8 is Great!

To the boy who is always two steps ahead of me…you’re 8 now! You were born one month after 9-11. You came at a time when the world changed in an instant. You were hope in the midst of confusion. New life starkly born into a dying and fallen world. It was always fallen, but I never noticed it like I did in 2001. It was a difficult year on many fronts, but you brought hope and joy to our family. How eight years have come and gone so quickly, I can’t understand. It’s the cliched saying of a mother or father, but it’s cliche because it’s true…where does the time go?

You’re quick at everything you do, Gabe. God has given you a good mind. You are our budding linguist…our first to talk (at 15 months) and now able to do verbal gymnastics better than most kids I know. You are genuinely witty and, as Dad notices frequently, good at thinking outside the box. And speaking of boxes, you like to salvage any that you can for future projects. In fact, you like to salvage many things…like chicken bones. We all still marvel that you thought saving them under your bed for your imaginary dog was a good idea. Last week you wanted to tape a pancake to your bed because Luke made breakfast in the shape of everyone’s initials. You have a perpetual sweet spot for babies and are excited to have another brother whom you may get to room with.

You love 2nd grade and are reading up a storm. You look up to your big brothers as if no one else matters though you all can fight pretty well too. I marvel how you and Ty can play all day on any given theme: from cowboys to soldiers to horses to star wars. Amelia cried the first day you moved out of the Sunday School you were in together. She holds pretty tight to you too. You are our middle child in so many ways, but as I see our family grow, I see the middle is the glue that binds them all together. You are reflected strongly in each of your siblings and of course in our lives.

I pray in the coming year that you will feel the great extent you are loved. That you will grow in wisdom and stature with God and men. May you humbly learn to look to Him! Happy Birthday dear Gabe!

The birthday snack idea came from Gourmet Mom on the Go.  If you give it a try, make sure to follow her directions and use paste rather than liquid food coloring.  I didn’t and had a gloppy mess, so we reverted to white crayons which worked out just as well though not quite as authentic.

Looking Matronly

These fabrics caught my eye in the spring and were headed straight to the emmaline apron which I have admired for quite some time now.  I did find some modified versions online in a search just now which weren’t reversible and therefore a bit more cost effective than this 2-sided version.

I had half a mind to donate this apron to our school’s spring auction, but once I finished it I couldn’t part with it.   On the other hand, I thought it would be cute to wear in public with capri jeans and mules.  But I suppose the best option was the way it all ended up….over top a growing baby bump. Kinda makes a girl want to nest.

Just a formal announcement to baby seven’s pending arrival.  I’m not sure I’ve ever felt less myself than I did during those early days of this pregnancy.  But what grace to be back to myself once those early months broke.   We’re all looking forward to this new babe!   And one thing I’ll never grow tired of is hearing the first heartbeat and feeling the swish of my growing babies.  It’s still amazing!

First

On the other side of a decade now.  What an amazing and terrifying week it’s been.  The Monday night before your birthday, you stayed up a little past your siblings helping me make your giant-sized cookies to take for school.  It was a nice time together.  I told you how blessed I was to be your mom and you hugged me and reciprocated the blessings.  These are the joys of motherhood…to watch you grow into a fine boy and beyond.  As the week progressed, I was quickly reminded how the role of parenting is a mixed bag of joys and trials.

You are facing the tween years and that within the fury of a godless generation.  All too soon talks will have to take place and already are in small ways.  You are recognizing your capacity to sin and praise God, with that, your need for forgiveness.  This is a work of God in your heart.

I see the path of parenting lying before us–a steep and rocky climb ahead for you and us.  You are breaking us in, firstborn son…just as you have with everything; paving my heart and understanding for what will be a well-worn path tread by those who walk behind you.  We will stumble and we will not always know which trail is best, but my prayer today is that our Lord will be our guide and that you continue to follow the guides God has given you.

May the coming year have His strong hand upon your life and heart.  May we continue to press toward the prize and find that God is the one who is faithful to bring us to the finish.

Happy birthday, firstborn son!  We love you!

On Becoming More Capable

I wish I wrote down all the things he says and does each day that make us laugh. His word choice and delivery is classic and there are usually lots of smiling faces when he’s talking. From infancy, we’ve called him Happy Jack and it still fits him to a “T”.

Jack is always the last one at the dinner table. Last week though he must have hit a growth spurt because he finished his beef stroganoff first in a very stealth manner and then proudly announced “I beat all of you! that was a good dinner mom!” I congratulated him and offered him salad to which he replied “Little brothers do NOT eat salad!” O, well alright then.

At the ballpark after about 4 people had commented about how big Jack had gotten, I was carrying him and he said to me in his 3 year old logic, “Mom you are getting so huge!” Apparently he thought the compliments he had received all night would also apply to me. Thanks Buddy!

Most of our children have learned to ride 2 wheel bikes rather early. I remember learning to ride when I was 5 or 6 years old. My husband has a theory though, that if you teach them on a 24 inch bike while they are still little, they will evade the fear of failing because they are all gusto at that age. Well Jack did indeed learn in just a couple days time. The problem with the method though, is that one thing a 3 year old lacks, is judgment.

The other night he was showing me his “stuff” when suddenly he tipped right off onto his face. He had what appeared to be a broken nose (dead on) and some very messed up lips with lots of blood and tears. O my, I don’t do well to see my children bleed. I pulled myself together and settled him. My neighbor who is an ER nurse looked at him and suggested there probably wasn’t much they would do since it looked like a good break anyway. Thankfully he healed very fast but now must wear a crash helmet at all times (which, I know, should have been the case from the start).

But the swagger in his step shows just how excited he is to have mastered this new feat. In the same week, he learned to swim in the very pool he would not set foot in the whole summer before. Big steps all the way around.

This year I aim to teach you preschool at home and more purposefully devote my days–while your siblings are at school–to you. I’m looking forward to it.

Four years ago when we met, I never could have imagined what having you could do to my heart.
Happy fourth year little brother!

Sheep without a shepherd

Scripture so often refers to Christians as sheep.  Sheep are not quite the exemplary group in which to be compared.  Why aren’t we likened to a noble steed of horses?  How about loyal dogs?   Clever monkeys?   The Lord clearly has his reasons, and time and again, the scriptures call us just what we are…sheep.

Sheep follow the leader.  They are easily led away and enticed.   They are quick to fall prey to a lurking wolf.  Sheep become stranded and lost, bleeting for help when they cannot loosen themselves from the cliff.  Sheep are not independent thinkers.  They are followers.  They are led.  They need to hear a shepherd’s voice.   A little reflecting shows that indeed sheep are closer to us than we might care to admit. 

The beauty of being a sheep in God’s economy is that we have an infinitely Good Shepherd.  It is our delight to hear his voice and follow.  It is our healing balm to be led by his staff and rod.  He came to seek and save the lost.  He laid down his own life for his sheep. 

In Mark 6 we see the Good Shepherd’s heart.  After ministering to the crowd all day, Jesus is tired and weary so he attempts to steal away for some down time.  Yet the crowd pursues him.  If it were me, I surely would have thrown a fit at the thought of my rest being infringed upon.  I can think even now of “fits” I’ve thrown when my baby wouldn’t sleep, or my child asked for more help when I thought I’d given enough.  How often I view their needs as impositions on my time and energy.  Yet Mark 6:34 says, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  So he began teaching them many things.”

As a Christian mother, I am an ambassador of the Shepherd.  He has given me charge over my little flock, and while I am home caring for them, I take note.  Like Christ, I need to have compassion on them.  Tangible shepherding is when I serve and love them sacrificially by ”teaching them many things” [about Him].  

Somedays this seems like an impossible challenge for the mom of young children.  Yet I find great comfort  in Isaiah 40:12 ”He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”  Our Good Shepherd is gentle with the lambs while at the same time gently leading those that have young.  Indeed, He is infinitely good!

The Daily Post

I was one who often let my little ones rest to Mr. Rogers’
Neighborhood.  His calm demeanor and his simple style are a delightful
understatement for our modern sensibilities.  You could always count on
learning something interesting.  Like how traffic lights are made, or
how a graham cracker assembly line works.  These are the things my
older children will comment on still today.

Last week we toured The Wall Street Journal with Gabe’s Tiger Den.  It was fascinating. I was in the mind of Mr. Rogers the whole tour.  I think it was the wonder of learning something
new.  Seeing how a common object is made in such an uncommon way.

I was simply amazed by good ole’ American ingenuity.  It made me pause
at both the vast machinery and the minute technology that make the
printing press what it is.

I have to admit feeling a little patriotic at the same time.  Wanting to see these seemingly waning days in our country turn a sharp corner and start to wax ingenuity once more.   Wanting to tell these boys that they can, by God’s grace, become men who will make meaningful contributions to their communities for future generations.  And to encourage my own sons to set their sights on things above–to live for a prize they cannot yet see; but one which will be worth every ounce they sacrifice to attain.

I know…all of this from a newpaper tour?  Well it was a really BIG press!

spring loaded

4:00 sharp at the Clock Tower. We met Papa on spring break for a tour of his jobsite and happily it was one of the few days we’ve been reminded of what lies behind gray clouds.

We saw enormous pipe and steel studded walls, electric and water lines, and roughed in bathrooms. The boys even got to walk on the roof of this 7 story building. But the favorite by far was when each one got to take a turn at the power tool.

Too fun for a grown man; and certainly way too fun for a growing little man or 3, and a Punky Brewster-type girl.

And today I needed to take some time and focus on that little girl. It’s sometimes plain to see when a little mother-daughter bonding is needed. For Amelia and I, crafting together seems to do the trick. I’ve been wanting to make the Heidi Headband from Bend the Rules Sewing. I guess this is a simplified version. I used an elastic closure in the back and they sewed up in no time. After the first one she requested 4 more…all her fabric picks. She’s already planning the week’s wardrobe around them.

Jack wanted one too. He chose a green fabric with white daisies. Instead of a headband though, I made him a quick envelope for his Spiderman cards. That did the trick too.