Giving Thanks (inspired by)


Thanks be to God, Father, Son and Spirit, for the abundance of good things he pours on His children.
We are but few, but His blessings are many.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Aggie's six!

We celebrated Aggie Sue's sixth birthday this weekend! What a joy and a blessing- ANOTHER birthday for this child, another landmark, another year of life and even health!




Aggie cheerfully brought GREEN cupcakes to her class on friday, then we had mom's group, then family fun night- all activities she probably thought were parties thrown for her sake!


Friday night the four oldest kids and daddy camped out in the yard! It got a little chilly, but the kids LOVED it! It was such a nice night they even took the fly off the tent and got to sleep under the stars!

On Saturday Aunt Mary Anne and Aunt Whitney joined us for a backwards dinner party!


She requested Shells and Cheese for her birthday- and got extra for the week ahead! What a great idea Mary Anne!


After church on sunday, we topped off the wonderful weekend with a trip to Brown County State Park! It's so wonderful to be able to let them all climb and frolic in the woods!




Praise God for six wild years with our Aggie Sue!!!!


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

O blessed spring!

God's own child, I gladly say it:
I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it,
Gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth's treasures many?
I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free
Lasting to eternity!

Praise God the Father for His great love that welcomes His children's children into the family through Baptism!
Praise Jesus for his willing death on the cross so that we could have new life by His grace!
Praise the Holy Spirit for new birth and the gift of Life!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

five days

I am soaking up grandma papmering and newborn snuggles, and loving the free time to do things like this:






One would think that by the sixth time it would be easier to manage the tornado of bodily fluids that newborns inevitably bring, but it is still an adventure! Other than the explosions and fountains (one of which soaked the mini blind this morning- how does this stuff happen?!) Peter David seems to be a very good baby so far. He only cries when he's hungry, and almost any every way you hold him seems to be a "sleeper hold." So sweet!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

The night before childbirth...


'Twas the night before childbirth, and all through the mother
Flew punches and kicks from the new baby brother.
The maternity pillow took up half the bed;
Her husband hardly had room for his head.
Sleep would not come, so she got up and wandered;
Creation and life and potatoes she pondered.
She caressed her belly, she sighed, and she smiled;
She felt a contraction, but just one, and mild.
Her belly was bursting, her hips had grown wide;
Her shoes by her husband now had to be tied.

The onesies were clean and snug in their drawers;
She was finished with all of her motherly chores.
She was no good at waiting, that much could be seen
So she paced around, looking for something to clean.
Restless and awkward, swollen and sore,
She tried to recall why she's said, "What's one more?"
Her ribs felt a jab from baby's sharp limb;
Through worries and memories her mind did now swim.
Contractions, deep pot holes, a much too long car ride,
Blood-spurting cords, bruised husband by her side,
Back labor, huge needles, the hospital bed,
She thought how "Is this much pain normal?" she'd said.
Though over the years she'd thanked God she's a girl,
She whined now, and prayed for a good epidural.

As she prayed she remembered the blessed relief:
The old-man like stranger with wrinkles, no teeth
Warm, soft, pink skin, and sweet baby smell,
Strong healthy lungs and the very first yell,
Calm sleepy sighs, quiet breathing in sync,
The best-tasting orange juice ever to drink,
The look of proud daddy gently receiving
God's newest blessing, and once more believing
That He who creates and provides and sustains,
His gifts far outweigh the fear and the pains.

Eyes dancing, grinning, skin jumpy and prickly,
she whispered once more, "Come baby, come quickly!"