Dad

- Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a 

 DAD. 

~ Anne Geddes

 

Thankful today (and everyday) for a father who...

 loved me enough to say "no,"

but also  gave beyond his means...

was firm, yet gracious...

believed in me and challenged me to do my best...

was grounded in his beliefs, but still admitted his wrongs...

modeled hard work ethic, yet knew how to have fun...

was strong, but not afraid to cry...

was always happy with a house-full of girls...

is now a proud grandpa, too!

It's hard to put into words the respect and love I have for you, dad!  Thanks for being my dad!

And a happy 1st father's day to you, Justin!  I'm lucky to share this journey of life, marriage, and parenthood with you!  I'm thankful for the "dad" that God is shaping you into for our little Elli! She, too, is one lucky girl!

Elli,

    From the moment you were born, I started worrying about all the things that lay in store for you...from experiencing rejection and hurt, to the pain of childbirth, to experiencing loss and suffering.  Yet each day, I get to enjoy seeing life through your eyes as you experience everything fresh and anew.  You brighten my days with your smile and warm me inside and out with your laughter.  Your personality is contagious!  

   

   In your short eight months, you have taught me much about life and about myself.  Unfortunately, I'm much more selfish than I ever imagined.  And as I mentioned earlier, such a worrier.  I've also become a sappier individual...who knew I could tear up at the drop of a hat?!?  

  

   When I was a little girl (and especially as a teen), your Grandma would sometimes say or do things that I didn't fully understand, and she would always say, "You'll understand one day, when you have a little girl of your own."  I have a feeling I'll be saying those words to you a lot, too, Elli.  I was reading the other day, and this verse from Galatians took on new meaning at this stage of my life...

     

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you (4:19)

   I realize that the call of motherhood begins and ends with labor...physical, emotional, and spiritual.   The struggle of wanting to protect your child from every hurt, yet realizing that it's often through pain and hardship that God shapes and molds one into His character...is constant.  Each day of my life, I will have to learn to humbly entrust you to your Maker.  

  This verse also makes me thankful for your Grandma, who has faithfully labored with me over the years,  praying for me, listening to me, taking care of me, giving me godly wisdom and correction, only to name a few.  I aspire to follow in her footsteps.

  And because of you, Elli, I now get to feel how she has felt about me for years...a deep, forever kind of love to which nothing compares.  And this is worth far more than all the labor of motherhood...it's simply a taste of God's affection for us.  

  THANKS, MOM, FOR LABORING ON MY BEHALF AND FOR ALWAYS LOVING ME...

i love you & appreciate you!

Spring Break!

     SPRING BREAK!!! Sadly, has come and gone oh too quickly!  Thanks to Pinterest, I had several projects I planned on tackling over the break, but LIFE happened instead, thus, changing my plans, and postponing some projects for a later date.  Pinterest, I have a love-hate relationship with you!  But sometimes our best laid plans are not what is best for us, according to God's bigger picture and plan...

     I find myself relearning these same lessons over and over again.  The latest--it was for freedom that Christ set me free(Galatians 5:1).  It seems to be a pretty straight-forward and self-explanatory verse, yet my hard head (and heart) have such a hard time grasping that concept.  Not set free for good works, or to be righteous, but to simply be free.  I'm still learning what it means to realize and enjoy that freedom--the freedom that God has already purchased and for which He has liberated me.  Thanks, Chucky, for the reminder!

     All in all, though, it was a great break--full of friends, family, good food, Elli's dedication, birthday parties, a little extra sleep, and even some time to relax, clean house, work on a project or two, and enjoy God's word (so what if it was Elli's kid's edition?!?--the pictures are better anyway, right?)

 Birthday Fun (above & below)

 Elli's Dedication (above & below)

 And the rest...good times over spring break!  

 This 6 month chair pic is quite possibly the best yet!  Love it!

Busy life...

Just a few quick pics.  Crazy busy, but so enjoying every moment with Justin, Elli, and Reece!  What a blessed little family we are!

a week of good things...

So, work and social life leaves me catching up with pics this rainy Saturday! So here are some highlights of the past week...


1)  Unexpected visit from Grandma!  With lots of love, kisses, funny facial expressions and laughter from Elli!

2)  80's birthday party!  woohoo!

2)  Donuts...and a restful Sabbath.

3)  Life group...we are growing, with 2 babies due any day now!
4)  Sunny Thursday...so nice to go for a walk on the green way, with the WHOLE family!  

5) Some cute pics of Elli & Reece that just HAD to be added!

6) And today--a rainy day to catch up on house work, errands, etc.  The highlight...sitting and enjoying the quiet rise and fall of Elli's chest against mine as she peacefully slumbers.  These are the moments I cherish.

let's go, dad...

  Definitely one of those mornings I'd rather stay home and hear the sweet laughter of my little girl than venture out into the early morning cold on my way to work!  She woke up oh-so-happy today!  Since I commute, I had to wake her up to catch even a few minutes with her!  Dad does the drop-off and pick-up with the sitter, so he kindly sent me this pic just before their departure. 
  At nearly 5 months, she is laughing, squealing with delight, and interacting with people--she truly is a ham, and loves being the center of attention!  I'm gonna have my hands full, I do believe! But I wouldn't have it any other way! :)

beautiful things...

  Yesterday, as I was driving to an appointment, Gungor's song "Beautiful Things" came on the radio (listen here).  The words are simple, yet profound..."You make beautiful things out of dust" and "You are making me new."  There are so many beautiful things that God has made for us to see in His creation, yet there is nothing more beautiful to me than a life transformed by His extravagant love & grace.  I've seen it, and I've experienced it for myself.  Words can't really do justice, but glimmering hope and purpose replace lostness, peace overcomes fear and doubt, and suddenly days are brighter and smiles are warmer.  Something changes, and it is beautiful.  Somehow, God resurrects something beautiful out of the dust and mire of our lives.  
  Just as words don't do justice, neither do pictures....but here are some pics of things I'm finding beautiful these days...