Sunday

So, Sunday morning as I was helping Gabe get dressed, he said, "Um, I want to wear my fish tie today. It makes me look like a pastor. Daddy would be very proud to see me." So, I swallowed some pride (the kind that comes from knowing that everyone in church is going to see your son in a plastic fish tie ... the kind that really needs to not be in me at all anyway) and helped him find it. He proudly wore it to church and told everyone that he looked like a pastor and that his daddy was proud of him.
One interesting note to add: neither Pastor Dave nor Greg have worn a tie for a long time in church on a Sunday.

Evan Walks!

Sorry that it has taken me so long to post this, but our little Evan is WALKING now! He started to walk in earnest a few weeks ago, and is doing great. We discovered last night, though, why he didn't like to walk outside ... his shoes were too small! We whipped out a pair of Gabe's old ones (that I don't think that Gabe really ever walked in, since he was 15 months before he walked) and he was walking all over the driveway! Yay Evan!

Family

We had a time this past weekend with my family. All of us were able to be in town together - yay! The boys had a great time playing together (big boys and little boys) and lots of kisses and hugs were bestowed on the littlest boys.
I really miss my sisters (and brother, don't worry Matt). And wish that I didn't have to be so far away from them, or that we could see each other more often. Not that I don't love where I am, I just miss being close with my family.
I really treasure the times that we can be together. Life seems to be going by so fast, and each of us has our own little world to take care of. It seems like every time we're together, the family picture is different. (Last time- at Christmas - we had no Austin yet and by the fall we'll have Julie and Vince's little guy to add).

Here's our latest family picture.

Evan loved the pool, but I think he liked sitting with my dad on the swing more.

Gabe and Joaren took turns on the bulldozer. They had a good time together playing, sharing and running around.

I could not stop kissing Austin. He's so cute and kissable, and besides, I've only seen him one other time - so I had to make up for all the days he missed my kisses so far. I think he loved it as much as me!

See? How could you resist that cute little chubby guy? This is right after his first swimming experience at Grandma and Grandpa's.

What a great time! We also got to stop and see Greg's family. His parents just bought a new house, so this was Greg's last time seeing his old one. It was nice to be able to say goodbye. On the way home from there, we stopped to see our friends and their new baby, Jackson. He's so cute - and tiny - only 5 days!

Sunny Days

I am really enjoying the sun lately. It feels so good on my face. I feel like I am still making up for lost time that I didn't get to see the sun (as in the long, long winter!).
You know though, sometimes I long for the sun (and a good tan), but after I've been out a few minutes, I get hot and go looking for shade? Why? Why are we like that? We are such fickle people sometimes. We know what we want, but then, there are always things in what we want that we don't want! On rainy days, I want so bad for it to be sunny so that we can go outside and play and laugh and run. But on some sunny days, after being out for a few minutes, I just want to go back into the shade to rest from the heat! We ask the Lord for sun, and then we look for shade. We ask him for rain for the garden, and then we complain that it's raining because we're stuck inside!
Isn't it like that in all our lives? Before we get married, all we want is to be married. But then, we get married and discover that marriage is work! We really want to be parents, but then sometime we'll have to deal with a crying baby or a toddler who needs discipline (27 million times a day!) and we feel "stretched". We feel called to take part in some ministry, but then, that ministry grows (like you've prayed it would) and then you have to put in more time and energy; or you have to lay aside something else to really put into it what God is asking you. Aren't we fickle? We wouldn't trade all those things for the world (our marriage, our kids, the ministry), but yet we aren't always content with what comes along with them. We want the good, but we don't like some aspects of it when it comes.

Lord, help me to be content and enjoy all the parts of wherever you take me and whatever you give me! I don't want to be a whiner or complainer who can never be satisfied no matter what good things You bring to me!