Smiles

This last week, baby Zeke began to smile!  I wish I could properly describe the joy that wells up in my deepest heart when I put my face into his line of sight, say a little something to him, and am rewarded with a tiny little grin. I thank God for creating this little baby's soul.

Some moms talk about falling in love with their babies the moment they feel the first kick or when they are first able to see their newborn.  For me, it's when I see them smile.  At that moment, they become more than a "task" of feed, burp, change, soothe, repeat; at that moment, I am able to see into their hearts and I fall in love.

Zeke's got an easy smile, too.  It seems to show up more and more often each day.  I begin to think about all the ways that God will use that smile as Zeke grows to be His child.  I wonder if he'll like to make people laugh like his daddy and brother do.  I wonder if he'll have a positive outlook on life.  I wonder who his friends will be and whether or not that smile will attract others to himself like it has me.

I wonder why babies aren't born with the ability to smile (socially, that is).  God surely designed it that way with a purpose.  Perhaps it is to give us a glimpse into his patient heart.  He is ever patient with us.  He provides for us in every way, even when all we do is selfishly take from him.  He needs no positive reinforcement to continue his work of drawing us ever closer to him.  He is always there, always willing, always loving.  I only had to wait seven weeks to experience the joy of love returned; God is willing to work an entire lifetime before experiencing such reward. Truly, we have a God whose love is selfless, pursuing, and enduring.

I pray that my boys' souls will be ever smiling before their Father's loving face.

Praise

Praise the Lord.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.

Their children will be mighty in the land; 

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Psalm 112:1-2

My brother, Jon, read this Psalm in my living room on Sunday evening.  Nineteen of us were gathered, cozied up next to each other on couches, chairs and the floor, in celebration of my second son's second birth--his baptism into God's family.  What a privilege to be surrounded by so many loving Christian family members, and to have these words spoken over Zeke.

Ezekiel was born by induction four weeks ago today.  Dave and I went to the hospital at seven o'clock in the evening, and by 11:26, we got to see the face we had been anticipating for the past nine months.  We were elated (we did it!) and surprised (man, that was quick) and thankful (a healthy little boy--God is good). We soaked up the next 36 hours that we would spend together with such a fresh little life.  We spent the next three weeks juggling the balance between work and home, sleep and wakefulness, toddler and newborn, activity and rest, established relationships and brand-new ones.  Thankfully, we had family and friends who helped make the transition much more smooth than it would have been otherwise. This last week was spent in preparation for and enjoyment of a wealth of family members and visitors we would be hosting and reuniting with over the Labor Day weekend--twenty-six in all, traveling from the likes of southern California and Oklahoma and China.

I craved having time to write here, because of the wealth of emotions and experiences that have characterized the last four weeks. It may not be possible to properly sum these things up now; however, Zeke's baptism and the ensuing family gathering serves as a pretty good capstone. I am blessed to have the ability to be a mom.  I am blessed to have a most wonderful man as my partner and husband and to be "daddy" to our boys.  I am thankful for the Christian family that we have who surround us and support us as we go about the task of raising children to be followers of Jesus and sons of the most high God. I am challenged because I know this is too great a task for me to do on my own, and I am comforted that God promises to give wisdom, strength, and forgiveness right where I need it. I am struck by the flightiness of time, the wonderfulness of laughter, and the power of a bear hug. I am humbled that God has chosen me to experience all the things he has placed before me, and I pray that I, too, would be a child worthy of the name he gave to me in my baptism.

Waiting

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

As I write this, I am five days away from the due date of little boy number two.  With Noah, I didn't mind one bit that he took his time coming out (we "kicked him out" nine days after his due date).  I was really in no rush to make the plunge into motherhood, go through labor, lose all my precious sleep and wait on an infant hand and foot.  I tend to work behind, rather than ahead anyway, so his delayed arrival fit right into my plans.


With this new little one, I'm antsy to meet him.  I'm feeling contractions often (which never happened with Noah), and I can't wait for the moment when they'll become regular enough for Dave and me to head to the hospital.  I am now uncomfortably pregnant: I avoid anything outdoors between the hours of 10:00 and 6:00; I can't get up from a seated position without looking and feeling awkward; I have trouble falling asleep... then I can't seem to stay asleep for more than a few hours at a time; and I've begun to fantasize about wearing real clothes again.


I stopped working over a week ago, all of my pre-baby "chores" are accomplished, my hospital bag is packed, my kitchen is spotless, and now I'm..... just..... waiting.....


"Now what, Lord?" my heart cries out.  


A couple of days ago, he gave me the answer: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  So even if the little guy doesn't make his appearance known to the world on this day, I can, and should, still rejoice.  God has a special plan for each of our days, and just because today's does not include the special event I want, doesn't mean that the day is worthless or less significant in God's eyes.


... Still, I hope he comes soon!

A late-night attempt at a baby bump picture

Lord God, please give me the grace to see each day the way you see it.

Watch

He who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3

Noah's first day in a bassinet

Tonight, I had the privilege of watching Noah while he slept.  He was feeling a little sick earlier in the evening, so my husband requested that I check in on him when I got home from work, which was quite late.  I normally forbid myself from checking in on the little guy while he's sleeping, knowing that most of the time it would be for my sake (not his) and, of course, I would never want to wake a sleeping baby (or toddler, for that matter).  


This evening, I went in quietly, put my hand to his forehead, cheeks and arms, and then sat back.  He didn't feel warm to me, which was great.  And he didn't stir after I touched him--also great.  It provided me with the opportunity to just sit there in the silence, and watch.  I. Loved. It.  What an amazing thing to watch one you love sleep, to dote on them without their knowing, and to see their every twitch as they are oblivious to the world around them.




While I sat there and marveled that he continued to sleep, I was hit with the realization of how much I love that little one, and how much I desire to be a better mom to him than I am.  I felt at once insufficient for the task of motherhood and at the same time comforted by the fact that God willingly and knowingly placed Noah into my life so that I would do just that: be his parent.

Noah's first day in a toddler bed

Then I thought about God, and how he is ever watchful over us, even while we sleep.  What an image, to think that he watches like a doting parent, fascinated by every twitch, overwhelmed by the love he has for his child!  I could not help but silently say the praises of him who has a heart for us, that he would care for us even as we sleep.

Power

He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

After a morning spent at church, talking about the power of God and how he is worthy of all our praise, I came home to the news that the mom of one of my best friends has died. Death is a black hole for me.  It takes away all of my thoughts, or my ability to process thought.  When I try to comprehend its meaning or the effect that it has on this life, I'm left with mush in my brain--no clarity or cohesion, just a void.


I wonder how my friend and her wonderful family will live out the next few days, weeks, months.  I wonder how they will cope with their grief.  I wonder if the heart can heal from the sadness of separation. I wonder how her mom's "shoes" will be filled.  She was a rock of a strong wife to her husband and a jack of ALL trades for her five (now grown) children.  She was a witness to the joy of the Lord in each day that I knew her.  She will be missed tremendously.


And yet, God is more powerful than even this.  He saved Kaye from her sins and promised her everlasting life, through the power of Jesus' sacrifice for her life.  So "good-bye" changes to "see ya later," pain to anticipation, and sadness to joy.  How else than by the power of an Almighty God can the mush and void that comes with death be transformed in to clarity and fullness of life?  

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Two

Attempting to light two candles, despite a breeze 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

A little over a week ago, we had the joy of celebrating Noah's second birthday.  It was a beautiful morning at a local park, spent with some close friends and family.  We enjoyed the swings, the slides, the cooler full of water and splash bombs, and the sunshine.  Noah helped me bake the cake the day before: a four-layer cake, comprised of yellow, blue, green and red layers.  For the week prior (and the week since), "Happy Birthday to You" was on the playlist of songs running through his little head.  (Since he tends to refer to himself as "you," the song works very nicely.)  It was a grand birthday indeed.

After the blowing out of the candles (with a little help from the wind), the eating of the cake, and the opening of the presents, it was official.  Our little guy was two.  He would now be referred to in years rather than months.  He would be a little kid rather than a big baby. 

What a strange thing to think about as a parent, that those two years of life are irreplaceable.  They have come and gone.  We have memories and photos and the future. A part of me mourns their passing, but I know that the Lord holds all these things in his hands.  I am so thankful to the Lord for the two wonderful years with which he has blessed our lives, stretched our minds and spoken to our souls through this little guy.  He continues to graciously give Noah health and joy; he continues to graciously draw Dave and me closer to Him and give us the wisdom we need to be parents in his stead.  For all of this, what more can I say than, "Oh give thanks!"

Noah living in the moment: cake!

Singing

Praise the Lord. 

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Psalm 147:1

A few weeks ago, much to my surprise and delight, Noah began singing along with me when I would put him down for a nap or to sleep at night.  For the most part, he will sing along with just the last word of a phrase, sometimes waiting for me to begin singing that word so he can remember what he's supposed to be singing.  He does have quite a nice handle on the wonderful monosyllabic la (thank you, David Crowder Band), and already knows how to sing "Oh Praise Him" by the same.


I have heard Noah singing to himself while in his crib, while playing in the living room, and while riding in the car.  He has the cutest "singing voice" I've ever heard, soft and a little raspy, but I'm sure I'm a little bias.


I wonder how much he knows about the Creator whom he praises.  I wonder if there is a place in his soul that feels complete when he says "Alleluia" along with the throngs in heaven.  Scripture tells us that all of creation praises our Lord (Psalm 148).  My heart is filled with joy to say that Noah is a part of that choir.