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}

Beloved Sister and a New Brother~

My precious youngest sister Mattie Grace found her beloved.
And married him today.

I wasn't able to be there since this baby's birth is now a couple weeks away
and the trip home to Chico is a good 18 hours one way.  Varicose veins and such, don'tcha know.

I'm not sure who caught whom, but it looks like they're in a for a future filled with fun!

We are so thrilled to add this new brother Jeremy to the Uncles :-) and OH how I wish
we could have been there today, to witness the beginning of such a precious union.

Here's my sister (almost 4) with me just before my own wedding nearly 17 years ago.
My Aloria is her clone, I think :-)

For Mattie and Jeremy:  Congratulations dear ones!
With all my heart I love you.

~Your Sis

...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.

Beautiful Springtime...

...Is just bursting in full glory here.
I took a drive to the Canadian boarder yesterday and the valley was full
of lilacs - every shade of purple and many abundant white blooms too.

Love.


Boys and mud and tractors and backpacks and hikes...

Love.

Girls and cartwheels and wagons and frogs and purring cats...

Love

No... no official garden for me this year.  However, we put up some swallow
boxes just in time to have swallows move in and start families where we
could watch them up close.
Also we have a newly-logged, sunshiny, perfect place (soon to be enclosed by fence)
to plant some fruit trees finally!
Again, love.

Here on the mountain violets and trillium bloom, the huckleberries are
showing promise of summer picking.  Robins build nests, burn piles are lit
and fill the air with scents of  wood-smoke which combine with the blooming
fragrances and make a smell like "cookies baking" (according to Bryce).

Double triple quadruple love :-)

Baby cheeks

a smidge of green lawn just big enough

three utility wagons

a motley crew of old bikes

some imagination

Big brothers with kind and gentle hearts plus long legs and man-muscles taking form...


So much love.

~Favorite~

I've had four fabulous hospital births with one amazing midwife
in California, followed by four home-births in four different homes
in three different States with four different sets of midwives.
(No one has been born in the car yet and we consider that
a good record to keep!)

Since we just arrived back home to North Idaho, this baby had
his first introduction to our attending midwife.
Until this week, I had forgotten my favorite part about midwife visits.

When I lay on the bed and eagerly wait to hear that tiny heart I know
is beating, the woman providing care for we two places hands on belly
and feels the position of the baby - favorite part: hearing her speak to
my own precious person as a precious person.
"Well hello there baby!"  and when there's a reply from inside bearing
resemblance to a jump or kick "Good job Kiddo!"  as well as other
soft words spoken directly to my person.

My person.

Recognized as such by another human 
and cherished as a living being.

That's my favorite part about midwife visits.

(My favorite part about being pregnant, is when I get to the end of this 
race and get to MEET my person!)   

A Birthday Documentation

Someone turned 3.

It was pretty wonderful. I mean, what could be better than a pink "wolly-pop"?

Our Aloria.

She is so fun. And funny. Precocious. Very verbal. Frilly. Talks with her hands a lot.
Loves to dress herself - as often as she can get away with :-)
Lover of books - especially if they are way over her head (imagine machine equipment catalogues I-kid-you-not).
She is a happy and chirpy little bird!  Was there ever life before she came along?

Cupcakes with "sparkles" (sprinkles) please.

And then, a package arrived from Gramsie...

... which included a dress with a lot of pink frills,
that twirls beautifully.

That's my girlie!

She wears it every day - with or without my consent :-D  Thanks Grams.

Happy Birthday, little Birthday girl-mine!!

For Someone Very Special...

Yes it's true.

Two months left until I meet one of my favorite people ever!

With the winter months indoors and desire to dream, this quilt grew
quickly and was relieved to be completely finished with plenty of time
to spare.

I loved every minute of cutting, piecing, and stitching.  Such gentle, methodical
work for the hands while the mind and heart swell with thoughts, ideas, plans...

And mulling over a couple lovely names until they become a possibility for this wee
ones own unique personality, makes the days slow (rather than rush by) as I
get more and more eager to know who he or she is.

It has been a quiet season here - both at home and in spirit (as well as in blog :-)),
but in a matter of days the quiet turns to din as we prepare for the Idaho trek
homeward and look forward to a full Summer of house projects, Spring cleaning,
welcoming a baby, and many romps in the forest and lake.  For me, I hope this
means sitting with a snuggled Tiny Bit and putting my feet up - if I'm lucky, an icy
drink will be within reach and someones interesting story to listen to.
I think it's likely :-)

That kind of fullness of day will be a pleasant exchange for the quiet ones now
coming to a close.

I welcome it all.

Birthday Boy

How can it be already?!!
One year and my earliest walker he is.
Kind of fitting for an 8th child, don't you think?

From the moment he was born and it was clear he wouldn't even
fit into the sweet little newborn jams I had lovingly bought and dreamed of
my baby wearing...
I secretly knew I was going to miss that New Baby stage with this 10-pound-plus
son of mine already determined to make his mark on the world of men.

This morning the boy awoke to a room full of "punch balloons" and some special gifts.
He was most enthralled with the cell phone that his sis Carolina thoughtfully gave him.
I'm don't believe it left his hand except for lunch and naps.
Miles was holding it when Daddy left for work and was holding it when he returned
home in the evening!

Miles had berries and yogurt on pancakes for birthday breakfast
and then a lot of playing with balloons and Mega Blocks and of course - that cell phone :-)

In the evening Uncle Charlie was here and able to celebrate with us.
Miles was pretty stoic about the whole thing.  Getting older is serious business, don'tcha know?

Hangin' with the men is definitely where it's at though!

And then there was cake....

Yep.
Cake is pretty much the crowning glory of awesomeness.

Well Happy Birthday little man!
Although I'm excited to watch you make your own mark on the world of men,
I'm praying you know that the greatest you can ever be
is a servant and friend of the King Jesus.

If no one ever sees you, or knows you, or appreciates you, it doesn't matter.
This world in not a kingdom that lasts and people will never value the things
that matter most to Him.  You are precious to Him and He loves you.
Love Him.

Daddy and I love you dear one~

~Love Mama