Emery is brilliant at screaming. She leans her little head back and wails with the best of them. Some babies laugh; some babies grunt. My sweet baby daughter screams. And screams. And screams.
I imagine this is her genius way of being noticed. Her father has no problem getting my attention, especially when he smiles and the wrinkles around his eyes make me feel so much happiness I might split open. Her sister is precocious and adorably (not always, mind you) naughty, grabbing my eye with ease. But Emery, with her calm demeanor and low-maintenance personality, must find ways to be the focus of this family's notice. So she screams. And screams.
Ainsley is such a little person. After she woke up this morning I asked her if she would like some milk and she replied "I would like some water, actually." I broke a little inside. My baby girl is not so baby any more. She has opinions and creativity. She tells me stories and remembers funny instances from weeks ago. The years are short.
My two girlies. So very opposite to each other. Both equally delightful.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Good Friday.
With the kiddos at Grandma's house and my husband fast asleep in a post-Good-Friday-coma, I have found myself in a nearly unthinkable position: alone in a quiet house! Just me, my trusty computer, and the strongest cup of coffee I know how to brew. Alone to think and process Good Friday.
When you marry someone who works at a church, you are also marrying into a family that does Easter quite differently. For us, the week of Good Friday and Easter is hectic, intense, busy, and EXCITING. Joel and I see little of each other in those days leading up to the believer's most anticipated days of the year. So much preparation goes into creating a Good Friday service for our church and my husband plays a big role in that.
This year was no different. There were songs, videos, monologues, even a rap. Special lighting created an unsettling atmosphere that perfectly fit the tone of the service The uneasiness in the sanctuary was palpable. I left last night with the same feelings as I have every Good Friday service I've been to at Harvest: It was my sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. It was my jealously that placed the crown of thorns on his head. It was my unforgiveness and pride that mocked him. My anger. My doubt. My selfishness. My sin crucified my Lord.
Praise God the story doesn't end with Good Friday. Death could not hold him. The battle was fought and WON. My Lord is risen.
I cannot wait for Easter.
When you marry someone who works at a church, you are also marrying into a family that does Easter quite differently. For us, the week of Good Friday and Easter is hectic, intense, busy, and EXCITING. Joel and I see little of each other in those days leading up to the believer's most anticipated days of the year. So much preparation goes into creating a Good Friday service for our church and my husband plays a big role in that.
This year was no different. There were songs, videos, monologues, even a rap. Special lighting created an unsettling atmosphere that perfectly fit the tone of the service The uneasiness in the sanctuary was palpable. I left last night with the same feelings as I have every Good Friday service I've been to at Harvest: It was my sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. It was my jealously that placed the crown of thorns on his head. It was my unforgiveness and pride that mocked him. My anger. My doubt. My selfishness. My sin crucified my Lord.
Praise God the story doesn't end with Good Friday. Death could not hold him. The battle was fought and WON. My Lord is risen.
I cannot wait for Easter.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Hot spot.
The Smiths had a night on the town- suburbs style. A frozen custard place recently opened two blocks from our home. When the reserves were low, dinner out looked QUITE appealing. Joel came home from work and whisked his three ladies off on a little date. Two cheeseburgers, a vegetable grilled cheese, and a plate of sweet potato fries soon made their way to our little table. Delicious, folks. Truly delicious. Between the conversation and the caramelized onions in my grilled cheese, the evening was superb. So was the sunlight at 6:30pm. SPRING IS COMING!!!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
the four of us.
Last week, Joel took his three ladies out for dinner at our favorite little pub on Chicago Street. Ainsley spent the entire dinner telling him what she did that day over and over while Emery sat quietly on my lap. Our daughters are already so different. Joel, the ever-devoted Daddy, humored his jabbering toddler while giving me winks across the table. My heart was FULL.
We've been the four of us for six months now. Six bonkers, rewarding, hilarious, maddening, wonderful months. We have moved into our first house, seen Joel off on a two month bus tour, potty-trained a toddler, turned thirty (only I did that one), had two little Mommy/Daddy Only weekends while the littles were at Grandma's, learned to roll over (Emery's feat!), memorized the Dora theme song, read Not the Hippopotamus MANY times, and had several hilarious family dinners in which more food ends up on the floor than in Ainsley's mouth. We have seen the Lord move in major ways in our marriage, our kids, our families, and our small group. Turns out, the four of us is more exciting than the three of us and most certainly than the two of us.
We've been the four of us for six months now. Six bonkers, rewarding, hilarious, maddening, wonderful months. We have moved into our first house, seen Joel off on a two month bus tour, potty-trained a toddler, turned thirty (only I did that one), had two little Mommy/Daddy Only weekends while the littles were at Grandma's, learned to roll over (Emery's feat!), memorized the Dora theme song, read Not the Hippopotamus MANY times, and had several hilarious family dinners in which more food ends up on the floor than in Ainsley's mouth. We have seen the Lord move in major ways in our marriage, our kids, our families, and our small group. Turns out, the four of us is more exciting than the three of us and most certainly than the two of us.
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