This and That

It's April 3rd and the weather is still being rather "Marchy." We've had some of those gloriously springy days and some cold and wintery ones. Today fits into the later category. I am ready for full fledged Spring, but that's how life goes in the Northwoods.

 He is going to LOVE summer!

     Today my sweet boy is 13 months old. He's growing up and is such a fun little buddy. He still isn't walking but has started jabbering a lot and has taken an intense interest in tools and noise making appliances. Luke was putting some shelves up for me the other day and using the drill. Buirlen thought that was pretty cool and a little bit later he found Luke's screw driver....I didn't realize that screw drivers also make a nice noise, but they do when Buirlen uses them. And the vacuum is highly interesting as well! So much so that I have to hold him while I use it because otherwise he wants to sit right in front of it and touch it, which makes actual use of the machine rather difficult. It is fun to watch Buirlen think his daddy is so cool and want to be in on whatever it is Luke is working on. I'm sure much fun will be had in the garage as he gets older.

Putting ups some shelves. 

It's important to find a stud before hanging anything. 

Keys please. 

Fixing the headlights. 

Driving the forklift is the best.  

Watching Daddy chop firewood. 

Lately we have been on a culinary adventure. I sometimes feel like my dinner menus get stuck in a rut and wanted to start trying some new recipes. So about every week, I have Luke choose a destination and an ingredient, and then I find a new recipe to try. It has been a lot of fun and we have discovered some tasty new dishes that certainly will be repeated. We've "journeyed" to Jamaica, New Orleans, Mexico, and Morocco, to name a few. I've also broadened my spice cupboard as a lot of recipes have required spices I didn't really know how to use before.

 Last week, Luke said, "Pork and Norway," so I made potato klub. I don't think this one will be on the repeat list but oh well, you can't win them all. I have a significant amount of Scandinavian blood in my background, but I think I have the taste buds of a spicier culture. 

We have been loving having Baby Mathias around. Buirlen thinks he's pretty sweet and is quite gentle with him. Cousins are just all around pretty great. 

Catching up with Molly Ann

I was reading in Mark the other day and I really liked the words of a father who so desperately wanted Jesus to heal his son. He asked Jesus to please help him, if He could. Jesus responded, 

"'If you can?' said Jesus, "Everything is possible for one who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief.'" (Mark 9:23-24) 

I just love the words of the father, "I do believe; help me to overcome my unbelief." Because I often find myself struggling with things and these words put it so simply. "Jesus, please help me and help me when my own human brain gets in the way. I believe!"  The One who created Springy days and the curious adventuring baby, The One who fills our hearts with wonder and the ability to believe, loves us so very much. May your day be filled with wonder and belief, adventure and joy. Happy Today. 

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." ~Proverb

"Despite the forecast, live like it is spring!"~Lilly Pulitzer 

  

A New Creation

     So, yesterday I made the decision to get baptized...Again. When I was about 10 years old I got baptized, the first time. I remember the day, it was a sunny, summer afternoon at a church picnic and the closest body of water was a gravel pit that had been filled with water at a nearby housing development. I remember being too shy to give a testimony like the adults who were getting baptized and simply nodding my head when the preacher asked me if I believed that Jesus was LORD. And that was that.
    But as I've grown and begun to learn more about baptism and what an important step it is in one's choice to follow Jesus, I began to wonder if I should do it again, this time from a place of deeper understanding of what it was I was doing. And let me tell you I turned it into a inner struggle and I let fear dictate. But finally, yesterday morning, I made the decision and so friends and family gathered at the church to share this moment with me.
     I know that baptism has become a rather polarizing topic in the church today. I know that I have personally struggled with it and it's importance. But I've come to the conclusion, that honestly, it's a silly argument. Jesus asks His followers to do it, so of course it's important.
     This year, I had decided that my theme was going to be "Growing in Grace." I wanted to learn more deeply about living each and every day in that beautiful grace that, The One who calls us by name, offers. I think this decision I've made is part of that learning. So there you have it...
   

Colossians 2:12

"Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."

Acts 22:16

"And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name."

1 Peter 3:21

"And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also, not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

The 3 Musketeers

    Today we got to meet someone pretty special. The Lovely Keren Ruth and Benjamin welcomed Little Mr. Mathias last week and today we got to go for a visit. He is so very tiny and sweet.

Buirlen meeting his newest cousin, Mathias

One year ago, when Ephraim met Buirlen...Time just keeps a moving.

Ephraim, Buirlen, and Mathias...The 3 Musketeers. Ages: 2 years, 1 year, and brand spanking new. Adventures and, no doubt mischief, are coming our way!

Speaking of babies...During Retreat, my dear friend Polly and her family stayed with us. It was lovely to spend some time with a good friend who I don't get to see as much as I once did. Last year during retreat, Polly and I were both pregnant. This year our babies were buddies.

Stripy baby bumps...February 2017

Buirlen and Ruthie, bumps turned buddies....February 2018

And, it occurred to me, that Spring officially starts in just a couple weeks and the weather is starting to prepare for it...Bird songs, bullfrogs, tulips, and mud are coming soon. Yay!

"Cousins are the perfect friends." ~Unknown

"There is nothing on earth more to be prized than true friendship." ~Thomas Aquinas

Happy Birthday Buirlen Elder!

This past Saturday, my sweet baby became a 1 year old. How did a year happen already? It certainly has been a good year, I'd say one of the best. This sweet boy has 5 going on 6 teeth, is learning the art of making faces, loves to clap and climb, and still thinks walking is of little value. He can stack blocks and is starting to take more of an interest in books, he particularly likes his touch and feel books. 

Over this past year, I have learned that there is no such thing as a clean shirt lasting more than 5 minutes, that there are many tasks that can be done one handed if necessary, and that being a mamma is the best! All in all, this guy makes a great adventure buddy. Here's to year #2!

Oh my sweet baby, how you've grown. 

Getting down to the business of birthday cake. 

Sampling. 

Wouldn't want to leave anything on that wrapper... Waste not, want not. 

My work here is done. 

"Today you are you, that is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you." 

~Dr. Seuss. 

Today's the Day

 It has been very wintery this week. It started snowing Saturday night and just came down thick and fluffy. By Wednesday, I heard that we had gotten somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 inches. Then last night we got more. I guess the weather heard that this weekend is our annual Winter Retreat and decided to decorate accordingly.

Speaking of Winter retreat...Today's the day and we are pretty excited around here. The "to do" list is more or less done and now we are just awaiting the arrival of friends to start the party. It's going to be good!

"Kindness is like snow--It beautifies everything it covers."

~Kahlil Gibran

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from this little charmer. 

May your day be filled with the love of The One who set your heart to beating and delights that you are His. 

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

The Hand of Grace

     So, in the past we have had a mouse problem, which never makes me real happy. But for a good long stretch we seemed to be in the clear. Well that streak is over because for the past couple of weeks we've had a little visitor, and he seems to be immune to traps and the intense ill will I keep thinking towards him. In previous mouse problems, I have been more likely to see the signs of the invader rather than actually seeing the mouse itself. Not so in this case. I haven't seen a single sign, but the awful little thing likes to run by me, in close proximity in BROAD DAYLIGHT.
    Well last night, Luke and I were watching a movie, Buirlen was sleeping in my arms, all in all we were simply minding our own business in our own living room when the invader decided to show himself. Luke then went into hunter mode and waited for the invader to show himself again and then hurled a boot at it from the recliner. In the meantime, I had managed to stand up on the couch with Buirlen because there is no way my toes are going to be on the floor during this epic battle between man and mouse. The boot missed but Luke was ready for action now and told me to watch one corner of the couch while he got ready for the next shot. This went on for awhile throughout a couple rooms in the house. I therefore stood on multiple pieces of furniture as the lookout. Unfortunately the little critter evaded us at every turn and we gave up the battle for the night, but this is not over. I will win.

Don't worry, the ax is not intended for use on rodent invaders. A friend of Luke's has this old rusty ax head that he asked Luke to clean up for him. Luke discovered a pretty cool old tool under the rust and refinished a handle for it as well. 

     Anyway...Buirlen is becoming quite the little boy. The other day he was sitting on Luke's lap at the dinner table, and Luke had his hand around Buirlen to support him. Buirlen was not keen on being restrained and kept pushing Luke's hand away. Pretty soon Luke just had a grip on the waistband of Buirlen's pants to stable him, because the little goofball was so intent on being independent.
     This got me thinking, how often in this life do we push our Heavenly Father's hand away. It's there to stable us and guide us, but we want to be independent and do it ourselves. So like my goofy baby, we push at the hand that is keeping us from toppling over. Perhaps we just want to do it our own way or maybe we think we know what's truth but in reality we are believing a lie, but regardless of the reason we are pushing at the hand of safety, we are still pushing. But thankfully, just like Luke didn't let go of Buirlen, God doesn't let go of us. He holds on to the waistband of our pants. That is grace and The One who extends it to us is awe inspiring!

My intrepid adventurer. 

And sweet snuggler. 

And chocolate lover.

And blooming artist. 

He's fun. 

Hebrews 13:5

"Keep yourself from the love of money, and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you and never will I forsake you."

The Awesomeness of Grandpas

 Grandpas are pretty great. Both sets of my grandparents live in the same small town and were a regular part of my life growing up. 

Grandpa Shearer(Baby Grandpa) and myself(1993)

Grandpa Kinney(Up the Hill Grandpa), my sister Lydia, and myself(1990)

Grandpa Kinney and Buirlen (May 2017)

Grandpa Shearer and Buirlen(June 2017)

Buirlen is a lucky duck to have so many awesome grandpas in his life!

My dad, Poppy, and itty bitty Buirlen. 

Checking on the farm with Grandpa Williams

Looking at pictures with Poppy. 

3 generations of flannel enthusiasts. 

Proverbs 17:6

"Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers."

Psalm 103:17

"But from everlasting to everlasting, the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children."

"A grandfather is someone you can look up to no matter how tall you grow." ~Unknown

11 Months

      My sweet baby is becoming quite the little boy. At just a month shy of a year, he is able to stand independently, though it is still a little nerve wracking for him when he's thinking about it. He climbs like a little monkey and that makes life interesting. This month he finally figured out how to pick up food to feed himself and decided that was so much fun that he has been experimenting with using a spoon as well. He recently learned how to clap and thinks "peek-a-boo" is an awesome game. He's got 4 teeth, 2 on top and 2 on the bottom and his hair continues to be wild and free.

Of course, the cutest picture I got happened before I realized that I put the wrong number on the sign. 

 "Keep smiling because it is a beautiful thing and there is so much to smile about." ~Marilyn Monroe