A Sweet Long Weekend

This has been such a fun and sweet weekend. There were several commitments I had, all of which God just removed from me. I had three days to just relax and enjoy my family. Friday night I picked up hamburgers and told Xavier we could watch a movie before bed. He yelled, "Yea! It's date night again!" When I asked him what a date is he replied, "It's when you drink wine and pan-shane (champaign)" I didn't address his pronounciation, but corrected his perception of what a "date" is. I explained that it is when you get to spend time with someone and talk with them to learn more about their heart. I told him I often have dates with Mrs. Inglin or Mrs. Valentine and never do we drink either of those things!

The skin around my eyes has been bothering me since Wednesday but my eyeballs themselves are perfectly fine. The irritation grew each day and I woke up Saturday morning with both eyes very swollen. I'm not exactly sure why, but I suspect it's an unusual response to some ice cream I ate this week (but it began before I ate it! - only the Lord knows). No sympathy now - I know better! This is a boundary God has set and I sometimes begin thinking it's not real, it's all in my head, I'm just being picky... but then I eat dairy and I'm congested for weeks. So I've spent chunks of each day under the influence of Benadryl with no real benefit but catching up on hours of sleep . It hasn't had any affect on my face, but it's allowed for Xavier to watch lots of videos with me dozing in and out on the sofa. He couldn't have asked for a better weekend!




A feather found at the pond

In between doses I would manage to get outside with him for a while. We went fishing on Saturday. I really believe the Lord would have given me grace to get a fish off the line if he caught anything... but thankfully he didn't :-) We walked over to the creek and dipped our toes in for the first time this year, but it was still much too chilly to think of going any farther in than that.

back by the creek

Today I got to do my favorite household chore: Laundry! I love doing laundry and can't imagine ever growing tired of it, particularly when I get to hang my clothes and sheets outside. I just love it! I get giddy when I see the basket filling up! I'm sure most other moms wonder what it's like to have a day where you don't have to do wash, but it's a treat that doesn't come often enough for me :-) Then Xavier woke up and I got to remind him that it was Memorial Day. We talked about how we remember and honor the men and women who serve our country and protect us. We talked about Jesus being our greatest hero and the most important battle ever won! Then we talked about picking Seth up and all the candy they would get at the parade!


We had so much fun! I love parades! My favorite part is when the drums pound as they're going past and you can feel it in your chest. I also like the old cars, they're so fun. The boys liked all of the fire trucks and the old cars too, and especially the candy! In the middle of the parade one of the fire companies got a call. We saw a driver of the fire truck hand off a young child who had been riding with him and about five men and women who had just marched past turn around and run to the truck. They backed up and turned around quickly. The boys and I prayed for them and the people they were protecting. After the moment of initial surprise the crowd erupted with applause to honor these people for leaving a scene of glory to go serve yet again.

Root Beer floats after a long hot day

(soy ice cream - for the record!)

It has been so sweet to slow down and spend time with Xavier. He's really a funny guy and growing into a young man who loves the Lord. I bought a much needed new pair of sunglasses on Saturday and asked him what he thought. He said he didn't like how wide the sides were. I said, "I know, I'm not used to that either... but at least they have flowers on the sides there, that's kind of cute." He quickly, but gently replied, "Mommy, are you being modest?" I was so surprised by the question I just kind of giggled and wondered where that came from, but thanked him profusely for asking. Was I? I asked what modest meant. He said, "When you want people to look at you and they do and they say Wow!" I asked if he thinks that's what people say when they look at me (jokingly)... he said, "No... but I'm just asking cause I wouldn't want you to be 'un-modest'." I was so grateful for him seeking to care for me that way and most importantly to see God be glorified. I don't think I had impure motives in picking my sunglasses. I pretty much look for the cheapest pair I can get without those plastic nose grippers that aren't some outrageous shape or color. How funny and exciting that he would be thinking that way though!





While we were fishing the other day I was seeking to draw him out and asked how I could be praying for him. He said he didn't know. I asked, "Is there anything you need the Lord to help you with?" He said, "Well, catching a fish would be a good one." We just sat there laughing. I was laughing partly because I was asking myself : do I really want to pray for that?





Tonight at supper he declared that if I am ever lost he will call 911. When I asked what he would say to them he replied, "My mommy is lost. She has brown hair, big brown eyes, a funny nose and a chewing mouth... giggles... and flowered sunglasses... giggles... and she looks beautiful!" Later he added big ears to the description! Was the big eyes comment meant to be a compliment... or a knock on my puffiness? Too bad for him he looks just like me!

Sock-it Stuffing

I openly admit to not correcting Xavier when he uses cute names for things instead of proper titles. I was reminded again this Christmas that he hasn't yet caught on to the term "stocking". I think each year he gets it down by the time Christmas actually arrives, but when he finds them in the box of decorations he gets all excited to hang his "sock-it".

We hang them on our bedroom door knobs since we have no fire place. In the past I've done the traditional small gifts in the stocking while he's sleeping on Christmas Eve for him to find in the morning. This time he was so eager he kept asking me the day we hung them (December 1st) if I would put candy in while he slept. I did not. It didn't dampen his enthusiasm in the least. The next morning while I was in the shower he emptied his candy jar into my stocking along with a note that read, "I love you Mommy!" I realize at this point it's a great opportunity to meet his anticipation with a fun and memorable way to lay the gospel before him... but how? I'm not creative and I avoid contexts where I'm expected to be, but God kindly meets me in my weakness and gives me "light bulb moments" any way.

The next day we began a new tradition. I stuff his sock-it every night and when he wakes he finds a "secret message" which is a scripture prophesying the Messiah. He reads it to me and we talk about how Jesus fulfilled it. He then pastes it on a sheet of paper so he has a visual reminder of (just a small portion of ) the ways Christ was proved to be the promised One. In past years we've read through the accounts of Jesus' birth in the Gospels, but this has been so refreshing for me. It's provided times for considering what it was like to wait so eagerly for Immanuel to come. Living this side of the cross can be so comfortable for me. I am able to see God's plan for redemption in a way that his people could not 2000 years ago. In the midst of this season I've been introduced to the song "Hope Has Come" from the Sovereign Grace Christmas CD. I love that song!!! May I never take Christ's arrival for granted! Alleluia! Hope has come!

A Busy Day

We had such a nice day today welcoming December. For some reason that last week of November seemed extra long and I found myself eager to turn the page on each of my calendars. Xavier and I woke up early this morning and went back to the pond to watch the sunrise. We had fun exploring things back there until it finally peeked over the mountain. We watched the wind blowing the water, found an old hunting fort up in a tree, and discovered that those green walnuts that fall off the trees in summer sink, but once they turn brown in the winter they float. Xavier tested this several times and we watched a whole fleet of them bob down the creek. We talked about the heavens declaring the glory of God, how the Bible says the sun runs its course with joy in worship to God and that he deserves to be praised from the time it rises until it sets, and sat on the bank singing The Heavens They Preach. Here are some fun shots from our special morning.

When we came in Xavier was pretty cold and asked for Hot Cocoa with breakfast. So he "ate" it from his favorite Toy Soldier mug.

This one is a sunset from last week.

My sister Jill, her boyfriend Andrew and my mom joined us for lunch and then we headed over to the Poinsettia Show at Glick's Greenhouse! That's becoming a new family tradition for us and I really enjoy it. They do such a nice job decorating and drawing a crowd, then displaying the gospel. It's really neat! We got to hear two Mr. Drago's and one Mr. Eder play and visited with some friends from church. Xavier enjoyed farm toys with Nate, Jeremiah, Benny, Rachael and Ashlyn. Then we found the Candy Land room! Xavier said to a boy next to him, "I wish I could eat all of this stuff! Except the paper and wood."

We also tackled some decorating at home. Over the summer we had some water damage in the basement and lost most of our Christmas decorations. I hoped to buy new ones as the time approached, but God has made it clear that's not where my money is to go right now. So my mom brought me a real vintage tree from my Nana's attic. It's at least 40 years old. I was a little skeptical, but we had fun and it looks better than I expected. It is a metallic tree with a "Color Wheel" and spot light that you shine on it rather than stringing lights. I think it's funny, Xavier thinks it's pretty cool. In case you don't get over to see it I thought I'd share the visual effects. Where do people come up with this stuff?

Leaves!!! and some other stuff

I have really been enjoying the leaves changing colors this autumn. Xavier and I act like we're on a thrill ride as I drive him to school in the morning. There's one particular stretch where I say, "Now watch when we go around this corner!" and it seems like each day the leaves are brighter and more diverse in their colors than the day before. It started with a patch of bright red ivy that turned while everything else around it was still green, and it just seems to have spread from there. One more thing I love about living in the country - leaves! We didn't have many of those in Reading.


Here are some pictures of us enjoying our abundant gift of colorful leaves, and a shot of the trees in our yard just because it proves that God gives me the desire of my heart. He knows how I love peach and crimson leaves and that's just what he's given me. Then there's a shot of Xavier hanging one of our "Thankful Leaves". In past November's I've constructed some type of tree and cut out paper leaves for us to write things we are thankful for on. Since we have such lovely little beauties right outside of our door I figured this year I'd skip the time and work of fabricating leaves and just use the real thing. This has allowed us to be more generous with our list as well. Instead of just doing one a day we can grab a handful on the way in after work! God is so good. Here's my favorite part :on my first leaf I wrote "peach colored leaves"; Xavier takes his first leaf and writes, "the cross". We have much to be thankful for!!!

You know I'm excited when I take this many pictures!

our special guests on Saturday enjoying the leaves

Ok, this has nothing to do with leaves, but it's a great picture. He's wearing a mustache as a beard.

Then there was Xavier's first appointment with his new dentist, Dr. Ruoss! He has gone with me to Dr. Ruoss' office a couple of time now and my hygenist showed him how all the equipment works and even let him look at some X-rays. Then he saw Josiah's pictures from the dentist so he wanted me to take a picture of him as well. I'm glad I brought the camera because he did a great job and his hygenist had a pretty smart way of helping kids relax. She gave him some shades to block the bright light they have to shine on you!

Hope you're having a great fall!