naming, one by one

Lord...tune my heart to sing your grace --- 

Instead of singing some off key number about what didn't get done today, what went wrong, what failed, what didn't turn out as hoped. 

Tune our hearts to sing Your grace at the end of the day & not our guilt ---- 

and maybe that number just sounds a lot like: count your blessings, name them one by one. 

- A. Voskamp

Still naming one by one... thanks for,

- summer joys; sunshine, barefeet, windows open, flowers, dirt and sand

- friendships secure, graces during times of controversy

- Levi's stories, his jokes, cuddles and funny, fresh realizations

- Maggie's sweet and smiley countenance; her smell, her soft and full head of hair, her huggable, kissable, smooshy self.

- Brian's birthday fun; family, parties and perfect gifts; his desk, new typewriter and it's first masterpiece, a love letter 

- shower notes

- beautiful newborn photos from an old and dear friend

- lots of extended family time; a baseball game, birthday parties, fourth of July activities, cousins, gigantic card games

- safety for my brother and sister-in-law and their house during a huge, spreading fire in the neighborhood

- mucking around the mud with my family, the perfect warm summer breeze, the salty smell of the Atlantic

- coffee dates

- new window/porch box flowers and finally a bit of time to garden

- Brian, just reading his way through the dictionary (crazy)

- continued healing of my nerves, more strength and a first drive by myself!

- the eve of our 8th anniversary and a completely "itch-less" 7th year. ;)

- just this promise - "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."-John 10:10

Mail Stories - By Brian and Jacob

Last week my aunt, uncle and cousin came to visit from Minnesota. We don't get to see them very often, so it was a treat for us to be able to spend time with them during all of the 4th of July festivities. 

Birthday parties are kind of a big deal in our family and we don't often get to have a birthday party for my little cousin, Jacob. This year we decided to remedy that and throw one a month early while he was here.

During their visit, Brian and Jacob had a lot of fun making up creative stories together.  Jacob has a great imagination and Brian was happy to comply with his requests for "more stories!" and "then what happens?!". When we started brainstorming what to give Jacob for his 8th birthday, Brian had a brilliant idea inspired by the fun they had story telling.  

We started with a small lined journal that would fit easily in an envelope.  I stamped the cover with the title "Mail Stories" and with the authors names (Brian and Jacob).  Brian began by writing the beginning of a story onto the front page of the journal. The idea is that Jacob will write the next part of the story and then send it back to Brian to continue..and so on (with an illustration or two by yours truly). We also added a pile of envelopes and book of stamps. 

Jacob seemed SO excited about his gift - it's such a simple concept with simple materials, but what fun to be able to write a story with a friend AND get fun mail on a regular basis. I can't wait to see how the project turns out! (and, of course, what happens to "Smoth") :)

('till next time, Jacob. We miss you already!)

strawberry fields forever

(Ariel, the Beatles reference was just for you. Enjoy. ;)

this and that

a little bit of this, a little bit of that...

- foot update: during the last couple of weeks I've seen a lot of progress..like, MUCH more than I or my neurologist expected (thank you for praying, pray-ers!). Nerves are healing and making connections; I finally have upward motion and more feeling overall. I have even ditched my leg brace for the most part. (!!) Not being able to drive is still the most debilitating thing at this point, but I'm optimistic that I may get some strength back for that in the next few weeks. I won't be irish step dancing anytime soon, but hey, progress is progress!

- speaking of my foot. I've never been much of a runner, but I've recently had the urge to start. Obviously I can't run yet, but there is something about having my ability to walk/run taken away that really makes me want to do it.  Not sure if I'll really find the time or motivation, but who knows?! I keep joking to Brian that I'm going to run the Boston Marathon next year. Yeah... no.

- I'm parenting a mini-teenager. Levi's stays up for HOURS reading books in his bed (I probably shouldn't complain...) and then sleeping in waaay late (again, I probably shouldn't complain). Luckily, we usually don't have anywhere to be most mornings, but we're going to have to get that kid back into gear come September.

- Most of my crafting has been on hiatus in the last few months, but the other day my friend and I spent the morning making some way-cute baby friendly accessories. Post to follow!

-the other day Brian called and I was holding Magnolia, so I put him on speaker phone.  The second she heard his voice, she lit up with the her biggest smile to date.  I love that she knows and loves the sound of her father's voice.

-we recently rearranged our living room in the most significant way since we moved in.  I was tripping over things and just feeling too cramped, especially being home for so much time with two kids. We took out a big piece of furniture and moved stuff around and it feels so much bigger.  I'm not tripping and Levi has more room to spread out and play.

-I had so much fun yesterday taking newborn photos of my friend Laura's new baby, Callia. She is just darling and we're hoping she and Magnolia will be great buddies just like their brothers are! 

- next week is Brian's birthday and I'm so excited about a big collaborative gift me and our families are putting together. If all goes according to plan, it's going to rock his socks off.

- the creative arts ministry at church is already planning for ArtSpeak 2014. Even though it's next March, we need our event image/painting by September.  I've been nominated this year, so this summer I need to paint something under the theme "Imagine". So open-ended...still waiting on inspiration.

- in a few weeks, we're heading up to Maine with the group of girls I was friends with when we all lived in Yemen. We have a private blog where we keep up with each other's lives. Even though we all live so very far apart, we try to get together ever couple of years...usually at a wedding. Alas, no weddings this time, but this year we decided to rent a house together in Maine. I'm SO excited. 3 babies have been born since our last get together, so it's going to be fun for us and our families to hang out all together and of course for us to reminisce about being 5 little blond girls running wild around the middle east. Good times.

-during the winter months this quote by John Steinbeck was written on my kitchen chalkboard: "what good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?" oh man.. this winter was so long and so hard and I'm bound and determined to appreciate the sweetness of this summer! 

farmboy (The Children's Garden, Long Hill)

I've often said that Levi would probably be most happy living on a farm. He loves nothing more than using tools, digging holes, playing in dirt, watering things and wandering around outside on his own accord. Our small urban backyard is not ideal for this sort of thing, but we recently stumbled upon The Children's Garden at Long Hill. Long Hill has been a favorite place for Brian and I for many years, but this was the first time we noticed this awesome little garden set up for kids to play and "work" in. In addition to a beautiful and well kept garden next to a big red barn, there are kid sized rakes, spades, brooms, hoes and watering cans; a wooden well, stepping stones and even a cozy little playhouse covered in vines. Levi happily spent the morning enjoying the sunshine, digging holes, watching the chickens, picking strawberries and just reveling in being a farmer for a while. I have a feeling this is going to become our new favorite summer hang out!

Dear Magnolia - 2 Months

Brother Sister Love

I wasn't prepared for how early Levi and Magnolia would start to form a special sibling relationship. I guessed that Levi would be very excited to meet his sister (he talked a lot about her when she was in my belly), but I assumed the excitement and novelty would wear off pretty quickly. I also assumed that it would be a while (months?) before Maggie would start to respond to him or care if he was around. Boy, was I wrong. 2 months in and it is clear that these two really love each other.

When Levi wakes up in the morning, he runs into our bedroom and exclaims in his high-pitched only-for-Maggie-voice "Where's my Mags?!". He gives her countless kisses and lays next to her, coddling her and "interpreting" her coos. If she fusses, he exclaims "She's saying she needs me...I'm coming, Maggie". He asks to hold her many times a day almost every time he sees her, he rushes over to talk to her or kiss her cheek, legs, arms or toes. If she seems upset, he covers her gently with his blankey (he KNOWS the healing power of the blankey). When a visitor is in the house, he whispers to me that he wants them to see "his baby". He is so proud of her.

Magnolia has already started showing affection for her brother, too. She bears (and possibly enjoys?) his not-always-gentle toddler-boy forms of affection. No one makes her smile like Levi does and she looks around for him when she catches a glimpse of him or hears his voice. There is no one who showers her with more love than her brother and she responds with happy coos and smiles.

I know their relationship will grow and change, ebb and flow...but for right now, I'm just savoring the sweet, uncomplicated and tender sibling love they have for each other.