Happy 2 Months, Elliot!

You were so sleepy this morning (I had to wake you up to load into the car for our trip to Iowa) that you stayed curled up for your picture! Here you are, big man...

2 months

 1 month

 2 weeks old

Dear Elliot,

It is nearly impossible to remember what life was like without you. You have fully wormed your way into our hearts. We love you so.

In news of late, you:

- Typically sleep 3-5 hour stretches at night. Granted, it still doesn't feel great to wake up at 2am to feed you, but you are quicker at eating, less spitty, and don't need to be changed every time, so most nights feel pretty good!

- Wear size 2 diapers and are barely fitting into 3 month clothes. You crazy boy, I don't even know where the next size of boy clothes are stored yet! At your 2 month doctor meeting (which was a week early) you weighed 14 lbs... a record for my boys at this age.

- Are normally fairly mellow and stoic. But after just eating when we change your diaper, you often get into a cute, chatty attitude and will coo and smile in the sweetest ways. Almost never when I actually have a camera handy though, so it's not much documented.

- Make great sound effects. Lots of bleating like a goat, some great "creaky door" sighs when you're deep asleep... Good entertainment.

- Do very well with tummy time (more contented than your two brothers) and enjoy hanging out in the swing. Most times you take a morning snooze in your carseat while we're going out to a park or picnic, and you'll generally do a nice afternoon nap when your brothers are sleeping (thank You, Jesus!).

- Are a good traveler. For our trips to Iowa so far, you sleep like a champ, stop and eat once, and then sleep again. You very rarely make a fuss when the car is moving.

As you grow and change, our prayer for you is the same, little son. May you fully embody the meaning of your name, "The LORD is my God," and may your heart fear and trust in our great God all the days of your life!

We love you so,
Momma

Fathers, Manhood, and Bearing Up Under Burdens

When I was little, my sisters and I asked my dad to read us Harriet and the Roller Coaster before bed.

Every night.

For hundreds of nights.
Maybe thousands.

And every night, he would read it, and kiss us, and tuck us into bed.

The world talks much of personal expression, following your dreams, making sure that others do not trespass on your personal rights and privileges. It talks of satisfying your deepest longings, doing what makes you happy, and refusing to settle for anything less than what is best for you.

That kind of personal strength, which is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone who becomes an obstacle to true personal happiness, is a hoax. A terrible lie. And suffocating bondage.

And the toll that lie has taken on our men and fathers, and their families, is tremendous. (The toll, of course, is not limited to men. That's just the side I'm thinking about today.)

I'm so grateful I grew up with a daddy who showed us a different way. Us four little girls grew up with a true example of what manhood means.

Making sure Mom's car was always full of gas.
Paying the bills.
Showing up for work every day.
Showing up for supper most every night.
Showing up for church on Sundays (twice) and Wednesdays.
Showing up for our plays, ball games, and recitals.
Taking out the trash.
Making decisions for the good of others.
Serving at church.
Making us feel loved and secure.

There is a lot of thankless, tedious, dirty tasks and general hard work involved in responsible manhood. It's not a road for the faint of heart. And when the going gets tough, it becomes evident what fuel your service runs on. Is it some kind of personal agenda or satisfaction? Or is it drawing from the deep well of resources that God supplies?

I'm glad to be married to a man who commonly, daily, without fanfare bears up under burdens and bears us up too.

Happy Father's Day to the dads who have made such a difference to me!

Some other good thoughts on manhood and burdens.

Fathers, Manhood, and Bearing Up Under Burdens

When I was little, my sisters and I asked my dad to read us Harriet and the Roller Coaster before bed.

Every night.

For hundreds of nights.
Maybe thousands.

And every night, he would read it, and kiss us, and tuck us into bed.

The world talks much of personal expression, following your dreams, making sure that others do not trespass on your personal rights and privileges. It talks of satisfying your deepest longings, doing what makes you happy, and refusing to settle for anything less than what is best for you.

That kind of personal strength, which is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone who becomes an obstacle to true personal happiness, is a hoax. A terrible lie. And suffocating bondage.

And the toll that lie has taken on our men and fathers, and their families, is tremendous. (The toll, of course, is not limited to men. That's just the side I'm thinking about today.)

I'm so grateful I grew up with a daddy who showed us a different way. Us four little girls grew up with a true example of what manhood means.

Making sure Mom's car was always full of gas.
Paying the bills.
Showing up for work every day.
Showing up for supper most every night.
Showing up for church on Sundays (twice) and Wednesdays.
Showing up for our plays, ball games, and recitals.
Taking out the trash.
Making decisions for the good of others.
Serving at church.
Making us feel loved and secure.

There is a lot of thankless, tedious, dirty tasks and general hard work involved in responsible manhood. It's not a road for the faint of heart. And when the going gets tough, it becomes evident what fuel your service runs on. Is it some kind of personal agenda or satisfaction? Or is it drawing from the deep well of resources that God supplies?

I'm glad to be married to a man who commonly, daily, without fanfare bears up under burdens and bears us up too.

Happy Father's Day to the dads who have made such a difference to me!

Some other good thoughts on manhood and burdens.