surrendered thoughts

Will you be mine?

2012-02-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

My knitting time is seriously getting hijacked. No it's not my daughter or husband. It's not even housework. It's Pinterest. Have you heard of it? I know several of you have because you're "pinning" recipes and design ideas that have my fingers cramping from clicking the mouse too fast. Bascially, Pinterest is a virtual corkboard, where you can "pin" ideas you see online. It's bookmarking only visually. Well, just as Ravelry can suck me into its labrynths of color, idea, and artistry, so Pinterest feeds my DIY, crafting and homemaking urges. Despite being a pandora's box, Pinterest is a great resource especially if you're looking for ideas for say Valentine's Day. Every year I try to do something Valentine's oriented for my husband and now my daughter. This year I'm thinking of selecting one of these fun, simple, and sweet ideas.

1) Homemade Sprinkles 2) Wear your love 3) Valentines 4) Jiffy Pop Love

5) Tea Bag Valentine Pouch 6) Coffee Mug Wrap 7) Cupcake Toppers 8) Valentine Mittens

9) Valentine Mantel 10) Conversation Candle 11) Vintage Valentines 12) Homemade Sprinkles (again)

Follow UP

2012-01-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

Grab a mug. Fill it with your favorite beverage. Find a place to sit. I'd like to chat.

After my last post, I received lots of feedback. All of it encouraging, many of you relating deeply with my words, my heart. Some of you have been here and are seeing God move you out of this stage. Praise Him! What encouragement to know that while every journey is different we are not forever stuck in this place. You also reminded me that in part, these feelings are the plight of mothering young children. Again, thank you Lord that children do not stay the same age forever!

Since writing, I've taken your encouragement, mulled over your comments, done some self-reflecting and made more decisions. [When you're on a roll, keep going, right?]

I've realized that friendships come and change. There are beautiful, god-fearing women in my life that I love immensely and while we are still friends, the relationship has become less about being each other's confidant, and more about the history we share. Furthermore, I need to stop assuming/wishing/demanding(?) that these relationships fulfill my friendship desire.

I've also recognized that I can be a hard person to befriend. I love my routine, my schedule and people don't always fit where I'd like. All I can say is, I'm working on it. I'm actively trying to have more play dates and get to know more moms. Both of these areas will take time. So self, take off your antsy pants and rest awhile!

It was both comforting and saddening that so many young moms feel similarly. Obviously, I don't have answers as to how to prevent or circumnavigate such feelings, but I do know that I'm walking in this path right now. So if you need an ear, drop me a line.

As I've been percolating my emotions and your responses, I came across these two articles: "Friendship's Are Important" and "Listen to the Quiet". It was reassuring that this gap I feel is because friendship, companionship is natural. We should have lives filled with people who know us deeply. This has also been something that our church has been harping on for the past year or so. Perhaps I'll explain another day why a newspaper article hit home further than my pastor's encouragement.

The second article, "Listen to the Quiet" is precisely why I continued with Maximize Your Mornings[See that button to the right?]. I participated in the fall and was amazed at how much of a difference four simple things made in my daily life. Kat at Inspire to Action is such a godly, inspiring woman. While she challenges you to get up for your kids, plan your day, exercise, and be in the Word, the actual goal is daily make time for God to invade your heart, your life, your mothering. I'm learning self discipline on a totally new scale. The best part is that I have sisters who are walking alongside me around the country. We check in each day to encourage, pray for, and report how we're doing. It isn't perfectionism that we're seeking. Trust me, we're in week 2 and everyone of us has failed at least one day. However, we don't dwell on those days. We look to the morrow as a chance to begin again.

Ultimately, all this friendship and maximizing of life does not start or end with me. It begins and ends in Him. Hence, the title of this post. Yes, this is a follow-up of my thoughts. But my thoughts need to follow up to the One who breathed the world into existence, sustains my tired frame, and saw fit to insure my eternal destiny. Just as my daughter cries when I don't pick her up right away, I need to be crying up to my heavenly Father. Only in His presence will I find shalom.

Decisions

2012-01-11T14:29:00.003-05:00

I've come to a few decisions. Some have been surprisingly easy, others oddly difficult. Many thanks to each of you who shared your thoughts on this post/article. Your words brought comfort, encouragement, and in one case envy. :-)

There are so many worthwhile activities for Mamas and their children. Since I tend to be a homebody, I'm grateful there are events to take me out of the house. After much talk (read "my husband is a saint"), a few tears, and a cold hard look at why I've participated or not participated in various things I came to one conclusion: I want to be known.

I hope that doesn't sound silly. I have been investing in others, training my daughter as best I know how, being selective about what comes into our home from food to books to technology, but somewhere along the way I lost my friends.

Perhaps I've become so particular that others feel they can't relate? Maybe I think too much? Maybe it's that this age has too many possible life stages for my personality? Whatever the answer I'm dry as a bone when it comes to girlfriends, friendship, and that sweet camaraderie of bffs. I fully admit severe jealousy as I look around and see sisterly relationships of which I'm not a part.

I am not complaining. There are many, many women who have graced my life. I have been blessed and am fortunate for their presence over my twenty-nine years. Yet, I sense a void in this area in my life. Outside of my husband and possibly my mother there is no other soul who knows me now. Lots of people know who I was in _________ [fill in the blank: college, high school, first married, young professional]. While I haven't changed a great deal, I am different. There are new concerns that rest in my heart, new longings, fresh thoughts. I yearn for a friend with whom I can sit down regularly over tea, look in their eyes, and share. I desire the opportunity to be so intertwined with another that our phones are on speed dial, to have someone help me discover my inner diva, or invite over for a marathon cooking day. I'm tired of polite relationships all. the. time.

The second thing my heart yearns for is a prayer partner. Not one in a different region, or even different life stage. Someone who desires to pray for her child(ren) as much as I do mine. Someone who will meet with me as we push strollers and prayer walk. I see these two aches coinciding in one person, but maybe God has a different plan. All I do know is that He knows. So I keep praying and disciplining my heart to wait quietly.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T19:09:00.002-05:00

We're ringing in the new year with pretzels, shakers, and an early bedtime. Here's to another year full of God's continued mercy. Cheers, friends!

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:18-19

Birthday Wishes

2011-12-29T21:17:00.003-05:00

Last year my birthday was awful. So awful. I spent most of the day vacillating between tears and anger.

All bundled up!

The otters had a great time despite the 34 temperature!

This year was quite a different story. My child still didn't nap, but my husband was home and we had a plan. Our plan involved going to ZooAmerica, eating pizza for lunch, relaxing during the afternoon, eating Neato Burrito for dinner, and relaxing in the evening. It was great!

Tabitha really enjoyed looking at the leaves and pine needles at the zoo. We did our best to get her interested in the animals, but she was quite happy entertaining herself with saying and signing "walk". Thankfully, her admission was free. :-) David and I got a kick out of seeing turtles, and snakes, lizards, and cats of all sizes. The American Marten was funny to watch and the Bald Eagles impressive. We definitely got our money's worth!

Notice the Canada Lynx in the background?
Tabitha didn't.

She's fascinated by straws.

Mommy loves her little girl's pig tails!

My golden birthday (29 on the 29th) was a success. Many thanks for all the well wishes, and a special thanks to my hubby for carving out the day to spend with us girls. This was definitely a day to remember.

Christmas Fun!

2011-12-28T17:53:00.000-05:00

As promised here are some pictures from our Christmas time. Tabitha was definitely more into the wrapping, but not so much into her gifts. The few gifts that have held her attention are Signing Time/ Potty Time DVDs, alphabet magnets, Curious George stuffed animal (I foresee many adventures with Tabitha and George), an angel snowglobe-like thingy that changes color, and a singing Hallmark card-- which has momentarily disappeared for parental sanity.

Enjoy the snapshots friends!

My pretty bow that I learned to make with Pam.

Tabitha and her three friends. They helped us put together our gingerbread house!

A masterpiece of gooey confection.

Daddy and Tabitha ready for Christmas Eve service.

Mama and Tabitha being silly girls.

Our Little English lady.

My Christmas centerpiece. Holly from my bushes, dried oranges,
antique English croquet balls, and a lemon decorated with cloves.

Choices

2011-12-27T19:37:00.000-05:00

I am wrestling with some choices as the new year approaches. This article is part of why I have choices to make: Enjoying the Simplicity of Staying Home

I really enjoy reading Lindsay's and the other women's thoughts on mothering. The problem is figuring out what will work for Tabitha and I while not isolating ourselves. Been wrestling with a feeling of isolation for a few weeks now. I thought I had this somewhat figured out, but things have changed and something has to give. Sigh.

Perhaps I'll go into this more later, but right now all you other Mama's (and Mama's-in-training)... I need your thoughts. What do you think of this article? How do you handle activities?

P.S. I have Christmas pictures to post. Tomorrow. Promise.

Favorite Things

2011-12-13T11:33:00.000-05:00

Despite it not being a Christmas song, Julie Andrews has been singing "My Favorite Things" in my head for the past few days. If I won the lottery or inherited more money than Scrooge, I'd be buying the following for all my family, friends, neighbors, and strangers!

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber -- Nothing. Absolutely nothing makes cleaning the bathroom this easy. I've tried all sorts of homemade solutions to get my tile to shine, and the soap scum off the brushed nickel faucet. All have failed. But not this puppy. It is amazing. I used to have smudges in the textured floor of the tub that I attributed to carelessness when the bathroom was redone by the previous owners. I mean I had scrubbed until my arms were sore, but that grout or whatever never came up. One little firmly placed squiggle with the Magic Eraser and they were gone. Amazing I tell you!

Signing Time -- I've referenced several times on this blog about Tabitha and her language ability. We truly can't take any credit. It's all thanks to Signing Time. Tabitha loves these shows. By loves, I mean she stands up, bops to the music, and has to be returned to her seat on the couch because she wants to stand nose to nose with the TV. They are fun, interactive, are teaching her not just sign language, but also letter recognition, diversity, and music. If Tabitha were running the house, Signing Time would be playing all day!

Reisenthel Carrybag-- This is my workhorse. Sitting by the door, I fill it with whatever I'm going to need while out. Sometimes it holds knitting and yarn-love shop products. Other times, it's stuffed with books to return to the library, letters to mail, and dry cleaning to drop off while running errands. I've used it at the farmers market, in the mall, and on vacation. Not only is it heavy duty when necessary I can fold it down flat. Truly, I think I might need a second one.

Tabitha can't get close enough to scripture!

Yogurt Recipe -- We go through a lot of yogurt in this house. A lot. Tabitha eats it, I eat it, we cook with it, etc. Since we have chosen to consume only organic milk, it didn't take me long to realize that I could spend a fortune on yogurt. So I make my own. In my crock pot. Several years ago, my friend Liz (our hubby's were best buds in elementary school) posted her yogurt recipe. She was also kind enough to do all the math to calculate savings. I've never used any other recipe. It's perfect for us.

Seeds Family Worship -- I first heard about this group via Finding My Feet blog. Tabitha received their Seeds of Faith (vol. 2) CD as an early Christmas present. She loves it! Granted my child responds well to music, but these CDs are awesome. Not only do they give you two CDs (one for you, one to give away), but the music doesn't sound ultra kiddy. It's music that David and I can listen to without wanting to jump out of the car. If you've ever heard most kids music you'll get what I'm saying here. Writing scripture on our hearts is an important discipline for us and our children. These CDs make it fun, entertaining, and simple. Plus, there is nothing like seeing your child delighting in music knowing that one day she will delight in the words too!

That's my short list friends. I'd love to know what everyday items you couldn't live without!

It's a Very Vandal Christmas

2011-12-12T16:28:00.000-05:00

Very Vandal Vacation 2011 (note: We had already left due to Irene)

Okay so I know that is a weird title. I cannot recall where the name Vandals came from, but it's what the Quad 4 guys called themselves. What's Quad 4? The name of my husband's dorm in college. During his four years and extending about three years past that, there was a group of solid, awesome guys (and a handful of girls) who shared all the college pranks and then stayed in touch.

My first conversation with David in graduate school revolved around two them: Scum and Spiegel. Our wedding invitee list included such names as: Stix, Jimbo, Sparx, and Freezy. Shortly after purchasing our home, we hosted a LeTourneau get together of those graduates who were "local". Shive, Lucky, and Icky were a few of those that joined. Since then the gatherings continue several times a year, and have even included two beach vacations.

Despite the seemingly odd nicknames, I trust this group as much as my own family. The care, dedication, and support for one another makes me wish I had actually been in college with them. Seriously, I love this group!

So this past weekend, we hosted the annual Christmas party. Madlibs were created, a game requiring a pseudonym was played, too much food was consumed, laughs were had, and bonds of friendships were strengthened. When scripture talks about fellowship with believers, I immediately think of this crew. We were even privileged with the fellowship of Stix who currently lives on the West Coast and flew in just for the weekend. He totally scored the highest on dedication to the group. Scum, on the other hand, was awarded the most points for technological overkill. He brought two laptops and two iPhones and used all four while here.

Another first, was having only two more guys than girls. In the beginning, Abigail and I were the only girls. We are so happy that Emily, Julia and little Tabitha have joined the ranks and we keep praying for more!

Our fall gathering at Harpers Ferry State Park--minus Will and Julia who
had left before we got our act together.

Of course I don't have any shots of this weekend, except for some really punchy video. Our time together never seems long enough, but we're so grateful that despite our busy lives, crazy work schedules, and geography we all still make time for one another.

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings... Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Hebrews 10:19-25

Sleeping in PA

2011-12-09T06:34:00.001-05:00

So proud of her new digs.

For anyone close to us you know that consistent sleep has been a thing most longed for in this house over the past 15 months. God has a sense of humor for he blessed David and I, who are big sleepers, with a child who runs on very little. We have taken all the advice we could get and read a stack of "how to put your child to sleep" books, but nothing seemed to make any lasting improvement.

A couple Sundays ago, I talked with another seasoned mom, who casually suggested moving Tabitha out of her crib and into a regular bed. Considering that Tabitha was spending more time each night in bed with us rather than in the crib I started to ponder the move. Still 15 months seemed too early to try.

Monday night was the last straw. Tabitha slept in our queen-size bed, while David and I shared a single mattress on the floor of her room. Tuesday evening we bought a bed rail and moved Tabitha to a big girl bed. To say that we broke all the "rules" for transitioning a child from crib to bed is an understatement.

Rule #1-- Let the child nap for several days before trying an overnight.

We started with the overnight.

Rule #2-- It is best to wait until your child is close to 3 before attempting such a move.

She's almost 16 months.

Rule #3-- Always start with a toddler bed so the child doesn't feel "lost" in bed.

Her bed is regulation adult standard.

Rule #4-- Place the bed in the same place as the crib had been.

We put her in a new bed in a new room.

Rule #5-- Spend a week talking and reading about big kid beds. Make it fun for your toddler.

While we're picking out the bed rail crazy Mommy is saying, "Tabitha, you'll be in a big girl bed tonight. It'll be fun."

Rule #6-- Do not attempt too many transitions at once.

Is this too many transitions?-- Just hosted family for Thanksgiving which meant 4 days of little routine, house in utter disarray, preparing to host a Very Vandal Christmas, and decorating for the holidays. Basically, to Tabitha our house looks entirely different and our routine because of all the festivities has been entirely different.

Rule #7-- Remember that this is a milestone for you, the parent. Your baby is growing up.

Complete with reading corner and Christmas Tree!

No tears, but a little excited dance performed in the living room was had.

I've read the experts, we failed epically according to them. Interestingly though, Tabitha has done quite well. We've had 3 consecutive nights of 10 hours of sleep and no longer have a child that screams for an hour when we lay her down. I'm glad I borrowed all those sleep books from the library, because the actual solution was much cheaper.

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder where you are?

I'm in bed and so is she

And we're as happy as can be!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:32:00.001-05:00

This is why I give thanks. My God has delivered me. Not because of anything I have done or am capable of doing. Friends, I don't need a day to celebrate that thanks, I need eternity. So on this day, this is the story I'd like to share. These are my surrendered thoughts.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story--those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deed for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Psalm 107: 1-9, 17-22, 42-43

15 months!

2011-11-13T17:52:00.001-05:00

Today our little Sweet Potato is 15 months old. These past few weeks were challenging. We've had some very stubborn and ornery moments, mostly revolving around food and mealtime. Additionally, she has repeatedly awakened at 3:30 every night--with one exception being Saturday morning at 1:15 am. While we tried comforting, letting her cry it out, playing with her, feeding her, sleeping with her-- basically trying everything we could think of or read about, nothing satisfied. At the same time, we noticed how her language development has exploded lately. So we're chalking these middle of the night disturbances up to a developmental milestone.

Here are her 15 month stats--

Height -- 30 inches, 35%

Weight -- 20.14 pounds, 35%

Head Circumference -- 17.5 inches, 10%

She might be on the small end of the scale, but she's got plenty of personality. Recent accomplishments include--

More consistent imaginative play. She consistently has conversations with her stuffed animals and even told Mama via sign language that she was pretending her red Duplo was a car (making her Daddy quite proud).

Mimicry. This includes both sounds and housework. She loves to help vacuum, rake, sweep, or cook. Sometimes this is very helpful, like peeling the garlic for dinner. Other times it is decidedly unhelpful like when she unpacks her diaper bag right before we're ready to walk out the door. She is trying new sound combinations, but no new words have formed yet.

Wearing PJs that Mama wore when she was a baby.

Expressing Emotion. This runs the gamut from tossing toys or food when having a melt down, to requesting Eskimo kisses by pressing her nose against yours and shaking her head. She's also gotten good at blowing kisses, and enjoys giving spontaneous hugs to other pint-sized friends.

Language explosion. While we never set out for her to learn American Sign Language (ASL) in it's entirety, there are times where her knowledge surpasses ours. She can use appropriately somewhere between 90-95 signs. We're working on forming short sentences, but it's slow going right now. Still, she has shocked us by recognizing an animal or food--especially ones that we haven't been necessarily reinforcing.

Coordination. I would never say that David or I are ultra-coordinated. We are definitely not athletes. Tabitha is not showing any great athletic talent either, but she is becoming more adept at moving and controlling her body. She recently received a small riding toy and has quickly learned how to get herself on and off of it. Her balance has also become more steady allowing her to move faster than we always like.

Stick in one hand, tanbark in the other.

Natural Curiosity. I prayed for curious child, and the Lord has answered that tenfold! Everything needs to be examined. While the typical toddler curiosity of trash and toilets exists, she also loves to explore nature. We often joke that David and I had my brother's child. Tabitha will walk outside and immediately pick up a rock, stick, or leaf (often needing an object in both hands). She almost always stops to pet moss growing in the sidewalk cracks, and has come within two feet of touching a squirrel. Add to this a strong desire, as in bangs vigorously on the door, for outdoor play and well, we don't spend many afternoons quietly reading.

Homeschooling Baby-- Now and Later

2011-11-02T08:30:00.000-04:00

Calling all Mamas, past, present, and future! Last week, I stumbled upon a lovely website that is just getting started. I believe it was quite providential. David and I plan to home school Tabitha for at least the early elementary years. My parents home schooled me from 4th grade through 8th grade and those years hold some of my happiest memories. Since this is something we intend to do, I've been keeping my eyes open for opportunities, activities, and helps for down the road. Many times I find a gem of an idea and long for Tabitha to be a bit older so we can do it. Well...

My little list maker.

TheHomeschoolBaby.com made me realize that I don't have to wait until Tabitha is old enough! I can start now by growing my knowledge and my relationship with her so that when a more formal educational process is introduced there is a foundation on which to build. Laura, the author of the blog, is a mom with children ranging from six to a newborn. I'm really excited to see what kind of ideas she and others in this new community offer as they focus on the early years (ages 0-5).

Stop on by and check out this awesome site. Plus, Laura is kicking off her new venture with a week long Baby Shower full of great giveaways! Then, check back often to see all the great tips Laura has planned. You won't leave empty handed. I promise.

P.S. This picture was taken the other day in the midst of a house-wide pick-up. As I bustled from room to room, Tabitha followed behind me like a little inspector "checking" off her list of to dos.

Hallow's Eve Treats

2011-10-31T20:29:00.000-04:00

We're not big Halloween fans, but I'm not the sort of mother that can deny her sweet child a fun day of dress up! Before I had children, I vowed to myself that their Halloween or Reformation Day costumes would always be homemade. This was not to make me mother of the year, but to prove to myself and my children that you can find new uses for just about anything. Besides, growing up, deciding what to be and making my costume was fun.

Last year, Tabitha was a sweet little pumpkin.

This year I rounded up a pair of woolly boots, some stockings, a knitted cap, a knitted shoulder cozy (to make into a pint-sized skirt) and some construction paper. The end result...

Tabitha the Gnome!

The adorable doll Tabitha is loving on was a very special gift from Ms. Barbara. Dollie even came with her own knitted Red Riding Hood costume and basket for Halloween plus an extra sweater for when the weather turns cold. Knitters are such generous folks. Thanks again Barbara!

Middle of Night Delights

2011-10-31T03:43:00.000-04:00

It's too early to be up, but we are. Three hours of attempting to salvage some of the night, some sleep. We've given up. Together we're reading, playing, and doing laundry. Oh little girl...

Sometimes you frustrate me to no end,

but all it takes is a quick look at your sweet face,

or hearing a peal of your uninhibited laughter to put these late nights into perspective.

I am a blessed woman because you have kept me awake, because you are here rearranging the laundry piles, because God has allowed my arms to be full.

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. Psalm 30:11-12

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

2011-10-29T20:23:00.002-04:00

It's October, but snow has fallen. We received approximately 4-5 inches of accumulation, but probably a little more due to some early melting. I had to work at yarn-love today but ended up closing early due to the snow. Many have lost power but we are thankful to still have our lights and heat! The meterologists are predicting wind tonight and the temperatures to drop causing icing and possibly more power outages. It could be a very interesting night.

For her first snowfall--that she could actually play in--Tabitha wasn't all that excited about being in the cold. Perhaps it was the quart bags rubber banded over her slippers since we don't yet have snow boots for her. Still, she helped us shake our trees in an attempt to prevent branches from snapping. We know we lost a few branches thanks to the leaves and heavy wet snow. Despite the oddness of snow in October, it really is beautiful and quite peaceful to view.

10:30am-- Snowing for about an hour.

12:30pm

Sad Snow Bunny

4:30 pm-- After shaking the trees twice.

The Dentist

2011-10-27T10:11:00.003-04:00

This afternoon I have a dentist appointment. I love dentist appointments. Not that I love getting swollen gums because I don't floss enough, or because I like being prodded, but because it gives me an hour to sit in a chair and do nothing. I can nap, I can listen to music and I'm not once interrupted. Yes, going to the dentist is now fun.

A few weeks ago, I snapped a these pictures of Tabitha practicing her good dental hygiene.

Sick Day

2011-10-19T12:54:00.001-04:00

Someone has a fever. So we're spending the day with cold compresses and ibuprofen while napping, drinking fluids, and watching Mary Poppins cuddled on the couch. It's a good day, even if our Sweet Potato isn't her peppiest self.

Munching a pretzel while...

...playing with yarn. Yep, that's my girl!

Walking and Talking

2011-10-13T10:57:00.001-04:00

This little girl is the apple of my eye. She is quite steady on her feet and has been walking solely for about two months. Her language acquisition, both signed and spoken is blossoming. We are continually amazed at how much sign language she actually understands!

Here she is being her silly self and you'll see how busy of a little girl she is. Also, apologizes for the squeaky floor. It's one of the charms of living in an older home.

In this short clip she is both signing and speaking most of the words I ask her. She also is the poster child for Dr. Seuss, perhaps Cindy Lou Hoo?

Celebrating Philip and Lisa!

2011-10-10T11:02:00.001-04:00

We had a busy weekend. My brother said "I do" and married his sweetheart Lisa. It was a picture-perfect fall day! Beyond the gorgeous weather, there was a gorgeous bride, a handsome groom, and a ceremony inviting God to guide and direct this new family. We are so grateful that the Lord has brought Philip and Lisa together.

My parents are officially empty nesters and loving it! They also now have both a daughter and son-in-law who have degrees in psychology. Hmm... I think I'd be worried if I were them.

Tabitha was the flower girl, but she refused to walk down the aisle. Instead, she was carried down the aisle by her mommy. We think her favorite part was the reception where she just couldn't get enough dancing. Sadly, our camera battery died shortly after the wedding started. Here are a few pictures my parents took. Enjoy!

The True Women.

What a good lookin' couple!

Gretchy and I bopping to the music.

Purging-- Our Lives

2011-10-05T06:33:00.000-04:00

Before I delve into this "hot topic" I wanted to first answer a question I received over the past few days. For those of you wondering why "for the glory of God" wasn't in Our Family Motto, here is your answer: our motto is not our statement of faith. While crafting it, David and I did discuss if we should add that phrase. Ultimately we concluded 1) that "to God's glory" is an understood expectation within our house and 2) that is why stewardship is so key to our motto. We are stewards of our resources, our possessions, our finances, our time. He has given them to us but we are accountable to Him for what we do with them. Friends, we daily strive to live lives of glory to Jesus Christ. Our motto was never intended for a larger audience than the three of us. As a family, we have a certain level of understanding both the written and unwritten within it. However, I encourage you to write your own family motto and include whatever you know will be most helpful in keeping your perspective in check.

Keeping perspective is exactly what has caused us to purge our lives (including schedule, free time, commitments, etc.). This was not ~~not~~ an overnight decision but a process we've been working on for about 9 months. This has many parts and layers, and I'll do my best to explain without writing a book, but if I miss something, feel free to ask.

Schedule--
One of the things we value most is time together and being home. So we set-up a couple boundaries:

Have dinner as a family as close to five nights a week as possible.
No more than two evenings out Mon.-Fri.
No more than 2 activities per child per week.

The consequences of such a commitment mean that we typically have family dinner 5 nights a week. While David has a Men's Accountability Group biweekly, and I enjoy knitting on Wednesdays, we try to have them occur on opposite weeks. For us, this keeps our weeks from feeling hectic and provides needed downtime and togetherness before the business of the next day.
Another practical step is that I have a day set aside for appointments. I always try to schedule doctor's appointments, haircuts, and the like for Wednesdays. It's simply the day in our daily life that works best for handling such matters. Since we only have one child, it's been relatively easy to limit the amount of things Tabitha and I participate in during the day. However, we have had to say no to some fun, good things but our life is much more peaceful for not always chasing after our calendar.

Time--
You may be asking, isn't time actually part of scheduling? Yes and no. For David and I, time is an important commodity. To fully implement our family motto--especially the "lives of faithful stewardship"-- we have had to become more aware of how our time is spent. I for one have been much more aware of the time I spend on the computer. In part, that is why this blog has been quiet. I needed to be spending less time surfing and more time serving my family. While David and I love spending time together, we each need healthy doses of alone time; particularly David. We have had to work together to come up with morning and evening routines that allow us to rejuvenate ourselves emotionally so that we can better love one another.
We also place great value on our hobbies. In part, it is our hobbies that help to refresh us daily. Just like devotions our daily hobby time is vital to our personal well-being. To ensure that this happens, David has been rising earlier to get Lego build time in before work. I use the hour after Tabitha is in bed to knit. It's a happy little arrangement that keeps our house moving smoothly.

Because of our choices and the way we've structured our days, we have time to embrace the unexpected. A few weeks back, we were able to help others when they were dealing with flooding. My brother is getting married on Saturday (yeah!) and we've been able to help with moving, wedding details, and other last minute type things because we had room in our lives for others. See, all this scheduling and time management isn't about being controlling or living a perfect routine, it's about taking care of what is important had having the flexibility to change our schedule as necessary. Ultimately, it's about putting relationship with others first.

Purging-- Possessions

2011-10-04T07:34:00.001-04:00

Part of our family's motto is "valuing simplicity and togetherness". I am not a stuff person, so when I married David I was shocked when it came to the amount of stuff he had. [Aside: Growing up we purged our rooms yearly discarding anything we weren't using or had a ready need for.] It's taken six years, but David and I are finally able to clearly (most of the time) communicate about how to handle our mutual possessions. Then we had Tabitha...

I'm just going to say it-- It's hard to live simply with kids! Everywhere you turn someone is telling you or enticing you that in order for your child to be "well-rounded" "normal" "at age level" they will need a plethora of STUFF. We were very meticulous about the types of baby items we purchased or requested and did our best to pick things that would grow with her. I would say that we did fairly well our first time around.

Now we are entering the toddler stage and the toy temptation is growing. Except not for Tabitha. She is content with paper towel tubes, magnets, discarded envelopes from the mail, and her birthday cards (yes, she is still "reading" them). As our daughter is teaching us, simplicity can lead to contentment.

To put our family motto into practice within our home, I have been taking approximately 15 minutes a day to purge. I make three piles: Give Away, Throw Out, Keep. I only tackle small areas like a desk or a closet that I know I can complete in 15 minutes. This keeps me focused, and doesn't allow me to second guess my gut reaction. Many organizing guru's will tell you to save your "give aways" for a yard sale. Personally, I don't have enough gumption to arrange a yard sale and with the amount of stuff that monthly gets put into our Give Away box, I'd be able to open a shop! So, I instead call The Purple Heart to come by my house and pick up the bags. For tax purposes I keep a running list of what I've given away, but thanks to their handy service, I never have to haul stuff further than my curb. So far, I've de-cluttered and purged the living room, Tabitha's room, and parts of the master bedroom and kitchen.

Why go to all the bother? For me it's simple, I feel better, think clearer, and have more time the less stuff is in my home. With fewer things, I have less to pick-up, less to maintain, and less to clean. This means that in a morning, I can clean my entire home, and have a guilt free afternoon lavishing attention on my daughter. It means that the money I would have spent on purchasing batteries for toys can be set aside to go on a fun family outing. It means the energy I didn't exert on dusting 1000 nick-knacks can be used to make a meal for a family in need.

Purging doesn't just involve objects. Tomorrow I'll share how we've purged and set boundaries for our schedule and calendar.

Getting Started: Our Family Motto

2011-10-03T11:38:00.000-04:00

David and I have been spending the last month taking care of business. It's been a mix of household, heart, and lifestyle evaluation and re-alignment. I was reaching a point of daily frustration that life and time seemed to be in control of me. Our house seemed to be in constant CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and yet I was always cleaning. So I started doing some serious searching. I came across many wonderful helps which I'll be sharing over the next few weeks.

But today, I want to share our family motto. In the process of all this, I found Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenrider. This is a fabulous book, even for those of you non-A-type personalities. She is gentle, but firm in her encouragment to declutter, live simply, and define your focus. It sounded silly at first to make a family motto. I mean--who does that?!? However, the more we thought, the more it made sense. When I decided to go for my masters in Library and Information Science, I had a set of criteria which I used to determine what schools to apply to. If we were going to be serious about living simply we needed a practical standard by which to base our decisions.

After an evening to talking and writing and listing and rewriting we came up with the heart of our home in words--

Our Family will live lives of faithful stewardship by valuing simplicity and togetherness while shepherding each other in love and integrity.

Now when I'm at the book store and I see a book that I think we have to have, I ask myself: By bringing this into our home will it promote simplicity, togetherness? When wondering if Tabitha needs to have another pair of shoes, I ask myself if this is living (and showing) a life of faithful stewardship? When deciding if we should participate in a weekend outing, we can ask ourselves is this bringing us together, are we showing love to one another and others or is it just cluttering our schedule?

Again, it sounds silly to state, but this has been such a freeing exercise. Not only is the pressure off me to always have the "right" answer, I now have something that allows me to be guilt free when I do purchase or participate in something that is aligned with our motto. With this motto firmly setting the tone, we moved on to other areas. More on that soon...

Still Kickin'

2011-09-28T11:12:00.000-04:00

I know this blog has been awfully quiet. And this post is sure to disappoint. Why so quiet? Well... 1) I'm currently under several deadlines with knitwear and 2) David and I have been making some ~~major~~ ~~radical~~ foundational changes to our lives.

So while all things are quiet on the blogfront, LOTS of goodness is happening in our home. I'll be back shortly with what's been going on, Sweet Potato's milestones (so many of those!) and more.

Life is good friends, even if my blog doesn't show it. :-)

The Flood of 2011

2011-09-09T03:07:00.000-04:00

For all the Family and Friends who aren't in Central PA. Many of the Hershey pictures are places that Tabitha and I were driving by or near on Sept. 7--the day it all started to flood.

One day Sweet Potato...

2011-09-08T18:38:00.000-04:00

My Dear Sweet Potato,

One day you will read about the events of 2011 in a history book or maybe even a silly card of "Remember When...". But right now I'd like to recount what you have lived through even though you will not remember these events.

On a global level there was the Arab Uprising in the Spring (including Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Bahrain), the killing of Osama Bin Laden, Tsunami in Japan with accompanying nuclear disaster.

Locally we had...

Earthquake 2011-- While we were vacationing in the Outer Banks, we felt a mild jostling as the earth shook. You were in the pool with Daddy and didn't notice much, but Mommy did. The earthquake was centered around Washington D.C. but was felt from Toronto to Atlanta, Georgia.

Hurricane Irene-- We evacuated the Outer Banks. You were a trooper and slept most all of the way home. When we arrived home, we spent 4 days without power.

Flooding of 2011-- The rains from the effects of Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Katia came and came and came. We already had had a wet spring and summer, which meant that the ground didn't have much spare room for all the water. Your Dearma used to tell Mama about how high the Susquehanna River got during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. One day I will now tell you about how high it got in 2011. The river was projected to crest at 30 feet which means that places were we walk along the river were in the river!

Hershey Park was flooded and many of the roads in Hershey were closed because of water. Earlier on the day when flooding started (Sept. 7), you and I drove on Hershey Park Drive and past the Pizza Hut. Later that evening, Pizza Hut collapsed due to the water.

Daddy didn't have work because the city of Harrisburg was evacuating parts of the city. Our neighbors had water in their basements. We were very fortunate that we didn't have any water in our basement.

I hope that when you do learn about all these events that these verses from the Psalmist come to mind:

"He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works-- he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Praise the Lord, my soul."

Excerpts from Psalm 104

Summer Catch-up

2011-09-07T07:49:00.001-04:00

Since I've been awful about posting to this blog consistently this past month, here is a quick catch-up of all our going ons in the month of August.

Early August--
David's parents and brothers came and visited for several days. We celebrated Tabitha's birthday, took a trip to the pool (a favorite spot over the hot summer), ate Creamery Ice Cream at Old Towne Books & Brew, and had a generally good time.

Tabitha showing Uncle Caleb her mad computer skills.

Are you sure you know what you're doing?

Teacher Tabitha making sure her "class" does the signs correctly.

Happy Family.

Our little water baby.

Mid August--
Spent cleaning up from birthday celebrations and preparing for our Very Vandal Vacation with David's college friends. This meant making and freezing double batches of Baked Ziti and Turkey Burgers for 12, grocery shopping for snacks and whatnots, and the delightful (but sticky) work of preparing 50+ homemade marshmallows for smores.

Late August--
Headed to the Outer Banks for a week of vacation only to meet with Hurricane Irene necessitating evacuation. It was a busted vacation in the sense that we didn't get to spend the amount of time with dear friends like we had hoped. We did enjoy a few day/nights of fun, but David and I still have a lot to learn about vacationing with an infant. Sleep deprivation set in too early.
While we were safely in our own home when Irene swarmed the Mid-Atlantic, we did lose power for 3 1/2 days. Since Tabitha greatly prefers to sleep in her own bed, we spent most of the last week of August schlepping back and forth to my parents for showers and food, only to return to a dark house for bedtime. Thankfully, we were able to store all our freezer contents at Uncle Harry's. So despite the inconvenience of it all, I am very grateful that God provided people for us to lean on and places to be.

I leave you with two verses that I recently came upon and which I wish I had remembered in August.

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him... Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

Psalm 62: 5, 8

Birthday Celebrations

2011-09-02T07:09:00.000-04:00

NOTE: I actually wrote this post a couple weeks back with the intent that I could easily add some birthday snapshots and send it out to you all. Alas, my plan was thwarted! While there is much to fill you in on it will have to wait. Without further ado... THE BIRTHDAY!

It's been busy around here. Not because summer is drawing to a close, or because knitting season is about to explode, but because we had a very sweet little bird's birthday.

To keep this new mama from having a meltdown in the whole "I-have-to-plan-a-birthday-party?!?!" department, we decided to keep things small and family centered. So... we celebrated once with the Runyons and once with the Trues. Can I just say it's so much easier only trying to coordinate one family's schedule at a time! It also allowed me to get double use out of decorations. Another bonus, Tabitha has pictures of her 1st Birthday. We're generally picture slackers around here.

Our theme was blue birds. So the party was held in Tabitha's nest complete with "twigs" (pretzel sticks) and "worms" (the gummy kind). We had cake and oh-so-yummy-Mrs. Stover cupcakes too. Much fun was had by all and our little blue bird of honor got the greatest joy out of tissue paper and her cards. Enjoy the kodaks!

The decor.

Not so happy about the singing.

But the cake isn't bad.

Our little hobo.

Yes, she actually licked the plate clean.

Mrs. Stover's works of art!

Attempting to blow out her candle.

Yummy, yummy!

Can I have another? Please???

No Business Whatsoever!

2011-08-19T07:36:00.001-04:00

I know you are all anxious to see Tabitha's cake eating pictures. They're coming. We've been a little on the "cock-a-doodle-coo--coo" side of things lately. See we're getting ready to take a short break from the hustle and bustle, which inevitably means extra hustle and bustle before leaving.

Which is why I had no business whatsoever getting involved in a craft project. None. Still, when I saw Julie's adorable, clever, and practical idea for Art on the Go, I had to make one or two. The crafty bug bit and I had Sweet Potato loaded in the car before either of knew what was going on. Only one hitch, Tabitha really can't appreciate it until she's slightly older.

Then Mommy had a brainstorm. Magnets. Julie used magnet discs to attach the can of markers for her girls. What if I attached magnets to say, puzzle pieces and then she could have a storyboard of sorts! The end results are pretty awesome in my book. Quick, simple, easy, and pretty in the end.

Cookie sheet #1.

Tabitha received a sound puzzle from Grandpa and Grandma for her birthday. Well the sound aspect sent her into tears. So I repurposed the pieces and she is totally loving sticking them to her new magnetic cookie sheet.

Dollar Store pencil bags to hold pieces.

Dollar Store cookie sheet (small size) with Dollar Store puzzle piece magnets.

This was such a fun project and really only took me an afternoon. The possibilities are endless and great for kids of all ages. And for any of you home schoolers or potential home schoolers, doesn't this give you goosebumps for all the teaching in and out of the car that could happen?

Happy Birthday Sweet Potato!

2011-08-13T19:56:00.000-04:00

For all that you are and all you have yet to be... We love you!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~ First Thessalonians 5:16-18

August Delights

2011-08-04T06:26:00.000-04:00

Growing up our December was always nuts. All told we celebrated four birthdays, two anniversaries, and, oh yeah, Christmas. I remember thinking as a kid I didn't want to be like my parents and have my anniversary, a major holiday, and my kids birthdays all in the same month.

Well... I've managed thus far to avoid the major holiday. See David and I were married August 6 and his birthday is August 9. Last year we added Tabitha's birthday on August 13. Now that might seem a bit tight, but when you go and add two more family events (a brother's birthday and a grandparents' anniversary) I've basically just switched December for August. Sigh.

Having such a concentrated month does mean you feel like you never stop celebrating. Not a bad thing in my book. Since we also decided to throw in a week of vacation this August (I must be nuts), my wonderful hubby decided to celebrate our 6th anniversary early.

Monday, August 1st David told me to be ready at 5:30 and look nice. I put on my favorite new dress, pearl earrings, lipstick (it's been awhile), high heels (it's been a real long while!), and topped it off with a borrowed Luna capelet from Pam. At 5:30, David picked me up, and whisked me away to Bricco.

This restaurant is far classier than any we ate in before kids, which meant that we were totally out of our element and giddy about it! We started with their fresh, made on site bread and an appetizer of Burrata (gooey mozzerella incased is firmer mozerella with figs, melon, tomatoes, basil, and Tamworth bacon) and La Quercia Cured Salumi. Imagine a cutting board of various hams cut so thin they seemed transparent and served with a Melon-Fennel Panna Cotta and Garlic Mostarda dipping sauce. Pretty much heaven on a plate. I also had a white sangria.

Our first course we had half portions and shared. I ordered the Ricotta Truffle Gnocchi served with peas, mushrooms, olive oil toasted bread crumbs and Gruyere. David ordered Sage Pappardelle which is braised duck, red wine and pancetta. Then came course #2.

David decided to try the Yellowfin Tuna which came with fennel, dried orange, sweet pea tortellini and a fine herb-chili brodo (sauce). I too stuck with seafood and delightfully consumed Roasted Lobster and Crab. If that doesn't sound heavenly enough, it was served with Root Beer Pork Belly (uncured bacon--oh yeah baby!), fennel, finely sliced apple, and drizzled with a vanilla bourbon butter. Seriously, at this point we'd been at the restaurant eating for two hours. It was amazing!

Then we ate dessert. David indulged in blueberry cobbler with macadamia nut gelato while savored roasted peach champagne sorbet and a cup of tea.

Needless to say we had an evening of elegance. I think it might be the most romantic thing we've ever done. Thank you honey for planning such a lovely evening for just us. Let's do it again sometime soon (even if it's in our dining room with Thurn & Taxis). It's been a great six years and counting.

Ore-uh-o!

2011-08-01T15:58:00.000-04:00

I've never been a huge Oreo cookie fan (sorry L if this is a big surprise to you) until recently. See this--

It had an identical twin. Both are still identical siblings.

Ahem... I take full responsibility. Please keep your Oreos out of my sight and reach. They are not safe in my presence. Uh-o... Oreo!

Communicating

2011-07-28T08:51:00.000-04:00

David and I have commented often in the past year about all the things we take for granted that at one point we actually had to learn: focusing with both eyes; learning how to form sounds with our throat, tongue, lips; ability to grasp, first with a whole hand and then with a pincer grasp; etc. All of which we have watched Tabitha master in the past 11 1/2 months. Most recently we've been working super hard on sign language with her. It was always a desire of mine to teach my children some sign, but I never imagined the joy and pleasure of seeing a little one learn to communicate.

We started with a great little book from our birth instructor entitled I Can Sign Playtime. It's a board book with a DVD. So we read the book a million times, then started watching the 20 minute animated/live action film. The cute babies, the fun music, and silly puppets add up to 20 minutes of guaranteed fun--even if we watched it yesterday. [Someone is getting I Can Sign Animals for her birthday!]

Wanting to take it to the "next level" we borrowed Baby Sign Time from the library. Within the past two weeks we've noticed a tremendous increase in Tabitha's ability to communicate. She now can sign:

Hat
Ball
Car
Bubble
More
Sign
Time
Book
Read
Yes
Sleep
Train
Wash hands
Please
Sorry
Thank you
Milk
All Done/Finished

Now, don't be too impressed. Just because she knows how to sign these words, doesn't mean she uses them 100% of the time, but she's getting better. For example, this morning I was nursing her and being her silly-self she was not nursing, but looking all around. I asked without signing, "Do you want more milk?" She signed, "yes" and got down to business. It's so great to not only be able to communicate to your child, but with her.

Here's a short video of her signing her three favorite words.

For Shelley

2011-07-27T06:00:00.005-04:00

This post is for Shelley. She is the Vera Bradley queen. I just want you to know that Tabitha is being brought up "right". :-)

Actually I have to laugh because I carry so many bags, so much of the time I think the poor child thinks that she's not being Mama unless she's half buried under bags. I must say though, she is the best little helper at the store. She sits in the cart, and holds my purse strap on her shoulder just like a big girl.

First steps

2011-07-26T07:27:00.000-04:00

Just a short clip of Tabitha taking a few of her first steps. The actual first steps were not clearly captured. In fact, I nearly got sick watching the video. You will notice that David throws me something after Tabitha walks to him. It's a cell phone. Apparently our daughter is motivated by various forms of technology when it comes to these milestones. If you recall, she crawled to get at a Nintendo controller and now she walks to get her hands on a cell phone. What's a parent to do!

CSA Farming

2011-07-25T15:53:00.010-04:00

On Saturday, David, Tabitha, my brother, my mom and I all headed to Loysville, PA for Open Farm Day at our CSA Spiral Path Farm. It's a day just for members to pick up extra veggies, cut flowers & herbs, eat all organic meals at the cafe, and purchase meat and bread from other organic farmers.

Sticking her tongue out... What a child!

While we arrived shortly after the start time, the parking areas were full with people who had the same idea as us. Beat the heat. Standing in line for our extras made me so thankful for all the people at the farm who daily work in the fields and greenhouses (can you imagine!?!) to bring us such lush, tasty food. Our food does not magically appear in our grocery stores. All across the world people toil in the soil coaxing little seeds into edible plants. Between our CSA and watching Philip tend his garden, I am humbled by their knowledge of God's creation. It's not just botany but biology too. Plus, the dedication when the ground is hard, the sun intense, and the breeze or rain nowhere to be found!

Uncle Philip taking his Tabi through the misters.

Despite the excessive heat, we planned to get up there early, grab our stuff and head home. Mission Accomplished! While Mama and I got the veggies, Philip cut flowers and herbs, and David took Tabitha around the farm. We're very excited to be trying organic beef from Coulter farms and bread purchased from Lark Rise Farm has been scrumptious. A year ago we had gotten some organic beef from another local farm, but it really lacked flavor and tast. If we like the tast of Coulter Farm's meat, then we'll consider purchasing a portion of a cow to keep in our new freezer. Ahhh... I knew that baby would come in handy.

After baking in the heat, we came home and celebrated National Hot Dog Day with all angus dogs on the grill. :-) Later the gentlemen dispersed to their own delights (well, not quite for David as he had to watch Tabitha who refused to take an afternoon nap), while Mama and I joined Lisa, her mom, and sister to go wedding dress shopping. It's so much fun to see a beautiful bride-to-be's excitement as she looks for the perfect dress. Sigh. A weekend full of lovely food, people and activities--despite the record heat!

Pondering the scenery.

A Visit from Granny and Gramps

2011-07-23T07:32:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week we had a special visit from David's maternal grandparents. It was great to see them, catch up and re-introduce Tabitha to some of her family. While they were here, we did a little early birthday celebrating and Tabitha received a sweet (washable huzzah!) dolly and two lovely little outfits.

Daddy being a goof.

She also took her first independent steps. While we are over the moon, she's still not really walking on her own at all, but she's getting closer. Hopefully this weekend we'll capture some of these steps on tape to share.

Then and Now

2011-07-21T08:50:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Tabitha wore a dress that I had put on her when she was a newborn. Of course it was way to big for her then, but now it's a little short. :-( Still, she's the cutest watermelon I know!

Summer Lovin'

2011-07-13T21:07:00.000-04:00

Eleven Months... oh how time flies!

2011-07-13T10:13:00.000-04:00

Little Sweet Potato today you turn 11 months. Last year at this time Mama was waddling around the house attempting to stay cool. Grocery store trips and pool visits took about the same amount of time, but instead of playing peek-a-boo with you I felt your karate kicks.

Your big accomplishments this month are:

Signing book and hat and bubble
Getting better at giving kisses and waving good-bye
Cutting your first tooth! (It is only noticeable if you stick your finger in her mouth, but it's there folks!)
Swimming. You are a total fish and nothing water related seems to scare you.
Eating like a big girl. You want your own spoon and to feed yourself.
Favorite foods: Rice cakes, watermelon, cheese, pasta, pretzels and ice cream. :-)
Tantrums. Take a toy away, watch the tears roll. Try to give you food you don't like, meltdown.
Climbing the stairs. You do this all the time. Mama's legs are lookin' good thanks to her stair-mistress!
Nearly walking with only holding on to one of Daddy's fingers.

We are also seeing your problem solving skills develop. You are attempting to figure out how to climb up on things and mastering how to get down off of chairs, sofa, and the bed. Mama loves how you scramble to Daddy when he comes home and how you don't want to let go of him once in his arms.

Daddy and I feel as though parenting as a job versus parenting as a care-giver is happening. More disciplining is necessary as we see your stubbornness and self-centeredness emerge. Still, you are discovering your world and we are trying to keep you safe.

We love you!

BIG Savings

2011-06-30T09:33:00.000-04:00

I like to play a game when I go to the grocery store. It's called how much can I save today. My record was something like $35-37. I clip coupons, but only use the ones for things we need and I pay extra close attention to the circulars. Well, last night, I did basically two weeks worth of shopping with the help of David and Tabitha. Not only did we get it done in 30 minutes, BUT we saved some serious cash. Our total before savings was 156.30. Subtract a $50 gift card (thank you Mama!) and $62.23 in coupons/store savings meant we paid $44.31 for groceries! Plus our local grocery store allows you to earn points toward gas savings. Thanks again to my Mama for the gas coupon [spend $50 get 300 gas points] and we now have .40 cents off each gallon of gas. AND... they don't expire until mid-August!!

It's the small victories in life that make me smile. :-)

Father's Day

2011-06-30T09:17:00.000-04:00

I am so blessed to have been raised by this amazing father. He taught me to love family, laugh fully, dig deeply into whatever interests you, and most of-- all God is everything. I'm a total Daddy's girl and always will be.

Now I get to watch this man be a father to our daughter. He amazes me. His strength, servant's heart and care for his little lovey. The love, attention, fun, and joy that she radiates when her Daddy plays with her, holds her, or just walks into the room astounds me. She's definitely becoming a Daddy's a girl.

Happy Father's Day to two men who mean the world to me!

Thank You Grandma and Grandpa

2011-06-16T16:10:00.000-04:00

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

Thank you for my butterfly dress. I get lots of compliments when I wear it to church. It's also just the right length so I can crawl without getting all caught up in my clothes. Daddy says I'm beautiful. I think he might be right.

Love,

Tabitha

Nap Hair

2011-06-16T15:59:00.000-04:00

She looks so much like her Daddy when he awakes. Little Miss Squinty Eyes.

Is there any question why she is often referred to as Tabifuzz or The Fuzz?

New Shoes

2011-06-16T15:47:00.000-04:00

Despite having the world's tiniest feet, we finally got shoes for Sweet Potato. We're praying her feet grow in length soon as she is eager to walk and they don't make supportive shoes in her size. She's a 1.5, which is a 0-6 month size. How old are we? 10 months old. Even these are slightly too long for her. Oh gee golly whiz!

I love how chubby her legs are!

P.S. The bottoms of these shoes are now black from all her "walking".

Book Pairings

2011-06-15T20:13:00.001-04:00

Despite having worked in a K-2 environment, I generally read older elementary fiction. I have my favorite authors all of whom tend to write either with an old fashion style or with a knack for puzzels. One of the hazards of being a librarian is that you are always looking for pairings. Perhaps a fiction title that complements a non-fiction account, or two stories about the same place only the settings are a century apart. Recently I found two pairings that I wanted to share with you... even though I highly suspect that this is really for my own sake than yours.

The first pair is about Maine. Jeanne Birdsall recently published her third book in the Penderwick Sister series titled The Penderwicks at Point Mouette. This delightful romp not only continues the story of these four loveable girls, it also describes the joy of the Main coastline. The Canning Season by Polly Horvath tells the story of a girl who is sent to live with her ancient relatives for the summer. While the flavor of this book varies greatly from Birdsall's tale, the two have a quirkiness that would be perfect for summer reading the 9-12 age group...or any adult wishing for a return to childhood.

The second group is around Darwin and takes place in two drastically different settings and period. A couple months ago I listened to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly. Set in Texas at the cusp of the 20th century, this story follows a young girl as she observes the natural world around her and bonds with her Grandfather as he teaches her about Darwin and his Theory of Evolution. Currently, I am listening to The Danger Box by Blue Balliett. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Balliett's previous stories and was eager to start this book. When the book started out going across Pennsylvania into Ohio and then into Michigan, I was intrigued. When it started to reference Darwin my homeschooling mama side immediately went into overdrive.

"Oh my word! We are going to have to listen to this on one of our trips to Michigan to see David's family when the kids (assuming we have another) are older. AND we can also listen to Calpurnia Tate and a little further research on Darwin, maybe a biographical sketch and we'll turn our 9 hour drive into 9 hours of school!"

Yes, sometimes I get carried away. Sigh. Seriously though, check these books out. They are simply good fun.

9 Months Old

2011-05-25T21:04:00.001-04:00

Someone recently turned 9 months old.

Sweet Potato has officially been out longer than she was in! Everyday she is more confident in her ever widening range of skills.
Favorites include:

Feeding herself
Squishing foods in her hands-- making mealtime extra special
Pulling herself up
Walking or crawling around the house
Emptying trash cans
Reading books (with us and by herself)
Saying "mmamma" "gluck, gluck" "bubba"
Whispering

In other news, we have (knock on wood) found a solution to the constipation issue. Miralax initially got the system going and we've now cut back to about 1/2 teaspoon every three days. BIG improvement from 2 teaspoons everyday! Yogurt, however, was the trick. All I can guess is that her intestines needed the flora found in yogurt. Whatever the case, we're thrilled to have a normal pooping baby!

9 Month Stats:
Height-- 28 inches [75% percentile]
Weight-- 17 lbs 6.5 oz [25% percentile]
Head circumference-- 16 7/8 inches [25% percentile]

To my movin' and groovin' girl

2011-04-25T21:04:00.000-04:00

Dear Sweet Potato,

Today you started to crawl. This is a big deal for you and for us. We have been awaiting this day. While we're excited to watch you grow and explore your new independence, this also means new responsibilities for us and you.

Your crawling isn't the normal two hands, two knee shuffle. Instead, you seem to be taking after your Grandpa Kirk's crawling method in what your daddy is calling "the peg leg scoot". Up until today you would scoot and then sit, scoot and sit. Perhaps it was the spinach you had for lunch, I don't know, but this afternoon something clicked and you were off! Of course, crawling to your mother wasn't your first priority. You preferred to finally explore those nintendo remote controls you've been eyeing much to your father's chagrin. Anything with buttons is your forte.

And if crawling wasn't enough, you're also becoming a pro at pulling yourself to a standing position, steadying your feet--even when your baby toes are tangled in blankets, and have decided that if someone will hold your hands you'll walk. You are growing up little one. We are so proud of your new accomplishments and know they will take you (and us!) places we never imagined.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

He is risen!

2011-04-24T20:51:00.000-04:00

What a day of celebration! We started our day celebrating Christ's triumph over the grave! We also celebrated the arrival of a most expected baby girl to our friends Jeff and Karen. What a wonderful little new life they are experiencing this Easter!

Before heading to church, we explained to Tabitha the joy of this day. She didn't quite understand, but she did "pose" for some Easter photos. Many thanks to Dearma for making such a pretty dress.

Silly girl!

Not so sure about the bunny basket.

So much for Easter eggs. She prefers Easter "grass".

Mama's Favorite Things

2011-04-17T16:22:00.000-04:00

All these rainy days have me really appreciating a few of my favorite baby things. I thought I'd share in case they can help you. They definitely make my days brighter!

MotherLove Nipple Cream -- This 100% organic product can be used for sore nipples as well as lip balm for you and baby. I've even used this on Tabitha's cheeks when they got chapped in the winter. It goes on smoother than lanolin products, is organic (a huge plus since baby is ingesting it), and helps fight yeast & bacteria.

Nourish Baby Organics -- I am in love! Tabitha has really sensitive skin so we try to use natural products to keep her skin from being irritated. Their Organic Lavender Oil not only keeps her skin soft and hydrated it also smells heavenly. (I add a capful to her bath and to mine!) I also have their Organic Coconut Wash which is basically summer in a bottle. We haven't tried it yet, but I have no doubt that it will make her smell and feel yummilicous!

Silicone Kitchen Utensils -- We're not big into toys around our house. Instead, we like practical objects. Tabitha has been playing with these kid-sized kitchen utensils for several months now. They make great teething objects, are dishwasher safe (yeah!), and can be used later on for helping in the kitchen. Her favorites are Piggy Spatula by Jo!e and Pastry Brush by Curious Chef-- which makes a whole range of kid friendly kitchen utensils.

Aden + Anais Blanket -- I was given two of these as gifts shortly after Tabitha's birth and they have come in handy so, so, so many times! Made from 100% cotton muslin, we use them as comfort blankets (great for cold or warm weather), nursing covers, swaddling blankets, giant burp cloths, and for peek-a-boo. I can easily envision capes and tents being made out of them in the future. These are so wonderful that I've actually stashed two more for when Baby #2 comes… way, way, way down the road!

The rain is pounding the house and baby girl is fast asleep. David is off being a disciple in our church's Easter Musical. So while the house is quiet, I think I'll go take a bath sprinkled with lavender oil!

*Note: I wrote this last night, but due to the storm couldn't post it until today!

Eight Months Old

2011-04-13T06:51:00.002-04:00

My dearest little Sweet Potato,

Eight months ago your head was a little cone shaped and your arms and legs were skinny little spindles.

Now your face is round and rosy cheeked and your arms and legs have dimples. It has been a wonderful eight months being your parents. Each day you are growing and learning and Mama and Daddy are having trouble keeping up!

You haven't started to crawl, but you're getting close and you really want to be on the move. Sitting in one place is just no fun anymore. You have finally figured out how to roll from back to belly. However, you much prefer to pull yourself to a standing position.

You don't have any teeth yet, but you are chewing on everything-- a new favorite the TV remote. You are eating more solids and getting better at taking a bottle. Your stubbornness shows itself when you fight taking your naps or sleeping through the night. Little Girl, 3:30 am is not playtime. However, you love the stacking rings Aunt Kathy gave you--a definite favorite toy. You like to clack the wooden rings together. In fact, you like to make all sorts of noises using your hands. Clapping might just be your new hobby. You've also discovered how to make your hand squeak. Step 1: Suck on fingers and hand until sufficiently slobbered. Step 2: Open and close fist. Step 3: Smile at the sound.

You are very attached to Mama and Daddy. While you enjoy playing by yourself, you don't like when Daddy or I walk away. You want company. You're also learning to signal when you want something. Arms fly into the air when you want up, frequently followed by hugs and kisses to us as soon as you are in our arms. It's the best feeling in the world!

Perhaps our favorite trait of yours is that when you smile your eyes light up.

We love you, Little Girl!

Catching up…

2011-04-12T16:14:00.003-04:00

Adorable onesie from Little Blue Feather

It's been a whirlwind the past few weeks. I truly didn't mean to take such a long blogging hiatus, but sometimes the living of life means the chronicling of it gets put on hold. So let's see if I can get you all caught up on the past few weeks.

Mid-March -- We had company! David's parents and youngest brother were in town for a few days. The weather here was positively delightful and we enjoyed eating outside, playing in the grass, and walks. Tabitha wasn't so sure about her Grandpa and Uncle Caleb, but she was kinda going through a phase of "I don't like men." Thankfully she seems to have passed that stage and is now onto the lovely "Mama/Daddy don't you dare leave me" stage. We are now the parents who drop our kid off at nursery and then mow the other parents over as we race to leave before she realizes we're gone.

End of March/Early April -- David had a conference in Philly. I was jealous. I miss you City of Brotherly Love. While he was off attending interesting round tables and academic presentations, I was at home attempting to care for a severely constipated baby [more on this soon], while packing and preparing for four hectic days following his return. Saturday, April 2 we had the joy of witnessing the marriage of two friends. David knows the groom through church and his Men's Group. I have known the bride since we were in late elementary school. We have watched on the sidelines as Myron and Lorraine grew in their mutual affection and occasionally helping them to take the next step in their relationship. It was a beautiful day filled with fun, happiness, and the bliss of seeing two hearts finally united as one!

The very next day, we flew out of BWI for Florida. David's Grandparents Lavrack live in Florida and we flew down to spend some time with them and introduce them to Tabitha. It was bliss.

Four Generations of family

We…

saw beautiful birds at the park
splashed in the water -- T was a little dubious
ate delicious meals
played some pool
ate loquats -- yummy tangy fruit that is sometimes called Chinese plum
played games
visited with family -- oh how precious that was!
Tabitha's first encounter with an up-close animal. She belly giggled at ZuZu and liked to touch her fur. Watch out Daddy, a kitty cat might be in our future.
watched the fish in Aunt Laurie and Uncle Kevin's pond
drooled over Aunt Laurie's craft room… Talk about being jealous!
stood in awe of Grandma's ability to keep the house spotless even with all of us tromping in and out. Martha Stewart would have trouble competing with Grandma's skills. Seriously.
didn't want to say good-bye.

Now we're in the throws of Easter musical practice and preparations for Easter. Life is picking up pace, but we are thoroughly enjoying it. My hyacinths are blooming, the lily of the valley is getting ready to fill the air, and we are relishing in seeing the birds and animals once again fill our backyard. Sweet abundant life!

Pantry Changes

2011-03-14T06:34:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that there were a few changes taking place in our homestead. One of those changes is in how we manage our money. Since we married, I've done some variation of meal planning with varying stringency. While a friend of ours is participating in No Spend March, we decided to use this month to focus on how we spend our grocery money. Ideally, we're trying to scale back from $300 a month to $200. With grocery prices rising and our commitment to organic produce, milk, and meat, I'm not sure we'll be able to keep it at $200, but we're going to try.

So far it's been a fun challenge. I've been using a site that aggregates my local grocery store circulars so I can quickly and easily see which stores have the best deals. It also allows you to make and print a grocery list, and includes nutritional information for many products. I'm also doing a better job at selecting coupons and sticking to my list--which ultimately means sticking to my meal plan. To make life a little easier, I'm attempting to plan meals for two weeks, with only one week being the major grocery store run. The second week is to pick up incidentals and fresh produce.

The one thing that will probably put us over our goal is that the grocery store is having a stock up and save on frozen items. Not only are they running some super 10 for $10 deals on frozen veggies, but they are also offering $25 rebate when you spend $100 during the month. I really want the rebate and my freezer filled.

Perhaps the biggest change in this new "system" is the near elimination of cereal from our pantry. Breakfast has been by far the most expensive meal we eat. This is mainly because of the cost of cereal and organic milk. Yes, I know we could drink regular milk, but I've got pretty strong convictions about what I put into our bodies. Plus, we're fortunate enough to be able to have local organic milk! [For those local readers, it's Weis Organic Milk. Averages $3.49 for a half gallon and it lasts forever! Unlike other "national" organic brands I've never had this spoil on me.]

To replace the loss of cereal, I've been baking muffins, making smoothie mixes, egg dishes, and experimenting with steel cut oats. All in all, David and I are noticing that we stay satiated longer. I'm loving that I'm able to use up frozen fruit and cut down on mid-morning snacks! Yes, it does require a little more planning and effort on my part, but that is the joy of being home. I can spend time rather than money. And I'm more than happy to do so for those blue eyes...

A Little Sweetness from Our Sweet Potato

2011-03-12T14:46:00.001-05:00

She might not have teeth, but our little Sweet Potato loves eating. Particularly, if it's off your plate or out of your bowl. Soup seems to be her favorite non-baby food item. She's also highly interested in drinking from regular cups. We might just bypass the whole sippy cup if this continues. Non-food items she likes to consume or gnaw on include: coupons, socks (her own and others), spatulas, and cloth.

The weather has been in a state of flux lately. On one particularly nice day we took a family walk.

A couple weeks ago, I read this post about a pajama failure. A couple of days later David found Tabitha with her own pj escape. We're still not sure how she did this as the snaps were still closed!

Then last Saturday, while I was working, David shot this adorable video of Tabitha. She loves talking to herself in the mirror! She's also developing some adorable little "moves" like cocking her head at a angle and smiling, wiggling her shoulders than torso and hips, and sucking her lips into her mouth. Needless to say, we are having much fun with our darling daughter.

Response

2011-03-04T10:45:00.000-05:00

Friends,

What a response! My mailbox has been brimming with messages of love, concern, and encouragement. I didn't realize so many people actually read my little postings. It's quite humbling. Thank you for your support. However, I feel there are a few things I need to address--even if it’s just to set a few minds at ease.

1. Life lessons hit at the darnedest times.
Ever wonder why your great epiphany occurs in the shower and not in the middle of the conversation when you really could have used it? I'm sure someone scholarly has done all the proper research to answer that question scientifically. Personally, I think the Lord uses our quiet moments to speak the loudest to us. I've been spending more consistent time in prayer and Bible Study lately and God’s been rewarding my discipline with some clear messages.

2. Contrary to belief, feeling alone isn’t inherently bad.
I actually really treasure alone time—more so now with a baby. Sometimes though we each need to be reminded that we aren’t alone. Essentially, that is what I was attempting to communicate in my previous post. And considering your responses, I don’t feel as alone thanks to you.

3. “Frustration is the wet nurse of violence” – David Abrahansen
Yes, even I have aggression. I’ve found that it’s better to deal with my frustration by communicating it than letting it build until I combust. Sometimes this means writing blog posts exposing some of my darker thoughts. At other times it means wrestling the urge to purchase cheap china and smash it in the street. My daughter expresses her frustration by blowing spit bubbles. Perhaps I’ll try that next.
Aside—part of my current frustration has been that I know there are people I’d like to get to know, but motherhood challenges my ability to adequately do that. Balancing one’s own life and close relationships is hard enough. When you try to maneuver your schedule to fit another’s it gets even more complicated. Bottom-line: we’re all too busy and that busyness continues to thwart my meager attempts at closeness.

4. Changes. They be a comin’.
David and I have had some pretty lengthy conversations lately. We’ve come to a few conclusions and I’m hoping to share those with you in the near future. To give you a glimpse, we’ve covered finances, pleasure activities, spiritual activities, time management, and household procedures…just to name a few. I’m excited to share with you how God is challenging us.

Until later, Happy Friday everyone!

Kristin

Exposure

2011-03-01T20:28:00.002-05:00

Lately I've been feeling a host of unpleasantness. Before I go any further, I need to be clear: No one has actually done or said anything (recently) to which I attribute this sullenness. It has also been a good thing as it's forced me to examine some areas of my life that need periodic straightening.

It's a good thing God doesn't have a minute limit on His prayer plan because my bill would be astronomical! My consistent request is for a kindred spirit. Six months into this motherhood adventure and I feel isolated, worn out, irritable, terribly alone, and frankly misunderstood. My priorities and heart longings feel like they clash with others around me. I feel like an outsider, except I'm unwilling to change. Now I do have a stubborn streak, but this isn't about that--at least not entirely.

I lead, by choice, what I consider a simple life. David and I have purposefully chosen not to allow certain things into our lives in order that we might have peace. Example, when we were first married we couldn't afford cable. Now that we can, we choose not to so that we aren't tempted to waste time watching copious amounts of TV, we have less to worry about when it comes to monitoring content, and the money that would have gone to that expense can be put toward other longer lasting experiences. Please do not misunderstand me. Our decisions to refrain from various "necessities" is not an attempt to be holier then thou. It is a personal decision that we have made partly out of how God wired us (i.e. money savers) and partly due to His gentle guiding.

We also choose to do things and participate in various groups for those same reasons. However, sometimes those choices make me feel less than worthy among my peers. I feel silly being an adult and dealing with feeling ~~inadequate~~ ~~uncool~~ other. Nonetheless I do.

One friend commented that I'm an old soul. I do prefer doing things in a slightly more antiquated way and if you've ever been to my home you'll see family antiques in every room. They aren't just hand-me-downs, they help tell and remind me of the rich heritage I possess. I'm proud of those pieces. I enjoy canning (even though it's a lot of work) and making my own cleaning supplies--not just because it's healthy for my family and easy on the wallet, but because they bring me joy. I think my daughter is better off playing with kitchen utensils and paper towel tubes than anything ToysRUs can market. I'm not a lover of stuff. Status makes me nauseous. And I confess I have little patience for people who find those items as comforting.

Sadly, I feel or sense that I am in the minority among my fellow young moms. Which might explain why I gravitate to friendships with older women. I desire a friend who knows that this homemaking isn't about showing-off, but about pushing the limits of creativity and capability. Someone close to my age and stage of life who gets and practices this type of mothering without aspiring to be the next Duggar Family. Oh, one more condition, I'd like this individual to live nearby. Several dear and wonderful women who will read this post might resonate but why do you all live out of state?

Those are my raw ends folks. These are my thoughts surrendered. Please treat them with care.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

While David and I have never really been great at romantic dinners or getaways, this Valentine's Day actually was memorable. After baby girl was snugly tucked in bed, we feasted on cheese fondue, balsamic pork chops, mushroom pinwheels, and scrumptious hot chocolate from Ticket Kitchen [A, sorry to ruin the surprise but this is what I'm sending you]. And remember those homemade marshmallows? Well, we topped off our drinks with some fluffy fun.

Tip: We had some left over fondue which I couldn't part with. I mean, that cheese was expensive! So I let everything cool. Then I saved the cheese. Two nights later I made tomato soup with milk and slowly melted the fondue cheese into the soup. Garnished with some Italian herbs and it was the best gourmet tomato soup we've ever had!

P.S. Several of you had wondered how you make marshmallows. Well you could follow this recipe or this one, but I got mine out of this cookbook. Quick, easy, cleaned-up in a snap, and oh so yummy!

Runyon Readings

2011-02-17T18:28:00.000-05:00

Around our house, there are always multiple books in progress. Currently, David is reading You are Not a Gadget by Jaron Lanier. In an unabashed attempt to make summer and trips to the shore come sooner, I am reading this gem with the most appropriate bookmark ever (thanks L)!

As a family, we are reading The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: the Mysterious Howling. It's a great older elementary read about a young governess and her three almost feral charges. Thanks to the book, Tabitha has earned a new nickname "Tabiwoooo".

Tabitha has taken a strong liking to the book Uncle Caleb got her for Christmas. Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton is mostly made up of animal noises. Her favorite seems to be the cow.

In an effort to encourage and expand my daughter's love of farm animals, I introduced her to this book:

I grew up with this book and have fond memories of it. Last June, at our library's book sale, I saw this and had to buy it. As we sat flipping through the pages, Tabitha turned back to the very front page and revealed....

Unbeknownst to me, I bought back the very book I had as a child. It was oddly comforting to think that the book had found me or I had found it after all these years. More than that, it made me realize just how small town my home actually is.

6 months

2011-02-13T10:19:00.000-05:00

This little girl is 6 months old.

She believes that sitting for a photo is a very serious event.

She is still cute.

Likes -

Chewing on Duckie (her blanket)
Likes to help Mommy use the computer
Loves to splash in the water
Having raspberries blown on her belly
Watching Daddy do silly dances
Eating sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash (basically anything orange)
Her hands- the way they open, close, point, and wiggle

Dislikes -

When Mommy tries to read a book while nursing
Being on her tummy
Eating green beans

Tabitha Gail, you are truly living up to your name. You are a beautiful girl whose personality is blossoming. You delight us daily--especially when you smile and giggle. We love you a bushel and a peck little love!

My mouth is filled with Your praise, oh Lord!

2011-02-09T09:10:00.083-05:00

Last night another precious child was welcomed into the arms of Jesus. Miranda Evangeline's short life has testified of God's love for his children. She has joined her Mommy in the realms of glory. Take a moment and read about her send-off here.

Despite my breaking heart, the hymn "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" rolled through my head last night. Verse five particularly lodged in my heart: "He speaks, and, listening to His voice, new life the dead receive, the mournful, broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe." As I lay quietly in bed singing, I saw this image--

A man stood with arms outstretched and face turned up to heaven surrounded by a sea of people standing in concentric circles with arms around each others' shoulders. As more people joined, the group leaned forward lifting up the man--without physically touching him--until he hovered above the ground.

In my heart I heard these words "this is the power of prayer."

Thousands of people prayed that God would breathe life into Miranda. While we would have preferred that life to be on earth, He has a different purpose in mind. I don't profess to know that plan. What I am confident in is that through Miranda's innocence, her Mommy's life, and her Daddy's strength Our Lord has been made great!

Selections from Psalm 71

⁵ For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,

my confidence since my youth.

^{⁶ From birth I have relied on you;}

you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.

I will ever praise you.

^{⁷ I have become a sign to many;}

you are my strong refuge.

^{⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise,}

declaring your splendor all day long.

¹⁴ As for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

of your saving acts all day long—

though I know not how to relate them all.

^{¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD;}

I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

^{¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me,}

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

^{¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,}

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.

¹⁹ Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,

you who have done great things.

Who is like you, God?

^{²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles,}

many and bitter,

you will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth

you will again bring me up.

^{²¹ You will increase my honor}

and comfort me once more.

²² I will praise you with the harp

for your faithfulness, my God;

I will sing praise to you with the lyre,

Holy One of Israel.

^{²³ My lips will shout for joy}

when I sing praise to you—

I whom you have delivered.

^{²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts}

all day long...

If you give a Mama winter weather...

2011-02-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

If you give a Mama two days of icy weather like this --

She'll naturally want to make marshmallows like this --

And after she's made marshmallows she'll want to make smores like this --

I don't think we'll ever go back to jet puffed anything. Not after the real thing.

Hog Butcherin'

2011-01-24T11:30:00.002-05:00

My family has never been "normal". We have many unusual quirks like celebrating National Hot Dog Day (it's July 23 in case you were wondering) or eating our ice cream with pretzels instead of spoons. Perhaps the most unusual tradition is the annual hog butchering. My mother's cousins kill the hogs on a Friday, then Saturday the family shows up and we all help vacuum pack the meat. Now it helps that her cousins, Bob and Denny, were once butchers. It's an amazing process to help with and watch. At the end, we each leave with our fresh pork to fill our freezers. There are pork chops and ribs, shoulders and tenderloins, and sausage of all types. The sausage is amazing! Some is stuffed in casing, others is loose- which we fry up into a few patties for everyone to munch at lunch.

Saturday was the day we all gathered to make a lot of work a little easier and a heck of a lot more fun! It was also the coldest day we've had this winter (9 degrees as I left home). The cousins who were stirring the pudding had a cold job, but at least they had a hot fire. Those of us inside the garage were warmer, except when packing meat. It took my fingers a good 15 minutes to return feeling after packing pork chops and sausage. That meat was cold!

One of the perks of having quality butchers in the family is that you learn all sorts of tricks. Like pig neck bones give spaghetti sauce a sweet flavor or the availability of wonderfully clean pig stomachs for making this old fashion treat: Yummy hog maw!

Hog Maw: Pig stomach stuffed with onion, sausage and potato.

David doesn't know what to think of all this and still hasn't been convinced that it's "fun". But I take heart in the fact that Tabitha seems interested. After all, she did try multiple times to steal bites from her daddy's sausage sandwich.

So it's been a while...

2011-01-19T08:24:00.000-05:00

I know. Life got in the way. Here's a picture review of the past 2 months because I really don't know how else to get "caught up".

Tabitha loves getting baths. She particularly love splashing.

Family Thanksgiving/Christmas in Michigan

Christmas Eve Finery

It's only a matter of time before she starts to scoot.

A little quality time with Uncle Brian.

Sweet after Christmas gathering with the LeTourneau crew.

3 months

2010-11-12T21:38:00.001-05:00

What she is up to:

Enjoys sucking on index finger and thumb... or her whole hand.
Drools a lot
Sleeps through the night :-)
Is learning to take nice long naps during the day
LOVES her bouncy seat and ducky blanket
Gets a thrill out of hiding behind her burp cloth and playing peek-a-boo of sorts
Is quickly growing into her 3-6 month clothes
Smiles, smiles, giggles, and smiles
Is finding her voice-- particularly when Mama sings "A Bushel and A Peck"
Still has amazing power in those little lungs!
Has acquired the nicknames "Dorkie," "Little Lady," and "Tabifuzz"
Might have a future as an Irish step dancer.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-30T07:52:00.000-04:00

Little Miss Pumpkin

Tuckered out from handing out candy

Happy Halloween!

Baby Blessing(s)

2010-10-19T12:14:00.000-04:00

Back in June, I posted how I was channeling all my baby preparations into planning our Baby Blessing. I have been quite remiss in letting everyone know how it all went. My dear friend and her parents hosted the joyous event in their lovely home. Bright oranges and pinks were found in flowers, table decorations, and even gift wrap. We started the time with the blessing. David explained how we came to call our daughter Tabitha Gail and revealed our prayer that she will exhibit generosity, grace, and a beautiful spirit as she finds love and confidence in the delight of her Heavenly Father.

We then entered a time of prayer and praise. My dear friend Gretchen and her husband Clayton, prayed over Tabitha. They thanked God for His awesome gift of life and asked that her intellect, spirit, and heart would yearn to know Him. Then David's parents prayed over him and my parents prayed over me. David then read a letter from our close friends the Taylors. They were unable to make the event, but wrote a lovely blessing to Tabitha. My brother followed by lifting up the family and friends who gathered around us. He prayed specifically for wisdom as they help to guide David and I as parents and instruct Tabitha in the years to come.

Finally, the hostess, L praised God for gathering us together. She even spoke of the blessing of having lost Petunia and Pumpkin so that our Sweet Potato could be born. Tissues were passed many times, but the tears were of joy, of thanksgiving, of praise to the God who makes all things work together for those who love Him.

Of course a gathering such as this couldn't go by without delectable delights. Oreo balls [a new favorite], cucumber and dill sandwiches, pretzels, lemon cupcakes, punch, cheese, and fruit tarts filled our hungry selves. All of it scrumptious!

While Tabitha will not remember the day, her Mama and Daddy will never forget it. To be surrounded by the love, friendship, and the Holy Spirit in celebration of His work in our lives left both David and I speechless. We were at once both emotionally filled and drained. It was all the celebration for which we could have hoped.

*All photos copyright of the lovely and oh so talented L @but a shadow.

You Are My Sunshine

2010-10-06T08:45:00.001-04:00

Love Bug.

Wearing the shrug Shelley made for her.

Flower power.

Ready for church wearing the adorable vintage sweater and bonnet knit by Ruth.

She got this pose from her mama.

Aren't I cute in Jeanene's pea pod?

Meow.

Ready for a cuddle with Uncle Scum.

A List of Firsts

2010-09-29T08:15:00.002-04:00

All new parents chronicle the many firsts their child experiences. These past 6 weeks Tabitha has had many firsts. I'm trying to get better at capturing them on camera, however, I'm still not very good. Thankfully, grandparents are great at remembering to not just bring the camera, but also take pictures. Sadly, neither Mommy nor Dearpa or Dearma got pictures of her at her first collegiate football game. But we sure had fun watching Lowen play... despite the score. :-(

First stroller ride. She was a little too small for the stroller so
we wheeled her around on the back wheels only.

First trip (of many!) to Cape May, NJ.

First visit to Hot Dog Tommy's. I think next time she'll appreciate it more. :-)

Corner Cottage... her first overnight away from home.

Her first birthday party. Uncle Harry turned 90 years old!

First visit to an Alpaca Farm.

Two years of growth

2010-09-22T15:37:00.000-04:00

Two years ago, our September was full of pain. We had just experienced our first miscarriage when David was offered a job. A job in a library, working with people he respected in his home town. At that point he had been with the state government for about 2 1/2 years and was eagerly looking to move on. This job offer seemed ideal.

Except... it wasn't. It wasn't the job, or the place, or the people. We didn't know it then, but there were other lessons to be learned. Within a week of losing Petunia, David and I decided to turn down the "perfect" job. My heart grieved as I watched David release his dream of working in a library. When we would talk, I kept telling him that something better would come. I felt that surely God would not have us both give up our desires (mine to be a mother, his to have a career in librarianship) forever. This just wasn't the right time.

As the months passed and David would apply, interview, and be rejected from job after job I began to doubt. When we lost Pumpkin that winter, I doubted. When David graduated from graduate school and the economy tanked rendering so many of his job prospects null and void, I questioned. What was God doing? Why couldn't my husband get a job, in his field? Couldn't the Lord see his talents were stagnating in his current position? Didn't the Lord create David for more than just a seat warmer?

What I didn't want to see (at the time) was all the change that was occuring. Despite his job(less) prospects my husband diligently went to work. He improved what he could in his workplace, while looking for opportunities to use his interests outside of work. The real joy though was in our marriage. We learned to support each other and encourage in new ways. We put down roots by investing in each other and friends. We learned to be content with what we had and thankful for the little blessings of everyday life.

Then God said, "Excuse me, I'd like to give you..."

Within a week of bringing home our daughter, David was interviewing for a position we had just heard about. It seemed like a long shot, but people whom we had never actually met were putting in good words for David and the interview process moved fast. By week three of being parents, we were praying for wisdom regarding acceptance of a library job.

On Monday, David will start his career. He'll be overseeing a library at a science and technology centered university. He'll have the same commute as he has for the past 4 years. It's a higher paying position and the benefits are good. We are humbled that God would grant our desires in such a perfectly timed way. He really does make all things beautiful in their time.

1 Month

2010-09-21T20:53:00.000-04:00

Our darling daughter is a month old. We were reminiscing at 2:30 am how much has changed for us and in her since she was born.

In us...

an occasional 5 hour stretch of sleep is heaven
naps are no longer optional
laundry is done nearly every day (most common "stain" is breastmilk)
regularly discuss number of poopy vs. wet diapers and their consistencies
stay awake just to watch our daughter sleep
sing all sorts of made up songs accompanied by wacky dances (David is particularly good at this!)
dependency on caffeine is growing

In her...

stays alert for longer periods
smiles
when you ask her to tell you a story she will often start to "talk"
grunts regularly in her sleep - much to the amusement of her parents
has discovered her ears
rolls from back to belly when you least expect it
LOVES her bouncy seat
adores being held

Tabitha Statistics:

Weighs 8 lbs. 1 oz. (20th percentile)

Height 20 1/2 inches (25th percentile)

Head circumference 14 inches (10th percentile)

So our baby is still on the petite side, but she's growing and we're so grateful for that! It's been a short-long month, yet parenthood really is a joy.

Week 2

2010-08-28T11:03:00.002-04:00

Saturday: Tabitha made up for her quiet day of visiting with Pam and Myron & Lorraine during her evening feeding. While nursing, she suddenly arched her back, eyes bugged, limbs became rigid, she turned beet red, and stopped breathing. I screamed for David. As soon as he had her in his arms, he turned her on her belly and started patting her back. I called 911. By the time the 3 cops (two different townships responded) and the paramedics arrived, Tabitha had started breathing again. We later spoke to our pediatrician, who surmises that Tabitha probably wasn't choking on breast milk, rather that she had a seizure. Our doctor said, "Everyone is allowed one seizure. If it happens again, we're doing a full work up." We're all hoping it never happens again.

Sunday-Monday: Breastfeeding does not come naturally! I had such sore nipples from breastfeeding that I was in tears every time I fed Tabitha. Additionally, I was feeling very trapped. Like my daughter was really a ball and chain and I would never be able to plan, go out, or function like anything other than a milk machine again. We decided to try pumping and supplementing with formula.

Sleeping on Daddy's chest.

Tuesday: After agonizing all weekend about what to do regarding how to feed Tabitha (only breastfeed, pump exclusively, breastfeed and pump, formula only) I finally called a lactation consultant. Tuesday also brought a visit from Uncle John who gushed and cooed over his new great-niece. That evening we realized that Tabitha has P.M. Colic leanings. This translates to screaming for about 3 hours straight (with a few breaks).

Wednesday: David had an interview for a potential job in the morning. In the afternoon, I met with Jody and we came up with a plan for feeding Tabitha while giving Mommy a few flexibility options.

Hanging out on the floor.

Thursday: A calm day. Took a walk around the neighborhood, ate left overs from the scrumptious meals we've been receiving, and watched a few Big Bang episodes. That night I was up every 2 hours to nurse as Tabitha has entered her first growth spurt.

Climbing up Dearma. Tabitha rarely stays still!

Friday: Daddy's first day back at work. Dearma came to watch Tabitha while Mommy ran to the grocery store. Then in the afternoon Karen came and took pictures of our persnickety little girl. I love how my daughter loves being held and snuggling, but it does make it tricky when you want to take photos. :-) Still, Karen did a great job at capturing our Sweet Potato even with the screaming fits.

Saturday: While attempting to change a diaper before her bath, Tabitha had awful gas followed by a pint sized Mount Vesuvius eruption. Thank goodness for extra diapers! As Mommy and Daddy were reaching for wipes and other various clean-up materials, Tabitha just cooed, grinned, and spit up. This is life with a newborn.

Our Sweet Potato

2010-08-20T06:51:00.001-04:00

Timeline

2010-08-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

Dear Sweet Potato,

The time has come my little one for you to meet this great big world. We are certainly looking forward to seeing your sweet face and smothering you in kisses and cuddles.

As we've been waiting for your arrival there have been many unexpected changes. One day you'll ask us what we were doing before you were born, so here is a timeline of what took place shortly before you arrived.

Daddy's first car all banged up.

Tuesday, August 3 - Mommy went to the doctor. Afterward she stopped at the grocery store. Then as she was heading home (with 4 half gallons of ice cream) another pregnant lady made a left turn into Mommy's car. Because of how the car was hit, Mommy couldn't steer and plowed into (and over) two road signs. It was the first time Mommy, and you for that matter, were in an accident. The policeman came, the ambulance came to make sure you were okay, and then Daddy arrived. We got your car seat, our groceries and headed home to put away our quickly melting ice cream. Then we went to the hospital where Dearma and Dearpa met us. The doctor and nurses did a few tests and we got to watch your heart beat on a special monitor. After 3.5 hours, they sent us home since you were definitely happy and healthy. We all felt God's protection over your life.

Wednesday, August 4 - Because of all our excitement with the accident, Mommy had some very strong contractions throughout the day and evening. On more than one occasion Daddy and I thought we would be heading back to the hospital. However, you were not yet ready.

Friday, August 6 - We found out that our car was totaled. So Daddy and I spent all day shopping for a minivan. It was tiring! We crawled into cars, out of cars, took test drives, opened trunks, folded seats, and completely wore ourselves out! Daddy and I did take a little time to have a lovely 5th anniversary lunch at Olive Garden.

Look at how big Mommy's tummy is on your due date!

Sunday, August 8 - Your due date.

Monday, August 9 - Daddy's Birthday! Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Caleb all flew in to celebrate Daddy's big day and to await your arrival. We celebrated with dinner at Outback Steakhouse, then raspberry cheesecake (one of Daddy's favorites) and candles at home. Dearpa, Dearma, and Uncle Philip joined us for dessert and presents.

Mommy also had a doctor's appointment that day. We got to see and hear your heartbeat and since you hadn't arrived yet we made plans to go to the hospital later in the week so you could be born. That evening, Mommy had some strong contractions and actually thought you might make an appearance. Daddy was secretly glad you didn't arrive on his birthday. :-)

Wednesday, August 11 - Daddy and Mommy decided to run a few errands. We went to get a document notarized and found out that Daddy's license had expired... a year ago! Later we found out it hadn't but Daddy couldn't find where his updated card was. Then we deposited some money in the bank only we got another customer's deposit slip so we had to run inside the bank and have things sorted. Finally, we made it to the car dealership. After test driving yet another vehicle, we placed a down payment on a minivan. While the car won't actually be ready for us until after you are born, we are blessed and thankful to be able to provide you with such a safe vehicle and a much easier one for hooking in car seats and taking trips!

Thursday, August 12 - This evening we head to the hospital so that the doctor can break Mommy's water and you can be born. We don't know yet when you'll officially arrive, but we are excited and a little scared to start a new phase of this journey with you... in our arms. Your Daddy can't wait to snuggle with you instead of Mommy's belly. :-) And each of your four grandparents and all of your uncles and aunts are very anxious to see, hold, and meet you.

Whether you are a boy or a girl, you'll always be Mommy's Sweet Potato.

We love you.

Five Years Ago...

2010-08-06T08:15:00.000-04:00

I was having my eyelashes curled for the first time, being serenaded to by my brother, praying with my two sisters, clinging to my Daddy's arm to help quell the butterflies, watching my beautiful mother handle last minute details with finesse, and anxiously awaiting the moment I saw my groom.

Five years later... We're anxiously awaiting the moment we see our Sweet Potato, my parents and in-laws are a bundle of excitement as they await their first grandchild, my two sisters are beaming aunts-to-be, my brother has been serenading Sweet Potato for months --as well as plotting all the adventures they'll go on, and my eyelashes have never been curled since.

Our vows have been tested but they still remain strong:

"...to have and to hold from this day forward, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death us do part, and thereto I pledge you my faith."

I love you David!

Struggles

2010-08-03T08:20:00.000-04:00

I have always tried to be as honest as possible on this blog. So friends here is the truth: I'm terrified.

I'm not scared of labor or being a mother or caring for this baby. I'm sure I'll have my moments, but that is not where my fears are stemming. Among women who have had multiple miscarriages and infant loss, there is a return fear of losing the baby at full term. I've watched other moms struggle through this and now I'm in their shoes. Just as David and I lived on pins and needles at the start of this pregnancy those same anxious thoughts have returned.

Furthermore, our hearts are aching with acquaintances who recently lost their 11 day old son. It's hard to stay hopeful for a happy event when you are more familiar with pain and are continually reminded that nothing is ever certain.

While conversing with my dear friend L, I had to ask myself, "So what are you, God, doing in this situation? Why do I struggle with accepting joy?" L said it far more eloquently than I can - My grief has become part of my identity and I don't want to lose that part of me. All of the pain, all of the struggle, all of the lessons learned and time spent weeping at His feet have become so familiar, comfortable, that I fear giving up that portion for... happiness.

Is there depth in happiness? Despite not understanding joy, I believe there is a new lesson to be learned through His blessings. For I, in my humanness, have determined I have no right to claim anything but His faithfulness through the desert. It has been more than enough to carry Sweet Potato to 39 weeks. How can I possibly expect or accept more blessing than that? Can I trust Him to fulfill His promises? Can I surrender to His blessings--even if they are hard for me to grasp? Once again my heart turns to the Psalms.

"When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion,

we were like men who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

'The Lord has done great things for them.'

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow in tears

will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with him."

Psalm 126

Friday Funny

2010-07-23T14:45:00.000-04:00

This morning I asked David if he thought my belly looked lower. I feel like the baby can't possibly get lower without being born--although I'm sure it can. David very thoughtfully looked at the belly and said, "Yeah you do look lower." Then he gently placed his hands on my stomach and crouching said to Sweet Potato, "Baby, move up please."

"No!" I said and started laughing. "Don't listen to your father Sweet Potato. Keep coming down!!!"

David looked quite perplexed until I reminded him that a dropping baby was a good thing at this stage. He's so caring, so loving, and so funny! :-)

Comparative Analysis

2010-07-19T08:18:00.000-04:00

For all those who say I hardly look pregnant... here's a little comparison for you.

The Sweet Potato Bump at 22 weeks:

The Sweet Potato Bump at 37 weeks:

The Nursery

2010-07-15T09:30:00.003-04:00

We're swiftly approaching 37 weeks and the nursery is just about done. Many generous and helpful hands have helped it be Sweet Potato ready. And since you all just want to see the pictures, I'll stop "talking" and let you browse. :-)

L's old crib is ready for a new little one!

Waiting patiently to meet their new friend. David and my stuffed animals from childhood as well as a giraffe we purchased, a lamb made by Dearma, and a cute little bean from Cape May!

We're ready to read and breastfeed!

Sweet Potato's bookshelf has the most darling bookends thanks to Uncle Kirby and Aunt Jen!

Big button to hide an ugly picture hook. :-)

Invisible bookshelf with vintage books.

The dresser/changing table that David "designed". Kudos to Mama for making the changing pad cover.

All that's left is to fill the middle spot with Sweet Potato.

New Neighbors

2010-07-03T14:10:00.000-04:00

Last July our across the street neighbors decided to put their house up for sale. Having taught the two youngest children, as well as enjoying watching all the comings and goings of a busy family (and the antics of their elementary children) I was rather saddened by this decision.

Months passed and we would occasionally see people view the house, but the FOR SALE sign never changed. I was secretly delighted and hoped that maybe they would just end up staying. Then in April.... SOLD appeared. After talking with the youngest child at the bus stop one early spring morning, Anna told me they'd be moving in June and that they were still looking for a house to move into. When I spoke with her mother, she said that a young couple had purchased the home. That they had 2 daughters and a third due the week after moving.

While the prospect of having another young mom on the street did intrigue me, I found myself becoming increasingly saddened by the loss of community feeling on the street. I didn't want the middle of June to arrive. But it did. One family moved out and the new neighbors moved in. It was a whirlwind. They were moving in as we were readying ourselves to leave for vacation. Wanting to be welcoming, but not give myself "extra" work, I baked a dozen personal size stromboli and gave them half, along with a can of peaches, and homemade gummy bears. It was a hit!

Our new neighbors can't replace the old, but yesterday as I watched their oldest daughter prance around the yard in a sun dress and fireman's hat, I knew that the joy of watching children grow and learn and explore would continue on our street. Hopefully, there'll be plenty of chances for neighborly friendliness...especially since our babies will only be a few weeks apart. :-)

HypnoBirthing and 34 weeks

2010-07-01T12:16:00.000-04:00

Last evening David and I finished our childbirth classes. Like most things, we chose not to take the most traditional route. So rather than going to the hospital (or even the local grocery store, where apparently they now hold community education classes) with 15 other expecting couples, we traveled to a private home for intimate sessions. It was wonderful!

There are a handful of childbirth "theories" or techniques and we chose to go with HypnoBirthing. I know it sounds really new age, and I suppose some people make it into that, but for us the draw was its natural approach, its positive outlook, its emphasis on David as a vital partner in the delivery of our child, and its overall pain management. The techniques taught are life long helps. Learning to remain calm, to breath, and to be comfortable trusting one's body to know how to respond.

One of the blessings of our miscarriages is that I learned to read my body. Since we miscarried Pumpkin here at home, I literally went through a shortened version of labor. From back labor, to contractions, to delivery. It doesn't sound pleasant-- especially when you are talking about the loss of a child not the birth of a child-- but through that experience I gained an understanding of how to respond when my body goes into automatic mode. Apparently, during birth, there comes a point where the body takes over and for many women this is frightening. On some level I've already "practiced" this. I already know what it's like to have your body tell you what position you need to be in to be comfortable!

Now that classes are complete and the hospital bag packed, David and I are excited. We've finally reached that point where we're really truly over the moon about this baby. We can't wait to find out what it is and who it looks like and what personality it has. We're reading children books before bed, we're practicing our calming and visualization exercises as a family (yes, the baby actually relaxes with us), and baby gets kissed by Daddy at least once (often lots more!) every day. I'm enjoying "playing" with baby as it rolls and kicks.

I think the best part is that despite not having a clue how breastfeeding works, or what my emotional state is gonna be postpartum, having this baby just seems right. I'm not fearful. I'm not nervous. I'm ready. I feel exactly as I did before I married David - peaceful and certain. It's a mental and emotional state that can only come from God. Sweet blessings from above.

Lego Land

2010-06-24T13:58:00.000-04:00

Legos are an essential part of my hubby's creative life. I crave yarn, he craves plastic bricks. One of the things I have learned is that I really enjoy sharing in his Lego ~~hoarding~~ ~~obsession~~ joy. I help him sort pieces (because they are all inventoried... yes it's a hazard of being a librarian trained Lego lover) and building new sets. Occasionally, we pursue Lego creativity that is rather "outside the box".

Since I'm a Pride & Prejudice fan, David has patiently endured multiple views of the 6 hour long BBC version. He even has favorite quotes and can do a rather accurate and hysterical impression of Mrs. Bennett. So one night, several months back, we decided to combine my love with his. We created P&P characters out of Legos.

Left to Right: Jane, Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Collins, Miss Bingley, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley

Then a few weeks ago, I was busy making several veggie/fruit pizzas for a myriad of gatherings. However, I ran out of refrigerator space. What would you do if you needed to keep something on a cookie sheet chilled, but didn't have enough shelves? I asked my husband to build me one... out of Legos. It worked beautifully.

Legos aren't just a toy for little kids. Even us quirky adults can find high entertainment value in all the creative possibilities they hold.

Baby Blessing

2010-06-10T18:00:00.000-04:00

After David and I lost Pumpkin we decided that should the Lord ever allow us to carry a baby to term, we would not celebrate that child until we had our little one in our arms. Originally, this meant not even setting up a crib or buying a single baby item. We just couldn't imagine going through the process of readying a nursery only to come home empty handed. Trust me, I know mothers and fathers who have had to endure this and their courage to open the nursery door never ceases to amaze me.

Well, we have been preparing for baby. We're not going wild, but we are trying to be sensible. I'm a planner by nature, but my baby planning has taken a different tone. Instead of picking bedding, or a nursery theme I'm formulating and plotting our baby blessing.

After Sweet Potato arrives, we'll be inviting our nearest and dearest, those who have walked, prayed, cried, and held us over the past 2 years to a party. It'll be a celebration of life, of thanksgiving to God, of blessing on our child. Since David and I are all about creating memories and being intentionally personal we are designing this event to be intimate, a time of humbly coming before our God to ask for His wisdom, and to dance in His presence. I can't wait!

Sure we've got a registry (thanks to L for convincing me it might be smart and Amazon for making it easy!) and we've got our starter set of diapers. Thanks to my hairdresser and our parents we have a pile of neutral onesies/sleepers. Our dear friends have loaned us the crib their daughter used and I scored a really good deal on a moses basket w/ stand via Craigslist. Despite the fun of all that, it's not about the decorations or adorable things. Nope. The room is still incomplete. The registry still seems like a fairy wish list. What I'm holding out for is that day when with our little one we can be surrounded by loved ones and offer a prayer of praise to God for His faithfulness.

"O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth! From the lips of children and infants
       you have ordained praise...

what is man that you are mindful of him,
       the son of man that you care for him?
O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Excerpts from Psalm 8

Strawberry Season

2010-06-01T08:27:00.001-04:00

Strawberry season and all its sweet goodness is HERE! With the warm and the cool temperatures we've been having in Central PA the season seems longer and the berries sweeter. I've picked twice and made two sets of jam. We are very well stocked with freezer scrumptiousness! :-)

Jam Making + Barefeet + Hot Day + Me = One "Hot" Mama!

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T20:38:00.003-04:00

It's Mother's Day and what a different one it is from a year ago! Last year this day was filled with grief and emptiness. Grief over my two glory babies, grief related to family dynamics, grief because the future still looked bleak. Now I know that a year ago was the start of much needed healing, maturing, and grace. God's faithfulness astounds and humbles me.

Today David surprised me! I am so proud of him for his thoughtfulness and sneakiness!He gave me a necklace by Lisa Leonard. It's a design that was inspired by the short life of Audrey Caroline daughter of Todd and Angie Smith. This necklace is weighty and the pendant warms as you wear it. It's a physical reminder of Petunia and Pumpkin. I am so blessed to have cared for Petunia for 8 weeks and nearly 13 weeks with Pumpkin. Now as we embark on our third trimester with Sweet Potato, I find myself in awe that God would allow us to carry and love and know this little one for so long. Mother's Day has a whole new meaning.

David and I also had the pleasure of spending the day with my mama and grandma. What a joy to spend time as a family laughing, loving, and building more memories! My life has been so enriched by the sacrifices and love of so many wonderful women! I couldn't ask for better role models of what motherhood entails (the good, the bad, and occasionally the ugly) then those given by my mother and mother-in-love. I pray that I am able to pass along this heritage of godly love to Sweet Potato.

Runyons Launch "Sweet Potato"

2010-04-19T08:45:00.001-04:00

Magical & Revolutionary Arrival at an Unbelievable Price

HARRISBURG—April 17, 2010—Runyons today announce "Sweet Potato," a revolutionary entity eventually able to browse the web, read and send email, enjoy photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read books, and much more. Sweet Potato's responsive interface will allow users to interact by touch, an intuitive visual display, high-quality audio receivers and output, and even smell. Sweet Potato is just 8 inches long and weighs just about a pound- smaller and lighter than any laptop or netbook. Sweet Potato will include 4 new apps on release (iEat, iSleep, iCry, and iPoop) but its stunning heuristic operating system is capable of learning thousands more. Sweet Potato will be available in 2H2010 with an estimated ship date of August 8.

"Sweet Potato is our most advanced mind in a revolutionary form factor at an unbelievable price," said David Runyon, Runyon's CEO. "Sweet Potato creates and defines an entirely new category of persons that will connect users in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before."

Sweet Potato features 4 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates Sweet Potato in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes interacting with Sweet Potato an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than playing "The Sims" on a computer.

Sweet Potato gives you access to the world's most popular method of reproduction and will be able, upon release, to perceive signals from over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video. Runyons also announced the new Books app for Sweet Potato, the best way to promote next-generation media literacy. Runyons will feature books from major and independent publishers.

Sweet Potato is powered by an Adam processor, the next-generation system-in-an-organ. Designed with biogenetic protocols and mitotic division, this version of the Adam processor provides exceptional computation, graphics, and communications performance along with long consciousness cycles of up to 16 hours.* Runyons' advanced chemistry and technology deliver nearly 30,000 charge cycles over a typical eighty-year lifespan.* *

Sweet Potato will arrive in one of two versions- one with Boy features and the other with Girl features. Sweet Potato includes the latest in wireless activity, and the Boy version supports speeds up to 22 MPH (10.4 M/s) on Olympic networks. Runyon announced breakthrough data plans for Sweet Potato with onboard activation and management.

Continuing Runyons' dedication to environmentally responsible products, Sweet Potato is made of biodegradable carbon and nitrogen compounds and comes standard with energy-efficient function management and self-contained energy processing system. Sweet Potato contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.

Runyons will soon release a new Development Kit for Sweet Potato, so developers can create amazing new applications designed to take advantage of Sweet Potato's capabilities. The Development Kit will let developers test and debug their apps on Sweet Potato, and also let developers create Universal Applications that run on any Adam-based product.

Availability

Sweet Potato will be available in early August (local release only). The Boy and Girl models will be selected randomly; version will be determined at time of launch. Sweet Potato will be available in the US through the Runyons, the Runyon home and select Runyon Authorized Caretakers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. Books will be available in the US at launch.

*Consciousness cycles are averaged among typical Adam processors. Being in "sleep mode" for 8 hours a day is a typical scenario for an Adam on the go, resulting in consciousness performance numbers that are very relevant to most users.

* *A properly-maintained Adam is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of approximately 30,000 recharge cycles. Consciousness cycles, charge cycles and lifespan vary by use and settings.

Runyons ignited their personal revolution in 2005 with rWedding. Today, Runyons continue to lead the industry in innovation with their award-winning rLife and professional applications. Runyons are also spearheading the digital media revolution by using iPod portable music players and iTunes software, as well as entering the Adult Lego Builder market with revolutionary projects and exhibitions.

-By David Runyon

On the needles

2010-04-09T19:45:00.000-04:00

Knitting is still a definite passion of mine, however, the last few months I just haven't felt it calling me. It's like I ran out of knitting mojo. Thankfully, my urge for all things fiber are returning and just in time because I have plenty of projects to keep me busy! Here are a few things I've completed recently.

Jane Austen Shawl done in Noro Furisode a cotton/wool/silk fiber.

I just love the beautiful colors and striping!

Citron was knit on larger needles using lace weight yarn. This is such a dainty little shawlette that I can't wait to wear this spring and summer!

Ishbel is currently on the needles. I'm using Colinette's (a Welsh yarn company) Jitterbug. It's a fingering weight yarn in a lovely mint chocolate chip color scheme called Ischia. It's such a delight to knit and the ever changing colors really hold my attention.

Changes

2010-04-02T13:37:00.002-04:00

The biggest landscape change this spring is that our old, beautiful, but rotted maple tree is gone. The living room is getting lots more sun, which is wonderful! However, the back yard just seems incredibly bare!

Make up on boys, scruffy beards, and dresses with matching headbands... must be Easter Musical time!

David participated in the Easter Musical The Power of the Cross. He and his buddy Andrew were two of the disciples.

I totally forgot I had planted these hyacinths. What a wonderful spring time surprise.

I'll never get tired of watching our plum tree blossom.

So spring is blooming and warmer weather is making my heart glow. Windows open, fresh breezes, and dirt under my nails. But the changes are just beginning... We're going to have our roof replaced (yikes!), David's middle brother is getting married in less than two months, a vacation (of sorts) is attempting to be planned, gatherings with friends are filling our calendars, and summer will be at our doorstep before we know it!

Chocolate Mousse, sort of

2010-03-10T12:54:00.000-05:00

On Monday evening I tried this recipe. David isn't wild about the main ingredient and I honestly wasn't sure how this would work out, but it's actually tasty. Especially with strawberries! I wish it wasn't quite so thick and heavy, but it is definitely rich.

Next time, I'd like to try layering it with ice cream to see if that cuts the sweetness and helps make it a little less stiff.

Try it, you might be surprised.

Nudge

2010-02-26T08:18:00.001-05:00

Yesterday in Australia a little boy was born to a courageous couple. They carried their precious Nicholas "Nudge" to 38 weeks despite knowing that their joy would quickly turn to sorrow. Nudge was born with bilateral renal agenesis (his kidneys never properly developed) and passed away two hours after entering this world. During those two hours of life, his parents held him, loved him, and bathed him.

He is the second child to be buried by his parents. Please keep them in your prayers.

While I do not personally know his mother, she and I are part of the same Healing From Pregnancy Loss Forum. Women around the world who have struggled with various degrees of fertility issues, loss, and infertility are remembering this little boy. I cannot imagine the searing pain. I cannot fathom facing this set of circumstances without a firm belief and knowledge (both head and heart) of Jesus Christ. I don't have answers as to why God has allowed this to happen to them, or to the countless other women I have "met". Yet I believe God loves and aches over their pain even though they do not acknowledge Him. In my own sorrow He has proved faithful and not because He has given us a new life to look forward to, but because He is God. Yes, it's a mystery and sounds like insanity to those who do not believe (1 Corinthians 2:12-16). I pray that even this horrific experience will lead to an understanding of the gospel for them.

In the midst of those prayers, I am reminded at how precious life is. How pregnancy and birth is a miracle. It's not trite or cliche. It's an ever present reminder about how closely death lives to both body and spirit. God's love is still present in the midst of death, even unexplainable death. And the best part: His love is available to all who will receive.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God--

children not born of natural descent,

nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

John 1:12-13

Boldness

2010-02-17T11:38:00.005-05:00

Two weeks ago, I started thinking about boldness and what it means to be bold. This was in no doubt prompted by starting a study on Romans and hearing a missionary from Russia speak. It's hard to hear about Paul's conversion and the persecution of believers and not feel totally lacking in the boldness and zeal departments. I definitely haven't come to any solid conclusions on what boldness looks like in my life, or even all the areas where a little more courage could be used. Yet I'm seeing people differently.

Everyday boldness that seems extraordinary:

The woman who hosts a gathering to inform and encourage the local body about the global body as being bold.
The missionary who despite losing her husband continues to serve the people God has called her to.
My brother who feels such heartbreak after the death of a friend he witnessed to yet doesn't know if the friend ever accepted the gospel.
The countless numbers of families who have lost children through miscarriages, stillbirth, from disease and wrestle with the heartbreak, but praise God nonetheless and seek to serve others through their tears.
The woman who prays continually for healing and blessing in others while her own body is fighting to live.
The man that humbles himself in the sight of the Lord, while those around him seek self satisfaction.
The mothers who never stop lifting their adult children before the throne of God.

These are just a few glimpses of boldness I've seen lately. They have encouraged and convicted me to be more obedient to the act of boldness in my life. All I can ask is that my life reflect this sentiment from Flannery O'Connor (twentieth century author): "I am not afraid that the book [my life] will be controversial, I'm afraid it will not be controversial."

Snow Day #2

2010-02-11T14:18:00.001-05:00

Our world is all white. Tuesday through Wednesday, February 9-10 we received another foot or so of snow adding to our already mighty 22 inches from last weekend. This most recent storm was promptly followed by heavy winds creating white out, blizzard conditions. Today we are digging out...slowly. The winds are still blowing but definitely not as strong. The plow has been by a few times, but that doesn't mean we're venturing out. Rather, we're spending another day tucked inside while the sun gently melts our winter wonderland.... At least until we get our next snow shower, which they are predicting for Monday. Here's hoping it's a dusting not a dumping. :-)

Despite the chaos outside, David and I enjoyed yesterday.

{Our 2nd floor bedroom window}

{A view to remember. You can vaguely see our crazy neighbor snowblowing the street.}

{Soft pretzel makin'}

{Being cheesy}

{Finished product}

{Cinnamon sugared}

{Wind sculpted snow}

Snow Ice Cream

2010-02-09T15:53:00.001-05:00

While there are lots of recipes out there for this icy winter delicacy, here is "my recipe". Please note: I'm not much for measuring thus these are all approximations.

8 cups snow
1 cup sugar*
1 cup milk (whole milk is preferred)*
1 tablespoon vanilla*

*I usually add a little more. Use your taster to see what works for you.

Mix together in large chilled bowl. For our last batch, we stuck the bowl in the snow for 30 minutes then brought the snow and bowl inside.

Top with chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, coconut, whatever suites your fancy. Eat immediately!

I should also note [thanks for the reminder Linds] that you can take snow and add fruit juice and have snow cones. For added fun, turn up the heat to 80 degrees, put on your bathing suit, toss down the beach towels and pretend it's summer. :-)

Winter Delights

2010-02-09T10:29:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we had 22 inches of snow blanket us. Today they are calling for an additional 12-18 inches over the next 24 hours. Needless to say, we're making the best of our snow adventures. Here are some shots of us working and playing in the snow.

{Looking out the front door}

{David, "It's up to my knees!"}

{Honey, please help me up?}

{Our Honda snowed under in our neighbor's driveway}

{Nanook of the North delivering 8 cups of snow. So we could make...}

{Snow ice cream! Yummy!}

To: Computer Programmers World Wide, Inc.

2010-01-22T09:10:00.003-05:00

Dear Computer Programmers,

This letter is to inform you that you are fired. According to our original contractual terms, we had devised a plan for you to help me establish a functioning website that others could use and I could alter components and update on my own. However, after months years I still do not have a website that functions properly--for me or the end users. The following is my list of grievances:

We have had a growing number of "glitches" that you consistently blame on my browser (even when I use the one you recommend).
You make changes to the site and then forget to notify myself or our technical go-between.
When I report a problem, as mutually agreed upon in our contract, you either don't respond to my e-mail or phone call OR say that the "bug" I am reporting, which has made whole sections of my website useless, is actually an "enhancement".
You promised via verbal and written agreements that you and your company had the knowledge, resources, and ability to design and program my site. You have not delivered. In fact, I believe you promised things over your head.

Furthermore, I would like you to please consider your attitude toward your clients. You may "speak" more computer languages than I do, but that does not make you a better human being. You smirk at how you tweak things behind the website scenes which no average human notices. You pride yourself on your rebel-like antisocial behavior as though knowing how to communicate with any other human being (outside of other programmers) is a chore and a waste of time. It is precisely this arrogant mindset that has now cost you your job.

Yes, you have attained skills vital to the current trend of society, but if you intend to work in business you must be a professional. That requires communication, detailed at times, and patience. You are the expert in your field, I am the expert in mine. There should be mutual respect and an attempt at mutual understanding. You are providing a service. Part of serving others requires humility (to be modest) and responsibility (to not pass the buck--especially onto inanimate objects!). Finally, if I wanted to feel belittled, stressed, and mocked I would have applied for reality TV rather than pay you to perform those tasks.

Sincerely,
Your former paycheck

Note: I apologize if this offends any of my family or dear friends as several of you are computer programmers. However, perhaps if you are offended it means that some self reflection and behavior modification should take place. I generally appreciate and navigate your antisocial tendencies, but a casual dinner party or family gathering is mighty different from a work place environment. People (and I'm referring to all of us non-computer programmers) don't have time to fanny about with constant babysitting to make sure you do your job. And contrary to belief, we really don't intend to drive you crazy. Rather a little give and take on both parts would make the user/programmer relationship far more beneficial for everyone--including you.

Reading Delights

2010-01-20T09:38:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week the 2010 Caldecott and Newbery awards were announced. As a librarian I always look forward to predicting at least one book that will either get the award or be given an honor. This year I had a feeling that The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly would have some standing in the Newbery. On Monday it received an honor award! I'm just now working my way through it, but I'm really enjoying it so far. It's been a book I've been meaning to read, but had to wait until the library added it to the collection.

Calpurnia is a young girl growing up right before the turn of the 20th century. She is interested in the insects and creatures that she finds around her Texas home. Out of this hobby, grows a knowledge of the natural world and a unique and deep relationship with her grandfather. I'm just in the first few chapters but already I can see that this book holds all the necessary criteria for a modern classic. Caddie Woodlawn meet Calpurnia Tate. And come on, the book art is adorable too!

In other book news, David and I read aloud (to each other) the second Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look. We had read the first book some time ago and finally delighted in the sequel. It is so much fun to read children's literature with your spouse! We laughed so hard at parts or would pause because we were envisioning our future children responding in similar fashion. The kids are all a little quirky, but so lovable and believable! It also helps if you are geeky, married to a geek, or have geek friends. It just makes it all the more delightful!