a few years ago my sister & her husband gave us a cd with songs by african artists. the cd is long since lost, but one song stuck in our heads and we youtube it often. it's La Femme Sans Haine (the woman without hatred) by ismael lo, from senegal.
there are a few lines that just get me.
ce que tu n'as pas defendu par les armes (that which you don't defend with arms)
ne croix pas le garder avec des larmes (don't believe you can keep with tears)
...
je m'en vais ou mon peuple va. (i am going where my people go.)
usually it's the first two lines that really make me think. but patrick was playing this the other day when i was cleaning, and it made me wonder - who are my people?
i don't have a tribe. my family definitely counts, but i feel like my people should be bigger than that.
and then the obvious hit me.
christians. these are my people.
in zambia. in nova scotia. in ontario. old. young. dead. living. rich. poor.
sinners, forgiven.
these are my people.
je m'en vais ou mon peuple va.
je m'en vais ou mon peuple va.
Revelation 5:9 - And they sang a new song, saying,"Worthy are you ... for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
packing&moving part 3
sorry to be so long finishing this series! i've been away, and just got back and settled. (i spent a few hours cleaning tonight and it feels so good to be in my own home!) this is the last installment in packing&moving, days 7-10.
day 7: clothes. moving is a great opportunity to thin the herd. while we pack, patrick & i always make sure we're filling up bags for donating as well as filling boxes for moving. two tips:
1) set aside all the clothes you'll wear until moving day, then you won't have to worry from now til then.
2) pack all your favorite clothes first. by the time you get to the less-favorite ones, you'll be less inclined to find a place to pack them, and they'll go more easily into the donation bag.
day 8: dishes&linens. assuming a 10-day packing schedule, where day 10 is Moving Day, you now have 2 days left at home. buy disposable dishes & utensils for the next few days and pack up your dishes. Use your towels & linens to protect against breakage. we liked to:
1) pack like dishes together. it makes organizing in the new place so much easier.
2) pack any non-dish-protecting linens & bedding in a bag - it makes for lighter carrying on day 10.
day 9: cleaning supplies & dismantling day. although this is cleaning day, there's bound to be stuff left to pack, and today is probably the hardest day to deal with. so if there's anything left to pack, get it out of the way quickly and then clean. :). we found that:
1) when dismantling furniture, it's easy to keep track of screws & things if you put them in a baggie taped to the furniture with packing tape. (make sure the baggies are labeled in case they become separated from their furniture in the move.)
2) clean absolutely everything you can, even though there are likely boxes & dismantled furniture in the way. you'll rest well and be less hassled on day 10.
3) pack up all your cleaning supplies at the end of the day, except a few rolls of paper towels, spray cleaner, and a broom. you're done.
day 10: Moving Day! happy hefting - enjoy the extra bicep exercise & count your blessings if you have good friends.
day 7: clothes. moving is a great opportunity to thin the herd. while we pack, patrick & i always make sure we're filling up bags for donating as well as filling boxes for moving. two tips:
1) set aside all the clothes you'll wear until moving day, then you won't have to worry from now til then.
2) pack all your favorite clothes first. by the time you get to the less-favorite ones, you'll be less inclined to find a place to pack them, and they'll go more easily into the donation bag.
day 8: dishes&linens. assuming a 10-day packing schedule, where day 10 is Moving Day, you now have 2 days left at home. buy disposable dishes & utensils for the next few days and pack up your dishes. Use your towels & linens to protect against breakage. we liked to:
1) pack like dishes together. it makes organizing in the new place so much easier.
2) pack any non-dish-protecting linens & bedding in a bag - it makes for lighter carrying on day 10.
day 9: cleaning supplies & dismantling day. although this is cleaning day, there's bound to be stuff left to pack, and today is probably the hardest day to deal with. so if there's anything left to pack, get it out of the way quickly and then clean. :). we found that:
1) when dismantling furniture, it's easy to keep track of screws & things if you put them in a baggie taped to the furniture with packing tape. (make sure the baggies are labeled in case they become separated from their furniture in the move.)
2) clean absolutely everything you can, even though there are likely boxes & dismantled furniture in the way. you'll rest well and be less hassled on day 10.
3) pack up all your cleaning supplies at the end of the day, except a few rolls of paper towels, spray cleaner, and a broom. you're done.
day 10: Moving Day! happy hefting - enjoy the extra bicep exercise & count your blessings if you have good friends.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
sam & i discuss manners
sam is, overall, a very mannerly little baby. at seven weeks, he has never yet been guilty of leaving the toilet seat up, using inappropriate language, or chewing with his mouth open.
this morning, however, we had to have a little discussion about some of the finer points of ettiquette.
while he is clearly attuned to our cultural bent toward multitasking, he hasn't yet learned when it is acceptable and when it is not. i told him this morning that while his attempt at doing two things at once was admirable, most people agree that a pooping breakfast is taking things a little too far.
again, he shows a remarkable understanding of responsibility - he was trying to clean up after himself today. and while i applaud his efforts, i think he should wait until he has better hand-eye coordination. Emily Post would advise that it is not perhaps the best form to clean up one's vomit with one's face.
as for belching in public, i think we'll tackle that one another day.
this morning, however, we had to have a little discussion about some of the finer points of ettiquette.
while he is clearly attuned to our cultural bent toward multitasking, he hasn't yet learned when it is acceptable and when it is not. i told him this morning that while his attempt at doing two things at once was admirable, most people agree that a pooping breakfast is taking things a little too far.
again, he shows a remarkable understanding of responsibility - he was trying to clean up after himself today. and while i applaud his efforts, i think he should wait until he has better hand-eye coordination. Emily Post would advise that it is not perhaps the best form to clean up one's vomit with one's face.
as for belching in public, i think we'll tackle that one another day.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
packing & moving part 2
more thoughts from a veteran mover ...
day 4: stuff in your closets and cupboards (not counting linens, dishes, clothes or cleaning supplies - we'll get to those later). this one seems daunting because you actually have to make some decisions about whether the things in the closet are worth the hassle of moving. the last time we moved, we needed to be ruthless since we were downsizing so much. so instead of asking myself "will i use this?" i asked myself "am i able to get along without this?" and if the answer was yes (and it usually was) i put it in the donation bag.
tip: pack all your winter things in a few boxes (including boots if you can!) and label them really big. then you can leave them boxed in your new place til next winter and you won't be tripping over them all summer.
again, just a few simple steps:
1) decide if you can get along without it and sort it accordingly.
2) clean the shelves/racks as soon as they are empty, and keep the packed/labeled boxes there until moving day.
day 5: drawers. again, not clothing or silverware. drawers in your bedside table, junk drawers, coffee-table drawers, drawers in the bathroom ... it's weird how many places have drawers. pull the drawer as far out as you can, and repeat what you did yesterday with the closets. can i get along without this? if you can, save yourself the pain of moving it! donate it or throw it out. old game pieces and half-burned candles are not worth the hassle of keeping!
1) keep a supply of baggies on hand for keeping small things together (ie: batteries + their charger, an opened package of safety pins, whatever).
2) keep a running list on the side of your boxes what things are in them. since drawers usually have small things, you'll probably fit a lot of things in one box - it's nice to know exactly what's in the box so you don't have to rummage through a zillion things when you're hunting down just 1 thing.
day 6: non-essential dishes. fancy ones, big ones (what are the odds you're going to feel up to cooking a huge casserole during Moving Week?), and excess ones. pack 'em early & get them out of the way. again, label boxes clearly because these are breakable, and they can be the quickest things to unpack since it's pretty much a no-brainer as to where they belong.
1) wrap breakable dishes in towels, facecloths, cloth placemats, etc.
2) use sturdy boxes or tubs; dishes are heavy.
so there you have the next few days of my moving tips :)
day 4: stuff in your closets and cupboards (not counting linens, dishes, clothes or cleaning supplies - we'll get to those later). this one seems daunting because you actually have to make some decisions about whether the things in the closet are worth the hassle of moving. the last time we moved, we needed to be ruthless since we were downsizing so much. so instead of asking myself "will i use this?" i asked myself "am i able to get along without this?" and if the answer was yes (and it usually was) i put it in the donation bag.
tip: pack all your winter things in a few boxes (including boots if you can!) and label them really big. then you can leave them boxed in your new place til next winter and you won't be tripping over them all summer.
again, just a few simple steps:
1) decide if you can get along without it and sort it accordingly.
2) clean the shelves/racks as soon as they are empty, and keep the packed/labeled boxes there until moving day.
day 5: drawers. again, not clothing or silverware. drawers in your bedside table, junk drawers, coffee-table drawers, drawers in the bathroom ... it's weird how many places have drawers. pull the drawer as far out as you can, and repeat what you did yesterday with the closets. can i get along without this? if you can, save yourself the pain of moving it! donate it or throw it out. old game pieces and half-burned candles are not worth the hassle of keeping!
1) keep a supply of baggies on hand for keeping small things together (ie: batteries + their charger, an opened package of safety pins, whatever).
2) keep a running list on the side of your boxes what things are in them. since drawers usually have small things, you'll probably fit a lot of things in one box - it's nice to know exactly what's in the box so you don't have to rummage through a zillion things when you're hunting down just 1 thing.
day 6: non-essential dishes. fancy ones, big ones (what are the odds you're going to feel up to cooking a huge casserole during Moving Week?), and excess ones. pack 'em early & get them out of the way. again, label boxes clearly because these are breakable, and they can be the quickest things to unpack since it's pretty much a no-brainer as to where they belong.
1) wrap breakable dishes in towels, facecloths, cloth placemats, etc.
2) use sturdy boxes or tubs; dishes are heavy.
so there you have the next few days of my moving tips :)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
packing & moving
my mom and dad are moving, and i am sooo wishing i could be there to help! patrick & i have moved seven (7!!!) times in the 5 years since we've been married, so we've become pretty comfortable with the whole packing & moving thing.
it's 6am, and i can't sleep. sam slept for 6 hours straight tonight, and since my body isn't used to falling asleep when i'm not bone-weary, here i am, wide awake. i've been lying awake in bed for the past hour, imagining what i would do if i was at home.
i'd go over & help my mom & dad pack up. i know how overwhelmingly huge the job seems - and it's always easier when you have a plan.
with two weeks remaining, we could kill this move in a few hours (or less) every day.
this is what we'd do first:
day 1: pack up all the books. and don't forget books in the kitchen, bathroom, coffee table ... hunt down every book you can find. then - pack 'em. i've always had 2 rules when it comes to packing books:
1) don't open them, even just to flip through for a minute (distracting & time consuming! prowl through your books once you're settled in your new place).
2) keep the boxes light enough to carry.
and that's it! that's all we'd do on day 1 - and it's amazing how quickly empty bookshelves appear once you start packing.
the next thing:
day 2: pack up all the wall art & knick-knacks (i really don't know how to spell that) & framed photos around the house. and don't forget the knick-knacks in the kitchen. again, 2 simple steps:
1) dust 'em before you pack (don't get fancy with sprays & special cloths, just featherdust).
2) for big/breakable things like picture frames, wrap them in towels or linens & tape, then pop them in a clear garbage bag so everyone who is helping you move can see that they're breakable.
day 2 is always a quick day. (hurray!)
followed by:
day 3: photos & papers. this always seemed the most awful step ... first off, they're so distracting - you need to read the papers and look at all the pictures ... no! don't go down that road!
1) sort papers into really broad categories. for me, i like to sort them by year. that way, if i'm looking for a paper, i only have to go through 1 bundle because i usually know what year it's from.
2) pop photos into a keepsake box. once you move, you can sort them if you like, organize them into albums, or frame them ... but for now, just stick them all into a special photo box & feel good about it. (don't forget the photos on your fridge!)
okay, i think i'm starting to get sleepy again. days 4-6 will come later.
mom, i so wish i could be there to help you like you always help me. i love you so much. xoxox.
it's 6am, and i can't sleep. sam slept for 6 hours straight tonight, and since my body isn't used to falling asleep when i'm not bone-weary, here i am, wide awake. i've been lying awake in bed for the past hour, imagining what i would do if i was at home.
i'd go over & help my mom & dad pack up. i know how overwhelmingly huge the job seems - and it's always easier when you have a plan.
with two weeks remaining, we could kill this move in a few hours (or less) every day.
this is what we'd do first:
day 1: pack up all the books. and don't forget books in the kitchen, bathroom, coffee table ... hunt down every book you can find. then - pack 'em. i've always had 2 rules when it comes to packing books:
1) don't open them, even just to flip through for a minute (distracting & time consuming! prowl through your books once you're settled in your new place).
2) keep the boxes light enough to carry.
and that's it! that's all we'd do on day 1 - and it's amazing how quickly empty bookshelves appear once you start packing.
the next thing:
day 2: pack up all the wall art & knick-knacks (i really don't know how to spell that) & framed photos around the house. and don't forget the knick-knacks in the kitchen. again, 2 simple steps:
1) dust 'em before you pack (don't get fancy with sprays & special cloths, just featherdust).
2) for big/breakable things like picture frames, wrap them in towels or linens & tape, then pop them in a clear garbage bag so everyone who is helping you move can see that they're breakable.
day 2 is always a quick day. (hurray!)
followed by:
day 3: photos & papers. this always seemed the most awful step ... first off, they're so distracting - you need to read the papers and look at all the pictures ... no! don't go down that road!
1) sort papers into really broad categories. for me, i like to sort them by year. that way, if i'm looking for a paper, i only have to go through 1 bundle because i usually know what year it's from.
2) pop photos into a keepsake box. once you move, you can sort them if you like, organize them into albums, or frame them ... but for now, just stick them all into a special photo box & feel good about it. (don't forget the photos on your fridge!)
okay, i think i'm starting to get sleepy again. days 4-6 will come later.
mom, i so wish i could be there to help you like you always help me. i love you so much. xoxox.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
to do list
not a dreamy, hopey, someday list ... a really practical gotta-get-done-today list.
i'm SO BAD at getting things done unless i have a list to tick off.
this is my tonight list. i'll check 'em off as i get them done, and we'll see if they all get checked off tonight!!
update: 2 down, 5 and a half to go :)
update #2: so 4 out of 8 isn't bad. i got derailed by a hungry baby and some unexpected company. tomorrow is another day, and i will tackle the rest :).
i'm SO BAD at getting things done unless i have a list to tick off.
this is my tonight list. i'll check 'em off as i get them done, and we'll see if they all get checked off tonight!!
change our bed. (this has been put on hold ... back-up sheets also needed washing. new item below:)laundryclean the bathroom.vacuum.sweepmake a smoothie (yum, this one was my favorite)- address thank you cards (which are FINALLY all written! sam has a huge collection of generous friends!)
and maybe ... maybe ... make a grocery list.
update: 2 down, 5 and a half to go :)
update #2: so 4 out of 8 isn't bad. i got derailed by a hungry baby and some unexpected company. tomorrow is another day, and i will tackle the rest :).
grateful
yesterday i had a howly day. i cried to the Lord for help, for comfort, for guidance.
and He said ... rejoice always.
so i sat down with my journal and started making a list of things i'm grateful for. two pages later, i realized that He has blessed me abundantly, and i can rejoice today, even though everything on my howl-list is still there.
a few of the things i'm grateful for ...
1) God's word and His voice - how assuring to hear Him speak.
2) patrick and his midnight sam-wrangling.
3) sam, our miracle-baby.
4) a peaceful country to live in.
5) food.
6) fresh water.
7) springtime. (i saw pussywillows on friday!)
8) parents who pray for us.
9) friends who love us.
10) naps. *happy sigh*
i know i've made lists like this before, and they probably have the same things on them ... but i keep needing reminders to count my blessings. sorry for the repeat :)
and He said ... rejoice always.
so i sat down with my journal and started making a list of things i'm grateful for. two pages later, i realized that He has blessed me abundantly, and i can rejoice today, even though everything on my howl-list is still there.
a few of the things i'm grateful for ...
1) God's word and His voice - how assuring to hear Him speak.
2) patrick and his midnight sam-wrangling.
3) sam, our miracle-baby.
4) a peaceful country to live in.
5) food.
6) fresh water.
7) springtime. (i saw pussywillows on friday!)
8) parents who pray for us.
9) friends who love us.
10) naps. *happy sigh*
i know i've made lists like this before, and they probably have the same things on them ... but i keep needing reminders to count my blessings. sorry for the repeat :)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
a remnant weak & small
isaiah 10. God compares the mighty & proud people to a huge forest, which He will cut down. and instead He will honour those who have trusted in Him, not in themselves. those who have been humbled, who are not mighty and not strong.
did i ever need to read this today.
in the middle of the night, i found myself getting a drink from the fridge ... with my toes. i was feeding a freaking-out little sam, and had the driest mouth, and needed a drink. my hands were busy so it had to be my feet. it made me realize how unimportant i have become in my own life (which is, i know, a good thing - but no easier to swallow for all that).
then, this morning, i was feeding sam again and suddenly was covered in poop. i thought i had it all cleaned up, but when i sat down for my morning coffee, what did i find? poop in my hair.
my hair. ToeDrinks and PoopyHair. this is my new standard of living.
so it was overwhelmingly comforting to read that God has chosen to place His Name among the humble. those who are weak and small and smell like poop. He does not honour the mighty, but chooses the weak things of this world to show His glory.
i am not a mighty cedar. i am a weak branch, struggling daily to abide in Him. i don't look good, feel good, or smell good. there is no glory in me.
yet He has chosen me (ToeDrinks, PoopyHair) to bear His Name. He has set His love upon me, bears me upon His shoulders. He numbers me among His people. because His mercy is great and His love is deep.
did i ever need to read this today.
in the middle of the night, i found myself getting a drink from the fridge ... with my toes. i was feeding a freaking-out little sam, and had the driest mouth, and needed a drink. my hands were busy so it had to be my feet. it made me realize how unimportant i have become in my own life (which is, i know, a good thing - but no easier to swallow for all that).
then, this morning, i was feeding sam again and suddenly was covered in poop. i thought i had it all cleaned up, but when i sat down for my morning coffee, what did i find? poop in my hair.
my hair. ToeDrinks and PoopyHair. this is my new standard of living.
so it was overwhelmingly comforting to read that God has chosen to place His Name among the humble. those who are weak and small and smell like poop. He does not honour the mighty, but chooses the weak things of this world to show His glory.
i am not a mighty cedar. i am a weak branch, struggling daily to abide in Him. i don't look good, feel good, or smell good. there is no glory in me.
yet He has chosen me (ToeDrinks, PoopyHair) to bear His Name. He has set His love upon me, bears me upon His shoulders. He numbers me among His people. because His mercy is great and His love is deep.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
mommy hood
the space ^ is deliberate.
i'm like robin hood, but a mom.
not in the fact that i steal from the rich to give to the poor, but in the fact that i feel like i live in the middle of the woods and can't freely see my friends.
and by middle of the woods, i mean middle of the night. thank you sam.
okay okay. it's not all bad. in fact, most of it is awesome. but it's definitely surprising.
here are some things that surprise me about being a mom:
1) i am so tired all the time! people warned me about this one, but i never really understood the magnitude of the overwhelming exhaustion. moms are superheros. i can't even imagine doing this with another child in the house. i think i'd die! a million rounds of applause to those of you who ever had more than one child in diapers at a time. you are amazing.
2) i don't have time to eat. no, i am sure i would have time to eat. if someone else went out, bought the groceries, and prepared the food, i could probably find a few minutes to put it in my mouth. but seriously, making 1 meal a day is about my standard the past few weeks. (and i even let myself feel successful about that.) when one and a half hours out of every 3 is taken up in feeding, burping, snuggling, and settling sam ... i would really welcome a store bought chicken or a pizza!
3) i still like to clean. maybe because our apartment is so small. even the tiniest bit of clutter feels like chaos. but out of my available hours in the day, i like to clean. today i scoured the tub & sinks and did the laundry and it feels great.
4) my relationship with patrick is awesome(r). it's so fun being in love with someone else, together. watching him with sam makes me feel like i'm going to die because one soul can't contain so much happiness. and when he takes his shift with a midnight or early morning feeding, i am swept with waves of gratitude and love that wash me right back to sleep :).
5) infants are adorable, but i am counting down the months til sam can talk. i guess words are my love language. i am completely in love with the way he cuddles frantically into my arms (he gets stressed out when he's alone, and when i pick him up he cuddles me as if he couldn't get enough). i adore the way he watches everything with his big beautiful eyes. but i absolutely can't wait to hear what he has to say. i am sure it will be astonishing, hilarious, and perfect. i am going to keep the world's most exhaustive quote book. so while i love being the mom of a newborn, i am very much looking forward to being the mom of a toddler.
6) i am so grateful for facebook. i feel pretty isolated (it takes about a year to get out of the house ...) and i seriously miss my family (especially after the wonderful visitors we had!), so i am really glad to be able to stay in touch with everyone and share pictures & comments. thank you for keeping in touch with me.
7) i really miss joey. (i miss you SO MUCH jo!) i think because i spent so much time with her when her kids were babies, everything about being a new mom reminds me of her. and i know she would understand the moments when i get stressed and tired and wouldn't judge me for not having a shower for 3 days. so, joey, if you're reading this: i love you, miss you, and think about you every day. i wish you were right here, giving me pointers and helping me raise sam to be as incredible and dear as your girls <3.
i hope my thoughts are coherent. i could probably benefit from a big gorgeous coffee right about now. not gonna happen, so this is as good as it gets.
thanks for reading :)
ps my hair is sam's favorite toy. i'm thinking of getting a new haircut that is somewhat out of his reach. leave a comment & tell me what you think of this cut:
i'm like robin hood, but a mom.
not in the fact that i steal from the rich to give to the poor, but in the fact that i feel like i live in the middle of the woods and can't freely see my friends.
and by middle of the woods, i mean middle of the night. thank you sam.
okay okay. it's not all bad. in fact, most of it is awesome. but it's definitely surprising.
here are some things that surprise me about being a mom:
1) i am so tired all the time! people warned me about this one, but i never really understood the magnitude of the overwhelming exhaustion. moms are superheros. i can't even imagine doing this with another child in the house. i think i'd die! a million rounds of applause to those of you who ever had more than one child in diapers at a time. you are amazing.
2) i don't have time to eat. no, i am sure i would have time to eat. if someone else went out, bought the groceries, and prepared the food, i could probably find a few minutes to put it in my mouth. but seriously, making 1 meal a day is about my standard the past few weeks. (and i even let myself feel successful about that.) when one and a half hours out of every 3 is taken up in feeding, burping, snuggling, and settling sam ... i would really welcome a store bought chicken or a pizza!
3) i still like to clean. maybe because our apartment is so small. even the tiniest bit of clutter feels like chaos. but out of my available hours in the day, i like to clean. today i scoured the tub & sinks and did the laundry and it feels great.
4) my relationship with patrick is awesome(r). it's so fun being in love with someone else, together. watching him with sam makes me feel like i'm going to die because one soul can't contain so much happiness. and when he takes his shift with a midnight or early morning feeding, i am swept with waves of gratitude and love that wash me right back to sleep :).
5) infants are adorable, but i am counting down the months til sam can talk. i guess words are my love language. i am completely in love with the way he cuddles frantically into my arms (he gets stressed out when he's alone, and when i pick him up he cuddles me as if he couldn't get enough). i adore the way he watches everything with his big beautiful eyes. but i absolutely can't wait to hear what he has to say. i am sure it will be astonishing, hilarious, and perfect. i am going to keep the world's most exhaustive quote book. so while i love being the mom of a newborn, i am very much looking forward to being the mom of a toddler.
6) i am so grateful for facebook. i feel pretty isolated (it takes about a year to get out of the house ...) and i seriously miss my family (especially after the wonderful visitors we had!), so i am really glad to be able to stay in touch with everyone and share pictures & comments. thank you for keeping in touch with me.
7) i really miss joey. (i miss you SO MUCH jo!) i think because i spent so much time with her when her kids were babies, everything about being a new mom reminds me of her. and i know she would understand the moments when i get stressed and tired and wouldn't judge me for not having a shower for 3 days. so, joey, if you're reading this: i love you, miss you, and think about you every day. i wish you were right here, giving me pointers and helping me raise sam to be as incredible and dear as your girls <3.
i hope my thoughts are coherent. i could probably benefit from a big gorgeous coffee right about now. not gonna happen, so this is as good as it gets.
thanks for reading :)
ps my hair is sam's favorite toy. i'm thinking of getting a new haircut that is somewhat out of his reach. leave a comment & tell me what you think of this cut:
Thursday, March 24, 2011
meet sam
sam is a sweet little nugget. he likes soft blankets, curling his feet up against his chest, and music. he likes looking at things.
he is also a mischievous monkey. today i caught pee in my hand, because sam likes to wait for a diaper change to spray his mama.
he's sociable. he loves to be around people, even when he's asleep.
he likes noise - sleeps blissfully, even when the vacuum cleaner is rumbling beside his bed.
he likes to wake up in the middle of the night, and needs a good two hours of burping and cuddling before going back to bed. this is not okay, so we're working on it.
he loves his grandmothers.
he adores cuddling on aunt angele.
he makes sweet little noises and even murmurs in his sleep - something tells me this kid is going to be a chatterbox.
he likes his green soother better than his blue one, and he has already learned the sign language for food.
he loves being on his belly. and he loves napping next to papa on the floor. he's amazing.
he is also a mischievous monkey. today i caught pee in my hand, because sam likes to wait for a diaper change to spray his mama.
he's sociable. he loves to be around people, even when he's asleep.
he likes noise - sleeps blissfully, even when the vacuum cleaner is rumbling beside his bed.
he likes to wake up in the middle of the night, and needs a good two hours of burping and cuddling before going back to bed. this is not okay, so we're working on it.
he adores cuddling on aunt angele.
he makes sweet little noises and even murmurs in his sleep - something tells me this kid is going to be a chatterbox.
he likes his green soother better than his blue one, and he has already learned the sign language for food.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
three wheel bliss
our little sam is here.
and he's perfect.
he loves to cuddle. and he has the cutest little way of snuggling the top of his head up under my chin - i just love him.
he has super long toes. a tiny little chin. sweet little lips. and hair that smells like all the good things in the world.
and i'm finding myself doing really weird things ... like not minding that he spat up a little on me tonight. (HA! baby puke used to gross me out.) and talking in the babiest of baby talk. and being grateful for four hours of sleep.
i think sam is going to be so good for us. :)
he loves to cuddle. and he has the cutest little way of snuggling the top of his head up under my chin - i just love him.
he has super long toes. a tiny little chin. sweet little lips. and hair that smells like all the good things in the world.
and i'm finding myself doing really weird things ... like not minding that he spat up a little on me tonight. (HA! baby puke used to gross me out.) and talking in the babiest of baby talk. and being grateful for four hours of sleep.
i think sam is going to be so good for us. :)
photos courtesy of victoria brundage. thanks victizzle!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
adoption
i was so thrilled to run across this verse in my morning reading today. the closer we get to the adoption, the more in love i am with the fact that God has adopted us.
you know how people say they never understood their parents' love for them until they had children?
well, i've never understood God's love for us this much until we began this adoption.
here are my thoughts about it.
1) His pleasure and will. - it makes Him happy to adopt us, and He wanted to do it. it was His decision, flowing out of His radiant love. just in the way that patrick and i have longed for a child, so God longs to bring us into His family.
2) adoption to sonship. - we're adopted into His family the same way little Sam will be adopted into our family - completely, wholly, as a son. we will be his parents and he will be our son. although there will be a historical difference to how he came into our family, there will be no legal or practical difference between his presence in our family and any other child's. wow - that's how God sees us.
3) He cares for us completely. - in just the same way that we've been praying for Sam and want to be the very best, dearest, most wholesome and godly of parents for him, God cares for us utterly. that means He makes decisions in our best interest even if it hurts Him (like Calvary).
4) He doesn't count the cost. the joy of adopting us as sons is worth every drop of blood He poured out. - i never really understood this before. but as we pay for this adoption, it's increasingly clear to me - the cost is worth it - more than worth it.
so, hurray for God and His huge heart! we're adopted as sons - cherished and loved and welcomed with all the joy Heaven contains.
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