Post Category → william

in the meantime, baseball:

Ryan promised the boys he’d take them to make a baseball video, and so last Saturday, he took two excited boys and their uncle to a baseball diamond and did so. Of course, for the entire week previous, they were outside morning, noon, and night, practicing and perfecting and dreaming of being Ortiz.

When Ryan showed them the finished product, they were beaming. And I was all teary. These little boys. I love them so much.

(And Merrick? Well, how awesome is he, making them look good in every shot? Such a good guy.)

family va-stay-cation

We spent a whole week at my parents’ house, with almost all of my siblings and all of our offspring. Twenty-five of us, give or take. Sleeping bags and suitcases, baseball gloves and crocs, plastic cups and favorite books — in every corner. Laughing and shouting and screen doors slamming. Coffee maker always running. Kickball or baseball constantly being played. Meals being prepped and planned and consumed. Bedtime stories and prayer by candlelight. From 5:40am till the last adult hit the sack each night, there was activity — because with that many excited people, there’s action even in the being.

Can you believe that 11 children, tired and high on the good life, can enjoy one another for a whole week with barely a squabble? That 14 adults can enjoy those children, and one another, for a whole week? That grandparents, who are “supposed” to be relishing “their” space, would be beyond thrilled to let their home be invaded, their time and energy demanded, their every moment drained? That single siblings would spend their one week of summer vacation in settling baseball disputes, painting toddler fingernails, changing diapers so their mama-sisters can have a break, carrying babies, making sandwiches, sharing beds with little people whose little feet kick all night long?

I come away and think, This. This is pro-life. This is pro-Kingdom. This is pro-God. This is the joy of lives that have said a thousand times at a thousand junctures, You increase, I’ll decrease.

And I see on my children’s faces that their little hearts are cups overflowing with the ministry of love.


Most of us, heading out along a bike path.


Brothers, happy and full.


Mama does not buy carbonated treats, but Nana. Nana does.


William shares his appreciation at the big joint party.


How days begin.


Early morning entertainment.


Pretending to be Almanzo.


Most of us at the Almanzo Wilder Farm.


Blueberries!

Summer memories worth savoring. Family moments that build. Blessed kids.

ramblings

Tonight, my feet are sore. They protest when I require they carry 40 extra pounds around all day.

Ryan has been trying to juggle many things this summer, including our slow but steady bathroom reno. This week, floors are oiled. Tonight, a toilet is installed. Tomorrow, the sink arrives.

We took a walk after dinner this evening. Well, more like a romp through our fields. The mosquitos finally drove us back to our neatly mowed lawn, but watching boys and toddler girl run willy-nilly, laughing and yelling, was worth a few [dozen] bites.

I’m feeling the squeeze to be ready for a new baby — not just the birth, but the life that comes after, which in this case includes birthdays and school year beginnings. I’m trying to stick to my list of what is actually important, since hormones inspire me to do random and crazy overhauls.

I’m also realizing that the squeeze I feel needs to be harnessed and used to bless my family, rather than be allowed to take over and steal joy, peace, and time. We will do our best to pull together and get some things organized. But in the meantime, time does not stand still. My freckled boy is about to turn 7. Seven! And William is going to be 5 right after that, leaving “little boy” status behind. And Beatrice has grown so tall, talks so much, and is so happily independent that I have to go out of my way to snuggle her for a few minutes here and there. Their lives are being lived, and each day is an opportunity to sow Kingdom seed.

I’m thinking lots about being a wise woman who builds her house, and of being a pillar, sculpted in palace style. Strength. Stability. Shelter. Even in the ebb and tide of ninth-month hormones, I am called to be those things. And if I daily choose to abide in the life-giving Vine, the grace and power to fulfill that calling will be there.

I’m also thinking lots about sleep. Which is what I will now indulge in — and my aching feet will thank me!

from our field

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blessed

We did errands this morning, haircuts at lunchtime, and barely made it home before I had a total hunger meltdown. (I used to skip lunch and not care. Hard to believe, but true. Now, I shake and jitter and get grouchy. Well, I try not to get grumpy. I really do try.)

Then I fell asleep on the couch — out like a light — and when I woke at 3:15 to two handsome little faces watching me, I had enough energy to oblige their request for some beach time.

Three kids. Just me. This equation scares me on paper, but in reality, it works. They play together, they listen and respond quickly, they curb their desire for adventure in order to honor my requests… I am so blessed by these three fun, sweet, full-of-life kiddos.

There are so many times (like yesterday, for example) when I’m feeling pretty stretched by three not-perfect kids who need more grace and wisdom than I, in and of myself, can give.

Then there are afternoons like this one, when their sunshiny attitudes and happy demeanor just bless me. So this is my little note-to-myself. A memory quickly captured. These three kids: they are treasure.