How to have a Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day and Grace's 10th birthday.  

I love this girl.  And I am so blessed to get to be Mama to all these.

As we celebrated Graces' birthday on Sunday, I realized something. The day was about Grace, about our sweet girl coming into the double-digits.  As it should be, the day was about making her feel special.  The birthday breakfast, the gifts, the family fun and special meals.  However, this was Mother's day, as well.  My sweet kiddos gave me cards and my hubby got me flowers.  I was loved and remembered, but the day wasn't about me.  I wasn't "celebrated", and I didn't expect to be.  This day was decidedly not about me.

And you know what?

It may well have been one of my favorite Mother's Days in quite a while.  Why?  Because I wasn't focused on myself, on how I wanted to be treated.  I was free from expectations of how the day should be and focused on how I could best love my daughter.  As a matter of fact, everyone in the house was pretty much focused on how they could make the day special for someone other than themselves.

We spent a great day as a family.  It wasn't a perfect day.  It never is.  And I didn't expect it to be.  But it was a day that we spent loving on one another, dying to ourselves (for the most part) and putting one another first.  And it turned out to be a lovely day.

Go figure.

I don't update this blog....but if I did....

If I did update this blog....

I would post insanely adorable pictures of a soon to be 9 month old...

 and I would show you 3 pictures of basically the same thing....

 because they are way too cute to pick just one.

And I would tell you how proud I am of the Daddy for selecting for promotion to Captain.  Looks like a few more years of Navy life for us!

And a snapshot of Nate's first t-ball game.  I will treasure this picture when he is bigger than me.

And an "at least we tried" family photo on a chilly Easter morning in Illinois.  A beautiful Easter that was part of a hard but very worth it roadtrip.

And here's what preteen girls do to entertain themselves...after about 12 hours in the car.

 I love these silly faces.

 And Levi's first time in the pool with the crew.  His life will never be boring.

 The child weighs half as much as his 8 year old sister.  So she can only hold him "like a baby" in the water.  Love the rolls.

 A sleepy Easter morning photo of my gang with their Easter baskets from Grandma.

Snuggling in the backseat during 16 hours of driving.  Happy to get there.  Happy to get home.  Happy that God has blessed us with so much.

And that's what I would show you if I updated this blog.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the McNeills!  Here are a few photos from our Christmas journey south.  I've missed writing the chronicles of our adventures and am trying to work my way back into this.  The pictures aren't big and shiny yet, and the blog isn't edited all pretty. But, then again, neither are we.  :)  But we are still here...grace-filled imperfections and all.  Enjoying life with all the blessings God has given us this past year.  Praying for a joy filled 2013 as we try to keep our eyes on Him!