Min Kona

..and a family picture

2009-10-26T18:00:00.000-05:00

It's so fun to see our little family growing!

Okay, not exactly a family picture, but we finally captured a smile.

Thanks Mom!

A quick visit

2009-10-26T17:06:00.003-05:00

Joshua's parents and brothers Timothy and Jonathon came down for a quick visit this past weekend. It was way too short, but we're so glad they made it. Joshua took Dad and Timothy to hear Justice Clarence Thomas speak and watch The Tide pull a hair breadth victory over Tennessee, but Mom and Jonathon came down just to see the munchkins. :)

These wraps are awesome! Mom brought down a matching set for Rosalind and me. While baby snuggles up close you can go on a walk, wash dishes, hang out laundry or even do the ironing! Thank you Mom. :)

Someone was awfully glad to see his Uncle Jonny again! He was almost laughing.

Timothy turned eighteen on Friday and we went out for bbq to celebrate.

Rose finally warmed up to him. :)

Even though we didn't all get to watch the game, Rosalind had to show Jonny the quad... and Big Al!

Three generations. For some reason, William didn't appreciate all the picture taking and made it extremely difficult to get a good shot. Oh well!

We had such a wonderful time and miss them already.

Hello there...

2009-10-10T10:35:00.001-05:00

I'm hoping to get back into blogging regularly soon, but for now, just wanted to pop in and say hi. :)

No roaches

2009-10-05T22:13:00.004-05:00

As I walked into our bedroom the other night to lay William down, I was just in time to see a hideous little roach scramble up the wall behind our bed.

"Darling, can you come here?"

"Is it a roach?" he asked. I didn't even scream, but I guess my voice was enough of a clue.

Before Joshua could come to my rescue, the roach crawled behind the curtain. When Joshua pulled it aside, shoe in hand, the nasty little critter dashed down and disappeared under the bed.

A cursory search under the bed failed to uncover it, so I proposed sleeping in the living room.

Joshua didn't like that idea, so he conducted a thorough investigation...

...until even I was convinced that THERE ARE NO ROACHES UNDER THE BED. Where he could have disappeared to is beyond me, but it's been two days and he's still in hiding. Roach traps are definitely top of my shopping list!

Little Will

2009-10-01T22:44:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe he's already one month old! As a complete stranger reminded me yesterday, "Enjoy every last minute... time passes all too quickly."

What if...

2009-09-27T09:42:00.001-05:00

This spring, after a week of dreary drizzling days, I was laying on the bed, utterly exhausted and emotional from pregnancy and morning sickness and disappointment when a dear friend called. After telling me about what she had been up to, she asked, "Sometimes it feels like life just couldn't get any better, doesn't it?!"

"Um, I'm so happy for you..." I said, trying to avoid the question. I sure hoped "life could get better"!

This conversation keeps coming to mind. The days since William was born have flown by so quickly: full of answered prayers, sweet baby smiles, toddler kisses, time with my wonderful husband and the love of friends and family. Sometimes it seems that my cup of blessing simply couldn't contain another drop.

As I stood looking out the window a few weeks ago, with William and Rosalind peacefully sleeping, the sun shining brightly on my little garden and sending it's light dancing across the floor, a sudden feeling, almost of panic, seized me.

What if the fact that I'm so utterly happy now, means that postpartum depression will hit extra hard tomorrow? What if Joshua doesn't get a summer job again next year, even though he has worked so hard and done so well? Will I be able to handle his intense schedule knowing that all his hard work is not paying off like I want it to? What if William starts to get colicky and I don't get any sleep and the neighbor gets mad and...? What if, what if, what if...

And then I laughed. What if all those things happen? Will that change the fact that God is in control? Will His care for us cease? Of course not. And of course life will not always be full of supreme happiness unmixed with trials. Both are part of God's good gifts. I must learn to hold the blessings with open hands, knowing that He who gave can take away, but that either way His name should be blessed.

So spoiled

2009-09-17T20:30:00.001-05:00

All summer long I'd been dying to plant my own little garden and watch it grow. Since we didn't come back home until the beginning of September, I didn't know how much I'd actually get to plant.

But I arrived home to four thriving garden boxes that Joshua planted while I was gone. He even caged them up to keep them from becoming kitty litter boxes. I'm so spoiled! Now if only I can keep from killing the plants...

Two weeks with two

2009-09-13T23:03:00.006-05:00

Especially with moving back home right after William was born, I didn't know how the adjustment to life with two would be. And since nothing about recovery after Rosalind's birth was normal, I had nothing to base my expectations on. So far it couldn't have been better: I'm back with Joshua, William's such a sweet baby, Rosalind adores him, I feel great and friends and family have spoiled me with food and help.

Despite having to deal with some attitude/training issues after a summer away from home, Rosalind has handled the double transition so well. She has been such a sweet helper, always glad to run get a new diaper or put things away for "baby Wiyum".

"Mama, yook in my eyes," Rosalind said earnestly to me a few days ago. Her eyes waited for me and when I looked down she continued, "I yove you too."

Looking into her bright eyes and watching her grow up and then gazing at William as he looks up at me with an occasional grin breaking his intent stare, I wouldn't trade the name of mother for any on earth.

Just after his first bath (it's somewhat impossible to take a picture while holding a slippery baby in a sink full of water): not quite sure whether he enjoyed the bath or getting out more.

William loves sleeping anywhere but in his bed. He was cuddled up in his car seat sound asleep as we got ready to eat dinner tonight.

Just as we were about to sit down Joshua said, "Honey, where's your phone? I think it's buzzing."

It wasn't.

We'd barely begun when Joshua said, "Listen. Isn't that your phone?"
No, it was William snoring.

Home again

2009-09-10T21:39:00.000-05:00

After bidding my family a fond farewell, Rosalind, William and I headed back down to Alabama early Friday morning. Joshua's mom and sweet sister Hannah made the long journey with us. I couldn't have asked for a better baby on the trip down and my one concern was that he was sleeping so well.

It was wonderful to finally pull up into our driveway again after months away from home and be reunited as a family. Rosalind walked right into her bedroom ready to play with her own toys again.

In the morning a surprise was waiting for her outside: a "new" bike (thanks Candace!). She simply couldn't get enough of it and Hannah is probably still sore from pushing her around for hours on end while Mom unpacked and cleaned and restocked our cupboards. Thank you!

Once the counters were visible in the kitchen again, Rosalind helped make bread.

...it was so yummy!

Thrilled though I am to be home again, we will sure miss everyone! Thank you for a wonderful summer.

A Normal Birth

2009-09-09T14:01:00.002-05:00

It seems hardly just to say “normal” because everything turned out so perfectly, but normal is exactly what we were praying for…

Joshua had to return to school on the 10th of August and I stayed here with Rosalind. Within 24 hours I realized that I would make an awful military wife. Grouchiness was always lurking around the corner and it was a constant struggle to enjoy the precious days with family rather than pine to be with Joshua.

At my check up the morning after he left, William, who had been head down for months, was completely transverse. I hadn’t felt him move, so it came as quite a surprise. But that night, I watched as he moved into the breech position. My next appointment was the following Monday and in the mean time I made the mistake of looking online for ideas to flip a breech baby and came across enough horror stories to make me even more emotional. But God answered prayers and on Monday the doctor pronounced him head down again.

The plan was for Joshua to make the ten hour drive back to Missouri as soon as I went into labor and hope that he made it. But by the 27th we were both missing each other so much that he decided to come see us and just hope that William would come while he was here. One of my dearest friends was getting married on Friday, and that way he would make it to the wedding too.

He left Thursday as soon as class was over and pulled up at my family’s house the next morning at five. After catching a few hours of sleep, we spent a very happy day together talking, going on a long walk and taking Rosalind down to the creek to feed the fish.

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. Aneysa looked like an angelic Southern belle and the reception, which was held on her parents’ lawn, was a picture perfect Southern country wedding.

I had been dosing up on red raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil and numerous other things that I’d heard might bring on labor. But even the rather strong Braxton hicks that I’d been having all week had pretty much died down. I was beginning to loose any hope that labor would begin while Joshua was there, but we decided to join in a few of the country dances and see if that might induce William to come. Still no contractions. We were both tired and headed to bed for a good night’s sleep…

After sleeping in Saturday morning, the contractions began. When we first learned that we couldn’t have him at the birthing clinic like we had hoped, my dear midwife Robyn offered to still come to the birth with us. We found a wonderful doctor who was very supportive of laboring naturally. He told us that we could do the early labor at home and come in when I hit transition. Especially since my labor was over thirty hours last time and I threw up repeatedly I didn’t think my low blood sugar would handle another long labor on nothing but a 4 ounce IV and ice chips.

my wonderful labor team :)

Robyn came around 11:00 that morning. I was dilated to a four and William was doing great. Labor progressed rather slowly for the next few hours, and I was so glad to be “home”. (Well, at my parent’s house, my dad had cleared the house of all the kiddos.)

By about 4:00 I was only at a six, but the contractions picked up in intensity. Robyn had been checking William’s heart rate all along, and he had been doing great, but then I tried to lay down. Through the next contraction his heart rate dropped precipitously. I started panicking, but Robyn told me to sit up and then he did great.

About twelve hours after labor began, I had dilated to an eight and we decided it was time to head to the hospital. After the initial bumpy dirt road, the car ride nearly put me to sleep.

We arrived at the hospital and the nicest nurse took charge. She was surprised when she realized that I was at an eight (even though I told her I’d been in labor all day) and quickly introduced us to the doctor on call—who we also really liked. Normally they only let two people stay, but Joshua, Robyn and both moms got to be there (on the condition that they would clear out if there were serious complications again this time). What a blessing to get to have all of their support and love, and especially that Joshua got to be there!

The time passed slowly until it came time to push, and then the doctor almost didn’t have his gloves on in time to catch the baby. William arrived at 12: 36 with a gusty cry, but soon settled down into alert contentedness.

For the next twenty minutes, there was a silent tension in the room as the doctor quickly and carefully delivered the placenta: which was intact and came easily. What an answer to prayer! And what an amazing difference from last time! With Rosalind, the bad part was just beginning.

After venting his hearty disapprobation of hospital scales, William roomed in with us and was so sweet and calm… and I actually got to hold him! What a difference not hemorrhaging terribly makes.

From that point on laughed numerous times just comparing the two births. I felt the glee of a two year old when I laid down on the hospital bed and could actually reach over and push the button to raise it. That was such an accomplishment last time! Even hospital food tastes great when you’re not on a restricted diet.

My wonderful husband stayed with us ‘til Tuesday when we were released from the hospital and then headed back home…with us to follow him in a few days.

From beginning to end, we were so abundantly blessed by how perfectly God worked out each detail. Truly He “welcomed William with the blessings of goodness.” Psalm 21:3

A few more pics...

2009-09-03T16:29:00.000-05:00

I've been dying to get on here and post, but have either been busy or sleeping during the day. Around 3 last night I couldn't sleep and thought "What a great time to post". But my computer battery was dead, and the thought of heading down a steep flight of steps and fumbling through the dark to find the charger convinced me that I really was quite tired.

In the mean time, here are a few pictures of our little treasure:

My three favorite people. :)

Rosalind has been such a sweet big sister...even if she does nearly squash him when trying to give him a kiss.

"One, two free, four finners" Rosalind said and sat back contentedly. Thankfully the fifth one was hiding there somewhere.

Introducing...

2009-08-31T21:59:00.003-05:00

William Boyd Christensen

Sunday, August 30th at 12:36 a.m.
Weight: 8 lbs, 8 oz.
Height: 20 1/4 inches

"Thou preventest me with the blessings of goodness." ~Psalm 21:3

** more pictures and his birth story to follow shortly, hopefully ;) **

Time for an update

2009-07-18T14:29:00.000-05:00

To the few faithful readers that continue to check this poorly neglected site, my apologies... and I thought you deserved an update.

We have been enjoying the summer and getting to spend time with family and friends, but being away from home and the regular routine of life has made the time seem to pass even more quickly than normal.

One of the perks of being in Missouri was getting to continue our Shakespeare tradition. The summer that Joshua and I were engaged we heard of the annual (free!) Shakespeare festival held in Kansas City. Two of our sisters were quite obliging "chaperons" and we headed up to the play.

Sadly, half way through Henry the V, the threatening clouds broke loose, the play was canceled and King Henry's soldiers were left to wander through the mud. We loved it anyway and have been up each year since...only Heidi and Becka have quit their job as chaperons.

Last year's tragic Othello was followed up this time by The Merry Wives of Windsor: a rollicking account of two faithful wives' revenge on a would-be seducer.

We've been staying at Joshua's family's house, with frequent trips made to my side of the family. My family caught the flu bug though, so we stayed away. Thinking that all was over, we headed their direction, only to get a call that the bug lived on.

When the air was finally clear, Rosalind and Kathryn were thrilled to get to see each other again.

A few days ago Joshua and were talking about this pregnancy and without thinking I said, "...last time I was pregnant with William." He's been a long time in coming. ;) Oh the power of an incorrect ultrasound!

Anyway, after going through the boy clothes I had set aside last pregnancy (which Rosalind did not wear), I found several gaps in his wardrobe and couldn't pass up the opportunity to go garage sales with my mom, the garage sale queen. :) We hit quite the jackpots!

My favorite finds were the layettes for a quarter each. I just love them the first few weeks!

Enough of this rambling for now. :)

Socks, socks and more socks

2009-07-07T14:27:00.000-05:00

Growing up in a large family, there was always laundry-lots of it. Every few months (when the basket got too full) we'd pull out the sock stack and flood the living room floor with odd socks.

No longer. My mom came up with a brilliant idea: rather than just tossing your socks into the laundry basket, fold them first. That way they at least make it into the washing machine together. Of course there still are those ornery socks that escape in the dryer, but now most socks end up happily back in their drawers, without an extended stay in the sock basket. Works for me!

photo by Bethography

Salad and Lasagna

2009-07-06T09:38:00.000-05:00

Shortly after we were married, Joshua came home from work and while I served dinner I explained, "I was going to make lasagna, but we didn't have stuff for salad, so I couldn't."

He looked at me quizzically and asked, "What does salad have to do with lasagna?"

"Don't you always eat salad with your lasagna?" I replied, equally surprised.

Apparently not. I later found that he even ate tacos without lemonade and meatloaf without a side of peas! Shocking, huh?

Since we're staying with Joshua's family for the summer, it's been a unique experience to get to watch my "other mom" run her home. After growing up in a large family myself, I've enjoyed observing how another (even larger) family operates and realize afresh how different two large families-who are committed to the same beliefs and goals- can be in the day to day running of the homes.... and just how many things I can learn from both!

From food to organization to child-training, I'm so blessed to have two wonderful examples of practical wisdom. And since I've been enjoying it, I thought it would be fun to share a few, rather random, gleanings from my mothers over the next few weeks. :)

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Photo by Sasa Loggin

Rejoicing in slow internet

2009-06-29T14:57:00.003-05:00

While sitting in front of the gradually loading screen wishing for high speed (you can't get it way out here), I realized that the tortoise pace really does have it's benefits. And even slow internet qualifies as one of those things that we are told to "rejoice in". :)

The benefits are there: The temptation to browse the internet or read the comments on a controversial news story is greatly diminished. You are forced to decide whether it is really worth waiting for the page to load. I still check my e-mail and favorite blogs, but more often than not, I find myself spending less time on the computer because of the wait.

I've also gotten more sleep. The internet invariably seems to fade out altogether when I decide to blog at night, and this forces me to bed. A good thing, right?

It encourages creativity. When the answer to just about any problem is just a click away, the internet can easily become a crutch. Of course, it's awfully handy, but maybe not always quite as necessary as imagined. Our grandmas somehow really did manage to cook without consulting the online chefs.

There are blessings in most frustrations of life, and that is certainly true with slow, unreliable internet. Blessing to remember when I return to a high speed connection...

photo by Theo Kleen

The way back to Eden

2009-06-28T14:18:00.000-05:00

"The only way to become guiltless is to know that you are guilty. This is the tension, the paradox. The way back to Eden is to know that you are, justly, excluded from it... You cannot make the journey back, you must be carried there."

excerpt from an article in Thought Meadow

by Hannah Wolff

photo by Wong Mei Teng

Wal Mart 101: beer and diapers

2009-06-24T15:35:00.002-05:00

After taking a whole semester of Marketing 101, I realized that a simple stroll through Wal-Mart could teach you far more.

Did you know that even the placement of diapers has been carefully planned and monitored?

That’s right. A few years ago, it was observed that beer sold better if it was located near the diapers.

Imagine the scenario: Dad is on the way home from work and gets a call on his cell.

“Honey, could you stop and pick up some diapers? We’re all out.”

Back-tracking a bit, he heads wearily to the nearest Wal-Mart. On his way to pick up the diapers, what does he notice? The beer. Apparently beer sales increased quite considerably after it was strategically placed. Crazy, huh?

Of course, the marketing doesn’t end there. From the differing layouts of each store, to the constantly fluctuating prices of fruits (allowing “mark-down” signs to be placed on normally priced produce) to the blaring $2.50 posters advertising the normal price of potato chips, the folks at Wal-mart are masters of marketing.

But while they master the marketing, we can master the shopping.

Shopping with a list is perhaps the easiest way to avoid the marketing. Knowing what you need ahead of time avoids so many impulse purchases.

Always have a target price for such items as fresh produce, meat and other widely fluctuating items, to avoid the tempting, but over-priced "sales". Of course, there often are real genuine good deals to be had, so I generally just put the generic "fruit" and "vegetables" on my shopping list, and then search for those deals.

Bigger is not always better (per pound). This is especially true when using coupons, but even without them it’s not the price per container, but the price per oz/lb/serving that matters. Recently I was purchasing powdered milk (for making granola, not drinking!) and upon comparing price per oz, realized that a box of individual serving packets was considerably cheaper per quart than the large box. Plus, it’s much easier to store. While some items really are a better deal when bought in bulk, many aren't!

Photo by cbcs

Away from home

2009-06-23T16:24:00.002-05:00

As those who have spent long periods of time staying with family or friends can testify, no matter how wonderful your hosts are (Joshua's family is awesome), before too long you get a hankering for home. Your home, with your schedule, your quirks and even your own dirty dishes.

Even with such accommodating family, it is difficult to assimilate into the much faster pace of life in a house full of people. Getting "stuff" done is more of a challenge and I've been struggling with feeling frustrated.

But whether I'm at home or not, my priorities should not change. Here, as at home, my first calling is to love the Lord, then to love and honor my husband, to train, love and enjoy my little girl and care for my growing son. No matter where I am, my job is to be wife and mother. Walking worthy of that vocation is the goal. The nice long list of "projects", while delightful parts of homemaking, are not essential. They are certainly not something to stress about.

As I focus on these simple priorities, it makes it much easier to enjoy the time. Our siblings are growing up so fast and whether it's spending time together weeding the garden, sitting around chatting or just watching a movie, it's such a special chance to get to know them better.

Plus, after growing up in a big family and watching my amazing mother guide the home, I get to observe first hand a whole different way of striving for the same goal of a happy, obedient, loving children and an orderly home.

Hopefully I can glean from her wisdom. :)

Photo by Johan Desoete

Daddy's Little Girl

2009-06-21T15:17:00.002-05:00

I know this is a bit late, but at last time to get on the computer and working internet have coincided. ;)

One of my earliest memories is of sitting with my daddy as he told me the stories of the Bible, from Adam to Christ. To this day I can still remember the pictures and his patient responses to my myriad of questions.

No matter how busy his day, he took time for each of us children. Time to read us a story, teach us chess (I still haven't beat him!), play outside and eat dinner together. As the years past, dinner time became the highlight of the day. It was around the table that we heard the latest news or discussed ideas. Before long we'd be passionately discussing the latest in politics, rehashing historical events, learning about a new scientific discovery or concluding dinner by breaking out the hymnals.

Growing up, I always knew I could go to my dad for wisdom, counsel or just to share a fun new discovery. For a little girl, there are few things more important than resting secure in your father's love, being able to trust him for counsel and knowing that he's devoted to your mom.

Having been blessed with such a wonderful relationship with my dad, I am doubly blessed to watch my little girl with her daddy: knowing that she too gets to grow up under the loving guidance of a godly man. There are few things more precious that an adoring daughter running in to see if daddy likes her new dress or waiting impatiently for him to get home from work. Yet how rare good daddies are!

Thank you to my daddy and my little girl's daddy.

College reflections

2009-06-17T20:26:00.002-05:00

Finally, years after opening that first study guide, I completed my college degree. Prolonged several times due to lengthy breaks, after Rosalind was born, I nearly decided not to finish. But with only five credit hours left, Joshua finally encouraged me just to get it done.

Though my original plan for obtaining a degree (teaching in China) has been pushed into the distant future, and at this point you do not need a college degree in order to home school, I am glad to have pursued it.

Having gone a less traveled route to earn the credit, I have been delighted to see just how many unique ways there are to learn a subject and obtain credit for it. Most majors (medical and hands-on science courses accepted, of course) really can be pursued away from a brick-and-mortar setting without jeopardizing the quality of the education- if you are willing to study diligently.

Both Joshua and I obtained our degrees through Excelsior College, one of the leading "distance learning" colleges. Distance learning operates under the assumption that what you know is more important that where you learned it and so makes use of a wide variety of standardized testing, portfolio assessments and online courses.

While non-traditional schooling certainly isn't for everyone, if your undergraduate degree is in the arts or is simply a stepping stone to graduate/law school (like it was for Joshua), I would highly recommend looking into it. Even for those who decide to go to a regular college, most schools allow you to test out of at least some of the gen. ed. classes.

There are many advantages to studying at home and then testing for a subject:

Cost- While many college graduates spend upwards of $20,000 for tuition, books and fees, the cost of getting a degree through a distance learning easily falls below $5,000. Add in the fact that much of the studying can be done while maintaining a full-time job (like Joshua did), and the savings are even more significant. Especially with our current unstable economy, the advantage in being able to graduate free from debt are very attractive.

Flexibility- Not only can you choose your own hours of study and testing, many of the lectures I used were audio only, allowing me to learn the history of Soviet Russia or medieval European literature while folding laundry and driving to the grocery store.

Time- Many self-disciplined students, by diligent study, have been able to obtain a bachelor's degree in two years or even one. While I was certainly not one of those students, per credit hour, I spent considerably less time mastering a subject when studying on my own than in a classroom setting.

Despite the benefits of distance learning, there are several major drawbacks when stepping outside of a brick-and-mortar colleges.

Motivation- "What if I'm not self-motivated?" many people have asked me. This is a problem, but in many cases, I think it isn't so much the lack of motivation that makes self-paced study difficult, but the lack of a good plan and tangible goal. This is certainly what kept me from getting my degree sooner. An option that several friends have utilized and enjoyed is College Plus. They offer Christian coaching to direct students in their distance learning endeavors

Online courses- A teacher makes the class a delight or horror, and this is especially true of online classes. Though all of my online teachers have been excellent, my brother took an English class in which the teacher didn't responds to questions and only graded one (out of half a dozen) assignment before finals were due, providing negligible feedback in a class that requires interaction between teacher and student. Apparently a few teachers think that online teaching means "not teaching".

Despite these drawbacks, I highly recommend distance learning.

For more specifics on means we utilized, see these posts:

College: the non-traditional way
College: the non-traditional way 2

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Linking to Frugal Fridays over at Life as Mom

photo by Mary Gober

Symbols and Children

2009-06-16T08:50:00.002-05:00

There comes a time in a girl's life when she realizes that Mama gets to wear a pretty ring and she doesn't. That time came for Rosalind about a month ago.

"Where Rose ring?" she asked, pointing to her empty finger. And then came the time to explain, to a toddler, the meaning of the ring. "This ring means that Papa loves me and promises to protect and provide for me; and that he will be a good Papa to our children-to our little Rose."

A sagacious nod. Now she points to my hand and says with a wise look in her eyes, "That's Papa ring."

Since Joshua and I began attending a more liturgical church, I've often pondered the reason for liturgy and symbols and repeated acts of worship. Why do we pray the Lord's Prayer, confess the ancient creeds of the church and take the Lord's supper? For that matter, why do we pray before eating or going to bed? Does repeating a ceremony daily, weekly, yearly make it mere rote?

Certainly not! Though we certainly can mumble a prayer before dinner just because that's what "good people" do, the most important aspects of life are commemorated by thoughtful traditions. Dinner prayers to remind us that all is a gift from God, communion to reflect on the mercy of Christ, the creeds to remember the basic beliefs of Christ's followers and a wedding ring to symbolize the union of husband and wife...

After God commanded the Israelite people to keep the passover, He said, "And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.’" (Exodus 13:14)

Not only are symbols a reminder to us of the covenants God has made with us, or we with one another, and an encouragement to be faithful in them, but they open the door through tangible examples to teach our children. How beautiful the simple sacred symbols are!

photo by J. Chris Photography

The greatest drama

2009-06-14T14:20:00.001-05:00

"That God should play the tyrant over man is a dismal story of unrelieved oppression; that man should play the tyrant over man is the usual dreary record of human futility; but that man should play the tyrant over God and find him a better man than himself is an astonishing drama indeed."

"This is the dogma we find so dull-- this terrifying drama of which God is the victim and hero."

"In any case, those who saw this risen Christ remained persuaded that life was worth living and death a triviality--an attitude curiously unlike that of the modern defeatist, who is firmly persuaded that life is a disaster and death (rather inconsistently) a major catastrophe. "

from "The Greatest Drama Ever Staged"
by Dorothy Sayers

photo by Aneta Blaszczyk

My two year old

2009-06-10T08:41:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I simply can't get over the fact that I get to be your mommy. You are such a joy, but are growing up way too fast!

Favorite color: "Yeyow"
Favorite foods: Oatmeal, olives, green beans, broccoli and tomatoes. Once you refused a cookie because you were eating a tomato.

Interests: You love your dollies, flowers, animals (from a distance) and trucks.
Favorite song: "Jesus" (Jesus loves me)

Endearing habits: Instead of saying "I love you", you say, "Yes-a-Mama" and pull my face to yours for a kiss.
When you get your hair fixed, try on new clothes or wear your favorite outfit, you want to show Papa and ask, "Papa, pitty [pretty]?"
Favorite outfit: the apple dress

Animal sounds: You have most of them down, but insist that the horse says "yee-haw" and all elephants say "Roll Tide!"

Sweet sayings:
"Mama, hold you!"

"Dat truck....big truck...YEYOW TRUCK!"

"Baby. Boy. Wiyum!" you say while patting my tummy. Then ask "Baby Ro-Ro tummy?"

"Cuddle Mama. Kisses?"

"Pitty...kute...niiiiiice!"

You are terribly afraid of the vacuum cleaner. In an attempt to overcome your fear, one night you put yourself to sleep saying "Nice 'vuum. Nice 'vuum." It didn't work.

I love you darling!

Many thanks to your Aunt Crystal for the awesome pictures!

Man and Wife

2009-06-10T01:58:00.004-05:00

What a whirlwind weekend--or rather week. The trip to Colorado was both terribly long and sadly short. The hours in the van definitely seeming the longest.

But after years of waiting, Chris and Bethany are finally married... and the family grows once again! The wedding was gorgeous and passed without a hitch. ;)

a few wedding snapshots

a family photo

We headed back to Missouri with a moving truck in tow and arrived "home" five o'clock Monday morning, only to discover that the power was out in half the house and the freezers not so very frozen. It was a late night!

The rest of Monday was spent moving and unloading the truck at our little house in Republic. One brother moved out and another in.

After catching up on some sleep, life is finally settling back into normal again. :)