Post in Progress

I've been working on a post about Josiah's 10th birthday which we joyfully celebrated yesterday, but it's taking longer than I expected to finish it up.  So, in the interest of getting some sleep tonight, I'm going to press the pause button on that post and finish it at a later date.  Sometimes that's just the way it goes!

In the meantime, how about a picture of Moriah's toes...

...which she curls...

...and her fingers...

...which she also curls.

Have I mentioned recently how much I love that tiny girl???  :)

Wordless Wednesday {What We Brought Home from the HEAV Convention}

I Never Get Tired...

...of watching my children sleep.

 So this evening, when I noticed that Moriah had fallen asleep in the playpen where I had placed her so I could prepare supper, I had to pause for a moment to gaze at her...and then I had to grab the camera and snap a photo to capture that moment.

Yes, it's definitely true that I never get tired of watching my little ones sleep.

However, it's also true that I do get tired - physically tired - which is how I feel tonight.  So often I don't even realize how exhausted I am...until I sit down.  Then it hits me like a ton of bricks and I feel like I can hardly get up again!  Which is how I'm feeling right now...  Which means my to-do list of things I hoped to accomplish tonight is rapidly getting shorter as I convince myself I don't really need to do what I thought I needed to do... Which means I can go to bed soon...  Which means this is the end of this post...  ;-)

Scripture Verses for Labor and Delivery

I've already written quite a bit (understatement!) about Moriah's birth (here are Parts One, Two, Three, Four, and Five of her birth story), but one thing I haven't yet recorded is the list of scripture verses I had written out on index cards in the weeks leading up to her birth.  These verses saturated my soul with peace and strength; and even though during the actual process of labor on that glorious Monday morning I didn't pull out the cards to review them, I know that the truth of these verses was present enough in my mind to be sustaining me even then.  If I ever go through labor again (and that's a big if because at my advanced maternal age, nothing is a given!) ;-) I want to remember these verses that were so extremely helpful as I prepared for Moriah's birth.

Some of these verses come from the book Supernatural Childbirth which I read and reread as the end of this pregnancy approached.  Every time I mention reading that book, I feel like I ought to write a whole post about it because it is somewhat controversial; but since I've never written that post, here is a quick summary of my thoughts about the book.  First, I am utterly convinced of the strong connection between a woman's thoughts during labor and the amount of pain that she has.  I can vividly recall during each of the times I've given birth the moment when I've mentally "lost it" and allowed fear to overwhelm me.  Before that moment, I either didn't have any pain or it was very minimal; but when I lost the mental peace, I felt the pain intensely. Second, I would never want the idea of a pain-free (or minimal-pain) childbirth to be a test of a woman's salvation or spirituality or level of faith.  In the same way, I would never want a woman's ability to conceive and bear a child to be a test of her faith.  I'm cautious with that book because I know that it's written so strongly that a woman could walk away from it feeling condemned by her inability to measure up.  That doesn't mean that the book doesn't contain a lot of truth and a lot of Godly encouragement because I absolutely think it does.  But the idea that "if you have enough faith, you'll have a pain-free childbirth" means that there are a whole lot of women (myself included) who could think, "Well, then, I don't measure up."  With all of that said, however, I do really appreciate what I learned from the book and how it helped my faith to grow.  Of course, much of that growth came from these verses from the Bible and the power of God's very words!

Two quick notes before I list the verses.  First, I freely admit to using whatever version spoke the most to my heart.  If the NIV hit the nail on the head, I wrote those words down on my card.  If it was the NLT, I used that.  Or whatever the case may be.  I usually didn't mark down which version it was (although obviously with the first verse in the list, I did make a notation; that was primarily because I rarely - or never - use the CEV, but in this case the words were so comforting that I really wanted to use this version).  Second, I'm sure it's probably obvious why I chose these verses so I won't comment on most of the verses as I go along; but I might say a little something about a few of them.

Here is the list...

My child, Christ Jesus is kind, and you must let him make you strong.
~ 2 Timothy 2:1 (CEV)

There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear...
~ I John 4:18

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
~ 2 Timothy 1:7

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
~ Galatians 3:13
(Supernatural Childbirth talked about how pain in childbirth is a consequence of the fall, not part of the original plan of God for women.  If Christ has redeemed us from the other consequences of the fall, why not this one, too?)

Surely he took up our (weaknesses) and carried our sorrows.
~ Isaiah 53:4a

Jesus spoke to them at once.  "Don't be afraid," he said.  "Take courage.  I am here!"
~ Matthew 14:27
(I heard a great sermon on this text a couple of months before Moriah was born, and it really helped my faith to grow.  When I was in labor, I definitely felt the presence of the Lord with me ("I am here!" - He really was) as I prayed my simple prayer, "Carry me," which I wrote about here.)

They will not toil (labor) in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.  Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. (While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!)
~ Isaiah 65:23-24

This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see!  (The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes!)  I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done!
~ Psalm 118:23,17

Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you...  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
~ Romans 12:1-2

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
~ Philippians 4:13

The midwives answered Pharoah, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."
~ Exodus 1:19
(This verse reminded me that the women with a covenant are not like the women without a covenant which helped me deal with the thought of "if the vast majority of women have terrible pain during childbirth, why would I expect to have it any different?"  But let me reiterate that I do NOT think having pain in childbirth means a woman is not walking with God or isn't under the covenant.)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
~ Ephesians 3:20

His divine power has given us everything we need...through our knowledge of him...his own glory and goodness...he has given us his very great and precious promises...participate in the divine nature...make every effort to add to your faith goodness...knowledge...self-control...perseverance...godliness...brotherly kindness...love...
~ 2 Peter 1:3-7

How joyful are those who fear the Lord - all who follow his ways!  You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.  How joyful and prosperous you will be!  Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home.  Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.  That is the Lord's blessing for those who fear him.
~ Psalm 128:1-4

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.
~ Psalm 127:3

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:6-7

He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers.  He will bless the fruit of your womb... You will be blessed more than any other people.
~ Deuteronomy 7:13-14

So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.
~ Galatians 6:9

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
~ Psalm 29:11

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.
~ Isaiah 26:3

Besides these verses, I also wrote on an index card the words of this song:
Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Someday my dearly-loved daughter may be pregnant and preparing for the birth of her own child.  I pray that in that time, Moriah will find verses to drive away fear and fill her with hope and peace and joy.  Maybe some of these that ministered life to my spirit as I carried her in my womb will do the same for her!

Two Months Since the Day...

...sweet Moriah was born, and my whole world changed in the most wonderful way!

I have loved the process of getting to know this darling little creature; and although Moriah still spends much of her time sleeping, I did notice a change in her about two weeks ago.  At about six weeks of age, she started staying awake for longer periods of time, making eye contact more, and having more frequent smiles.    Not that I could prove it from her pictures!  I still haven't managed to capture a great smile from her in a photo.  Oh, well, it will come...  :)

Moriah now weighs eleven and a half pounds, and is 22 inches long.  Most of her newborn clothes are packed away (or need to be), and now she wears mostly 0-3 month clothes and even some 3-6 month things.

She is still quite easy-going and relaxed--very easy to care for.  However, once in a while, she'll have a fussy evening; and from what I can tell, it happens when we've been away from home for a while or our routine has been interrupted and she's gotten overly tired.  It seems to be true with her that a well-rested baby sleeps much better than an exhausted one, even though you might think that the more tired the baby, the better she'll sleep.  Not so with her!  When I know that we've been gone and she hasn't gotten good rest wherever we've been and I think that she's headed for a fussy spell, I try my best to lower my expectations of anything else that I might get done so that I can focus on her and help her through it.  And you know what?  We always make it through.  ;-)

One of Moriah's favorite things at two months of age is the swing; and because she loves it so much and it makes life so easy, I actually let her have some of her daytime sleep in it.  One of these days I'll transition her to taking all her naps in her crib; but for now, I really don't mind using the swing some for that.  Fortunately, Moriah sleeps great in her crib at night, so it's not as if she can't sleep without the swing.  ;-)  Speaking of nights, now that she's two months old, I know that she's at the age at which most of my boys started sleeping through the night; but I haven't pushed it with her yet.  Her regular habit is to wake once in the night to nurse and then go right back to sleep again, and that is so manageable for me!  To tell you the truth, I haven't been nearly as desperate for sleep this time around, so I haven't minded the night wakings.  Not that I'll complain when she starts sleeping through the night though...  ;-)

When I think of Moriah at this stage of her life, the word that comes to mind is "delight."  Truly she is a delight to me and to all of us here in our household!  :)

(I can't let this day go by without wishing a very happy anniversary to my parents!  Today they're celebrating 49 years of marriage!!!  I love you, Dad & Mom!)  :)

Really, Julie Andrews?

I know they're lovely and all...

...with shiny water droplets clinging to soft, fragrant petals.

Truly beautiful, to be sure.

But really, Julie Andrews...

...out of ALL the things you could have chosen in the ENTIRE world...

...raindrops on roses heads your list of favorite things???  ;-)

15 Reasons I'd Do It All Over Again

My beloved,

Fifteen years!

Fifteen years since that glorious June day (OK, it was cloudy and a little cool, but glorious nonetheless!) when we stood together in front of "God and these witnesses" to proclaim our love for each other and commit ourselves as husband and wife FOR LIFE.  Fifteen years used to seem like a long time.  Now that they've passed, they seem to have flown on the swiftest wings.  

In honor of the occasion, here are fifteen things I appreciate about you.  

1. You taught me to love brown.  Before I met you, I probably would have said brown was one of my least favorite colors, but you!  You liked brown!  Still do, as a matter of fact.  Might even say it's your favorite color.  And because of you, I've learned to love that color, too, which is a very good thing since you chose brown to be the color for our baby's room.  ;-)  Now I love to wear brown clothes because you make me feel beautiful in them.  I think God must like brown a whole bunch, too, because He sure used a lot of it in nature!  ;-)

2. You've helped me appreciate unpredictability.  I can't even count the number of times we've pulled into a parking lot and I've been sure that you were going to park in a certain spot.  Every indication--your body language, way you were turning the steering wheel, place you were looking, etc.--told me you were headed for spot A; but at the last minute you change everything and end up in spot B.  I never can guess where you're going to park!  ;-)  Same thing in restaurants when we're going to order.  I'll often ask, "What are you going to get?", and you'll tell me something; but when the server comes to take our order, you've changed your mind and have chosen something completely different.  If you tell me you'll have the catfish, I know by now not to count on it because chances are, you'll tell the server you want meatloaf!  ;-)  These are silly (but true!) examples, but they reflect the deeper reality that you are truly more spontaneous and unpredictable than me...and that's such a good thing.

3. Despite that, you're incredibly loyal to me and our family.  You haven't changed your mind about your marriage vows.  Your faithfulness is priceless.

4. You don't tease me.  We were talking once about how husbands and wives need to be careful how they tease each other so as to not cause hurt feelings; and when we tried to think of an area in which it's "safe" for you to tease me, we couldn't come up with one!  ;-)  I guess I must have thin skin.  I guess you're pretty incredible for tolerating and protecting that thin skin.

5. You don't tickle me.  I told you from the beginning of our relationship that I hated--truly hated--to be tickled; and you have respected that and never taken advantage of me in that way.

6. You're teaching the boys how to respect me.  For example, just recently, you let them know in no uncertain terms that if they ever hit me (or Moriah or any girl or woman, but especially their mom), they would surely regret it.  (Not that they've been in the habit of hitting me or anything like that, but there was a little too much imitation of Batman going on around here recently, and one son in particular was developing the custom of getting a mean look on his face, balling up his fists, throwing them out, and saying "ka-pow" and "ka-boom" when something happened that he didn't like or he was told to do something he didn't want to do.  You wanted to make sure that he was very clear about the fact that it is NOT OK to hit Mommy.)

7. You introduced me to avocados, cilantro, lime slices sprinkled with salt, taquitos, and tortilla chips - none of which I cared much for before I met you (and maybe, in some of these cases, had never even tasted), but all of which I'm quite fond of now.

8. When dinner is late, you never complain.  In fact, I can't remember you EVER saying a negative comment in that situation.  You either get busy doing something to help, like chopping onions or tomatoes, or you cheerfully head out to the garden to put in some time there until dinner is ready.

9. You work hard and manage our money wisely.  I never--absolutely never--worry about our finances because I know you're in charge of them and I trust you completely.

10. You respect my role as a stay-at-home mom and support that, never making me feel guilty for not "getting out there and finding a real job."  Early on in our relationship, you made it clear that you felt like it was important enough for me to be at home with our future children that we would plan our finances accordingly and not live beyond our means, freeing me from bringing in an income after we had children.

11. You appreciate me homeschooling the boys, bless me with words of affirmation and gratitude for that, and give input when I ask.  Sometimes I'm in a quandary as I try to decide the best course of action for educating the boys, and you listen and tell me your opinion which reassures me greatly.

12. You love and care for my parents.  Not many men would be content to set up camp in the backyard of their in-laws, but you have a more old-fashioned, wiser, more mature sense of familial responsibility.

13. You never criticize me for my housekeeping failures.  When things are getting overwhelming for me and you happen to notice that (say, for example, when there are no clean socks in your dresser)  ;-), you seek ways to make the load lighter for me, rather than being negative towards me for the areas in which I fall short.

14.  You make it obvious to all you meet that God and your family are the two most important things in your life.  No one who steps into your room at the barber shop, no one who friends you on Facebook, and no one who takes the time to have a conversation with you could come away from it not knowing that you love God, you love me, and you love our children.  Your devotion shines brilliantly.

15. Like I wrote about last year, you know me, the real inner me, more than anyone else...which makes me think of this song...and this song makes me think of you.  Without a doubt, you are the other side of me.


Thank you for the best fifteen years of my life.  I'm thankful for every day with you and look forward to as many years together as the Lord will give us.  Besides His, your love is the sweetest thing in my life.

With all my love,
Your Happy

~ photos taken by Josiah yesterday evening, in the garden, between the rows of potatoes...the garden is where I often find you these days  ;-)