What a weekend!

I went into this weekend like any other. Looking forward to having theHotness home to play house with us... me wrapping up another session at Trinity... and a photoshoot. Nothing in particular planned by me... just ready to roll with it.

But I wasn't expecting all the extra.fun we had.

So Friday night, my favorite collection of husbands (mine and my friend's) treated us to a double.date.night at Ninfa's. We had the best dinner and dinner conversation then made our way downtown for the Krewe Of Artemis mardi gras parade. This was prolly the first Mardi Gras parade that James could remember. We had the best time. We drove right up and parked, walked up two blocks and caught the parade... no crowds. No crazies. Just fun. We caught plenty of beads then headed back to the car to catch it a second time. The theme was children's literature. Yes, you read that right. So, I was extra.happy. I reeeeally wanted to see a David Shannon float or something... Who doesn't like a little 'No, David!' ??? And James wanted to see a Jane Yoland 'Dinasaur' series float... BUT we were happy with the Three Little Pigs, Peter Pan, etc.

On the way home, James called his PawPaw and told him all about the 'big trucks wiff lights on dem. They frow things at me like BEADS and TAMBOURINES and sumfing call a moonpie.' :) It made me wish my Texans were here to experience the joie.de.vive we've got going on down here in South Louisiana.

Sweet little iphone pic.

Then Saturday, after teaching, we headed out to do a little spring shopping for the boy.joys. Matching plaid outfits. Green everything. Hello, happiness. Now, if we can only get some warm weather... Since we were out late, we grabbed some Lebanese.Lovin. I'm sorry. Seafood and Lebanese food are my most favorite things to eat... period.

Which brings me to Sunday... SUPER BOWL Sunday. :)
I started my day with a photoshoot. OH MY GOODNESS! Train tracks... Shooting with my super.wide.angle.love... my long lens racked out at 200... THEN topped it off with a little wide.open.portrait love. *a.photographer's.trifecta* Loved every single second. I'm sitting on a heap of great images to post. Makes me feel like Christmas Morning. :)




Then I rushed home to grab them Manlies to head out to a Super.Bowl.Date with our Favorites. Usually the parties take place at our house- but I had too much going on to get it all together. So, it was a dream.come.true to go somewhere else! A real treat for me... and the food and fellowship couldn't have been better! PLUS our boys WON! Who Dat!?!?! Holy Cow! How can it get any better than that?

So that's how my weekend rocked my socks.
You got to love it when that happens.

Peace, Love, fast lenses and super.cute.kids.
xo
lmkw

A Mother's Urgency

***UPDATED*** CLICK HERE FOR THE MOST RECENT NEWS***

Ah... I've struggled for two days to post this.

Because sitting down and writing it out makes something dreadfully hard seem that much more urgent... and dreadful.

***I'm fine. The children are fine. Both of them. Marcus is fine.***

HOWEVER, my friend Meghan is not.

She is still in Uganda waiting to bring her son home. A fairly 'routine' trip has soured nearly over.night.

WIthout going into too much detail or speculation- let me give a few details that may help you understand the situation... and why it is so urgent.

Basically (very basically) speaking- our government (USA) and the government in Uganda have 'reworked' a few issues regarding adoption a couple of days ago. Basically international adoption can ONLY take place between countries, if the countries have a workable relationship and can reach various terms to allow these international adoptions. These relationships can change over night. The details within the agreements can change over night. Adoption programs can be shut down over night.

Well- it seems as if, these 'new terms' will impact Meghan's ability to adopt Moses. When I got the news from her yesterday, I assumed it was on the part of the Ugandan government. I was wrong to assume that! It is the American government that is stating that for an 'adoption' to take place- she must foster Moses in Uganda for three years. Before the 'new decisions' a couple of days ago- The American government allowed for legal guardians to bring their child to the US foster them here, then complete the adoption in America. This was the requirement when her family began this process to get Moses. *My details and wording is paraphrased- so I may be a little off on the exact verbage.

Just hours ago--- while this mother is preparing her child for his big homecoming which was days away--- She is now facing the unthinkable reality that she will have to leave him in Uganda... an orphan. She will have to come home to his room, his closet full of clothes... ***I can't even go there... I just break down thinking about it.

SO. Where are we now? We are contacting our Senators and Congressmen asking them to act on behalf of their constituents and allow these children to return home on this special kind of visa- or whatever the 'legal' thing is.

AND. We are praying. Fasting. Crying out with our Mother's.Heart asking God to find favor on this little boy... and on Meghan.
He has a family.
Love is Here.
Love is now.
We are praying for a miracle.
...
And miracles can happen.

Would you pray with me? On this mother's behalf? On this child's behalf?

Peace, love, and little.boys.in.green.plaid.and.new.shoes.who.want.to.matter.to.someone.
xo
lmkw

Pictures, of course. Lots.

So we did make it to the lake Thursday.
Just in time to meet the loveliest girl with Bella the lab.
She was kind and let James talk her sweet little ears off.
Marcus drove from work to meet us.
I love the way he smiles when he sees us... shirt untucked. Always.
He scoops his boys up, kisses them and calls them each, 'BooBoo.'
I took a few pictures of them in the course of about 13 minutes.
From start to finish.
No pressure, just fun.
Then Marcus grabbed the camera to take a few of me with my best.boys.
I love how he does that.
He takes his time.
I love his pictures...
Pictures of me with the boys... bonus. :)

LIVING IT: Uganda and Teeth and Ducks...

Hi friends!

So I just wanted to throw a little midday post up. PLUS, I caved and brewed my 3 o'clock cup a little early. *Goodness* How excited my little heart gets when it's coffee time. Hot, with just a touch of creamer. No sugar. That would ruin it! Nice and strong... juuuust right for this momma! :)

I wanted to update yall on my friend Meghan and Moses' story. I've got lots of emails expressing support. You can find her blog here... *I would have linked it in the first post- but I wanted Meg to read my words first. She has a few current post that are private bc it speaks of specific information about the adoption that can't be 'public' right now but there is plenty there to read and to GET inspired by. And INSPIRED you will be! Because nothing makes you think like Love can... Nothing makes you reflect like a New Perspective can. Stop by and let Meghan and her boy fill you up with lovely feelings. I'm so glad I can use her adoption experience to guide us on our own! We can't wait to start this process!

She is safe and sound in Uganda. She had a beautiful reunion with her boy and he was so happy to see her again. She spoke of how he waited the whole day for her to come for him--- she got in a little later than expected and had to wait until morning to see him. Can't you just picture that? *just.melts.me*

Hello Uganda! My 'visitor' map has you highlighted in GREEN showing that from somewhere within those borders you are linking in to see us here where we Play With Pencils. *waving.smiling.waving* My mind's eye has you in a beautiful place surrounded by beautiful people! I wish I could snap my fingers and be there in the midst of it all! I WISH I could see those bebies... *sigh*

But right now I'm steaming brussel sprouts on the stove and Jax has just commando.crawled to the wire door stop thingy on the floor and is flicking it back and forth with his fat little hands. Definitely not exotic. :) But I'm just livin' it! And happy to do it.

Speaking of fat.bebe.Jax. We have TEETH. Yes... the plural version of tooth! The bottom one got a neighbor just this morning. His little tongue won't leave them alone. He keeps sticking his tongue in and out to feel his big accomplishment. So.Super.Cute. See?

So yeah, progress- on ALL fronts. :)

Rumor has it a cold front is rollin' in. That means a few things- the first being, we better go feed the ducks! Yep. James has been asking for days now... and before the weather drives us back inside to hibernate, we better get out while we can. So off to LSU with us! *Maybe I can get some shots of my boys at sunset. Oh! Be still my heart... It's neat to think that the same sun that shined on Meg and her boy this morning hugging and kissing will be the same sun that sets over the LSU lakes tonight as James stuffs the local ducks with our old pantry.fare... me and theDuckling snuggled up on the blanket... and theHotness making sure the big.bossy.geese don't ruin the fun. :) Can't you just see it?

So that's it for this little update.

Thanks for this community. Thanks for your readership, your comments, your time, and warm participation. My readers and friends serve as SUCH inspiration to this little.momma! :)

Off to puree brussel sprouts and pack duck.dinners!
Goodnight to you, Uganda! You've got my fervent prayers...

Peace, love, and pearly.whites.
xo
lmkw

What LOVE can do...

Right now, I sit here at the computer. TheHotness is deep into telling James a night.night story. They are at the part where Marcus sets up the story and James takes over. Things get very colorful from here on out to the end. "Carried the WHOOOOLE pot. Uh huh. Den.... Well. One day..." *just a little real.time excerpt! :)

I'm rewashing a load of towels that got lost in translation between yesterday's events and todays rat.killin... it happens sometimes. I appreciate what a splash of bleach can do with musty wet towels. A quick fix for my forgetfulness.

Jax is about 30 minutes in to his night.night. He went down easy tonight. I love it when that happens.

I finished up a big family shoot and have delivered my work to them. SUCH a good feeling. I hope I get great feedback. I'm so passionate with what I see when I'm behind the lens. I hope it shows. Since I won't be working late into the night on edits tonight, I really hope to grab a glass of wine and hit the couch with theHotness. I want to watch a House hunters episode... International House Hunters... maybe a Parisian one.

So that's what is going on here in our.Little.Nest. Everything just fine. Safe and sound.

But right now- right this very moment- my friend Meghan is flying to Uganda.

I bet she is trying to sleep on the plane. But I have a good feeling that her nerves may just have the best of her. I bet she's up. :)

As I tend my boys and fan the daily fires here at home, she has gathered up a few things, kissed her husband and daughter goodbye. We aren't sure when she will be coming back. We know she will return... and hopefully soon... but we aren't sure if it will be a week... or weeks. BUT when she does return, she will be bringing the very best surprise home. You see, this girl... my friend... someone my age... who lives here locally decided to Love. A simple decision that has led to a very complex journey. Their family decided to change the life of a little boy. A four year old little boy names Moses. A beautiful thing with big eyes and an ear.to.ear smile.

After a long long journey, Meghan is working her way to Moses. Flights. Overhead compartments. Airports. Baggage claim. Buses. Streets. And a myriad of kind people who are each playing their small role to unite a Mother with her Son.

A vibrantSpirit being forever united with another vibrantSoul. Connected through space and time. A decision that will change the world.

Love can do that.

LOVE can do THAT.

I hope people smile when they see her face. Because deep in her heart I'm sure she is nervous... maybe even a little scared. But they will see Hope in her eyes. She may be small... unassuming. But she's harboring a Mighty Force inside of her. Strength. Courage. Resolve.

I hope she falls in love with Uganda. The sights. The sounds. The joy. To be honest, I hope she never fully recovers from this experience. Even though she will be returning home with Moses, I hope she leaves a bit of herself there.

A mother boarded that plane and a mother will be returning home. This time, with her boy.joy- an orphan no more.

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

So right now, even though things are calm here on my home.front... somewhere else in this world Great Things are happening. Unlikely things are happening. Love is happening.

Godspeed, Meghan. Many prayers are lifting you high. Soak it all in. Every moment. I know you will miss home- but try to rest in the comfort of what it will feel like to bring your bebe home... how fulfilling it will be to help him brush his teeth at night... to help make the fruit salad for lunch. How incredible it will be when you and bebeGirl and Moses are breaking all the rules and are jumping on the beds during the middle of the day- just because it's fun and nothing feels better than bebies laughing. You will be home soon. But for now, have fun falling in Love. God is good, friend. You aren't alone.

Peace, LOVE, and love.
xo
lmkw

Who Dat!?

Seaux our New Orleans Saints are officially Super Bowl Bound!!!

*must start planning party menu now*

We had our Favorites over for a football watching party. Love kicking it back with good food and fun folks. Makes the prep.work and cleanup totally worth it. Love those peoples! The game was riveting... even though I didn't really 'tune in' until the middle of the 3rd quarter.



I'm so happy for NOLA and the whole Who Dat nation. Now, it's time for that second piece of KingCake.

peace, love, and drew.brees.
xo
lmkw

Equal Time

As of tomorrow, January 23rd, I will have eclipsed the 9 month mark. Not of pregnancy, but 9 months of raising my youngest and newest boy.joy. Nine full months.

It's a neat milestone to reach. One being because it took me right about nine months go grow an entire human being... one with all working parts... one with big moon eyes... an exceptional creature.

I can remember the beginning of his conception... we had barely moved in to our new home here in LA. I was still living off the adrenaline of the move and the new possibilities. The homesickness for Texas hadn't sunk in yet. We new we wanted to try to get pregnant right away. Or 'as soon as I find our towels' I would say. I wanted this bebe so badly. I had finished my degree. No one was telling me what I should or shouldn't accomplish. I was my own boss. And I knew that I wanted another child. It was time.

Between the boxes and hurricanes, I became pregnant. Of course I took the earliest test possible. Who waits anymore? I was going to wait until the next day to test... the morning. Because that's what you are suppose to do- wait until morning. But my best friend bullied me into testing mid.day... right there... on the phone with her. She fussed and fussed until Marcus went out into the storm to grab a box of tests. And then it happened. A little pink line appeared as expected... and then another- the tale tale sign that I was, in fact, pregnant. Right there in our new bathroom... me, theHotness, and Moon via phone were all gathered around when the line appeared. Our excitement wasn't enough proof for Moon- so I had to send over a picture on the spot- so she could see it for herself. We cried.

It was a good day. My body was gifted with the greatest task it's ever known... again. I vowed then and there to enjoy this pregnancy. James was proof that my body could care and grow a healthy child... the miscarriage was far behind me. I could do this. No worries.

I did. Day in and out for nine.ish months. Another whopper.child... enough to scare my high.risk docs in to thinking he could eclipse the 10lb mark. So two weeks early, I was induced... a wonderful delivery... a few twist and turns. One very different than mine with James Neal. My joy quickly turned to fear when we thought he had broken his collarbone... and he was having trouble breathing. But God is good, and my bebe.boy transitioned just as he should over the next few hours. No broken bones... no breathing problems. Such intense gratefulness.

He has changed us, this one. He is our absolute shining.joy. Easy. Funny. Calm. James believes that he is the greatest thing around... and we agree. We feel lucky everyday to wake up and find him tucked in our nest.

Jax threatens every garden around... he is on the verge of eating us out of house and home. Since I make his bebe.food from fresh produce- I've been known to wipe out a whole display of broccoli. He eats sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, broccoli, peas... and his newest favorite is cauliflower. He think peas are dreadful and won't budge on the subject. He can pick soft steamed goodies up with his little fat fingers and shovels it into his juicy, drooly mouth. He signs for Milk and More... and is learning new ones. No teeth yet, although he's got three on the very verge. He can say, Momma and Dadda... and is crawling around all over the place. He ends up pretty much wherever he wants to go. James is the best part of his day.


For the past two mornings, while Marcus is getting ready for work- he's crawled from the living room to my side of the bed to wake me up. Of course, that was after turning over the laundry basket and chewing on the handle for a spell.


I'm a mom. Two times over. It's the hardest thing ever- but less scary with each day done. I'm figuring out every day how to bring out the best in them and not lose myself in the process. It's a challenge. But the payoff is greater than anything I've experienced so far. One of my biggest fears when I became pregnant with James was the idea of 'losing myself.' My figure. My style. My sense of fun. My hobbies. My sensuality. I was so concerned that I'd lose it all... and be replaced with something Lack.Luster. Just like that- gone. And the crazy thing is- I didn't lose a thing... other than my misguided sense of purpose. I became something more valuable. I feel prettier. More capable. I love deeper. I don't waste my time. I have boundaries. I respect those boundaries! I find joy in the details. I celebrate the small things. For the first time in my life, when I see myself in the mirror, I value what I see...

For the first time in my life, the grass really isn't greener. And thank God for it... because the laundry never really is done. And you are always needed by someone in some way. And there is always the threat of catastrophe around every corner- markers. milk. ingested plastic crochet.stitch.markers. So why does my cup feel so friggin full? Because I'm free. I know my job. My role. I don't measure myself against anyone else. I do the simplest things and get the most intense and complex reward. No time is wasted. I invest the best of myself into the people that mean to most to me. No dead.ends. No frivolous effort. No created drama. Each day matters and I feel a part of something truly Great.

Tell me, what other experience could teach you so much in Nine Months? Or in Four years Nine Months? Incredible this journey...

Besides, there isnt' anything better to wake up to than this face? This life?



Peace, love, and morning.time.
xo
lmkw