Long Over Due

Last summer, Matthew and I rearranged our bedroom (well, my mom and I surprised Matthew with a rearranged bedroom!). It left space along one wall which Matthew thought would be a great place for a bookshelf. He has always wanted to become skilled in woodworking so I encouraged his idea of building the bookshelf himself. (Longtime blog readers might remember a post about the small bookshelf he made for Philip when I was pregnant with him! Here's a reminder picture of Matthew's first project.)



Anyway, after buying the lumber, working many nights and Saturdays in the garage (wait, it's coming back to me that I was hot and pregnant with Matthew while sitting in the garage watching him so it must have been last April!! Ok, WAY over due post!), attaching special molding, and staining the entire thing twice over, we finally moved the bookshelf into our bedroom. I really, really like it and am especially proud that Matthew made it with his own hands for our room. You go, baby! Here's a look back...


Matthew hard at work in the garage.


See I tell him that he'll still look good if he goes gray and here's proof!


This is the finished project! Very classy if you ask me.


Close-up of molding on top of bookshelf.


Close-up of molding on bottom of bookshelf.


This bulldog is special as Matthew's dad made it probably 20 years ago. He had given it to Matthew's cousin Lindsay who recently mailed it to us as she is clearing out her house which is up for sale. Lindsay thought it should be passed on to Philip so can be reminded of his Grandpa whom he will meet one day in Heaven.

Another Off Day

That's what I was told when I picked Philip up from his BSF Children's Program class. "We're not sure why, but Philip had another off day," his teacher informed me. She said he did not want to put his towel away after Quiet Time and really didn't want to go outside to play either. When I heard this I was actually inches away from sobbing myself as it was another off day for me too and one in just a long line of off days at that.

This week I found myself AGAIN in a serious rut of feeling like I was drowning beneath the responsibilities of raising two children, being a loving wife, maintaining a home, and the extras in my life outside of the house. I was failing at everything I thought and just wanted to gain a little headway to get myself above water. It was to the point I didn't even know where to begin with the housework and both kids were on my last nerve by just being themselves (an energetic little boy trying to save the world like Batman and a beautiful baby girl who rightfully so needs love and attention still most of the time). I would have things planned out only to get sidetracked either by my lack of direction or fatigue setting in. Errands and places to go only made the situation worse as I would then get frazzled by needing to dress and feed all three of us and get in the car usually with one or both children crying in my face.

Well, I type this with renewed energy and abundant love in my heart for my Lord who faithfully has restored my strength by again giving me His. Throughout these last trying days, I have always known where the solution lie or rather in WHOM did the solution lie! I am promised that "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13), but it is never shoved upon us. Christ patiently waits for us to come to Him. The Lord has been speaking to me a lot recently through my Bible study lessons and some hymns I sang recently. This year in my BSF class we are studying the book of Matthew. It has helped me to clearly see who Jesus really is and how that impacts my life personally. Last Sunday night at church, we sang "I Need Thee Every Hour" which was just what I needed.

I need Thee every hour, Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will;
Thy promises so rich in me fulfill.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

And yesterday at Bible study, we sang "Have Thine Own Way, Lord", and it also did wonders to remind me how life should be.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

I know that life will not be perfect every day from here on out, but I will try even more diligently to seek Jesus first daily as He is my source of strength and direction. I want my life to be a testimony of His greatness.

Healthy Kids

Yesterday, I took the kids in for well-baby check-ups, Philip's 3-year and Braewyn's 9-month. Our pediatrician Dr. Shelley said they both looked perfect and very healthy. Philip now weighs in right at 30 lbs. (35th percentile! He was always 10-15th as a baby) and 37 inches (also 35th percentile). Braewyn weighs 16.1 lbs. (10th percentile - she doesn't look scrawny to me!) and is 26.75 inches (30th percentile). I was thinking it would be an easy visit as neither Philip nor Braewyn were due for shots, and then Dr. Shelley said the nurse would be in to take blood for hemoglobin tests. Great! The dilemma of which one should go first was over quickly as Philip said Braewyn could go first. Smart kid! Send in baby sister to see exactly what would happen to her. I can't knock him too much as he was examined first by Dr. Shelley so he could show Braewyn how to be brave and he was very, very brave while she looked in his nose, ears and mouth.

Well, anyway, the nurse pricks Braewyn's finger, the screaming begins, her little baby finger is squeezed and the blood is collected. In the next few seconds, somehow the nurse dropped the vial of blood as I think she was trying to open a bandaid. So Braewyn has to endure more finger squeezing and more blood collecting. Oh and I have blood splattered on my pants and it's all over Braewyn's hand as my "kids are fast bleeders" says the nurse. Finally, we have a bandaid on Braewyn's finger which she's chewing on and settling down in her carseat (another plus to keeping her in the infant carrier this long!). Now it's Philip's turn. He seems brave, screams after the prick and through most of the blood collection, but calms down upon getting a cool Snoopy bandaid. "Momma, why is he upside down?" "That's just how the nurse put him on."

Overall, good visit. I am SO GRATEFUL for having such healthy, strong children.



Bonus, here's a picture of Braewyn's teeth! She has both top and bottom front teeth now! They make her look a little different from Philip as his top teeth are close together and it looks like her's will be gapped.

A Firefighter Birthday Party

Before I recap all the festivities of Philip's birthday, I did want to post some cute photos from a party we attended recently for Philip's friend Natalie's 3rd birthday. I've been friends with Natalie's mom Sherri for several years (I think we met while both attending the Singles Sunday School class when I first began coming to church with Matthew while we were dating!) and now our kids are in BSF class together. How time flies!

Anyway, I never knew that fire stations commonly host parties for kids. It's a great idea in that most kids love seeing firetrucks and firefighters and plus they get a fire safety lesson while there too. Natalie's party included a tour of the station, a video about fire safety ("If there's a fire, ALWAYS go outside!"), watching one of the men suit up and learning not to be afraid of the fireman's outfit, climbing on firetrucks and eating cake and ice cream. It was really lots of fun. Thank you so much, Natalie, for inviting Philip to your party!


Here's the birthday girl, Natalie, and Philip!


Shaking hands with a real live firefighter!


Learning to slide down the pole with help from Daddy.


Firefighter Philip is ready to help someone!


You can see Natalie in the driver seat and Philip in the passenger seat.


Braewyn wants in on the action too!


Doing some fireman dancing!


What a fun day!