sweet glimpses

This morning was a lazy one. Josh and I got up with the kids, and he made his famous "egg creation." After eating, we switched from cartoons to music and sipped coffee while watching the kids play. Lily then told me to "be busy" so she and Dad and Luke could play farm animals in her room. I didn't take offense but rather saw it as an opportunity to get some things done downstairs. I started picking up the kitchen when the song on the ipod caught my ear.

It was a familiar one that I hadn't heard in a while so I grabbed my mug and sat down to refresh my memory. I can remember the first time I heard it was back in college when Josh and I attended Bent Tree Bible a few times. For whatever reason, this song has always struck a cord deep within me. Maybe it's the clever phrasing of the words or the evolution of the sweet melody. I just think it's such a beautiful analogy of our lives- moving through different seasons of celebration, change, heartache, growth. I'm reminded that through it all the Lord is at the center. Just as He orchestrates every minute detail of every season change, He is also beautifully arranging the components of my life, providing purpose for each season though I may not see it now.

On another note, this song prompts me to look for Him in what I can sometimes consider the mundane. My friend Kristyn was sharing with me a passage from the book Cold Tangerines. (I haven't read it yet.) In it the author shares about a hectic season in her life when she was so busy racing from event to event, that one day she looked up and saw the tree across the street was the most magnificent shade of red she'd ever seen. She hadn't even noticed it starting to change and was reminded she had lost sight of what was most important. Far too often I get so caught up in the motions of my day that I fail to even think on the Lord. This is a call to see Him in His creation. When I do stop and gaze at the vast sky or admire the rich shade of red on a leaf, my heart is drawn to worship.

Today, through a song, I saw sweet glimpses of Him. My heart was stirred and longed to be near Him. Thank you, Lord, for using your gift of music to draw me unto you.

Every Season - Nichole Nordeman

Luke is 15mo old

Luke is fifteen months old today. I'd hoped to blog more about his developmental milestones, but, like too many other things in my life right now, I didn't follow through. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to highlight my sweet boy.

Dear Luke,

Happy 15 months today! What a blessing you are to our family. Countless times everyday I thank God for your little life. Your personality is definitely coming through these days! And apart from being a sweet Mama's boy, you also have a goofy side too! In fact, today Daddy and I sat and laughed as we watched you and Lily chase each other around the house, screaming and giggling. You love to run and shake your head back and forth with your tongue hanging out until you get so tickled at yourself you usually fall down. But that hardly slows you up as you're back at it again in seconds!

Probably my favorite thing you're doing right now is hugging. At any given moment, you will bee-line it to my legs and crash into them, squeezing for dear life. And I melt when I'm holding you and you wrap your arms around my neck and lay your head on my shoulder. I could stay there for hours. But you're not just partial to me, you have hugs to share with Lily and Daddy too. There's nothing sweeter than to see you and Lily embrace in a full-on bear hug. I'm praying that you and Lily will be more than just brother and sister- but best friends too. It seems like you're off to a good start there.

Your big sister seems to be your hero right now. You like to do whatever she's doing. Whether it's washing your hands at the sink or sitting on the couch or reading books- you're right there behind her wanting your turn. Lily is a sweet big sister to you- most of the time. She's quick to step in and defend you on the playground when other big kids are around. Always looking out for her little "Lukey-boy." That's what she calls you and I constantly have to clarify when people ask her your name and then look confused.

Walking is now old hat and running and climbing seem to be new found interests. The stairs in our new house are your peak of choice although I'm always there to bring you back down to base camp. We haven't had a tumble so far!

It seems that everyday you're learning and attempting new words. Some new to your vocabulary are: wa-wa: water, ball, please, more, dog, nite-nite, bye-bye, and several animal sounds, but my favorite is "hot." Everything that is set before you regardless of its actual temperature is "hot." You point to it and say "hot" which sounds more like "ha" and then proceed to blow on it at least twice. It's so great and cracks me up every time.

Luke, I am so grateful and humbled to be your Mama. I pray for you everyday, that you would love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. That He would be your everything. I pray that you'd have friends to walk in deep, honest Biblical community with. And that one day the Lord would provide you with a godly wife who loves Jesus and wants to follow Him with you.

I'm thankful for the 15 months we've had together and pray and hope for many more to come. You and your sister stir my affections for the Lord, and for that I'm grateful. I hope that one day as a parent you can understand the joy that I find in being your Mama.

I love you.

Halloween

This year since we are in our new house (!!!) we decided to stay in our neighborhood and try and meet our neighbors. The Rogers and Joys came over for dinner and then Lily and Josh went trick or treating while Luke and I stayed home to hand out the treats. We got a few pictures of them in costume, but they're just so hard to catch these days! Lily is a Thumbelina Fairy and Luke is a puppy dog. Lily has said several times today, "Man, I can't wait to go trick or treating again!"

Luke and Addison (a chick)

Noah (a nerd) and Lily

Luke's 1st birthday

Luke is about to be 15 months old so I thought I'd better post some pics of his first birthday before it was time for his second one! Our sweet friend Lindsey Brittain came as the birthday Photographer so Josh and I could just enjoy the festivities. We had the family over to my mom's for cake and ice cream. Luke was WAY into his cake. I think he might have a bigger sweet tooth than Lily?!? He was sad when we had to cut him off. And you can tell that Lily just assumed her role as "helper" with everything from opening presents to eating cake! She was sweet to her little brother on his big day.

Melissa and Jonathan's wedding

I wanted to put up a few pictures of Melissa's wedding. Everything was SO beautiful. Melissa was gorgeous...absolutely striking. I was stressed out as to whether or not Lily was going to make it down the aisle. While we were trying to take pictures pre-ceremony, she was crawling under furniture and rolling on the floor. You can see that in Melissa's lap she was not happy about getting her picture taken. But when the time came for us to line up, something clicked inside her, and she did exactly what she was supposed to do! She was absolutely smitten with the ringbearer, Wyatt, which helped. He was a couple of years older and so precious. She still asks about him even a month after the wedding! But you can see that as they were walking down the aisle Lily reached over to hold Wyatt's hand! It was so sweet! Couldn't have planned anything cuter!

Their photographer Amber did a great job.

Phone Fascination

Luke is in that stage where he is totally intrigued by cell phones...or any phone. Whenever he hears one ring, even a ring tone play, he puts his hand up to his ear and says his version of, "Hello." So cute. My brother James and his girlfriend Krista were letting Luke play with their cell phones one afternoon. My favorite face is when the phone that he's holding lights up and his mouth opens as wide as it can go!

trains at the Gaylord

While our husbands were out of town a few weeks ago, Kristyn, Faith and I took the kids out to see the train exhibit at the Gaylord. The kids loved it. They had free kids meals, free monkey shows and free balloon animals (although you had to endure some awkward comments from the balloon man). We got a double dose of the awkward comments when we had to revisit him to get more balloon animals since Evan threw his and Lily's off the balcony at dinner. It was a fun, and of course, crazy night. :)

Preston getting a little too excited about the trains

"don't mess with us"