graham waking marit up

marit and graham share a room so they usually awake simultaneously in the morning, but a few days ago graham woke up first and marit slept for a whole extra hour! i finally commissioned little fellow to do the waking up honors. as marit was squashed by her equal-in-weight brother, she squealed: "mommy, get the crama (camera)!" and i did. graham has really been into the tackle-hug lately and it usually results in a lot of giggles between them.

spontaneous visit

my brother called me up on saturday and asked if i was busy and would i mind if they visited for the evening until Sunday afternoon. i sang in a wedding saturday afternoon (what a joy that sweeeeeet wedding was!) and then my brother and his wonderful family arrived. it was such wonderful timing as adam was on call all day and night Sunday and we all get a little restless on those days. i really think the kids just need to hear someone's voice besides mine and my heart was so encouraged by my brother and sister-in-law and our conversations about baptism (maybe more on that later, but maybe not since it is controversial) and parenting. of course i only got pictures of the kiddos. marit and her little songbird cousin are beginning to really enjoy one another and it is SOOOO much fun to watch. graham busted out the ugly m word ("mine") whenever little bro would play with any of his toys. ah, the selfishness of the human heart emerges so soon. thank you guys for coming and loving on us and for your gracious parenting that always inspires me.
breakfast series



racing

learning to feed himself!

hazards of markers (thankfully non-toxic)

handsome bro

tandem toothbrushing

two versions of one of my very favorite songs by two of my very favorite songbirds

aretha's

patty's (from downtown church-my new favorite album)-some of the pictures are a bit cheesy, but some are also sweet

our climatis bloomed

and it reminded me of this picture of snuggle bug two years ago when she was wearing her brace all the time.
we are so thankful to announce that our super cautious doc has agreed to let marit go brace-free (at least until her 3yr check-up in July) and he expects that we are probably done with this hip business. we are not counting our chickens, but are so thankful for the work of grace the Lord has done in our lives through the brace-wearing over the last 2.5 yrs and for now, we are thankful for the time off from that hot, uncomfortable piece of plastic!

"blessed are those who mourn...

...for they shall be comforted." that is indeed a promise from God's word. this past weekend our dear friends and neighbors lost their beautiful four year old daughter. i have struggled over how or if to write anything about it here on my blog because my words are far too inadequate to even begin to describe the pain our sweet friends are experiencing. we have shed many tears and there are many more to come i'm sure and somehow we will have to enter into the intense suffering of our friends and encourage and help as time passes. pray for us (us including the many friends and family who surround them even now) in this...that we would be careful, sensitive, refreshing, healing, loving as there are certainly many hard days to come. through some friends, we have stumbled on some helpful resources for encouraging grieving friends:

*a chapter by Justin Taylor from a Piper book (thanks for this figgs). i'm sure the whole book is a helpful read as well.

*some blog posts by Molly Piper who also lost a child. (thanks amy!)


of course our friendships are filled with failures and we don't always say the right thing, but we pray for God's grace to enable us to love well.

springy

disclaimer: sorry about how some of the photos are blurry. the flash on our camera is broken and the little people rarely hold still.
grumpy face

they do many things in tandem lately

would probably never hurt anyone, but he makes me feel safer on call nights anyway as he sleeps by the front door

they have so loved helping plant and water a few things this spring-gladioli bulbs in the background

backyard play



we finally planted some tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, strawberries (you can only see tomatoes here)





Easter Sunday-cranky girl with a wrinkled dress, but church was wonderful (minus tantrum) and we did enjoy the evening with adam's parents and fed the ducks (the day got better)

pretty pear tree that has since finished blooming with the bird-feeder we watch everyday for doves, robins, finches, sparrows, cardinals




last week was spring break in our little town and adam started his icu rotation. it was a tough week for me as sweet husband is SO busy and zombie when he is home from all the over-night calls and the fact that our kids weren't sleeping especially well. molars take FOREVER to finish erupting, poor graham. adam's cheerfulness amidst exhaustion never ceases to humble me though. many of my friends (i am so thankful for such dear ones!) were out of town or spending time with husbands and so it was a pretty lonely week. graham has been throwing some major tantrums (can it really be starting already?!) and both little people just have a hard time when daddy is gone a lot. marit threw an all-out tantrum on Easter Sunday in our church yard while graham was flailing in my arms and i was trying to get them both to the car. that was our first public scream-fest and i am glad it was in front of our dear, grace-offering church family and not people i don't know...though it was still a little embarrassing. i just struggle when i am doing most parenting by myself for a season to discern when to discipline, when to offer grace. adam is such a helpful sounding board and wise parent and i have really missed conversations that don't quickly put him to sleep. BUT the Lord has been so gracious in using this short, short season to draw me to Himself more...that is really His mercy...causing my heart to depend more on Him and His sustaining grace. adam is such a wonderful husband, but he cannot meet all my emotional needs even on easy months! two things He has used to encourage my heart this week:
-this album (on repeat on the ipod for much of last week). i know i mentioned it in my Easter post, but the song Abide With Me has really been sweet to me...
"I need Thy presence, every passing hour.
What but Thy grace, can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, abide with me."

-this book

of course we love tripp's first book-shepherding-as well. i read things very slowly lately, but this book has been so helpful in focusing my heart as i parent marit and we talk about everything under the sun...she is such a little sponge and oh how i want to teach her the things she needs to walk wisely, kindly, obediently, glorifyingly...i am so thankful for the Lord's work in her little heart. her salvation and sanctification are His work and not mine.

belated zoo post

we went to the zoo a few weeks ago (before adam started this awful icu rotation) and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful crisp weather and all the animals.
(never mind that marit is dressed like an 80s aerobics instructor...she helps with her outfits sometimes)

marit was afraid of the gorillas this time and also of the the 3d sea turtle movie (though graham loved both), but she loved the monkeys, bears, lions, giraffes.


she still talks most days about feeding the giraffes lettuce and how they have black tongues.

we only got a few pictures as we were both holding someone most of the time.

lunch-action


it was indeed a much-needed family day!

this is old

-from thanksgiving taken by my sister-in-law, but i'm putting it on the blog to remember classic graham scram-my little snuggler. he rarely sits still these days, but just gets quick snuggles and then moves on to destroy the next household item. thus, i want to remember those days when he would sit contentedly with me for a long time...

"blood-bought pardon to declare...."

Give Reviving
Words by Albert Midlane alt by Chelsey Scott, Music by Chelsey Scott and Aaron Sands.
© 2007 Innocent Smith (admin by The Loving Company)/ Petit Bateaux Music (ASCAP)

1. Father for Thy, promised blessing,
Still we plead before Thy throne
For the times of, sweet refreshing,
Which can come from Thee alone
Blessed earnests, Thou hast given,
But in these we would not rest
Blessings still with, Thee are hidden,
Pour them forth and make us blest!
2. Prayer ascendeth to Thee ever,
Answer! Father, answer prayer
Bless oh bless each, weak endeavor,
Blood-bought pardon to declare
Wake Thy slumbering, children wake them,
Bid them to Thy harvest go
Blessings O our, Father make,
Round their steps let blessings flow
3. Let no people be forgotten,
Let Thy showers on all descend
That in one loud blessed anthem,
Millions may in triumph blend
Give reviving, give refreshing,
Give the looked-for Jubilee
To Thyself may, crowds be pressing,
Bringing glory unto Thee.
Tag: Give reviving, give refreshing,
Give the looked-for Jubilee
To Thyself may, crowds be pressing,
Bringing glory unto Thee.

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