Family Photos

One great treat from Memorial Day weekend... some family pictures.

What a gift this little family is to me, and what a gift our extended families are to us all!

 

 

2 Months Old!

Josiah is... 

2 months old!

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Josiah,

It's just remarkable.  Two months now you have been with us, and it is sweet as sweet can be.

You've started giving some wonderful smiles to us, sometimes in your sleep, and sometimes awake.

You've been talking a little bit to me, and waving and kicking in fine form.

You still snooze lots and eat lots and are generally a very mellow little guy.  This week we were at the office downtown for training for three days, and I was definitely a bit stressed about trying to take care of you and absorb all the new information at the same time.  But God was so kind, and you did terrific.  Still, it's been a week of running here and there, making sure Victor was cared for and you were fed and squeezing in extra meetings and falling into bed at night. 


It went well, but I'm glad that's not normal.  Today, you were in your little seat, and Victor was sitting on a big stool, and Daddy and I were standing together, all in the kitchen.  Big brother Victor said happily, "We're all here!"

Yes indeed, we are a family, and things are best when we are all together. 

May Jesus knit your heart into His family so that we all push on toward Him together all the days of our lives.

Love you, my sweet little peanut,
Momma

Ben's Birthday

The day after we came home from the hospital with Josiah was Ben's birthday! We did celebrate, albeit kinda low-key...

Attack of the Killer To Do List

To Do Today:

- Unload the dishwasher
- Load the dishwasher
- Run the dishwasher
- Fold clothes in the dryer
- Wash clothes in the basket
- Wash sheets
- Put away clothes
- Go to staff farewell lunch
- Go to final BCS wives gathering
- Go to the office to print off interview assignments
- Go to the park with Victor
- Call the hospital where we delivered Josiah
- Call the pediatrician
- Call the OB office
- Buy Father's Day gift for Ben
- Work 4 hours
- Feed Josiah (6-8 times)
- Feed Victor
- Feed Ben
- Pick up toys
- Pick up papers
- Pick up books
- Pick up shoes
- Proctor Ben's exam
- Write thank you notes
- Pack lunch for tomorrow
- Read Bible
- Pray (these things should not be at the bottom of the list!)
- Sleep (right...)

I know this ferocious monster does not attack only me.  Proof of its violence, of course, is that I started writing this post almost a week ago.

It's not just that there's a lot to do.  Everyone everywhere has a lot to do. 

The real bite of the killer to do list comes in my assessment (conscious or not) of success in a day based on the percentage I get crossed off the list.

42%.  Failure.

Despite the fact that the average day's list requires about 72 hours of labor to complete, there is still a sometimes overwhelming sense of  pressure to get. it. all. done.  And, of course, life intervenes.

Crying baby.  Blowout diaper.  Antsy 2-year-old.  Spilled milk. 

When the to do list hovers over my head like the gray cloud over Eeyore, I am not positioned well to respond with grace and flexibility to the needs and opportunities that pop up in the middle of every day. 

I am tempted to gripe and snap at these interruptions to productivity, rather than welcome them as the real call of God for my care and attention at the moment.

And at the bottom of it lies a very simple promise from God: He intends me to do only 24-hours' worth of activity (sleep included) in any given day... and my faithfulness is not governed by any external list, no matter how pressing its contents.

Rather, faithfulness is a dependent and grace-filled response to the needs He sets in my path.

May I receive His agenda with a light heart and open hand.

Last Week and This Week

Breakfast Conversation
Victor, most mornings (or anytime during the day), very tenderly with concern: "How was your night, Mommy?" [A few rough nights have evidently made an impression on him!]

Not Sleeping
Victor, calling sweetly from his crib while supposedly napping: "Daddy, do you want to come in here and read a book?"

Sleep
4 nights ago: Josiah ate at 9pm... slept til 3am!
3 nights ago: Josiah ate at 8pm... slept til 1am!
2 nights ago: Josiah ate at 9:30pm... slept til 3am (when he woke up because I poked his face... oops)!
1 night ago: Josiah ate at 9:30pm... slept til 3am!

This is an extremely encouraging trend.  Yay, Baby J!

Back to Work
I'm trying to get back in the rhythm of work (still from home).  Wouldn't say I've exactly created an ideal new schedule, but it's gone better than I expected, even with the hiccups.  This week I had 2 days of training for our new church management system... Josiah did a stellar job of sleeping, and Victor had fun with Nana and Grandpa David on Tuesday and Mr. David and Ms. Karen today.  The Lord is very kind.

StrengthsFinders
On Tuesday Ben and I went to a little seminary meeting with a few other couples and Vince and Kathy Johnson to learn how our strengths could work together (or clash) as a couples and within a ministry context, using the StrengthsFinder survey.  It was fascinating, encouraging, very convicting, and challenging.  God has made His church full of very uniquely gifted individuals, intending them to fill uniquely crafted niches in uniquely personal ways.

Last Men's Connection
Last night we picked up Chik-Fil-A for the last Men's Connection (and young adult Connection) of the year.  Bittersweet to see the end of that season... but we're excited for summer Connections coming up!

Sneezer
Victor has come down with a cold.  The poor guy sneezed about every 15 minutes through the day... tons of snot and boogers all over the place.  Praying, praying, praying that Josiah may be spared (no fun trying to nurse with a plugged nose!), and thankful that God knows what we need day by day. 

But, looking at the bright side, Victor told me tonight, getting into bed, "I don't hurt!"  So there's something else to be thankful for.

End of the Tunnel
Today was Ben's last day of regular classes... Now just a week of papers and finals and then a beautiful 6-week break from school (before diving into Hebrew studies)!  P r a i s e   J e s u s!

Lo, I Come

Read this in 365 days with Spurgeon Vol. 6 this morning (it's yesterday's text):

Mr. Moody tells a story, which I would fain hope may be true; for one would like to hear something good about a Czar of Russia, and especially about our once enemy, the Emperor Nicholas. The story concerns a soldier in the barracks who was much distressed by his heavy debts.

He was in despair, for he owed a great deal of money, and could not tell where to get it. He took a piece of paper, and made a list of his debts, and underneath the list he wrote, "Who will pay these debts?" He then lay down on the barrack bed, and fell asleep, with the paper before him. The Emperor of Russia passed by, and, taking up the paper, read it, and being in a gracious mood signed at the bottom, "NICHOLAS."

Was not that a splendid answer to the question? When the soldier woke up and read it, he could scarcely believe his own eyes. "Who will pay these debts?" was the despairing question. "Nicholas" was the all-sufficient answer. So are we answered, Who will bear our sins? The grand reply is "JESUS." He puts his own name to our liabilities, and in effect, that he may meet them, he says, "Lo, I come."

Your debt of sin is discharged when you believe in Christ Jesus. "Without shedding of blood is no remission;" but the blood of Jesus Christ, God's dear Son, cleanseth us from all sin. You are not now to bear your own sins. Behold the scape-goat, who carries them away into the wilderness! Yea, Jesus says, "Lo, I come!" He takes our sins upon himself, he bears their penalty, and we go free. Blessed word—"Lo, I come": I come to take your weight of sin, your burden of punishment. I come to be made a curse for you, that you may be made the righteousness of God in me.

Sinner, stand out of the way, and let Jesus appear for you, and fill your place! He sets you on one side, and then he sets himself where you have been. Jesus is now the one pillar on which to lean, the one foundation on which to build, the one and only rest of our weary souls.

Isn't that a good thought with which to start the day?

The whole sermon is available here.