What I Told Facebook This Month

August 2 - One of the areas in which we're training Tobin is to buckle his seatbelt by himself as soon as he gets into the car. I want that to be a habit for him. But sometimes, he gets pretty creative with his excuses about why he can't do that. :) Like this morning, for example... From his seat in the back of the minivan, he has a great view of Moriah in her rear-facing seat in the middle of the van; and this morning he explained his delay in buckling by saying, "I couldn't get buckled because Moriah was too smiley." :) Well, my dear boy, you still need to get buckled no matter how much your sister is smiling at you. But your excuse gets bonus points for sweetness. ;-)

August 2 - On the way to pick up Josiah and David from their morning classes, Tobin and Shav were discussing what jobs they want to do when they "grow up and be daddies." It all seemed to revolve around driving tractors or trucks...maybe they should be farmers or maybe drive tractors that build a road or that build a house or that - Tobin was getting excited here - help to knock down buildings. "Demolish," I told him. "It's called demolition when they knock down buildings." Seizing the opportunity to add to his education in the area of life experiences and possible careers, I said, "When we get home, I could find some videos on YouTube of demolitions, and you could watch how they do it!" Now it was my turn to get excited. "This is GREAT," I thought. "The boys are gonna love this!" Tobin's response? "I'd rather suck my thumb," he said emphatically. Oh. Well then. Way to burst my bubble. ;-)

August 4 - Moriah is *this* close to rolling over, from back to front. She gets up on her side, but that little ol' thing called an arm gets in her way and keeps her from being able to get all the way onto her tummy. Also in Moriah news: she went with Jeff and I on our date tonight, to a little BBQ place in Bridgewater. She was a PERFECT little angel...sat in her carseat the whole time, just looking around and sucking on her fingers. She did not make a peep or fuss at all. Then she fell asleep on the way home, as peacefully as could be. What a gift she is!

August 9 - Just got Josiah & David out of bed (they weren't asleep yet) to watch an incredible lightning show. It was far enough away to not be intimidating, but close enough to be beautiful. If a lightning storm doesn't make you stand in awe, I don't know what will! :)

August 9 - Moriah fell asleep while I was nursing her, and she's still here in my arms. I can't seem to convince myself to let go of her! Guess I'll keep holding her for a while... :)

August 11 - My sweet Shav...how I love him. He pointed to the number "3" tonight in a book we were reading and told me what number it was. I suppose 3 is an easy one for him to identify since he just turned 3 himself. :)

August 13 - Our first day of school is underway, and I'm reminded all over again that I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH MY BOYS! I'm profoundly grateful for the privilege of teaching them here at home. We're having so much fun! :)

August 13 - David has one sleeper (footed pajamas) that he LOVES to wear. Last night he pulled it out of his pajama drawer; but before he put in on, he asked me, "If I wear this tonight, will it get washed and back in my drawer before winter?" BEFORE WINTER? For pity sakes, child, how far behind on laundry do you think I am??? Wait. Don't answer that. Maybe I don't want to know. ;-)

August 14 - Quite often when I check on Moriah in the night, she's stretched out on her back, sound asleep, with her legs crossed at the ankles. She's so ladylike, even in her sleep. ;-)

August 14 - It's official: Moriah rolled over, from back to front. The poor girl wasn't one bit happy about it either! We had been out this morning, going by the fairgrounds to drop off Josiah's entry in the baked goods competition, and then going down to the community college where Josiah took a pottery class so he could pick up the things he made. When we got home, I put Moriah in her crib, and she very contentedly laid there. I was sitting on the couch, reading "The Scrambled States of America" to the boys when suddenly I heard an unfamiliar sound: Moriah crying in her crib. She's so easy-going that she almost never cries there - not when I lay her down, not when I get her up. But today she was, so of course I went right away to investigate. I found her lying on her tummy, a position which she DOES NOT LIKE. Hence, the loud cries and supplications. I picked her up and calmed her, but inside I was jubilant. My baby can roll over! Too bad she didn't share my joy. :)

August 14 - Apparently we're under a tornado warning. David's being quite the optimist (NOT!) and going around saying things like, "We'll all be in heaven in a few minutes, I have no doubt." Lovely. If he's more of a prophet than I give him credit for, I guess this is farewell. Love to all! :)

August 15 - Jeff took David out for breakfast this morning. This is where they ended up! :)

August 15 - Tobin just asked me how big his heart is, so we were talking about his physical heart and the way it pumps blood through his body. Then he said, "Is my heart where I keep my hugs?" Ah, sweetness. :)

August 16 - I thought being on the second row of the Michael W. Smith concert at our fair tonight was a great idea...UNTIL I saw the huge speakers pointed straight at us. Yeah, it was a little loud. ;-) The good thing is that even if I had had a heart attack tonight, I'm fairly certain that the bass pumping through those speakers would have kept my heart going in a steady rhythm. ;-) It was so loud and so CLOSE that it literally made my body vibrate. It's been a while since I've experienced that. :) In all seriousness though, it was an INCREDIBLE show...well, not just a show, but a time of worship and inspiration and fun and receiving a touch from God. I loved every minute of it. :)

August 17 - While going through a box of old papers in my garage tonight, I discovered a letter (yes, a real, good old-fashioned, hand-written letter) from Cindy, one of my roommates during my semester abroad in Israel. Apparently, at the time of the writing, she had just heard about my engagement to Jeff (whom she also knew because Jeff and I met during that semester abroad), and she was bubbling. Here, in part, is what she wrote: "I am truly happy for you!! You are so lucky to have the Lord give you such a romantic way for falling in love!! God makes dreams and you get to act them out!!...My goodness, you are gonna make such a loving couple, a witness to everyone!" The part that really stood out to me was this line: "God makes dreams and you get to act them out." Yes, I feel like that sums up my life pretty well. Why has my life been so blessed when others have such difficult situations to endure? I can't understand it, but this I can do: I'll never stop thanking God for His kindness to me.

August 18 - How much do I love the fact that, before he left to go to the barber shop to help Jeff by sweeping hair off the floor, Josiah went around to each member of the family and gave them a hug and kiss? SO MUCH!! :)

August 18 - Pondering this today... "Don't base your hopes for your child on what you believe is the norm; base your standards on what you know to be right." - from the book On Becoming Preteen Wise

August 20 - Yesterday when we got home from a church service, we discovered that the electricity was off. It just so happened that it came back on when Tobin was turning on a light switch, so that apparently led him to believe that he had a little something to do with the return of our electricity. A little later, while we were eating lunch, he suddenly spoke up, "Why didn't anybody say thanks for me turning the electricity back on??" Uh, maybe because you actually had nothing to do with it. ;)

August 21 - I've been slowly going through a box of old papers from the garage, and tonight I found a real "treasure" in it: a 3-ring binder from high school that contained my notes from my English Literature class and my U.S. Government class. :) I looked through the whole thing and only saved two pieces of paper. Twenty years since I was a senior in high school, I finally got around to throwing out those notes. ;)

August 21 - Josiah and David asked me last evening why I haven't worn a dress in a long time. I suppose they've never thought about the logistical difficulties of nursing a baby while wearing a dress. ;) I am, however, wearing a skirt today. :)

August 22 - My newest prayer for my children (inspired by one of my favorite parenting books, Small Beginnings by Barbara Curtis): "Lord, help me see my children the way You see them. Help me to see in them what You need me to see."

August 22 - "The most precious jewels you'll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children." - from Hip Homeschool Moms


August 23 - The boys are eager to get their school work done today so we can get going with our grape project. When I asked David to do his reading from the Bible (he's reading The Picture Bible this year), he said, "But that will take FOREVER because you know I ALWAYS get carried away!" :) It's true, he does. If I suggest that he reads 6 pages, he might read 12 or 18. What a problem to have. What a good, good problem!! :)


August 23 - Our grape harvest kept me busy all day; and as evening approached, I realized that my original plan for supper wasn't going to happen. I emailed Jeff and asked him if he could pick up some pizza before heading home, and I fully expected him to reply with an "OK" or "sure." Instead, this is what he wrote: "I would love to..." And I smiled. He could have just said "OK," but instead he took the time to let me know that he "would love to" help me in that way, and I felt blessed. Sometimes a simple choice of words makes a huge difference. :)

August 24 - "Are they all yours?" asked the lady on the elevator at the library today as she watched me steer Moriah's stroller on and off the {small} elevator and then gather up my boys who were waiting for me at the top. That is such a routine question that I don't even blink when I hear it...just answer "yes" with a big smile. But then she went on, "I have 12 children...and 11 of them are boys." Then I blinked. "Really?" my mouth probably gaped open, "You have 12? And 11 are boys?" (As if she's never heard that before...) "That's great!!" I said. Then I had to ask, "Where does your girl fall in the birth order?" "She's my fifth," the lady said. Hmmm...sounds familiar. ;)

August 27 - During my mommy/son date with Tobin at Sweet Bee last evening, I discovered a few things. He really likes his middle name (Ezra). Buying a pail and shovel for each of our boys at the dollar store was a huge hit, especially in light of our upcoming trip to the beach. Tobin thinks he might have 11 kids (or, as he reminded me, his wife might have them, because he's a boy and can't have babies). And last but not least, he's a delight to be with. :) The one-on-one times when Jeff and I get to have one child with us at a time are really a treasure. (Although technically, I had two, because I took Moriah along...but she didn't talk much.) ;)

August 29 - This afternoon, when we were riding home from Josiah and David's violin lessons, David told us that if he has daughters, he wants to name them Nevaeh and Rose. And then he added that if he has a son, he'll name him Banana Peel. Who wants to join me in prayer and fasting, asking God to only give daughters to David??? ;)

August 30 - I've been snatching bits of time here and there to go through boxes of my old papers, some of which haven't been looked at in 10 or 15 years! Jeff calls me an information hoarder, and it's true. :) Because I really don't want those boxes to hang around for another 10 years, I have been, however, doing pretty well at getting rid of those papers...UNTIL tonight when I started going through the notes from the poetry class I took in college. My goodness, what memories! I think the only thing I could bring myself to throw away was the syllabus! Everything else was so fascinating: the papers I wrote, the journaling I did about various poems, even the notes from lectures. One of these days, I'll have to get stern with myself and make myself get rid of most, if not all, of those papers. But tonight? I JUST COULD NOT DO IT. So there. ;)

And so long, August.  You've been a treasure chest filled with all kinds of special moments, and I appreciate you!  :)

Songs for Labor and Delivery

I've *only* written about a half a dozen posts about Moriah's birth (let's see...here are Parts One, Two, Three, Four, and Five of her birth story, as well as this post with the scripture verses that helped me prepare mentally for labor and delivery), but I'm just not sure that's enough.  ;)  So, here's one more.  

As I got ready for Moriah's birth nearly five months ago, I only cared a little bit about what I ended up packing in my bag for the hospital (except for what Moriah wore home, of course--THAT was important).  :)  But one thing I did care a great deal about was the music I listened to as I labored to bring forth my precious daughter, and I had so much fun selecting the pieces for that special time.  Jeff helped me by downloading them onto his phone so they would be easily accessible at any time, and I remember feeling a wonderful sense of relief once that particular part of preparation for birth was accomplished.  :)

Here are the songs I chose (and although I could write extensively about why I chose each one, I'll try to keep my comments to a minimum or I won't get any sleep tonight):  ;)

Now to Him - Acapella (super encouragement from Ephesians 3:20-21)

Everything We Need - Acapella (more encouragement straight from the Bible, this time from 2 Peter 1:3)

Heartland - Celtic Thunder (this might qualify as an unusual choice ;), but I loved both the words and the music in this cry for help and deliverance...during labor, I didn't always pay attention to the music that was playing, but I do remember specifically tuning in when this song played)

God, I Look to You - Jenn Johnson (the first two lines--as well as the rest of the song, too, of course!--were a powerful reminder for me)

What the Lord Has Done in Me - Hillsong ("Let the weak say, 'I am strong'..." - yes!)

Mighty to Save - Hillsong

Be Unto Your Name - Robin Mark

Trust - Sixpence None the Richer

The Father's Song - Matt Redman

I Will Arise - Michael Card ("I will arise and go to Jesus...He will embrace me in His arms..."  What better place to be during labor?)  :)

O Church Arise - Keith & Kristyn Getty

All I Want - Michael W. Smith

Be Lifted High - Michael W. Smith

Kisses of Your Mouth - Heather Clark (especially the chorus, "Take me away with you..." which was also significant to me when I gave birth to Tobin)  :)

Hosanna - Hillsong

Oh Freedom - Chris Rice

Desert Song - Hillsong (great chorus... "I will bring praise...I will rejoice, I will declare, God is my victory, and He is here..." which was a very meaningful assurance, especially in conjunction with the "carry me" prayer that was such an important part of my labor this time)

Awaken - Steve Green (which was appropriate because the dawn did come while I labored to bring forth Moriah)  :)

Gloria - Watermark

Hand of Providence - Michael W. Smith

In Christ Alone - Newsboys

Christ Is Risen - Matt Maher

Arise, My Love - Michael Card (sung at our wedding)  :)

The Other Side of Me - Michael W. Smith

Breathe - Michael W. Smith

Testify to Love - Avalon

I loved all of these songs during labor, and I love them all the more now.  I think some of them will be permanently connected, in my mind, with the day Moriah was born.  :)  What sweet memories!  And what a sweet girl...

Even if she looks a little unconvinced that a bow is a good thing to wear in one's hair...  (Can you just hear her thinking, "What are you doing to me, Mommy?")  ;)

Even When He Sleeps...

...he's on the alert, sword in hand, ready to jump up to defend us at a moment's notice.

 Or at least he was this afternoon during quiet time, when he fell asleep on the floor of our library room.

 What a relief it is to me to know that this brave warrior is here to faithfully and valiantly protect his family... 

...even when he sleeps.  ;)

Wordless Wednesday {Popsicles with Grandma}

The Only Beauty Tips I'll Ever Give My Daughter

As time goes by and Moriah grows up and begins to ask questions about (what the world thinks is) beauty, I'm afraid I won't have any good answers for her.  I won't be able to teach her the best way to apply eye shadow.  I won't be able to instruct her in the finer points of having eyebrows waxed in this shape versus that one.  I won't be able to tell her what shade of lipstick is in for that particular season and whether or not to try to match it to her nail polish.

No, for all of those things and so many more, she will have to, if she is so inclined, go ask someone else.  And then she can teach me.  ;)

But I do have a beauty tip for her.  Well, two, to be exact.  The first is this:

1. Smile.  

There is nothing--absolutely nothing--on the whole of this wondrous planet we call earth that can improve the appearance of a face as much as a smile.  People notice a joyful face.  They respond to it.  They are attracted to it.  I know this, because that's how I got myself a husband.  ;)  I'm utterly convinced that very few people will notice how skillfully someone applied their lip liner, but they will notice in what direction those lips curl.  And if they're curled up in a smile--a true, genuine, caring smile--beauty will bloom on that face.

The second tip I'll share with Moriah is an ancient one, taken directly from a venerable text full of wisdom for every life situation:

2. Beauty comes from a gentle and quiet heart.

1 Peter 3:3-4: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  If the inside of a person is ugly (selfish, bitter, angry, proud, etc.), no amount of "beauty" products on the outside can compensate.  Focus on the heart first, I'll tell her.  Make that beautiful, and the rest will fall into place.

Well, that's it!  That's about all the wisdom I can give her about beauty.  So if she comes to me and asks me which brand of mascara I recommend, I'll have to tell her that I have no idea...but we can do some research online to find a good brand.  If she wonders whether she should get a perm or not, I'll refer her to her daddy who can tell her the pros and cons of using chemicals on hair.  If she wants to have fake nails put on, I won't be able to help her with that, but my sister can.  If she asks me what I think about her coloring her hair, I'll tell her she can do as she wishes, but that I made the choice to let my hair naturally go gray and thus receive my crown of splendor.  ;)  If she wonders about Botox injections for wrinkles, I'll let her know that I never could figure out what was wrong with laugh lines.  And I'll remind her that I got mine, in part, because I smiled at her.  :)

There is one more little thing I'll be sure to tell her, every time the subject of beauty comes up.  I'll say to her that she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen...and nothing can ever change that.

Random Notes on a Saturday Night

* It does NOT feel like August.  This cool, rainy weather is a far cry from the image I have in my head of August being hot and dry.  But mercifully, there is joy and beauty in cool and rainy, just as much as in hot and dry.  Wouldn't it be dull if our weather was the same all the time?  :)

* Tonight, for our date night, Jeff and I drove clear over to the other side of the county--the Eastern Wilds ;)--to drop off part of a barber chair that needs welding.  Not the most romantic date night, but I learned long ago that all I care about is just being with Jeff.  Finding our way through back country roads to a welding shop or eating dinner in a candlelit restaurant, it makes no difference.  I love that man for who he is, not for any other reason.

* While getting ready for bed tonight, Shav was wearing a Superman mask; and I was reminded again how hard it is for me to take any of my boys seriously when they're wearing that mask.  If I ever have to talk intently with them or correct them, they'd better not be wearing that mask, or I'd be in some serious trouble.  I find it nearly impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of a pint-sized Superman.  :)

* Once upon a time, my dad gave my daughter a bottle...

 ...and I had to capture the moment.  Moriah is loved more than she'll ever know.

* When we lived in San Diego, seeing aircraft in the sky was so commonplace that it became insignificant.

 Here in our corner of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, however, it doesn't happen nearly as often.

 But when it does, it captures our attention enough to make us raise our eyes skyward to see what is passing over.

Sometimes I think of the verse, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!  I would fly away and be at rest..." (Psalm 55:6).

* Back in April, I printed out the letters of Moriah's name and let the boys color them however they wanted to; then I cut them out and taped them onto the side of the armoire in her room, right at the foot of the changing table.

 The amount of pleasure I get from simply seeing her name is slightly ridiculous.  ;)

Which reminds me...  Jeff's mom is coming next month for another visit, and I want to print out the letters of her name and let the boys color them, then cut them out and put them on the door of the room where she'll sleep.  If tomorrow is rainy like today, that might be a good late afternoon project for them.  :)

* David lost another tooth today: his second.  It had gotten so wiggly over the past few days that I was sure it would fall out sometime today.  When he was complaining about it hurting this morning, I offered to help him get it out; when he reluctantly agreed, I made a loop out of dental floss to try to hook around it and yank it out.  It didn't go so well, and he didn't want me to continue, so I acquiesced.  There was no hurry.

At lunch, he took one bite of his peanut butter & jelly sandwich; and out came the tooth.  :)

Since David has been losing his baby teeth, he knows very well that other teeth will grow in to replace them; but he couldn't remember what those teeth were called.  One day recently he said, "When my parent teeth grow in..."  ;)

* I am extraordinarily tired.  Maybe it's the cool, rainy weather--perfect for snuggling under a blanket and reading a book.  I think I'll do just that.  :)

* There's a boy in my bed.  It's David, who came over a while ago to say good night but then crawled into the bed and pulled the covers up under his chin...and now he's asleep.  I'll let him stay there until Jeff comes up.

* Good night, moon.  I'm remembering Neil Armstrong tonight and appreciating his contributions to our knowledge of God's wonderful creation.  Praying comfort for his family...

Month Four (and a Little More)

August 9.  The day I'd been waiting for.  I happily got out Moriah's special quilt that we use for her monthly pictures, wrote out her four-month sign, laid her on the quilt, and started snapping pictures for her four-month post.

Which never got written.

Until tonight.

15 days late.

Oh, well...  ;)

 Isn't she cute?  :)

 As always, I am LOVING the feminine little details of a baby girl's clothes!  :)

Highlights from my favorite four-month-old:
* her weight on August 9 was 13 and a quarter pounds...once again, I forgot to measure her; but she's looking longer in her swing, so I'm sure she's growing just fine  :)

* she's not spitting up as much as she used to, which is always a welcome transition...but she's drooling more, so her bibs are still coming in handy for that...no sign of teeth yet, despite the drool

* she's gotten so good at rolling over from her back to her tummy that she routinely does it when she sleeps...her new position is to sleep sort of on her side and sort of on her tummy...really, I guess she's on her tummy, but she has one arm tucked underneath her...she used to fuss terribly when she rolled onto her tummy, but now she's getting used to that position and doesn't seem to mind it (except for one time today when I heard her crying in her crib and checked on her, only to find her on her tummy, with both legs sticking out through the slats of her crib...with no way to propel herself forward, she was undeniably stuck!)...when she sleeps like this, she can still manage to find her fingers to suck (which she still does--often!--although occasionally she'll suck her thumb instead)  :) ...one day when I went into her room, I saw her sleeping in this new position and couldn't help but take pictures of her  :)

* Jeff got the honor of giving her the first bottle she's ever had...with the other kids, I was always so eager to pump milk and get them trained to take a bottle; but with her, I was extremely laid-back about it and in no hurry whatsoever...sure, I knew I'd pump eventually, but what was the hurry?...well, the impetus for finally doing this was the Michael W. Smith concert we attended at our county fair...we only got tickets for Jeff and I and our two oldest boys, so with Moriah being left with our babysitter for the first time, I finally had a reason to start pumping and getting her used to a bottle...the first time, she wasn't so sure she liked it; but by the second time, she latched on and did fine with it...watching their daddy give their baby sister a bottle was obviously quite the excitement for the boys on this particular evening  :)

* also this month, I carried up the highchair from the basement of my parents' house where it had been tucked away ever since Shav finished using it; and Moriah has been getting used to that...she's still so little in it, but it reclines enough that she can safely and comfortably sit in it...I like having her in it--high enough that she can see what's going on in the kitchen and even be pulled up to the table during meals sometimes so she can be a part of the family...this is how she looked the first time I put her in it  :)

* sometimes I think we should have given Moriah a different middle name...not that I regret giving her my name for her middle name (I DON'T AT ALL!), but there are some other names that would be appropriate for her...like Peace (or, in the Hebrew, Shalom), Patience, Contentment, Joy, Delight...she possesses these--and IS these--in abundance

Every day, I thank God repeatedly for giving this sweet girl to us.  Think He's tired of hearing that yet?  ;)  No, of course not...which is a very good thing because...

...I'll never stop saying thank you for Moriah!!!!!  :)

One of My Favorite Harvests

Even before we see them, we smell them.  The scent-laden air drifts toward us as we approach the grape arbor; and our excitement grows as we wonder, "Are the grapes ripe?" and "How many will there be--a good crop this year?"

Ever since the year some varmint (either four-footed, two-footed, or two-winged...we don't know for sure) got our grapes, I've never been entirely confident that we'll actually succeed in harvesting any.

Late in the summer each year, as the grapes begin to ripen, I find myself holding my breath.  The fruit that looks so promising - will it remain on the vine for us, or be stolen away?

Would you laugh if I told you that sometimes I even pray that God will protect our grapes for us?  :)

When the terrible storm hit a couple of months ago, our grape arbor toppled and we feared that that spelled the end of our wonderful vine.

How happy we were that our initial conclusion was wrong!

The vine survived its violent shaking, and just look at the beauty it has put forth since then.

Beauty to the eyes, to the nose, and of course...

...to the tongue.  :)

Today was the day we got to begin harvesting our grapes...

 ...and as they say, "Many hands make light work."

 Josiah and David were so eager to get outside to help in the harvest that it took no prompting for us to rush through schoolwork so that they would then be free to head out.

 They especially like standing on ladders...

 ...and cutting the clusters of grapes off the vine.

 My parents had started the project before we were ready to go outside...

 ...and when the boys arrived on the scene, Grandma continued to stick around to help them with ladder placement and any other issues that might arise.

 Like bees.  ;)  I guess we're not the only ones who are drawn to the sweet, juicy grapes!

 Shav - bless his heart - wanted so much to be outside helping to cut grape clusters, too.

 But although he was equipped with a chair and some scissors, he couldn't really reach the grapes at all.  But don't worry, dear boy, there's always next year (and the following year, and the year after that, etc.). You'll get your turn.  ;)

 These two chose to hang out in the kitchen, doing the very important job of pulling grapes off the stems.

As the day's work went on, the kitchen started smelling more and more delicious...and the counters got more and more sticky and purple-y.  ;)  If I tallied correctly, we made about five gallons of grape juice today.  More "treasure" to put on the cellar shelves.  :)

I do love the grape harvest!

For a post about last year's harvest, click here.