Monday, January 11, 2016

The Best-ness All Around Me





















There's an awful lot of best-ness to my days, and that's what I love to see.

To look for.

Some days I have to search a little harder/dig a little deeper
(because tiredness and hormones like to obscure the lovely in life),
but there's always some wonder to notice or routine non-event to be grateful for.

{Thanks Lord for a washing machine that cleans clothes, and a water heater
that works. For cuts that don't need stitches, a baby without colic, or a husband
who comes home from work.}

The more I settle deep into the privilege of such a life, I am reluctant to use
certain words so casually.

Words such as "need" for instance.  I can't think of one single area in which
I can apply that in good conscience.
Kind of puts things into perspective and stretches my vocabulary as well,
trying to express a difficult feeling or experience while acknowledging the
very-great abundance in my life!

My Lance-boy is an official one month old already, and while four weeks
have brought an unhappy onslaught of baby acne for him and the re-entrance
of sleep-deprivation for me, the days are mostly filled up with best-ness :-)




















This is me at 2pm, still in my pajamas. But the boy is sleeping, so
besides the desire for a shower, I'd say everything's right in the world :-)

And here's the two remaining pieces of evidence that I got a really special
pre-baby-birth pedicure 6 weeks ago from my friend Jana, who knew I couldn't
reach my feet and took pity. That's a kindred heart!

Maybe time for a new color?




























Bryce often asks me if he can hold Lance.
Sometimes I ask him to "babysit" for a few minutes.




























Our Olivia, nine years old.
So artistic; so creative!
Play dough never looked so awesome!





























Also, Olivia is my flitting, floating, flying butterfly who dances throughout the house all day long!
These special Christmas gifts have been getting a lot of mileage.




















Here's the face of a boy who loves "Hol' Tocters".
What is a Hol'Tocter, you ask?
Why this of course!




























And another face I love!




























The kids weren't inspired to go out into the snow until it had been
around for weeks.  And then one day, I guess it was time.

On a Saturday morning several of them rummaged through the snow
clothes and found enough to keep tolerable warm.  Then they began
serious enterprises in the department of fort-building.














































I must say they've upped their game since the last time they
built snow forts!  Carolina built one on her own, Clayton and Susanna
collaborated on the one you see above, and Olivia crafted a veritable
castle replete with a flagged turret and chamber just for storing snowballs!
I didn't get a picture of it when it was finished, but it is the one which
all the kids are still talking about :-)

We un-decorated the Christmas tree together, and it was a sad affair.
Miles kept asking "Why? Why are you taking the tree apart?"

And on a quiet evening after the children were tucked into bed, I untangled
strands of lights from dried-up boughs.






























So I guess it is good-bye to one season and hello to the next
chapter of best-ness :-)



Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Cozy December Days


These days have seemed too good to be true.
We've had a lot of white outdoors this Holiday season, and yummy-smelling
candles every day. All the twinkly lights plugged in for all hours, and big
kids who can bake and make candy without any help! (Oie to loosing baby weight!)

Then there's our big little Lance Victory.

"Lance Factory" Aloria calls him as she searches her memory for his middle name :-)

Cousin Judah said that Lance should be a Knight when he grows up "because he has a
good name for a Knight" and I definitely agree.  I hope he will be - a champion for
righteousness and defender of the weak. Chivalrous and stout of heart, in service
of the King of Kings.

For now he is a sleepy little ball of fuzz :-)




























Would you like a little peek inside the walls of our home these days?




































The big guys are building a loft into an existing shed, which will be used for storing seasonal tires, yard tools, scrap wood for woodshop use etc,



























































There is a special spot in my heart for each of these hooligans.
Every one of them is unique and uniquely fitted into our family - and Oh!
How this family benefits from the personality, gifts,
humor, energy, and graces
each one brings into it.

We're resting again, in a gentle season of Winter and celebrations.
All I can say is Thanks Lord.

We have too many blessings to count!

Hugs to all~

Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

~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