"Baby" Zach, is a baby no more...

I was 12 when Zach was born. He was 6 when I left home to go to college at Auburn. So, I was not home for most of his childhood, but regardless of the distance he's always had a very special place in my heart. Last night we all sat proudly as we watched him graduate from high school. "Baby" Zach is all grown up and he'll be heading to Auburn in the fall. I've always thought he'd do great things, that the Lord had very big plans for him...I can't wait to see what they are.



My "little" brothers...they didn't turn out so little;)



The boys



The kids



Mom and her boys



Zach and proud parents



Our family



Zach with Gran and Aunt Na

I hope they love...

I was driving home with the kids from the grocery store this afternoon. They were singing, laughing and carrying on in the backseat. We got stopped behind a school bus. As I sat there watching the kids get off and cross the street into the neighborhood. I noticed a little boy. He was small. If I had to guess I’d say he was probably in kindergarten, maybe first grade or small for his age…either way, he was little and young. Walking next to him was a kid just slightly taller. All of a sudden this “slightly” husky kid comes barreling between the two of them, knocking down the smaller boy in all his haste. He just kept walking. He didn’t stop and help him, say he was sorry or acknowledge it in any way. The small boy got up, his friend helped him dust off and they were on their way. I’m not proud, but feelings of anger raced through my body like wild fire and I wanted nothing more than to whip the car into the subdivision and spank that kids fanny. Obviously, that’s not my place and we drove on. As I sat there driving, listening to my joyful children in the backseat I began to think about it. You know, as parents, we fear our children getting picked on or bullied at school. What a nightmare to think of your “little baby” as being the subject of ridicule or hurt. But, in that moment it dawned on me that that wouldn’t be the worst thing. The worst thing would be them being the bully. What if they just didn’t care how they treated people? What if integrity and compassion were qualities that they didn’t possess? What if they didn’t love other people more than themselves? What if they weren’t concerned with how they treated others? THAT would be the worst thing. Obviously, I don’t want my children to ever be hurt by another child…obviously, that will probably never happen. But, what I can pray for and instill in them are characteristics that are like Jesus. They might get picked on, we will teach them to handle it, if they get pushed down we will teach them how to pick themselves back up and dust themselves off, but most importantly I want to raise the kid that helps someone up and not pushes them down. I pray my kids will love above all else. I pray that they will love others like they are called to love no matter the cost. I pray my children will love like the Father and have a heart like His.

You complete me...

When I was younger my mom would always tell me that I was “exactly what she always wanted to be.” You don’t think much of comments like that when you are a kid. I didn’t at the time. And, mostly, I think I thought she was just being nice; or, just being my mom. Thirty years later, I now know what she meant. She felt about me then the way that I feel about Ella now. She is everything I always wanted to be. From the little things like how she looks; her thick, curly hair that slightly rolls up at the bottom and turns into tight ringlets in the humidity or when she gets a little hot and sweaty, to her dimples that are so prominent when she grins. To the bigger personality characteristics like her excessively vivid imagination, her ability to be outgoing and her capability to take charge of a situation and her natural gift of leadership. To the seemingly biggest things like her faith, love for her Heavenly Father and uncanny biblical knowledge for five. More than anyone ever could she has taught me what it truly means to have “faith like a child.” And, what an amazing thing. In some ways I feel as if she completes me. What if that was His intention all along? To complete works in us through our children. This may not be new information for you, it obviously took me a little longer to understand. You know, the only thing better than me getting the things that I want or being the person I want to be is Ella being that person. It is my deepest desire to do the work of my Father. And, it is my greatest goal to be the vessel for Ella and Cale that they will be equipped to do the same and do it better. If most of what we are called to do as Christians is make disciples and love people then where better to start than with our children. I have to “disciple” them, teach them, invest in them so they can do that for someone else. Thousands of years ago our Savior sent His perfect son to complete a work. And, through that sacrifice He made a way. The Son completed the Father’s work. Now granted none of us birthed a Savior, is creator of the universe or have done anything near perfect, nor have our children. But, because of our children we can more easily grasp the work that the Lord has called us to do. Sometimes, as adults we think that we do all the “teaching,” but it is coming more and more apparent to me that I’m learning a lot from my child.

Guess who graduated from preschool????

THIS GIRL!!!!!

Ella before her ceremony

Ella with some of her class and their teacher

Her "moral" support;)

Walking up to do her solo! She did such a great job...she smiled and didn't stutter, stumble or miss a beat!



Looking at us to make sure we were watching her before she started!

She's on the BIG screen!

Ella getting her diploma from Pastor Kuykendall

Getting our medal from Mrs. Cheryl

You did it!!

Here she comes...our little graduate!!

Walking down the aisle...I LOVE this one!!

Ella and Mrs. Cheryl...they really love each other! We are going to miss her next year.

Ella and Mommy

Ella and daddy

Ella and her Honey

Our family on a pretty special night!

Guess who's potty trained????

THIS GUY!!!!

I'm so very proud of him! In less than a week he hurdled a major milestone...what a big boy. I'm not sure why, but when we started he was literally terrified of the potty and now he hops on and off like it's no big deal. For the first time in 5 1/2 years the Euten house is diaper free!! Now, errands and shopping trips take a little longer...we have to stop to "tee-tee" at every store, between every store and on the way home, but you do what you have to do. My babies are growing up, but this is one milestone I'm happy to get over:)

Do you want the ducks?

So, we are in the middle of the nightmare that is potty training a boy...UGH! Thus far, Cale has shown little interest in using the potty for its intended purpose. Lately, he likes to tell us everytime he goes in his diaper, but that's all he wants to do is tell you. Not do anything about it, just announce it for your own personal information. Which, I have to take as a positive sign of moving forward, right? I mean at least he's now becoming aware of it. Anyway, we had our first MAJOR potty milestone two nights ago. He pooped in it for the first time...Yay, right? Not so much. I don't know what happened, but after he did it he started crying hysterically. I don't know if it scared him, it hurt or if maybe some water splashed up and he didn't like it. He was crying sitting on the toilet, I was squatting while hugging him and consoling him as he sat. You can't make this stuff up. Luckily, I had an unopened Mater toy on the shelf that helped calm him afterward. And, now he really hates the potty and when I ask him if he needs to use it he responds by saying, "NO! I not, I cy." Meaning, cry. Ok, three steps back. So, we just sit-in the bathroom for as long as 30 minutes sometimes with no action at all...no lie. I thought sitting for that long might become slightly uncomfortable so I pulled out the training potty (how many times have I said potty?) yesterday. It's squishy and has ducks on it. I thought, call me crazy, that it might help. Well, he doesn't like the "ducks" and still doesn't want to use the potty (there's that word again.) The other day I went into the bathroom. Cale came walking in holding the training seat. He goes, "Hey momma, you want the ducks?" No, Cale, I don't want the ducks, but thank you for sharing.

Ella's graduation festival

Ella had a graduation festival at school today. Apparently, she had a really great time! They had booths with games and prizes, a train ride, face painting and had hot dogs, popcorn and fun stuff for lunch:)

I think she had fun!

She really loved her face painting...I did too:)

He looks pretty sweet here...he is!!

Simply Cale

...And this is what I do all day:)