Time

"The fact that God created time reminds us of his lordship over it and our obligation to use it for his glory" (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 266).

Pretty Lights

One of my favorite things this Christmas season has been watching Victor enjoy our Christmas lights.

Pretty much every morning when he gets up, the first thing he sees is the Christmas lights, and he'll point to them with a big smile.

While he's eating cereal in his chair, he'll pause every now and then to point at the lights on top of the bookcase, just admiring them.

It is such a delight to watch his delight.



And it makes me think again of where I was a year ago...

(written December 2011)

I’m 36 weeks pregnant with our first child, so our Christmas decorating is quite minimalist this year. But my dear husband did me a favor and strung some white Christmas lights in our living room—my favorite symbol of Advent.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
—John 1:5 (NASB)

Not comprehended. Despite the whirlwind that the Christmas season brings today, the first Christmas went virtually unnoticed. Christ’s arrival was so unimpressive that it lacked the simple courtesy of housing and concern of family and friends.

When Mary’s cousin Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, neighbors and relatives gathered around, and they rejoiced with her (Luke 1:58). But Mary gave birth, wrapped her Son herself, and nestled him into the feeding trough (2:7) alone—if there were any assistants or onlookers, they aren’t mentioned.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
—John 1:11

Inhospitable. In the midst of the upheaval of a census, there was plenty of giving in the season of Christ’s birth—everyone was compelled to return to their roots to give their dues to Caesar. But this was no season of joyful generosity; no warm welcome was extended to the very-pregnant Mary and Joseph.

They appear to arrive in Bethlehem unfashionably late—too tardy for hotel accommodations and relegated to sleeping with the animals. That night, perhaps the only joyful Gift-Giver was the Father himself, who sent his priceless Son, the long-awaited Messiah, in such a non-pretentious way that—right from the start—hardly anybody believed who he was.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
—John 1:10

Ordinary. Children are born every day. In fact, there’s never been a person since Adam and Eve who didn’t come by the same bloody, humiliating, excruciating entrance. A helpless baby, needing every practical care from regular feedings to clean diapers—that was the form that our Master Creator took when he came on the most valiant, glorious rescue expedition this world has ever known.

The Maker cloaked himself in clay, not zapping the world with some kind of redemptive lightning bolt, but submerging himself in humanity, taking on our ordinary flesh.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
—John 1:14

Rejected. This stunning incarnation of God’s glory was presumed illegitimate, an exile almost from birth. And in human eyes, he never rose much higher. Led a rag-tag dozen followers. Mingled with prostitutes and sinners. Homeless. Hated by both political and religious leaders. Betrayed by a friend. Condemned and crucified. Not the heroic profile that most Jews were looking for in a Savior, much less the world beyond.

In him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
—John 1:4

Illumination. When Christ came, he plunged into a dark and broken place not just to enlighten the ignorant, but to pierce, defeat, and dispel the blinding fog of sin. He was the Sunrise from on high who visited us to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death (Luke 1:78–79, NASB).

He lived perfectly. He died willingly. And rising again, he both forged and illuminated a single way of escape from the grip of the devil. He emerged as the Victor over sin and death, rending the impenetrable veil between holy God and sinful man.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.—John 1:12–13

Adopter. He came as a child. Because we are flesh and bones, he himself likewise partook of the same things (Hebrews 2:14). He entered Adam’s helpless race. And for any who will believe, the offer is incredible—be born into God’s family, be made a very child of God (1 John 3:1).

Our own baby—currently kicking me in the ribs and making it harder to breathe—will soon break into this broken world, bringing his own sin-darkened heart. Like every other son of Adam, he’ll be born with a narcissistic egocentric complex (as a bib reads, “Those fools put my cape on backwards …”). And what hope do we have for him?

Oh, may our unlikely Savior, coming in humility, without impressive fanfare to suffer and die—may he trump the darkness and stand forth in blazing glory as Light and Life.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
—John 1:16–17

O come, baby, and come, my own heart, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

December 4-7

December 4: Had Ayers and Clifford families over for supper. So fun!
December 5: South staff Christmas lunch at the office. New nephew/cousin Silas born!
December 6: Christmas caroling with small group. (The couple here is Tim Anderson's parents.)

December 7:Monkey bread for a Christmas treat

11 months!

11 months!

10 months

9 months

 
8 months

7 months

6 months

5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Victor,

You are no longer the youngest cousin on the Anderson side--officially a bigger boy.

Just about every week at church we hear how big you're getting.  We know it's true!

As of this month...

* You are standing more and more, without holding on.  You haven't tried marching on your own, but you will walk if you're holding onto our fingers.  And you're a superfast crawler when you want to get going...

* You're gaining more finger dexterity all the time.  Just two days ago you maneuvered your first puffs into your mouth alone--and now you can do cheerios too.  This makes mealtimes even more exciting!

* You have 5 teeth now, 2 on top and 3 on the bottom.

* If something is in, you'll take it out.  If something is on top, you'll knock it off.  If something is empty, you'll fill it.  If something is folded, you'll toss it in the air!  These are some of your very favorite games.  (Daddy does find it very hard to build a good tower with your blocks, since you always tip it over...)

* Paper still reigns as the most fun thing.  One day I was sorting through the newspaper and let you play with all the unneeded advertisements.  It was such a fabulous time!  When you got tired waving them in the air, I stuffed them in a box, and you had fun pulling them all out again. 

* Your little spirit is definitely developing.  Most of the time you listen and obey quite well (mostly, "no touch, Victor").  But sometimes you exert yourself very decidedly.  One of our biggest goals is to help you learn that you are not the boss... God is the boss.  Momma often, often says, "Victor, God says, Children obey your parents in the LORD, for this is right.  Honor your father and your mother, for this is the first commandment with a blessing... We want you to know God's fullest blessing, so you must learn to obey."

* Old toys are fun in new ways now.  You crawl under the exersaucer, like a little fort.  You enjoy waving your shape-sorter bucket in the air to empty all the pieces expeditiously.  You still love peekaboo, but now you will hold something up and then yank it down and laugh hysterically.  So fun!

* You love your little socks.  Pretty much all day, you have one in your little fist.  You'll pull them off your feet or pick them up whenever you find them.  Sometimes I'll put on your coat, take you somewhere, get home, and take off your coat, only then finding that you were holding a sock the whole time.  This makes folding laundry extra exciting.  You grab those little socks as soon as you see them ... and take them many places.  So today I did a load of laundry, and out of 6 socks, only one pair matched.  And you carried one of those somewhere else, so now we're really sunk.  (Makes Momma realize she's a little OCD about matching pieces...)

* You're a good sleeper these days--normally bedtime is around 6:45pm and you'll wake up around 5:30am or so (better now that we realized Daddy's vibrating phone alarm was waking you up on the window ledge).  And you take two 1 1/2- or 2-hour naps.  This helps Momma out tremendously!

* Food is pretty much always welcome, and now Momma has begun making her own baby food concoctions for you--avocado squash carrots or chicken veggie rice or banana baked apples...  The worst food experience has been a horrific (i.e. swollen and blistering) diaper rash after sampling some baby food that included citrus.  Note to self!  And the most fabulous development is that Momma can now eat dairy freely without any apparent ill-effects on you!  Hurray and praise the Lord!

* You are a bit of an adrenaline junky and love swooping and rolling around with Momma, Daddy, or whoever else may indulge in some tumbling.  

* You LOVE your little donkey and duck that you sleep with.  They are soggy, limp, and gray from your tender loving care, but it has made it easier to sleep away from home, having some special friends to snuggle with.

* You know how to sign "please" and "more."  Unfortunately, you're currently on strike from "please," though we'll keep trying to bring out the polite and gracious side...

* Our favorite is your fun laughs and noises.  You make a great sputtering laugh that sounds like a horse neighing.  And you and Daddy will go back and forth saying, "Eh?"  Oh how we chuckle.

You are our favorite small person, and we love you very much!  May God continue to grow your body strong and healthy and most of all give you a heart that is tender and open to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hugs and snuggles,
Momma

Testimony

A year ago today, I was exactly a month away from delivering Victor (although I didn't know that), and I had an opportunity to share a testimony with the MOMS group.

I really hate the sound of my voice on a recording (doesn't help that people say that's what you really sound like!), but the testimony of God's grace is still true, so here it is.

Welcome to ...

Silas Jeffrey Laser!

How thrilled we are to have you join the family! 

And special congratulations to big sisters and brother Kate, Ezra, and Janessa.  What a wonderful early Christmas gift.

So proud of you, Krista.  Hugs, kisses, and snuggles to all!

December 1-3

December 1: Go to Christmas concert (me) and deliver Advent basket (Ben and Victor).
December 2: Decorate the living room while listening to Christmas carols.
December 3: Forget all about December until Victor is already in bed.  Read Isaiah 9 by myself (Ben is at a meeting; Victor is in bed).  Amazing picture of the coming King.