Finishing Up July

Well, where has July gone?

Now that we are on the last day, I'm trying to remember what exactly happened this month, since last I wrote.

Here are a few recollections:

• 3 Norwex parties
• Ultimate Goal Soccer Camp (Ben shared the morning devotionals for that week)
• 6 Jr High JAMs (half for Downtown, half for North)
• Root beer floats with our small group (Josiah fell out of a hammock and got a bloody nose and puffy lip :(  But other than that it was a lovely time!)
• Grammy and Grandad made a whirlwind visit (to take a few things that we would want for our upcoming trip to BC!)
• Friends for dinner: Charlie and Norah, Dave and Renee (and Pop-Pop!), Kevin and Sue, with Michelle and Charlotte
• Lots of outings to parks and picnics ... many pb&j sandwiches
• Worked up to a 3-mile run (goal is 4-miles by the end of summer)
• Our first family movie night! Popcorn and all. (Mighty Machines At the Air Show. Quite a gripping flick.)
• Summer Bible study (just one week left)
• Got a haircut

It's been a busy, sometimes exhausting, fun, encouraging, stretching, and refreshing month. Now we head into August and can feel fall on the horizon. But for today, it's July and still summer!

Funny Boys

Victor: Do you know what is in our eggs this morning? Fish.
Me: Really? Are they swimming around in your eggs?
Victor: No!
He shows me the pink bits of salmon.
Victor: See, these orange things are fish. But they are a little bit killed.

Lunchtime conversation about biblical manhood.
Me: What do you think the Bible tells us about how men should be? Should they be proud or humble?
 Victor: Humble.
Me: Do you think they should be good leaders or always waiting around for somebody else to do things?
Victor: That's a good question.
Me: They should be good leaders.
Josiah: I'm a good eater.
Victor: Not a good eater, a good leader.
Josiah: I'm a good leader.

Okay, well, we'll work on that.

3 Months Old!

3 months!

2 months

 1 month

 2 weeks old

Dear Elliot,

Here we are, celebrating 3 months of life with you! What a difference a month makes. You are growing and changing so much!

- You have been consistently going to bed around 7:30pm and sleeping until a feeding between 2-4am and then sleeping until 7-8am. It is wonderful!

- You are a pretty quick eater now too. Five or ten minutes to eat and a few minutes to burp, and you're done. Most times you just eat on one side, so you're pretty efficient, buddy.

- You are so, so generous with smiles and coos! Most anytime you wake up from a good sleep, you'll beam whenever we look your way. Your brothers love this, and especially Victor will cuddle up next to you, smiling and talking to you while you grin in return.

- You don't mind tummy time but still don't pull up on your elbows much. But you're holding your head much steadier when you're sitting on a lap.

- You're almost always content to sit and take in the surroundings when you're awake. Most happy is when you can lean back on me and see what's going on around you, but you are generally mellow and happy to hang out in the swing, carseat, or kicking your feet on a blanket.

- When Daddy bounces you in the air, you give real giggles! Must be a little adrenaline rush for you...

- You have definitely gotten bigger faster than your big brothers. You're already giving Mom some back issues, and you totally outgrew your 3 month sleepers weeks ago. It was a bit of a problem, because when I finally got some 3-6 month sleepers for you and you could actually straighten your leg, you'd kick yourself out of your swaddling and wake yourself up every 3-4 hours at night!

Now I bundle you with your legs hanging out and we're back to the lovely long stretches of sleep, thank You, Jesus, but I hope you learn how to sleep with your arms free soon, because I don't know how much longer I can squeeze you into this sleep sack and you're already too big and strong to stay swaddled in anything else!

- You normally have happy wake time for an hour and a half or so between naps, and you consistently take a good afternoon nap while your brothers do. This is such a gift to Momma!

We love you to pieces and can't believe that it has already been 3 months ... and only 3 months ... that you have been here with us!

Each night I love to kiss your little forehead and pray this blessing over you:

The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up the light of His countenance upon you
and give you peace.

Just as your name means "The LORD is my God," we pray that God will be your Shepherd, Redeemer, and Savior, all the days of your life.

We love you, sweet son!
Momma and Daddy 

Psalm 1

Now, what key exactly were we on? Hard to say. But I still love this.

Past Few Days

In short form, the past few days:

 

Visit to Grammy and Grandad's.

Linn County Fair... little train ride, farm animals, tractors.

Splash pad, picnics, playgrounds.

Visit with Aunt Sue and Grandma Vaupel.

Trip to Stillwater...seeing the lift bridge, super fun playground, DQ.

Picnic after church with the Kattersons.

4th of July... breakfast with Nana and Grandpa David, parade, potluck with friends.

More playgrounds and picnics.

Summer Bible study on Noah.

Barnabas team meeting with the Indehars.

Celebrating Aunt Laura's birthday at the Kattersons.

Trip to Hastings... biking, picnic, super fun playground.

 

That is a snapshot of the past few days for us. Lovely, refreshing, delightful days.

But these days have not been so for everyone. We have seen such horrible, shocking loss of life in these past few days. We grieve at the loss of our neighbors with skin of a different color, grieve for law enforcement officers killed in service. Many are shaken by these events, confused and uncertain.

I was running and praying yesterday and was struck by a few clear thoughts.

First, there is great trouble in our country. And when I look for the source, the wellspring, I am pierced to admit it is my own heart. I have belittling thoughts of others. I apply false judgments based on preconceived notions. I harbor fear and pride and selfishness. I think greatly of myself and too little of our great Maker and King. I make myself judge, jury, and executor (though perhaps only in my mind) of others.

When I take the Lord's Table during church, in a quiet sanctuary full of others, I have a vivid reminder that I myself--I, first--crush and consume that little cracker that represents Jesus' body. I, first, require the blood of the absolutely innocent. In my presumption, in my self-absorption, I am the guilty one, and He took my place.

Second, there is a great hope offered to me and to all. Jesus died to bridge the greatest divide, to unite the two most disparate entities in the universe--holy God and sinful people. The agonies of this week have no man-made balm. And the turmoil that stirs in the hearts and minds of our nation (and all the nations) can find rest only in a story that stretches far past this brief life. The story of ransom, justice, and mercy will shine in perfect glory one day. All people share a common, absolute need. A need to hear of this hope. And we have the blood-bought privilege of sharing it.

We do not pass strangers on the street. We pass neighbors. They all equally need a Savior, all fall short of the glory of God. All are made in the beautiful image of God. All wear the wounds of sin (their own and others). All have a story, bear a burden. Lord, help us to be more like Jesus, who saw people as persons and perceived the needs of each heart. Make us quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. And give us, Your people, winsome, salty, bright love in a foggy world that needs You so.

Lunch Conversation

We were munching on lunch...

Josiah: I like Uncle Nathan. He is not angry. He's happy. He's a nice guy.

Victor: He is not angry. He's happy. Like you.

Josiah: I am not angry. Just like Uncle Nathan.

There you have it. How nice it is to have uncles who are not angry but are happy.

Cute Boys

Josiah comes to look in my ears with his doctor kit.
Me: Am I sick?
J: You're awake!

Victor, walking on the right side of the sidewalk.
V: I'm going to turn, so that's why I'm in this lane.

Josiah, eating quiche: I like this peach.

Victor, eating quiche, scooting some crumbs over toward the bigger bites on his plate: I'm going to scoot you over to the mommys and daddys.

V: You should go the dentist.
Me: Oh, why?
V: Because you need a haircut.

Me: Could I have a hug? A great big bear hug?
Josiah gives me a huge squeeze.
J: A little bear snuggle.
He gives me a little gentle squeeze.

Josiah, singing: Hi ho the dairyo, the farmer in the Dell.
He stops and thinks.
J, singing: Farmer in the Hudson.

Victor, looking at the display in our van of how many miles until the gas runs out: Then if it goes to zero the gas tank would fall off.