Sweet Stuff

 

Joshua loooves his baby cousins! He would cast his vote for a kidnapping of either one of them. Kierstin visited the other night and entertained us with all her new tricks.

 

There's been a pattern over the years that I only seem to take pictures/video footage of Greg while he's lounging around, horizontal on the couch. We joke that he's holding out for that management job. I also have a lot of the boys together which has prompted me to say more than once that someday I'll finally scrapbook and call it "My Life With Dad". Lately Josh's life with Dad has had to match. If Greg isn't already in his pj pants, Josh will find out which ones he plans on wearing later so he can coordinate. Greg loves it! They tell me all the time how they're gonna be best friends forever. Oh, I hope so.

Can You Tell The Difference?

The fellas in my house are way into cars -- 1st generation Camaros, to be exact. I think it's interesting what I find on my camera sometimes. Scrolling: Christmas morning, an outing with friends, a scenic view,....a car tire. Hmmm, I don't remember taking that. The big one photographs for emailing purposes; the little one....well, it's what Daddy does isn't it?

So, can you tell who took what and which Camaro belongs to whom?

 

 

Have I mentioned that I love those two? The photographers, of course, not the cars.

My paragraphs didn't separate on the following post.  Forgive the run-ons and eternal looking page!

Is it too late to reflect on '08?  While I think about engaging in the month of January, I have to confess that last year was a challenge for me.  We were new here and I was not detaching well from our old home.  For all of you that are a part of the chapter of "Our Old Home", I laid in bed the other night and a familiar heart-sinking feeling crept over me again.  I miss you so badly.  I didn't mind the sadness this time, though, because there co-exists in me the rock-solid place in my heart that will always belong to you, and the happiness with being here now.  That peace makes such a difference!  I recognize how blessed we are.  We are all healthy.  Oh, how we either take that for granted or worry away our wholeness dreading the day we'll get sick.  We have friends last year that were on the frontlines of the battle of their body's betrayal.  Two young mothers -- one who lost her battle and another who won -- and one little guy who is still fighting his.  It's humbling, but He does give life and He does take away.  The reconciling of that makes the creation of life that much sweeter.  I am still in awe over the miraculous birth of my niece.  She shouldn't exist, yet every time I see her she has a big, wide smile for me!  What a gift.Greg has a job.  I do not say that to be a rub to someone who doesn't but, again, before the rattling our economy got, I think I took that for granted.  We walked through that valley several years ago and watched God's Providence go over and above what we needed, amazingly.  I am reminded that there is nothing we have that we did not receive from Him.  We look to ourselves and government to solve our problems but it's a frustrated effort.  What peace to know that the One who effortlessly spins the Universe is perfectly capable of sustaining our home!I am thankful for the light of Christ that shines in my son.  Isn't that a mother's ultimate goal?  My heart is so full when I hear Greg and Joshua praying together in the morning and talking about what they just read from the Bible.  A kid can see hypocrisy a mile away but I think he knows this is real for us.  God's Spirit lives and loves in this house as well as (and better) than any of us do.I don't know what's ahead, I have no resolutions, but I pray for eyes and ears to open a little wider.  I don't want to miss anything good...

Christmas

I found out 2 days before Christmas that even though I ordered it at the beginning of November, the big gift Joshua wanted this year was back-ordered until February! I was in angst about it. Would he understand? He has been trying so hard to be good, to prove that he is responsible enough for this gift. What would this tell him? I talked to him on Christmas Eve and explained that ultimately we are not good so we can get something. We are good because we love Jesus and that's what He wants. Nevertheless, he went to bed bouncing around the bed, excited about the possibility of what he would find under the tree...

The next morning I saw an interesting evolvement of expression from "Oh. I didn't get it," to "It's alright." A little while later he sat in my lap with a sweet smile on his face and said "I see I didn't get what I wanted but it's ok." And he gave me a big hug.

Daddy to the rescue! Greg sat down with Josh and explained to him that he had proved lately to be responsible for his gift and that he was very proud of him. He further explained that he was getting his gift - it would just be a little late - and then he brought out the backup -- a super cool remote control 4x4 truck. Joshua could not have been a happier kid!! Whew. I'm actually glad it worked out the way it did, otherwise I would have missed out on a treasure: the opportunity to teach a Truth for life, my son's acceptance of it, and the blessing that followed.

 

From Grandpa and Gram Josh got an actual working model engine! He and Daddy had a blast working on this all the rest of the morning.

 

The finished product:

 

We topped off a really wonderful Christmastime by spending the weekend at Greg's parents. We always have so much fun with everyone there. It's a very warm and homey place to be.

 

See?