Cousin Caper

Luca has a best friend and his name is Isaiah.

They "share" toys. (Okay, really they're yanking things out of each other's hands but neither one gets upset and the toy goes back and forth until someone gets bored. They did this for a very long time with a tube of mascara one afternoon. hilarious.)

They give each other kisses. (Okay, really, they lean in, mouths open and almost connect on ear/forehead kisses. But yesterday, Luca grabbed Isaiah by the bib and hauled him in for peck on the eye. :)

They laugh at each other's jokes. (Whether Luca means to be funny by all her jumping in the exersaucer is anyone's guess. In any case, Isaiah thinks it's giggle worthy!)

The first sighting of the day is always cause for wiggling and squealing, so excited to see each other!

Some cousin pictures:

helping with landscaping...well, pine cone demolition anyway.

Wheeeeeeee! Swings!


Re-purposing the Bumbo

I love Luca's legs in this pic. :)

Pottery Barn doesn't have what they want, apparently.

Some curtain fun...
Isaiah is crawling all over the place and Luca is crawlTing. (That's crawling-scooting) She is trying to mimick him but she can't get her right leg in on the action, it stays bent up under her tummy. Very funny. It won't be long though!
These babies are SO fun.

Letters for Luca

I've been writing letters for Luca since she was born, different subjects, funny stories, things I may not remember but want her to know. This is one of the more recent ones and I thought I'd share it since many people have asked how things are going and many people have been an encouragement to me in my walk.

On Worry & Stubbornness:

Dear Luca,

A strong will when channeled correctly can be a great thing. However, when it invades your spiritual life, it causes problems. Case in point: me.

My stubbornness usually translates into a mantra that goes something like this: “I can handle it” or “I’ll work it out” or, sometimes, “I’ll deal with it later”. Every one of those may be fine if we’re talking about laundry or math problems but I find myself using the same survival techniques during trials. The thing is, they don’t work! At all. The past few months, I’ve been made more aware of this sin in my life and it hasn’t been pretty.

As I write this, we have no home of our own, your Daddy is looking for a new job, our budget is small and tight, we have absolutely no idea where we might be in the next six months. In addition, there are a myriad other issues that I won’t list but cause me no small amount of stress. If I allow my mind to dwell on these things, I quickly become overwhelmed, scared and worried. This is the point, where by habit I would insert one of my “I” mantras but instead, God is changing my heart, my will, my stubborn self.

When I feel worry setting in, I’ve begun quoting Phillipians 4:6-7, my new mantra, to myself; “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” I memorized this verse when I was a little girl but never have I needed to apply it more! After I recite it, I meditate on what these truths mean for me right now.

“Be anxious for nothing”-stop worrying!
“But”- here’s what I need to do instead.
“in everything”- nothing’s too small
“by prayer”-just talking to God!
“and supplication” –I’m commanded to ask things of Him!
“with thanksgiving” –remember all of the blessings and His faithfulness and be grateful.
“let your requests be made known to God” –I can ask anything
“And”- the result of my obedience
“the peace of God” –the only real and lasting peace
“which surpasses all comprehension” – it does!
“will guard” – protect me from fear and anxiety
“your hearts and minds” – all of me
“in Christ Jesus” – the only true, our only safe place.

My stubborn self still wages for the top hand. There are many times when worry inches in and the immediate needs of our family seem so big that I try to fix them in my own strength. I know this will be an ongoing battle for me but I believe that “He who began a good work in me, will complete it”.

My sweet baby girl, I pray that you learn early on to use your strong will to God’s glory; that you save yourself the heartache and anguish of trying to live on your own terms and under your own strength. And after you’ve read this, ask me about all of the good things that happened when we didn’t have a home or a job. And give your Daddy a hug and a thank you, God used him to anchor us both.

I Love You,
Mommy

The Future?

I think that I may have captured a glimpse of my 14 year old daughter...aloof, maybe a little sullen and not at all impressed with her parents. (Even though, they are so cool!)

Visuals

Striking a Pose

Dancin' in the Johnny Jump-Up

Sporting Two Piggies (And Two Teeth!)

Um, Mommy? Hat Malfunction!

Easter 2009

Short & Sweet

Wow, I am a poor excuse for a blogger!

Biggest news first: We are moving (officially) back to Nebraska on May 30. Joe’s employer had to lay off all of his field employees and so we are also job searching. We are trusting the Lord to show us what He wants us to do next and to care for us as He always has. (Although, I readily admit to many panicked, stressful moments on my part!) My brother Zach and his wife Sarie have been such gracious hosts and an immeasurable blessing in our lives (always, but especially the last few weeks). We are so grateful for friends and family and all of the prayers that are going up for us.

The last couple of days have been rough for Miss Bean. We either are facing indigestion/sickness/teething or I have come up against our first serious battle of wills. How do you know if an 8month old is manipulating you or truly in pain? (If any of you Mommies have advice here, I’d take it!). I’ve had all the screaming I can handle if she’s being naughty but if she’s hurting then I don’t mind the screaming. Oh for a sign!

(Okay, I wrote the above last week, I really am a bad blogger!)

The shorter and sweet:

Bean has been on good behavior for the last few days. J
Joe has gotten his resume to a few companies and we have some good contacts, we’re just continuing to wait on God’s results.
We’re on the waiting lists for apartments (and our families continue to be gracious with having houseguests!)
My baby brother comes home next week after almost a year in France, I am so excited to see him!
We will be in Arizona packing up the house Wednesday through Sunday of this coming week and hope to see many of our Phoenix friends!

I think that sums it up?