get me dad. Not me. Not me. Get the girls!":

And we couldn't forget that they had to play cars together:The only thing on Gracie's list that was a bit tricky, was a sleepover with Noah, so we settled for 2 silly pajama parties. This worked fine the first night, but on the second, Gracie cried herself to sleep saying, "Noah, come back.":

The last thing Gracie planned on doing was hold Baby Brynley. Brynley wasn't very fond of this plan:But Brynley really enjoyed stealing Gracie's paci!

Despite what Noah and Gracie thought, the real reason for us being in Idaho was to run the Famous Idaho Potato Half Marathon! Jamie and I were so excited!! We did it!

We finished 13.1 miles, one bathroom break and a fleeting thought of stopping at the spa instead in 2 hours 26 minutes and 36.8 seconds. The route was beautiful! And the time seemed to fly by. And because it was the Famous Potato race we celebrated with baked potatoes at the finish line!

PS Steve, Mike and all the girls came too! They had a lot of fun visiting and playing.