Let Me Introduce You!

Hello, blog! Hello, faithful friends! The days feel like a tug-of-war. Noah went through “terrible twos” at a sweetly delayed three and a half years old. I think Braeden has them at fifteen months. And so when I get my spare moments, I just want to decompress. Noah is so subtle… it’s why I call him “Tiger” (sometimes we roar together, for encouragement practice). Braeden is fiercely opinionated… but he’s too young for me to reason with him! It’s awful. I could always reason with Noah. Strip away the old parenting practices, isn’t that the job of every second born? And stop comparing! It just fascinates me to see them in their differences.

The biggest news… my bestest friend is a mommy! Ashlynn Grace was born almost two weeks ago. I cannot wait to give this little flower an Emma-squishie! She’s a bit small yet for squishies. Delicate kisses and feather-light touches would be in order if I could see her. It makes my heart sooo happy that she’s here, and a bit sad to be far away. Stephanie recounted this to me of her (natural) childbirth, and it’s so wonderful, I wanted to share: “We pushed for less than 30 minutes. It felt like 5 minutes. I can’t believe how beautiful and powerful it was, and how people are afraid and choose not to do this! What a gift they miss!! It was incredible. (Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all peaches, it was intense – transition especially – but so beautifully intense!) I loved it!”

One of the things I struggle with is responding to women who are expecting. I want to honor them by listening. At the same time, I’m overwhelmingly excited about what I learned and experienced in my natural birth, especially in light of my previous hospital birth. Up till late second pregnancy, I’d never considered natural to be a desirable option. But now, it’s like Steph said: one of the biggest, most powerful, most unexpected gifts God has ever  plopped down for me. My pretty friend Tami gave birth this week to a princess named Ellisann. She was induced, and when she told me beforehand, I intentionally had to “put on” an open mind and  expression. I’m glad they’re both okay. And when I chose to listen, Tami told me what about her physician’s concerns, how this wasn’t a convenience decision. I admit I felt proud of myself for letting her talk without guided questions.  It’s hard to be both opinionated and gentle. I want to become so. I wonder how possible it even is… gentleness oft  seems kin to open-mindedness. I want gentleness that respects, fierce conviction in place. God does it. He can show me.

Here are some photos of Ashlynn! My friends are so blessed to have these beautiful photos by Kate White from her first hours. You are beloved, Ashlynn Grace. And you’re gorgeous!!!

Oh, real quick: Jared tested with the HR at MD Anderson today, and had an introductory interview. Might be great to stay in Houston as a scientific editor!

photo blogs; bumpin’ update

I’ve been reading more blogs than writing, obviously. Actually, no, not reading; visiting.  I am a photo blog addict! Here are my favorites: Brittany Strebeck I met when she photographed my sister’s wedding in Lubbock. It was her first wedding assignment! Now she’s a hot commodity, and, photo talent paired with sparkling personality, it’s easy to see why. Table 4 produces art, simple as that. It’s amazing. Ashley Rodgers seems like a grounded mom who does photography as a side business. Not knowing the technical terms, I’ll say I love her eye for texture and dimension. I have a few others, but these are easily my favorites. And while we’re on the subject, Kate White recently posted photos of my darling friend Stephanie, who is 39 weeks pregnant!!!

I was hoping to sit down for a nice reflective post, but Braeden’s just woken up. So I’ll stick to tid-bitty news for now. Let’s see:

• Stephanie will have a baby any day. WOW. First baby girl in my life, and I hope she’s prepared for some kisses from Miss Emma.

• Braeden has declared himself, officially (though not in these words), to be a strong-willed child. I don’t know if he’s going through a growth spurt, if his molars are bothering him, or if it’s just character, um… development. But he has opinions, and requires that they be known. When he’s upset, it is his established habit to crouch down and bang his head on the floor, usually in a series of three. Thank goodness for the carpet! And yes, this is after addressing hunger/thirst/diapering/boredom/tiredness/cuddlness needs. Today we’re getting out to the zoo. The fresh air will cure him. It has crossed my mind that perhaps our problem is he’s an adventurer, while I’m a homebody.

• Noah is learning to count to 100! He’s 4! He’s also great with colors, shapes, and greetings in Spanish, but has no ability to recall the word “hermano,” for “brother.” We can recite it together twenty times, and ten seconds later, he’ll be drawing a blank.  Every star has a humble point, no?

• Jared wrote a cover letter last night to apply for a scientific editor position. I think he’d be stellar at it. He has a minor in English, a love for science, and an intolerance for stupidity in research.

• I am doing our annual Sex God and Me program. With another gal, I co-facilitate a small group of high school girls. Came up with a fabulous (if I do say so myself, and I do) True/False sheet to work through. But do I dare post something like that here? On one hand, it’s probably too bible-based fundamental for the populous. On quite the other hand, it’s too sex-y for bible-based fundamental folk.  :)

My baby is ready for attention. I refer back to the head-bumping bit. Time to go!

It’s a New Year, Y’all

Good morning, blog world! Happy New Year! I was thinking yesterday that it’s funny to celebrate two New Years’ days. The first day of Advent is our liturgical new year; January 1 is our “secular” new year. But God has proved Himself to be all about grace and fresh beginnings, and I can’t imagine He minds us enjoying the freshness of a new year… twice.

Jared and I had the best New Year’s celebration! New Year’s Eve, we dined with friends in their home. They lavished us with a well-planned feast, and we enjoyed every minute. (I cannot wait to turn our soon-day home into a hospitality factory, like so many have done for us!) Our small contribution was Kir Royale du Bois, made with Prosecco, and they turned out lovely. Last night we settled down with It’s A Wonderful Life. There’s absolutely nothing like it.

I haven’t been so big on resolutions these past years. I’m sure it’s because Life As Mama has ingrained in me the essential-ness of floating as a skill. Goals are great; determined swimming is great. The ability to let go and float will keep you from going insane when the forces of the world (e.g. Baby is sleepy, you’re all out of milk, you forgot to put extra wipies in the diaper bag), and the forces of surprise (e.g. “You’re going to have a baby!”) are all pressing into you. So I think of mine as New Years’ ambitions. It may sound lame and non-committal, but it’s workin’ for me. And maybe that’s the first step to keeping them.

Here are my hopes for 2010!:

• develop conversational Spanish with Noah. I found a preK/K curriculum, and am excited to activate it!
• teach Noah to read (yes, in English). We’re gaining speed, and this year I think we can go the mile.
• assemble a recipe  journal of the best healthy, yummy, cost-efficient dinners. The lower the price, the higher the points. Recipes that are not both delicious and nutritious will be disqualified with game-show-like flair.
• watch the life of my favorite newest little person unfold. She’s due to be born in Jan/Feb, to my best friend in Florida. The trick, clearly, will be figuring out how to soak it up from across the miles.
• hoop myself to thin, skillful, fun-tastic glory. I’ve never hoola hooped even a single rotation. My new weighted hoola hoop is in the mail. So excited!
• learn to take better photos. I’m reading a book (shout out to my mother-in-law!). May take a class with some mommy friends. Braeden is practicing more independence, and it’s time to me to practice camera competency.
• read in general. There are enough books on my to-read list to occupy me  for at least a year, even if I never left home. Maybe I should start Café  Gilliam book reports.

Then there are the intimate ones. Indulge in structured time with God. Indulge in structured time with Husband.

And the mountainous ones.  Support Jared through writing, getting the degree, finding a job, possibly moving.

And the anticipatory we’ll-see ones. Traveling to visit dear people in Nebraska, Atlanta, Virginia, West Texas (Florida, just try and keep me away). We’ve been grounded in Houston for so long, and can’t wait till we’re free to move about!

What I want most… to be close to God, close enough to hear Him in still whispers: hear His direction, hear His pleasure, hear Him chiseling me into greater wisdom, empathy, and braveness. To be confidently satisfied in the things of God above my short-term perceptions of inconvenience or want. To let my friends know how much their graces enrich my life. To throw Jared a meaningful, unforgettable graduation party! To engage my boys is ways that build up their confidence and stick with them forever. To see the first baby girl in my life, born to my friends Stephanie and Seth. To keep my eyes open with enthusiasm for the things I can hardly even anticipate, for lack of foreknowledge.

Happy 2010!

Lost but not forgotten

I don’t even know where to start. A pro-blog New Year’s resolution would be a good place to start. But it’s just not in me. I’ve been tired before. And truly I can now say: 2008 has shown me tired beyond anything I’d ever imagined . The family illnesses; the body-stops-functioning-turns-out-the-remedy-is-merely-a-nap incidents; the nursing round the clock (there is nothing like nursing a baby when you’re sick). Not to complain. Out with the rubbish, in with the new!

Not that it’s all been rubbish, not even close. (And I do love that word!) Braeden enamors me. His newest trick is giving kisses. Noah is speaking Spanish,  has a favorite praise song, and is running like a full-fledged boy. Jared is… accomplishing much, with much to accomplish. And I… well, I am finding myself to be rather in the center of it. Happily so, if there’s ever any doubt. I’ll walk Noah into class on mornings, and walk out teary-eyed, I feel so honored. Braeden says “MaMaMa,” never turns down a chance to be held, and could walk to Mexico if I let him. Though it’s been exhausting like no other year, spiritually it’s been peaceful like no other year.

Merry Christmas! It pleases me so that Christmas is for us Christ-folk a season. I imagine a dull feeling can accompany the putting away of festive lights and commemoratives. Yet for us, this is the beginning; the invention of hope. It’s exciting, the time when everything starts to unfold. My parents and brother came over for Christmas Day. Noah was, for the first time, completely caught up in gift-unwrapping, and had a jolly day. He wore a Mama-made burlap shepherd’s tunic in the children’s Christmas Eve service. And Jared and I experienced our first Christmas-assembly project, an art easel. Felt like a rites of parental passage all over the place.

We managed a family afternoon at the zoo! I’ll leave you with a few photos of our new friend. Turns out he was eating from the forbidden tree, and was later scolded by his keeper. (Amazing to see a large animal respond so acutely to a person!) Oh, well. Thanks for the photos, Mr. Giraffe!

“‘L’ is for the way you look at me….”

Hi there, blog world! Jared and I had the flu (self-diagnosis). Then we got pink-eye… together… one eye each. Looked like we knocked each other out. Fair fight, apparently. From which the children were spared. While my cough lingers, we are back in action! I’ve counted eleven illnesses in our home in the past six weeks, for which I blame Pre-K, sans the exposure of daycare. I have to say, though, that if this is a normal phase, I believe I prefer it for school-age Noah than the baby version. Still, it’s rough to carry on a household with bugs at large.

“‘L’ is for the way you look at me….”

Just kidding. But I can give you a scripture verse for each of 26 alphabet letters! I can even give them to you in a frame, with color pictures, all spiffy and fun. When I got my head into doing this project for my son (singular at the time), I accumulated verses for a good while; then copied them in numerous translations, looking for child-level readability and alphabet variance; then organized them alphabetically by various key words; then omitted those similar in expression; then focused in on the theology I most wished to convey; then printed them up in a favorite font. (Worstveld Sling.) …Days before my hard drive crashed, when I otherwise would have lost them all! I chose key words, rather than first words, as my ABC correlation, to afford  greater freedom in sharing passages I felt were significant for my kids to remember. I know you guys are grown-ups, but here they are, A by B by C.

“I came that they may have life

and have it abundantly.”  -John 10:10

 

Love one another with brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor.  -Romans 12:10

 

All things were created

through Him and for Him.  -Colossians 1:16

 

Delight yourself in the Lord;

and He will give you the desires of your heart.  -Psalm 37:4

 

The whole earth is full of His glory.  -Isaiah 6:4

 

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The ordinances of the Lord are sure

and altogether righteous.  -Psalm 19:9

 

Your gentleness makes me great.  -Psalm 18:3

 

In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures

of wisdom and knowledge.  -Colossians 2:3

 

Be imitators of God, as beloved children.  -Ephesians 5:1

 

[We] are justified by His grace as a gift,

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  -Romans 3:24

 

Your kingdom will go on and on,

and You will rule forever. The Lord will keep all

His promises. He is faithful to all He has made.  -Psalm 145:13

 

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.  -Psalm 103:8

 

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;

He does great things beyond our understanding.  -Job 37:5

 

Let each of us please his neighbor

for his good, to build him up.  -Romans 15:2

 

The Lord was pleased to make you His own.  -1 Samuel 12:22

 

All things are possible with God.  -Mark 27:51

For since the creation of the world,

 

God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power

and divine nature – have been clearly seen.  -Romans 1:20

 

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.  -Job 19:25

 

Sing to Him a new song;

play skillfully with a shout of joy.  -Psalm 33:3

 

Send forth Your light and Your truth,

let them guide me; let them bring me…

to the place where You dwell.  -Psalm 43:3

 

The Lord loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of His unfailing love.  -Psalm 33:5

 

And the veil of the temple was torn

in two from top to bottom.  -Mark 15:38

 

Therefore welcome one another as Christ

has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  -Romans 5:17

Examine everything carefully;

hold fast to that which is good.  -1 Thessalonians 5:21

 

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to Your word.  -Psalm 119:9

 

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth.  -Psalm 50:2