~On the Holding Side~

With absolute delight and a fair portion of marvel,  I introduce to you

Lance Victory

10 lbs 12 oz,   21 inches long

Friends,  for the last few days and nights I've been cared for like a queen

by my husband and each of my capable growing-up-too-fast children.

I have a beautifully nested "turret" from which 

I sit on my bed or rocking chair holding my newest handsome love;

from here I can see out our second-story hillside window and look 

over rooftops of the wintry town below,

then across the valley to powder dusted mountains beyond.

Yesterday it even snowed big sleepy, drifty flakes, blessing my heart and senses.

{Oh Holding Side, you finally did come!}

While I have been sitting, I've attempted to form my thoughts and feelings 

into words. 

yet here I am tonight still fairly speechless.

The first days after opening such a package are a daze.

So much to process.

After doing this a few times, I've learned the value in

holding and breathing and kissing kissing kissing

sweet chubby cheeks.

In fact, even though it's winter, little Lance didn't get dressed

past a diaper for two days because I wanted to be near his skin.

I think his dad was relieved to see him finally clothed!

{Silly, proud, wonderful, smitten dad!}

Rather than recount a birth story, I just want to say how utterly

and desperately grateful I am to my friend Jesus

who walks with me through every small moment

and keeps me from racing into the next moments without his hand.

Who takes my weakness and makes it something beautiful

for His glory

just because He wants to.

How can it be, I am in one moment great with child

 and barely entering labor full of unanswered questions,

then just a matter of hours later I am holding my cherished unknown

now known

and the mystery of his story is written?

It is nothing short of a marvel.

~~~~~~~~~

To the King of Kings, our Knight who has conquered

and been victorious over death and the dragon!

Thank you.

~Thank you so very very much~

"But thanks be to God! 

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 15:57

New Bump in Town

It's true!
And once again, I'm a little slow in announcing our news.

We expect this little one to arrive around December 10th which puts
Baby at nearly 6 months along (this has been a fast pregnancy for you,
hasn't it!). Not so much for me, though the next three months will
probably be the longest :-D

So far this has been what my midwives call "boringly normal" as they
smile and nod and tell me what a good job I'm doing growing such a sweet
and compliant baby.
I'm so thankful for boringly normal, and while I do have some of the normal-est
kinds of pregnancy maladies, I'm often mindful of how precious this privilege is.

To carry another newly-knit life is a wonder I'll never tire of and one I don't know if I'll
get to experience again or not.  So in the midst of creaky aches and a variety of varicose
veins I choose to cherish the days of being with child.

And absolutely with certainty do I cherish this precious person of mine!

I can't wait to meet you Baby Bug!

Light and Life

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 

"I am the light of the world.  

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, 

but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 

May I introduce my Precious Gem?

Friends, this is 

~Emerald Peace~

Born Tuesday evening June 17th

at 7:58pm

Weighing 8 pounds

19 and 3/4" long

Emerald is our delight, 

and my heart aches with the joy of being stretched larger still!

************

As the time of her estimated arrival drew near and the anticipation of labor

put a foreboding taste in my mouth, I found myself clinging to this verse

Zephaniah 3: 17

"The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, 

he will rejoice over you with joy; 

he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

My labor started in the late afternoon, slow and with no pattern.

At 5-ish on that cool and very rainy evening we packed the kids off to Auntie Hannah 

(who gave them a slumber party to remember for years to come!)

and the house became still and quiet.

Through contractions I stirred with the final details for a cozy birthing. 

Midwives were on their way, house tidy, two baby bundles with bows (one for girl, one for boy)

sat carefully arranged on top of extra towels and blankets.

Standing back in the softly lit  living room with candle flickering in the corner

I surveyed the arrangement and felt ready.

The atmosphere was peaceful, my beloved opted to let the midwives deliver this baby

and so was right beside me, a comfort and presence.

I had intended to meditate on the larger part of Zephaniah 3:10, 

knowing that the Lord God, He rejoices over me!

He sings for me.

He quiets me.

Instead, with each labor pain I breathed only "...He will quiet you with his love..."

and knew it true.

With long restful breaks between contractions it wasn't long before she came.

Gently she came

and the peaceful calm was broken by a tiny but rather indignant squall.

She was born in the caul; "that means good luck" they told us.

I don't know about luck, 

but our home has a brand new blessing in the addition of sweet Emerald Peace.  

I'm certain we are the privileged to know her and to be the ones

holding and loving her.

{About 3 hours old}

{A little sister for Aloria}

{5 days old}

...Under His wings you will find refuge...

Psalm 91:1-4

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of 

the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord

HE is my refuge and my fortress

in HIM will I trust.

Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler;

and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with His feathers

and under His wings shalt thou trust:

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

***********************

This painting entered my heart last year and at that time a sketch was formed.

Not until this winter did I tackle the water color and complete the thought.

Sometimes you create with someone in mind

but in this case, this is me.

My life, my story, my heart and knowledge (albeit minuscule) of God

in His tender care of me - even in the midst of raging storm 

- perhaps even storms that rage only within my flawed human flesh and incomprehension

of what's necessary for God's glory to be revealed.

I am so glad to say that in this season I find my spirit rejoicing in His feathers

as if I were the baby bird in a cozy springtime nest.

But my heart aches for those I know of even now who are pummeled by the noisome pestilence.

It is their heart I pray, experiences the refuge of His wings.

His love ever tender.  

Ever present.

Everlasting.

HIS Love-Letter

His love-letter is written across our lives 

daily

in every soul-nourishing detail.

We often pass by it uncelebrated 

because we expect it

and then promptly take it for granted.

{{Let it not be so.}}

{Just a little reminder to me

that God has called me Beloved, 

and writes me love-letters every day.

Each dimple and expression that thrills my heart,

every beauty that takes my breath away,

in silence and in song,

in provision 

and 

in emptiness...

He is all.

And He 

loves 

me.}

Photo interest:

1) A sleeping Aloria Mercy

2) Songbird at dusk

3) Coffee, Quiet, and Letter-writing

4) An extravagant gift from me to me 

which made me smile when it arrived in the mail

5) Love note from Susanna Glory

6) Miles smiling at me around his bottle

7) Painted wooden hearts made and gifted to me by my Clayton

8) Sunset

9) Carolina's empty-toothed smile - first tooth lost!

10) Bryce learns to draw hearts today

11) Be still my beating {creative} heart

12) Valentine-ish stamps

Bits for Memories

The purpose in our travels Southward in route to Colorado
was to take the children to the Northern California Coast
that we love dearly, for a little salt air and tide pooling
(those pictures to come in the next post).

And also to hug some favorite Grama's, collecting kisses
and memories to grow on.

Family is such a precious thing.  In the loveliest and best
parts we enjoy (which I realize few even have the privilege
to realize) there is a dim picture of what Heaven will be like.

The earthly version of family is severely flawed, but even so,
there is a longing within us to experience the confidence of
belonging.
To be fully known.
And in spite being fully known, to be accepted still.
Loved.
Cherished.

I have been undeservedly blessed in my experience
of family growing up.  I am blessed every day to
know the gift of family as I tend to my own little clan.

It is the hope and purpose of both of us parents to help
our children capture a glimpse of Heaven and the huge love
of our Heavenly Father through the tenderest and most
grace-filled family interactions.
All those flawed moments exist too, but they are not to be
confused with the truth of a perfectly sinless vacation/adventure
(yet to come) with our Lord and the ones we love most!

If family is unknown to you in this way and your heart is raw,
I embrace you with an encouragement that it aches because
you desire what you were meant to know.
Grab on to hope and don't let go!  Your day is coming soon.

These pictures are captured and recorded for memories sake.
Perhaps for you, they can be a sparkle of hope for what will come.






















My Grandma Arlene, and my Grandma Bethlene down below.

Missing a sister and sis-in-love :-(

Trying to beat Grampa for the highest swing-pumper.
Not looking so successful. ...Or as determined to win :-D

A few pictures from our visit out to Travis's house for some good hard play :-)

Precious bits for memories and little tastes of Heaven.

Come soon Jesus!