A Sunday Evening Potpourri

Little Brother enjoyed his first Ring Pop today. He relished every. single. lick. Thank you, Miss Laura.

This weekend I realized that in light of the fact that Baby Sister has red hair I really must find my childhood Becky doll for her to play with.

I am more stubborn than mustard stains. I am more stubborn than automotive grease stains. Victory on two counts! Now I'm hoping that I'm more stubborn than red clay mud stains because the Boys' Club decided to throw wet dirt clods at the back shed whilst wearing their Sunday best.

Last night the professor made she-crab soup... laced with sherry. Tonight he made delicious omelets. I could get used to having him cook on a regular basis.

I am not a superstitious person but I may have to become one for the sake of sleep. Baby slept from 10:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. {6.5 hours!) eight nights in a row. In my book that is sleeping through the night. As soon as I wrote and published, "Now that I'm getting more sleep under my belt..." she resumed her 2:00 a.m. cries for milk. I jinxed it. When and if she ever sleeps through the night again you will not read about it here.

That is all. Goodnight moon.

El Gibbor, The Mighty God

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Eight Weeks Old

Hello Bright Eyes, you've had a busy week! Mommy is gaining some confidence so we're getting out and about more. This week you've been to the park, Kroger, the bank, and to speech therapy with your brother. The two of us also spent an afternoon on the road so that you could meet your Aunt Anna, your doting uncle, and the crazy boy-cousins. {Auntie will be delivering another boy-cousin for you any day now!} You took all of our outings in stride! I'm so thankful that you don't fight the carseat.

You've become quite chatty this week. Your favorite conversation partner is the little straw purse that Bunny gave you. What girl doesn't love a pretty handbag?!

{Nevermind that her hands are moving and Big Brother is out of focus... look at their hands on her head! So sweet!}

You are my 5 a.m. wake-up call. Now that I have a little more sleep under my belt I'm trying to stay up after I feed you to enjoy a quiet hour before our busy day begins. Some mornings I succeed, other mornings I crawl back into bed.

My deepest desire and most fervent prayer is that I will be faithful to teach and demonstrate the gospel to my children each day. It is a daunting task. This morning, while the house was still, I read Paul's words to the believers in the church at Corinth and I was struck by how perfectly they express my own goal as a mother as well as my desire for my children...

When I came to you, brothers my children, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching teaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

My prayer today is that I will be found faithful to rely on the Spirit in guiding the hearts of my children so that their faith will rest on God's power alone.

*edits in bold are mine

Chocolate Refrigerator Cake

When she was my age, the professor's grandmother served it to her bridge club. My mother ate it in the sorority house when she was in college. I served it for dessert when Beth came to visit. Why have folks have been enjoying Chocolate Refrigerator Cake for generations? It's easy to prepare and oh so delicious!

Chocolate Refrigerator Cake

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbls. sugar

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 9-ounce package Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers

Pour whipping cream into a chilled, metal mixing bowl. Add vanilla. While whipping the cream with an electric mixer gradually add the sugar. Mix until light and fluffy. Spread one heaping teaspoon of whipped cream onto each wafer. Stack wafers together then stand on edge to form a log {do this part on a pretty serving platter}. Spread remaining whipped cream all over the top and sides. Garnish with shaved chocolate. Refrigerate four hours, or overnight. Serve chilled. To plate, slice diagonally into twelve slices.

Simple Summer Fun

I wasn't surprised when the boys requested to play in the sprinkler, but I was surprised when they asked me to drag out the purple plastic baby pool leftover from Big Brother's preschool days. "Surely they've outgrown this," I thought. Apparently not if it's part of a grand scheme for an obstacle course and then later becomes a bicycle helmet washing station {???}.

If a hose, a sprinkler, and a plastic wading pool will keep them happily busy for two hours while simultaneously expending copious amounts of energy and watering the lawn I'm happy to oblige.

Irresistible

As newlyweds we lived in central Ohio. In those days a typical Friday night included ice cream and book browsing. It didn't take long to convince us that Graeter's is the best ice cream on the continent.

It's been seven loooong years since such decadence crossed our lips. On Mother's Day Eve the professor found it at our local Kroger. After expressing his exuberance to the cashier he paid ten dollars for two pints {totally worth it!}, brought it home, and together we dove into Toffee-Chip heaven.

Little Brother Lately

{this summer we're really working on NOT snacking as much, he's a carbohydrate kid}

Happy Monday, Friends

I woke an hour before the kids this morning so I took a shower and washed my hair.

A morning shower is a luxury these days... so is washing my hair.

When Little Brother got up we had this conversation:

Me: "I made oatmeal for breakfast. Does that sound good?"

LB: "Yes! Can I have frosted wheat wiff it?" {Frosted shredded wheat is his favorite cereal.}

Me: "The frosted wheat is all gone."

LB: "Then can I have pretzels and potato chips wiff it?"

{He is definitely a carbohydrate kid!}

{he's been practicing}

Later this morning this conversation commenced:

LB: "Am I five?"

Me: "Not yet. You won't be five until January."

LB: "Will my birfday come when I turn five?"

Me: "Yes, you will turn five on your birthday."

LB: "It's coming real soon, isn't it?"

Popsicles being served on the driveway now.

El Yeshurun, The God of Jeshurun

Yeshurun means the righteous people.

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,

who rides on the heavens to help you

and on the clouds in His majesty.

Deuteronomy 33:26

This is what the Lord says —

he who made you, who formed you in the womb,

and who will help you:

Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,

Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Isaiah 44:2

An Afternoon With Friends

We are sisters of the heart. She and her girls came for rare visit. They live far, far away.

Two kindred spirits, seven busy children {with another on the way -- hers, not mine!}, one Quadrilla marble run, lots of lemonade, a sunny backyard with swings, two large pizzas, and a scrumptious refrigerator cake made for a day of pleasures great and small!

Peapod Pattern

Caroline M, this post is for you...

Heirloom Stitches Peanut & Peapod Baby Wraps Pattern

Happy knitting!

Seven Weeks Old

Hello Baby Girl, you are seven weeks old today. Oh, how we love you! You have found your special place in our family and stolen our hearts.

You are happiest in the morning when the day is fresh. Every evening, about the time that Daddy gets home, you become fretful. He tries hard not to take it personally.

Your happy spot is on your changing table, even when you're grumpy you become all smiles when we take you there.

{my favorite shot of the three of them... so far}

Your brothers adore you, and you adore them. They are still calling you Baby Sister! I love that.

I love how you grin at me in the middle of the night when it's just the two of us sitting in the dim light filling your tummy with milk.

You're sleeping well in the little pink bed that Bunny and Pop gave to you. You especially love to take a long morning nap.

{she and me photos by the professor}

Every now and then you coo at us. You are finding your sweet baby voice. And, that busy, little tongue of yours... oh, you are a funny girl!

Potting

Under the shade of our big oak tree Baby Sister supervised while the boys and I worked together to pot Big Brother's green bean sprout.

The task of caring for an infant while keeping two active boys busy during the long, empty summer often overwhelms me. During these pleasant moments on our kitchen door steps my heart was quietly reassured: Each day will hold simple entertainment and small pleasures, my job is to seek them out and help us enjoy them.

All too soon my little sprouts will be taller and busier than I am... then my mother-heart will long for the empty days of summer and the simple, small pleasures that we can find and enjoy together.

Small Pleasures

"Three hundred small pleasuresmake people happier than one magnificent one."Daniel Gilbert

Well, hello, first day of summer vacation. In all honesty, we've gotten off to a bumpy start, what with a colicky baby and the sharp realization that some in our household {ahem!} need intense manners training... right now the next three months seem to stretch out before me long and unending and hot. May these days be filled with grace, creativity, smiles... and many small pleasures like today's, my freshly watered orchid content in the kitchen sink.

El Olam, The Everlasting God

Your throne was established long ago;

you are from all eternity.

Psalm 93:2

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born

or you brought forth the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90:1-2

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26:4

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba,

and there he called upon the name of the Lord,

the Eternal God.

Genesis 21:33

Six Weeks Old

Teacher Gift

Confession: The past month and a half have been a blur. The end of the school year crept up on me so quietly that it wasn't until Wednesday of this week that I really realized the last day of school is Friday.

Confession: I had nothing to give Big Brother's teacher to show our appreciation to her for a great year in first grade.

Confession: Baby Sister is almost six weeks old and I haven't yet attempted to venture out alone with all three children, nor have I gone far beyond Kroger. Hence, I had no intention of shopping.

I considered giving her a fresh, spring bouquet, but the issue of transporting it seemed major as I didn't trust Big Brother {or myself with a four year old and an infant in tow} to deliver it without mishap. With little time or energy for sewing, embroidering, or crafting I had to rely on what I could easily make at home and on what could be easily delivered by a seven year old boy.

A loaf of fresh bread paired with some homemade jam {which I already had on hand} and a small jar of vanilla-honey butter is what I managed to pull together, along with a handwritten note. I hope that she'll know how much we appreciate her... and I hope that she'll appreciate my need to keep things simple.

Field of Gold

Last night I dreamed that I was a child, once again in the care of my parents... I think it was my weary subconscious saying, "Wouldn't it be nice to be a carefree little girl again?" Why yes, that would be nice for a day and a night and a nap, but I would miss my own little ones and I think they would miss me.

We put some distance on the stroller today stopping by this field of gold, which is really just part of a neighbor's tired, forgotten lawn. Carefree little girls and big girls are welcome to wander here... so I did.

Mousetrap Car

The professor first mentioned the student project at dinner one evening: a mousetrap powered car with CD's for wheels. The boys heard the word "car" and became obsessed with the mysterious toy. While visiting his office one afternoon last week they finagled the professor into bringing one home for them.

A mousetrap mounted to CD's rolling back and forth across my kitchen floor captivated and entertained them so long that once again I'm left wondering... Why is it that we spend money on toys?

Monday Morning Dreams

In the kitchen early this morning the professor asked me, "If today were a dream day what would yours be like?"

"I would get a haircut and some cute, inexpensive clothes that fit. Then I would eat an al fresco lunch on the banks of Lake Como in Bellagio, Italy," I replied. Then I continued to dream. After lunch I think I would sit in the sun dozing like a cat, then maybe I would hunt for sea glass at the water's edge and wander a bit, if I were so inclined. Finishing the day at the beach with friends would be nice, too.

In reality the house was filled with sunshine and birdsong as I sent my professor and my school boy out into the spring morning. Baby slept late {after a 5:30 a.m. feeding} and Little Brother wanted to play alone in his room after breakfast. I took myself {wearing pink bathrobe} and my camera into the backyard to enjoy the soft, early light; I admired my new orchid; I tidied the house quickly and dressed. When my little guy and my baby bird decided that they needed wanted me I was ready, actually I was more than ready, I was relaxed, and we three started our morning together.

It wasn't Italy or friends or the beach but it was was every bit as pleasant because it was home and sunshine and those most dear. I love it when dreams come true, even when the dreams are ones that I didn't bother to dream.

What are your dreams {either imagined or real} made of today?

El Tsaddik, The Righteous God

...And there is no other God besides Me,

A righteous God and a Savior;

There is none except Me.

Isaiah 45:21

Five Weeks Old

Hello there Miss Delicious, you are five weeks old today. I took you for your one-month check-up this week; we are thankful that you are healthy and strong. You weighed eight pounds exactly... one month old and you're still smaller than your daddy was at birth, but my how you have grown!

It's been a fussy week for you. One day this week I even offered you a pacifier thinking hoping that it might help soothe away your colicky cries. I must admit I'm happy that you seem to think pacis are for spitting across the room. You're a little firecracker!

These days you enjoy your baths like a big girl, even when we wash your hair, and I think you're kind of, sort of getting the hang of the bottle, although I'm afraid that I don't offer you one often enough for you to master the skill.

You love to be outdoors. We've been taking walks around the neighborhood at dusk when the air smells sweet with honeysuckle and magnolia blossoms. You enjoy riding in the stroller, your eyes wide and bright with wonder as you take in this big, big world.

This week you made your first appearance at church, although we didn't make it all the way through the service before hunger struck your fancy. You sat in on your first parent-teacher conference this week, and I left you for the first time, in Kahki's loving care, so that I could attend a program at Big Brother's school. We also successfully grocery shopped together. Yes, slowly but surely we're starting to get out and about.

After all the fussiness of the past few days you've been as sweet as pie today, what a blessing. This afternoon we even coaxed you into giving us a few responsive smiles... what a blissful way to end the week! You melt my heart!

The Cup of Friendship

Today, if she wasn't eating or sleeping, Baby Sister fussed. How very wearisome. Thankfully I spent the morning pleasantly sipping from the cup of friendship. It's amazing how encouraging the companionship of an understanding friend can be!

Grace Like Manna

I haven't completely lost my marbles {yet} but, aside from focusing on immediate life essentials, my brain and my marbles are feeling pretty blurry these days. I know those marbles are there but bringing every aspect of life into focus at the same time is virtually impossible right now. Babies and a busy household have a way of doing that, don't they?

On Monday I hit my point of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. After a rough night the morning got off to a bumpy start, the baby was fussy and wakeful, Little Brother was housebound and antsy because of the rain, and I was at my breaking point. I cried on and off all day.

Shortly after lunch Baby Sister dozed off so I quickly tucked Little Brother into bed for a nap while eagerly anticipating a nap of my own, except the baby had different ideas and started to cry just as a hush fell over the house. I scooped her up, quieted her, and we settled down on the couch, she and me all warm and limp, a pile of soft blankets and soft breathing... finally relaxed. Just as I was starting to drift off a certain little boy, who I thought was asleep, needed me, then the phone rang again and again, and then my school boy was home. Time for homework, time to nurse, time to fold laundry, time to think about dinner... no nap. The tears continued from time to time but the sun did come out late in the day bringing with it hope for a better night and a better tomorrow.

I've been thinking about the grace and strength that God gives for each day and I've decided that it's most certainly like manna, sufficient for that day, for that moment, but, just as the Israelites had to trust God daily for their portion of manna, future grace is also a matter of trusting for His provision. With God there are no rollover minutes; what He desires is complete dependence upon Him and He, in His love, is not afraid to put us in a dependent place even if it hurts.

Baby Sister slept much better after that hard day and the next morning my brain felt a little less fuzzy, my body a bit more energetic, my emotions had stabilized, and the sun was shining.

Last April everything changed in an instant for our family when my mother was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage two colon cancer after a routine colonoscopy. On May 5, 2009, she underwent major GI surgery and started down a rigorous path of recovery and treatment. Today, exactly one year after her surgery, we celebrate with praise and thanksgiving to God our Jehovah-Rapha... she has completed all of her one-year follow-up scans and tests and has been given a glowing health report!

Over the past twelve months there have been many times when her portion was a bitter cup, one that I certainly wouldn't have chosen for her, but through it all I have seen the Father reveal Himself in new and tangible ways. His grace, like manna, has been faithful and sustaining. I count it a privilege to have watched the Master Craftsman weave what I thought was a mantle of affliction into a beautiful tapestry of grace.

A cancer journey, a new baby... I've learned, and am learning again, that His grace is sufficient for me, His power is made perfect in weakness. Oh, that I may boast gladly about my weaknesses so that His power may rest on me. {2 Corinthians 12:9}

Pinwheel Whimsy

"Pinwheel, pinwheel,

breezy and bright.

Spin me good morning,

spin me good night."

{pinwheels in plant}

{pinwheels in bubbles}

Bench Monday

Instamatic fun and a sweet captured moment.

"Mommy, why can't I see da pictures on my camera like you?"

El Emet, The God of Truth

Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth. Psalm 31:5