rest and love.

Today was an honest- to- goodness day of rest. Sometimes you need one of those. I love the Sundays that are full of church, dinner at a friend’s, football with family, evening visits, and the like — but every once in awhile, a day of just us, just here, is perfect.

And today was that. We had a wonderful church service, followed by bagels, and then we came home. Jameson fell asleep nursing, as did I! And he kept sleeping while Ryan and I sat in the living room, on the Macs, quiet and together. Then a movie and an evening of laughing at Jameson’s new love for his own voice, of popcorn that tasted just right, and sitting all together on our bed.

Now our day of rest is ending. If all goes as it has, I’ll be asleep soon. Ryan will go to bed later than he means to. And Jameson will be up at 2, 4, 6, and for good at 8. (Rough, but it won’t last forever.)

Life is blessed. But even as I revel in the goodness that is all grace and love, that blessedness reminds me that His love is ever seeking, never satisfied with ninety-nine. Will I let His love do more than just bless me? Will I allow it to work His heart in me?

And, on love: We most need to be loved when we are most unlovely. So emphasized my father during his sermon. Oh, that challenged me! How shallow even my deepest love seems when measured against His standard! And how earnestly I desire to be a vessel of true, life-giving love!

the 24th.

He’s home from the west coast — and fast asleep. An all-night travel itinerary, followed by a drive home from Syracuse, brought him home at 3pm utterly exhausted.

The closets are cleaned out, the dresser drawers a bit tidier, labeled bags are ready to be deposited at various locations, and I’ve “greened up” the house.

Yes, as much as I’m in love with orange in October, and find great comfort in red and white all through December and January, at some point I realize that green really is my favorite. So this week I put green tapers in all of my candlesticks, my green quilt once again adorns our bed, and a new green bird decoration sits atop my secretary desk — a harbinger of spring, I hope?

I guess I’m not overly optimistic on that point, since snowflakes still hang in my window and I decided to wait on the robin’s egg wreath. For now, a little sage, a little grass, a little apple here and there are satisfying my desire for spring.

“Life With Three Under Three”

Yes, it’s hard work. But Amy thinks it’s worth it.

——

And she posted a comment made by Martin Luther:

“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow.”

I am struck by the last phrase. God isn’t pleased with my good homemaking and mothering because He wants good wives and mothers; He’s pleased because it’s what He’s asked me to do, and I’m obeying in faith each moment I put forth my best effort.

I am reminded — again, for the millionth time — that God measures the worth of a life’s work so differently than I. He loves obedience and whole hearts. That’s all.

so.

Yes. So. Let’s just start right in, shall we?

::I just returned from my aunt’s wedding. It was a bit different — they got engaged about three weeks ago, and decided to get married without much to-do. A date was quickly set (a Monday morning, no less), and the spot reserved: an uncle’s split-ranch in Cortland, NY. Her brothers and sister and their offspring, plus a few “Florida Sinclairs” (cousins) for good measure, all converged Sunday night for the grand event. Monday morning Carina did Judy’s hair, everyone dressed in their best jeans and sweaters, and Annie magically created a beautiful brunch buffet. The ceremony was short, but my eloquent Dad made sure it was no less special or significant. We cried and all laughed, and then clapped exuberantly when the new couple was introduced as Mr. and Mrs. — Huh. In all of the celebratory shouts and hugs, we missed the last name. Does anyone know Huck’s last name? That was the question of the hour. Oh well. Details!

::Ryan left for a week in California. Amazingly, this is only the second time he’s traveled out there for work, although we were prepared for as often as every month. Also amazing is that as often as I’ve gone away and left him here — for quick overnights, to long tours of Spain — he’s never left me. Little man and I are here by ourselves. Well, almost. Aunt Beans is occupying the guest bed. I’m not so scared of the dark when she’s here. :)

::No husband=no cooking! And no picking up projects by dinner time so the house looks nice! This means the apartment is looking, uh, worse before it gets better. Is that a good way to put it? Hopefully, we’ll be a little more organized and a little less weighed down with extra, unnecessary belongings by the end of the week.

::There are pros and cons to this husband being away thing. Pro: I thoroughly cleaned the bathroom this morning and am looking forward to a week of it pretty much staying that way. Con: There’s a spider in the bathroom, and I don’t kill spiders. I’ve tried now, a couple of times, but my hand just.can’t.do.it. Ryan? Can you help me?

::I’m reading a book Ryan bought for me. It’s old — 1882 — and a bit flowery, and it has a bit of a “half a cookie” theology (choke, choke), but all in all, I’m very much enjoying it. The title may sound as though it’s a book for wives, but not at all. It’s a book on the making of a home, and every person’s contribution. The fact that it’s written pre-feminist movement is incredibly refreshing; he just assumes that everyone knows men should be manly, and women their complement. Ah. I’ve just started the chapter on “parents”, and he writes of the incredible effect of a first-born child on their parents. (By the way, I have no idea of how to use “effect” and “affect.” I’ve pretty much given up on ever getting it. But when I’ve got it wrong, go ahead and correct me. I might as well keep trying!) He writes of how this new babe brings out the best and noblest impulses, and it made me wonder again why it is that new couples are encouraged to wait before starting a family so that they can have time to just be together. I don’t really understand that, since a baby has such a forging effect on a marriage relationship, and also brings out qualities in your spouse that make them that much more… loveable. It’s just one of those things where I wonder if we’ve gotten too smart for our own good. I’ll have to think about this more.

::Jameson was asleep by 10:15. [Begin Hallelujah Chorus.]