With F moving around more and more it's fairly common for her to wander off on her own with me checking up on her once in a while. She seems to enjoy playing by herself or with her baby doll and stuffed animals. This afternoon I was in the kitchen and realized how quiet things had become, so I went to find her standing erect over all her animals and blankets that were sprawled all across her bedroom floor. It wasn't too long ago she would never have been able to create such a "mess." And, watching her wave her arms, stoop down, and pick up her stuffed animals while "talking" made me sense how special it is for me to be able to watch her grow up and miss very few things in her childhood, especially all those "firsts." Then, I started thinking of all the things that sometimes frustrate, annoy, or exhaust me from being a stay-at-home-mother (even though I have it pretty easy with only one child), but in the end, it's all worth it. And, I'm very thankful that I get to do them.

Being able to be home with F is worth...

Messy rooms.

Finding she's gotten into the cupboard and cluttered the kitchen floor with what use to be clean dishes.

 Trying to cleaning those icky hands and face after each meal while she tries to peel herself away from me.

Wiping that runny nose on a body that wants to run away.

Doing more laundry.

Fighting those knee stains she gets from crawling around.

(Will they ever come out?)

Smelling and changing all those dirty diapers.

Stretch marks that will probably never go away. 

Being enervated some days.

All those comments that people make about how much we're missing in life by having children so soon.

A slightly lacking social life.

 (I'll have to remember this if we have more kids and it goes from slight to drastic.:)

Being home alone - and sometimes craving that adult communication during the day.

Often interrupted or short ended conversations with others.

Having to decide if going to the grocery store is worth the effort. 

(Silly, I know, but I still think through the issue of hassle versus productivity and enjoy-ability. Again, I'll have to keep this in mind when (hopefully) more children populate this family).

Being a penny-pincher. 

Spending more time shopping for little people clothes rather than women's or men's.

The constant interruptions from getting other things done.

The labor in prayer.

Two weeks ago I heard this sermon - and have pored over it since then. An excellent sermon on the fullness of Christ that I would highly recommend. If you are hungry for God, this will feed your soul. During the sermon, though, Mr. Y. spoke about the deity of Christ and quoted Gregory of Nazianzus. I found the original, full-length version (I think) and found myself pondering on it, so I thought I'd share it with you.

He was baptized as man, but He remitted sins as God.

He was tempted as a man, but He conquered as God.

He hungered, but He fed thousands.

He thirsted, but He is the source of living water which quenches any who thirst of it.

He was wearied, but He is the rest of them that are weary and heavy laden.

He slept, but He awakened the dead.

He prayed, but He hears prayer.

He wept, but He gives joy unspeakable.

He asks where Lazarus was laid, for He was man, but He raises Lazarus for He is God.

He was sold for thirty pieces of silver, but He redeems the world, and that at great price, for the price was His blood.

As a sheep He was led to the slaughter, but He is the Great Shepherd of Israel, and of the world.

As a Lamb He is silent, yet He is the Word eternal.

He is bruised and wounded, but He heals every disease and every infirmity.

He dies, but gives Life, and by His death, He destroys death.

Family Photos

While the sun was setting one evening last week we decided to go to the park and take some photos.
We've been wanting to get F's one-year-old photo taken; but, I also want to learn to do it ourselves. Why not start practicing now? :) Someday I'll tinker with editing the pictures (Z's much much more patient with computers than me); but, for now, I'm working on just learning about lighting and camera settings. Here are a few (or more than a few :) of the photos we took...

 This one ^ is my personal favorite. :)