How Sweet It Is

These are a few of my favorite things, from this week:

Two-hander baby thighs (why yes, our 6-month-old is half as heavy as our almost-5-year-old...) and a clean bill of health from the doctor

Dinner, when Josiah says, "You did a good job cooking supper, Momma!"

Family hikes at Lebanon Hills

Josiah's kung fu

Victor's holding my hand, without my asking

Elliot sleeping from 7:15pm to 5am

Two friends who (after a long, long season of miscarriage and infertility struggles) are expecting first babies!

House hunting (like a date! with potential homes! up North!) ... with all the surprises ... the good, the bad, and the ugly

2 Corinthians 9:8 (And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed) and our church's new ministry vision Fill These Cities

Victor, coloring a picture for his friend

Beautiful trees

Friends coming to visit

Ah, a very full and sweet week. With all this and many other unstated struggles, challenges, conflicts, perplexities, and joys.

To Pastor Sam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnwdTEmrMFQ

Half a Year!

6 months old!

5 months

 4 months

3 months

2 months

 1 month

 2 weeks old

Dear Elliot,

Happy half birthday! Whatever happened to the last month, anyway? These days are flying by, and you are growing and growing!

To summarize this stage of your life, I will share two anecdotes:

First, we were at a fall party last night, and a long-time friend came over to tell me hello. She shared about her most recent granddaughter, who is the "chubbiest and happiest" grandbaby so far. It was fun to catch up on her family! Just then, Daddy brought you over to us, all bundled up in your winter coat. She took one look at you and said, "I take it all back! My grandbaby is not chubby!" The magnitude of your roundness is quite breath-taking.

Second, this morning Daddy got you up and changed your diaper. He told me later, "I had no idea how much his hips had grown. I mean, wow!"

So, there you have it. You are officially a beautiful, big, squishy, cuddly, snuggle bug.

On a bleaker note, you are waking me up twice a night to eat. For a half hour. And wouldn't you know, I seem to have lost my ability to stiffen my resolve and let you work it out on your own, so twice a night it is... so far.

You're still loving your exersaucer, although it is showing signs of wear since it's gone through your two big brothers, a couple cousins, and now you are working on a "once-or-twice-a-week blowout" in it, which requires soaking, scrubbing, and washing.

You love the outdoors, and I love carrying you for our morning walks with the big brothers. You are my upper body workout, little man. :)

You still give the best snuggles, especially when I get you up from your snooze, and I love to hold you on my lap and bounce you. You'll toss out grins to most anybody who comes to talk to you, and you give the best chuckles when Daddy or I tickle your chin our dip you in the air.

You are a joy to us, son, and even on the rough, tired nights, I still just love to hold you close and kiss your soft head.

And as I read my Bible this morning, here is my prayer for you, as you continue to grow and learn and explore this wide, wonderful world:

May God shine in your heart, that you would see and receive the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).

How we love you, Mr. Elliot!

Love,
Momma

Happy 8th Anniversary, Love!

Dear Benjamin,

8 years!

What a lot of grace we have seen over these days. I was thinking back to other anniversaries, when we were snuggled together in a little cabin somewhere to sleep in and savor the quiet of another milestone of marriage together.

Today, you are out with Victor and Josiah, filling the van with gas and picking up cofffee.

I'm watching Elliot bounce in his exersaucer and trying to figure out what to pack for your lunch.

You'll be off to seminary, we'll be off to MOMS.

There are laundry baskets on our living room easy chair and trucks on the floor.

Work is stacked on the desk.

The sun is peaking over the horizon, painting yellow leaves a breathtaking gold.

What a moment of grace today is, and how thankful I am to share it with you!

I love you!

Grammy and Grandad's Visit

This weekend, while Daddy was busy with the youth Awaken Retreat, we got to enjoy some special time with Grammy and Grandad!

The Biggest Problem

What is your biggest problem right now?

If you're like me, ideas come easily to mind.

Money problems.
Kids who disobey.
Lack of sleep.
Stressful relationships at work.
A husband who doesn't understand.
No husband at all.

Whatever the list, my tendency (and maybe yours?) is to totally miss the real problem.

Here's the worst case scenario.

1 Cor. 15:16-17 "For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless, you are still in your sins."

There is no resurrection.
Christ has not been raised.
Your faith is worthless.
You are still in your sins.

Let the shock and horror of that land, just for a second.

Under judgment.
Lost forever.
Without hope, without God in the world.
Absolute despair of pardon.
Eternal separation from God.
Hell.

That, my friends, is a desperate, awful prospect.

And now, let the word of truth fill that picture with reality (and let the relief flood over you).

Christ has come.
Death is defeated.
He is risen.
Your faith--albeit weak or unsteady--if in Christ is not in vain.
You will never be alone.
Nothing can snatch you from His love.
Christ has triumphed, and in Him, God has purposed for all of eternity to cover you with kindness.

Hope spreads before you like an eternal ocean, because you are His and He is yours.

Where is your biggest problem?

It is crushed and disarmed by the death-defying, hope-bringing resurrection of Jesus.

2 1/2 Years Old!

2 1/2 years old!

2 years old

18 months old

1 year old

11 months old

10 months old

9 months old

 8 months old

7 months old

6 months old

5 months old

4 months old

3 months old

2 months old

1 month old

2 weeks old

Dear Josiah,

You are 2 1/2 years old! I think you have grown 2 inches this summer, and you are such a big boy!

Things that you love right now:

- Riding your Strider bike
- Garbage trucks, concrete mixers, motorcycles, and helicopters
- Playing with colored rice and little trucks
- Playing with sand, shovels, rocks, gravel, and dirt
- Playgrounds and picnics
- Playing baseball


Favorite foods:

- Pizza
- Applesauce
- PB&J
- Ice cream, chocolate, M&Ms, etc
- Pretzels
- Dum-Dums
- Popsicles


Common activities:

- Playing trucks and trains
- Running and bouncing
- Finding rocks and sticks
- Riding your bike
- Driving your Cozy Coupe and tricycle

You love to move and stretch and dance. You are my bouncing bunny, always moving, full of funny questions and ideas.

When you come and see me in the morning, you'll blow me kisses and wave and say, "Bye, Momma." When you need something, I'll hear you call, "Hey, Momma?" Often, you will check with me or Daddy if it is okay to do something with cute, quick little questions. "Can I go down the slide?" "Can I eat this grape?" "Can I have your hair band?" I love to hear that voice.

You love to show how big and fast you are. Many times I tell you, "Remember, you use your big muscles to be gentle and kind, to help and to protect the ones who are littler." I pray that you will continue to grow strong and heroic in spirit.

You are very observant of road signs and lyrics to music and little bugs and words. You can belt out your ABCs, and you are doing school time along with big brother Victor and doing a great job. Often you will work on a puzzle, play with dry beans, color in your notebook, count glass gems, or do a matching game while I do a workbook with Victor. You do a great job answering questions about our Bible lesson, and I pray that the stories that are growing more and more familiar will take root in your heart and give you growing love for Jesus.

When your strong little spirit bursts out in unkindness or disobedience, you seem to understand that the trouble begins with sin in your heart, and the One who can help is Jesus, who died to cover over our sins. How we pray that your hope will be founded on Him!

You and Victor are sharing a room now, and these recent weeks you have been doing a great job going to bed! You curl up with your (four) blankets, puppy, and bear, and go peacefully to sleep nearly every night. You are in a great nap season as well, and it helps your spirits so much when you get good rest!

I pray that these words may be true of you, like King Josiah in the Bible:

Before him there was no [one] like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might... nor did any like him arise after him.

I pray that your heart will be tender to God's call, and that even if it is unpopular or difficult you will follow Jesus with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. May God set your course to earnestly pursue Him above anything else.

We love you and are so glad that you belong to our family!


Momma and Daddy