july, part 3

Then there are the miscellaneous photo memories: We came home from Maine and took an evening walk in pajamas, because that’s what you do in the summer. Grandma and Beatrice enjoyed Grandpa’s concert in the park together. A new skirt was sewn for my dancing girl. Mornings were started on my side stoop, soaking in birds and leaf-whispers and the scent of a new day. Evenings, too, were savored. My gardens, though dry and weed-covered after one week in Maine, continued to provide blooms for the kitchen table. The CSA is again a wonderful blessing, adding color and freshness and surprise and health each week. I love it. Sour cherries were the prettiest they’ve ever seen, and hours of pitting and freezing was rewarded by the prettiest jar of pink ever. Little girls, in their last month before turning 3 and 1, were adored and snuggled and loved on. Little boys, growing bigger and sweeter each day, played hard and worked hard, loved me well and were elated every time Daddy said, “Wanna come to work with me today?” This last week, I read a book and remembered why I don’t do that very often: I can’t put it down till it’s finished. Self discipline, out the window.

*****

Monday morning dawned, and there was fresh grace. After not having a “real” (read: paper) calendar for two months, I sat down with my coffee and sketched out August.

August.

A few more weeks of footloose and fancy-free. Some more family time, beach days, visits with friends.

Two girls will have birthdays. I’ll create a chore routine, and we’ll get it in motion. Pencils will get sharpened, books will come in the mail. And then we’ll turn that calendar page and be ready to start a whole new season.

My, how it flies.

july, part 2

It really was a busy month. And right in the middle of it, on a Friday evening, Jameson reminded me of Founders’ Day, a local reenactment event. I’d told the kids we would try hard to get there, since we’d been reading about the French and Indian War over the summer, and this would help bring it to life. Ryan said, “You should go.” And so, in spite of all of the grown up things that needed my attention at home, the kids and I packed water bottles and granola bars and drove all the way to the St. Lawrence River. “That’s it?”, they said when we arrived. After driving to Maine the previous week, they were thankful!

And I was thankful we went. It was a truly lovely, peaceful, quiet, interesting, I-love-to-be-with-my-kids kinda day.

*****

Long days that stretch into the night mean little time with Ryan in this season. We were so excited when one Sunday afternoon, he said, “Let’s pack a lunch and all go to a beach!” The kids talked about swimming with Daddy for days and days afterward. He is the star around here, you know. I’m so thankful for this guy!

july, part 1

It’s the last day of July. Sand through fingers, vapors in the wind, all of that — it’s true. It just disappears. No matter how deeply you savor, how much of its pain and beauty you try to memorize, how thankful you purpose to be, these moments just fly.

July, especially. My, did it fly.

So now I’m a solid month of photos and happenings behind on this blog, my little record of family life. It’s Thursday afternoon, and after four days of a blessedly quiet week, my soul (and my house, for that matter) are starting to catch up. I can sit and do photos, at last.

*****

The Fourth of July. Reading and discussing the Constitution, the Declaration, the heroism of men who choose courage and principle that would benefit us. Not for their own sake, but for us, they signed their names on that Declaration, as good as a death sentence. Courage: Choosing the right thing in the face of fear. Not everything they did was perfectly right, I know, but acting out of selfless principle and with courage, as men ought to do? That is pretty right. What a good heritage. Dressing in red, white, and blue. Heading to a local parade, joined by most of my clan. Spending a lazy afternoon on the side porch together, and ending things with pound cake topped with berries and loosely whipped cream. Perfect.

And then, a few days later, there was a trip to Maine. The kids, my generous sister, and me. It was absolutely wonderful.

There was good food, which the kids keep talking about. There was the pool, from about 7:30am till dinnertime and maybe even after. There was whiffle ball and golf, water balloons and bubbles. Dress up! Excursions to the rocky shore. A morning at a quiet beach inhabited by hundreds of hermit crabs. Rooftop views. Ice cream cones. Babies napping long, children playing hard, grown ups soaking in sun. Cousins we seldom see, aunts and uncles we love. Lots of tears the evening before our departure, because this was the time of their lives. Special memories. This little family went home feeling very loved by Papa and Meme.

Everyday, wake up and remind yourself:

Fortunately, God doesn’t worry about keeping the best pastors for the big cities. On any given Sunday morning, in the Middle-Of-Nowhere, NY, you’ll hear some of the most powerful preaching from one of the best men. This past Sunday, it sounded like this:

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that there is a God in heaven.
And that you live to serve Him.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that Christ died to save you from your sins and reconcile you to God so that you can live every moment of every day in a way that pleases Him and brings glory to Him.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you are no longer a slave of sin, but you are now a slave of righteousness and are called to live pleasing to Him in all things.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that the purpose for your life is far greater than your own fulfillment, your own peace of mind, or your own happiness. You were born for His purpose.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that your greatest pleasure is found in bringing glory to Him, and that your greatest delight will be in hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that this world is passing, and the momentary and light affliction that you might be facing now is producing for you an eternal reward. And that your focus will not be on the temporal, that which is passing; but your focus will be on the eternal, that which will never pass away.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that God doesn’t exist for you – you exist for Him. Remind yourself that He is not your servant – you are His servant. Remind yourself that He owes you nothing but that you owe Him everything.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you were purchased for God by the precious blood of Christ, the costly blood of Christ, that God spared nothing in pursuing you. And that the life you now live is not your own; you belong to Him.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you have been made a partaker of the divine nature — the precious Holy Spirit has made you alive to God, and that the power of the Holy Spirit in you is sufficient to carry you through every difficulty, every challenge, every snare, and every temptation – and to strengthen you in the midst of all adversity.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that your worth comes from Him – the one who bought you. And if the world around you fails completely to see your worth, it doesn’t change a thing – your worth is settled in Him. He loved you and gave it all for you.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you have a part to play in the unfolding plan of God. That you are called to serve Him and to impact the lives of people around you through prayer, giving, serving, and sowing. And that nothing and no one can stop you from walking out His kingdom will for your life.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that your labor in the Lord matters – that He sees your love, your sacrifice, and your patience toward all men, and especially toward the saints, and that He will not forget your work and labor of love.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you are a valued part of the Body of Christ, the people of God in the earth today. And that you are called to strengthen the body through love by supplying what only you can supply.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that His intended purpose was to adopt you as His own in Jesus Christ!

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that this world is passing away, along with everything that seems so appealing; but that he who does the will of God abides forever.

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that apart from Jesus Christ you can do nothing; but in Jesus Christ you can do all things

Everyday. Wake up and remind yourself that you will not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And that your meat is to do the will of God.

—from the sermon series on Ephesians

evening with my baby

My little Goldilocks.

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Only weeks away from a first birthday.

When did a whole year happen?

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We sit here, couch corner, lamp on, blanket-wrapped. Our evening routine.

Usually you fall asleep nursing. But not tonight.

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You rest your head on my chest. I rub your tummy as you quiet, sink into my arms, succumb to sleep.

Sweet, sweet babe of mine.

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fourth babies need new things, too.

July 3rd. 10pm. So much on my mind.

Throwing a load of boy’s laundry into the washer, making sure the appropriate reds and blues will make their way through in time for an Independence Day wearing. A toddler girl dress hangs ready in the closet, a burst of red, white, and blue pinwheel-ish design. That leaves…baby. Oh dear. Apparently primary colors weren’t on my radar when purchasing Beatrice’s infant wardrobe, and so Fiona has none.

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So much in my mind + that sweet face + no redwhiteandblue =

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Unfortunately, that equation also means sewing without a model. Here’s hoping it fits!