In the Warm Hold of Your Loving Mind

Weekly Happenings Post #149 (January 23-29)-- Momma Gets the Sickies

2012-01-30T23:15:00.001-06:00

Totally random coincidence AP is holding her current favorite book, So Sick.

This week started out pretty typical and was actually a really nice, stress free week. We didn't end up getting to go to Bible study on Wednesday morning (Peyton had Graves's car seat), we didn't do anything with Carrie and her kiddos, and we didn't have any random extra night activities outside Wednesday night church and our standing date with my parents for red beans. NOW, I love all of those things, but it's nice to just breath sometimes, too, you know. And be home and clean and organize and read and do small projects. Then on Saturday, I came down with the stomach virus. It was pretty mild and I've made a full recovery at this point!

This post hardly has any pictures and after last week when I said I was going to do better, too. It's a goal for February!

Peyton and I decided to get up early on Monday. It ended up that I got up a little after eight. For a day when he's here, that's kind of early. Ha! I know it sounds bad how much he gets up with the kids in the mornings, but he's so much more of a morning person than I am. And also, I'm the one who wakes up with Graves and feeds his at 5:30 in the morning. Anyway, Ann Peyton was still asleep and Graves played for awhile and we read some in our Christian Believer text, talked and watched part of a DVRed Mary Tyler Moore episode. Peyton made breakfast and we put Graves down for a nap.

Peyton always thinks that there looks like there is something wrong with our kids in the pictures I think are super cute!

I took a bath and called the breastfeeding clinic to discuss Graves's weight. Peyton and I moved around the shelves in the shelving system in the laundry room and I put stuff on it and organized. Ann Peyton finally woke up at TEN THIRTY. I guess she really needed to catch up. Peyton fixed her some "brunch" and then when Graves woke up, he took them outside to play while I finished in the laundry room. He was meeting another pharmacist for lunch, so I stayed outside with them a bit and we had a snack and then came in. I fed Graves an avocado and unloaded dishes and then Peyton got home. He cut out windows and a door in the box the shelves came in and he played with the kids while I talked to the nurse at the breastfeeding clinic. She said she thought I wasn't feeding him often enough. Um, he eats more often that most kids his age (like six times in a twenty four hour period), but I decided I'd try to do it more. Literally, I think every hour on the clock saw me nursing, feeding him solids or eating something myself.

Peyton left and I gave the kids baths. It was a good morning and I felt like we got a lot done AND enjoyed time as a family. I guess I need to make myself get up before nine thirty or ten more often when he's home!

I put Graves down for his nap and read to Annie some and put her down. They both slept awhile and I had lunch and read my Bible some. Graves woke up and he played and I got on the Internet and changed over laundry. When AP woke up, they played some and I cleaned up some dishes in the sink and loaded the dishwasher and then we ran some errands. I wanted to see if I could find some insulated cups and a planner at TJ Maxx, but no luck. Then we headed to the grocery store for a few things. We got home and I fed them dinner and put them to bed. I read blogs and then when Peyton got home I cooked some beef and brocoli stir fry for supper. I got on the computer again and went to bed late.

We had Mother's Day Out on Tuesday and I had everything packed up the night before and got up a little early and we were on time, even though Graves had to have a bath due to his diaper leaking. About half our class was out with sickness and we had a teacher go home sick. I was hoping to avoid of all that. We got home and I fed the kids lunch and unpacked the diaper bag, straightened a bit, and ate some lunch myself. I put them down for naps and uploaded pictures onto the computer. Graves woke up and I played with him, but he was cranky and yanking on my hair and I was tired and kind of stressed. I could feel myself getting a headache. Peyton got home about the time Annie woke up and I laid down for a bit. Peyton decided to take the kids to see his parents so I got up and took a bath and took some medicine. My head felt better and it was nice to have some solitude. I rewatched some Christian Believer videos and read a few blogs. Everyone got home and we put them to bed and then Peyton and I talked. I put some pictures on Flikr and renewed my driver's license and wrote some thank you notes and then went to bed.

On Wednesday, I woke up when Peyton did and we chatted a little until Baby Graves interrupted. I took a bath and gave him a bath and got Annie up to get ready for Bible study when Peyton called and said he had Graves's car seat in his car. Annie wanted to get back in her bed. Weird, but I let her. I got Graves a banana and started unloading dishes and cleaning up the den. I reloaded a full load and then put Graves down for a nap and decided to work on some deep cleaning in the kitchen while AP played. I moved things around and scrubbed the counters and then wiped down the high chair and cleaned the toaster oven. My mom came over so I could run some errands since I didn't have the car seat. I went to Lowes for lightbulbs and for some glue for Peyton to glue down a wood strip where the hardwoods meet the new kitchen floor and then I went to the grocery store. I was speed shopping, but I took a page out of Peyton's book and stopped a manager to brag on how helpful the people in the deli were about offering to order me some pita bread. I got home and visited with my mom some and then she left and I started cooking some chili. Annie helped me chop onions with our new chopper thing and when it was ready she had a bowl for lunch. I gave her a bath and put the children down for naps.

Annie slept great, but Graves didn't sleep long at all and was so fussy. I did manage to get my own bowl of chili. Peyton got home and we took turns with him. I baked some cookies and Peyton glued the wood strip and read for Christian Believer. We got ready and headed to church a little early so we could drop off some chili and cookies with the Howies since they had all sorts of ailments at their house ;) Christian Believer went well and we got home and put the kids to bed. I got on the computer and messed around and then worked on our finances. Peyton and I had a very nice chat and then I got some things ready for MDO the next day and went to bed.

Thursday we were staying at MDO the whole time (meaning until 2:00). It was a long day and the kids were pretty worn out by the end of it. Neither fell asleep in the car, to my surprise (and delight), but I put them down immediately when we got home. Graves took awhile and then had a dirty diaper, but he finally went to sleep. Annie never did. To be honest, even though it's annoying because she calls me in her room to get her books and things (I limit it, but I think it's only fair to indulge her some since we require her to stay in her bed), I've gotten to where I really prefer her not to nap because it makes bedtime so much easier. Funny it used to be the exact opposite! Anyway, I still think she needs the quiet time in her bed, but like I said no naps really make for easier nights.

While they were resting, I just chilled out. I got on the computer and sent a couple of LONG emails (one to Carrie since we missed our lunch date and one to someone inquiring about cloth diapers) and played on Twitter some. Peyton got home and we got the kids up. We played with them for a little bit and talked about our days and then tried to figure out what we wanted to do that afternoon/evening. We talked about going to the park, but then decided that we'd take Annie swimming at the Y. We got ready and headed to the pool. Graves and I observed and Peyton and AP had a blast. She was so mad when it was time to leave! We stopped by Lowes on the way home because I had gotten the wrong kind of glue for the floor and then headed home. We fed the kids and put them to bed and then I watched Lost and grated soap for laundry detergent. I got on the computer and uploaded some pictures to Flikr and straitened up around the house and then went to bed.

Friday was another day at home. Graves woke up first and I snuggled with him and nursed him and then I took a bath and changed his clothes and fed him solids. Annie woke up, but she wanted to stay in bed a bit again. I started dishes and laundry and took out the trash. I vacuumed in the kitchen and AP and I had breakfast when she got up. Graves took his nap and I went through some piles around the house and culled some of the magazines AP likes to look at in bed. Graves woke up and we read some and then I fed Graves lunch and fixed Annie's. I put them down for naps and had my lunch. I watched Lost and folded laundry and then Peyton got home. AP never did take a nap, but Graves got a good one. We got them up and Peyton took both kids outside to wash my 4Runner. Annie played and he put Graves in the saucer. We decided to clean it up because we're trying to sell it. I finished folding clothes and helped them clean out the inside of the car. Graves had gotten bored and Peyton had put him in the driver's seat and strapped him in with the seat belt. We finished that and Peyton gave AP a bath and we got ready to go to my parents' house. We had a good time, but I got so tired and kept dozing off while watching TV. We got home and put the kids in their beds and I talked for a few minutes and then I got on the computer. I finished a post and worked on my blog design for February.

I woke up in the middle of the night throwing up. UGH. I was pretty sure it was the stomach bug since several kids at MDO had had it. I woke Peyton up and got him to move to the couch and went back to bed and slept until morning.

Peyton had an important meeting for a church committee he's on that had been on the calendar for months on Saturday. His mom was supposed to keep the kids that morning so I could go to a baby shower and so thankfully, she was able to just come on. I did get up with Graves while Peyton was showering and he was crying in the high chair so I picked him up. Bad decision. I threw up all over him. UGGGGH. Peyton gave him a bath and I took one, too and his mom got here and I went back to bed for the rest of the morning. Around one my mom came over so Denise could leave and then Peyton got home at two. I woke up around three and Graves took a short nap and Annie rested for a bit. I laid on the couch and watched a PBS documentary on Thomas Jefferson on Netflix instant streaming while Peyton cleaned up the study and played with the kids. He fed them supper and I helped him get them to bed. They both had a hard night and after they went to sleep I went back to bed myself.

I woke up feeling MUCH better on Sunday. I still had a headache, but I took a BC powder and started running my bath. Peyton had to teach Sunday School, but we decided to keep the kids home since they might have been exposed. I got AP up and put her in our bed with a movie (on retrospect, why would I put her in our bed before I changed the sheets/Lysoled???) and got Graves happily playing on the floor. By the time I had gotten my bath and dried my hair, this had happened:
1) AP spilled water in our bed
2) AP "spit up" in our bed (her words)
3) AP teeteed in the tub while I was cleaning her up
4) our new crawler got into the trashcan in our bathroom

So...I got Graves down for his nap and set up Annie watching a video in the den and I just took some deep breaths, texted Peyton, updated my status on all social media outlets, and decided to try and smile. I opened the blinds and started cleaning up the den. It was a total disaster from the day before and I had just left it that night. I got everything picked up and even started working on some piles on the buffet. Ann Peyton and I had a very light breakfast and Graves woke up. Peyton got home and he played with the kids and I started washing our sheets and picking up around the house some more. He took the kids outside to lay pine straw and I went through some piles and filed stuff in the study. I also worked on taping up some of AP's books that had gotten ripped up. Anybody else relate?

We fed the kids lunch and put them down for naps and I ate my lunch and talked to Peyton about a picture I found in the piles that was really how I wanted to do our floors:

He said exactly what I didn't want to hear. That he wished we would have to, that it would have been cheaper, and that the issue would the grout would have been a non issue. I started crying. But then we decided to read Radical. Because martyrs and orphans have a way of making my floor grief seem really small. I got ready and left for church. Peyton kept the kids at home, even though we had pretty much decided AP's throw up episode was a fluke. Our Radical study was good that night and I got home and helped Peyton get the kids to bed and then ran to Target for a storage bin (what else?), a big file folder, and some wipes. I also found some kid pajamas and a purse for me. I got home, rocked Annie one last time, and got on the computer and wrote a post. I went to bed too late.

Christian Believer: Week Fifteen {Lord}

2012-01-30T00:56:00.000-06:00

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

["Crown Him with Many Crowns", Mathew Bridges]

The lesson week before last was "Jesus Christ: Lord" (Jesus Christ Is Lord). I loved this lesson, but I didn't realize until typing it up that it may well be one of my favorites. I actually remembered a lot of our discussion, this time, as well (a benefit of doing these posts in a timely manner), so I think that's interesting. I realize this is long and tedious, so I took the liberty of bolding my favorite things. I may have been a bit liberal with my bold button, however ;)

We started with the video, which had some interesting points. First, when early Christians said "Jesus is Lord", they applied a title used by pious Jews only for God. The term they used for Lord, Yahweh (which means "I am who I am") was so sacred Jews wouldn't say it out loud. They began using the name Adonai and that later became Kyrios. That earliest Christian confession, "Jesus is Lord", somehow, in some way, meant nothing less than "Jesus Christ is Yahweh". This formula seems to include an inequation, though. Because Jesus's lordship and superiority were fundamentally different than God the Father. For example, Jesus announced God's kingdom, called God the one good God, prayed to God, distinguished his own will from the Father's, felt forsaken on the cross, said the Father was greater, and explained himself as an emissary who "lived to do the Father's will, speak the Father's word, and finish the Father's work". As the video states, "This all seems to make the words 'Christ is Lord' strike a false chord, because he points beyond himself to the Father".

However, we see from the Bible that Jesus, as the Word of God, was "in the begining" and "was God and was with God". We also see perhaps the most powerful declarations of Jesus's lordship in the "I am" sayings found in the book of John. Jesus says I am...the Bread of Life; the Good Shepherd; the Ressurection and the Life; the Way, the Truth and the Life; and the True Vine. As modern day Christians, we tend to place emphasis on the object (for example, the Good Shepherd), however, when we look at the Greek, there is strong emphasis on the "I am" part of the phrase and its strong ties to the name Yahweh. The most notable instances are when Jesus was before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling body) and said "Before Abraham was...I am" and when he was before Caphias (the high priest) and was asked "Are you the Messiah?" and he replied, "I am". The Sanhedrin and Caphias both sought death because he was claiming to be Yahweh.

The video ended by saying that the confession "Jesus is Lord" reveals Christians' faith in the full divinity of Christ. I liked this last little tidbit, especially..."This is knowledge not open to reason or any human ability. You could be richer than the highest paid corporate executive and not be able to buy this knowledge. You could be more pious than mystics of old or saints today and not be able to achieve this knowledge. You could lead more people to Jesus Christ than the world's best evangelist and not be able to earn this knowledge. It comes only through faith in Jesus Christ and faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit."

The workbook was full of great insights, too. It first started by saying that the existential question is "Not what do I do?" and that this is where the "rubber meets the road". We all have some lord, the trouble is confessing it and sometimes even recognizing it. I really liked these lines, because they are SO convicting-- "...the lordship part is inescapable. Call it the determining principle in your life, or your grand passion. Or don't call it anything, but ponder what calls the shots in your life. Or become honest with yourself and call it God, with a big or a small g. Everybody has a Lord." Well, then.

However, whereas many of these "little g" gods (money, ambition, sensuality, ect.) slip in unconsciously, Jesus never does. It may be so gradual that we don't recall exactly when it happened, but Jesus never slips up on us without our agreeing to it. He values our integrity and personhood too much to do that. He becomes our Lord only by confession, "first of all, to my own soul; then to God; and then to others and to the life I lead".

The book then talked about the necessity of also confessing our sin and said "the only ones who say it easily are the saints who have come to a wondrous openness to God, or the spiritually naive whose conception of sin is so superficial that they feel nos discomfort in confessing". This lead to several discussions in our group. For one, we discussed which comes first, the confession of sin or the confession of Christ as Lord? It seems to be a bit of a chicken and the egg sort of conundrum, but we resolved that though we are continually confessing both in our daily living, the initial confession of Christ as Lord ultimately includes the confession of sin (which we must be made aware of in order to truly confess him as Savior). I liked how the book phrased it- "We confess sin because we fall short of the glory of God. We continue to confess our faith because with each day of living, we know more of the greatness of our Lord and see larger areas of life we wish to commit to his Lordship".

The book also discussed the possibility of the fields of therapy and counseling having replaced the relgioius confession of sin. This lead to Peyton discussing his Catholic background and also to the group dialoging about the importance of accountability. We also discussed how the book noted that in our age of individualism and independence we are less likely to confess our need. However, when the our bodies are in pain or our relationships are damaged, our spirit sees more clearly its need for a savior.

We see, though, that the New Testament speaks much less often of the confession of sin than of the confession of Christ as Lord. The later is simply more substantive than the former, because it means that I give God the one thing that is mine to give- "my commitment, my confession, my person".

Finally, the group discussed if a verbal confession is always required and who God was refering to when he spoke of the "hot", "cold", and "lukewarm".

Here are the Scriptures and readings I enjoyed most that week:
"For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling." -Psalm 116:8

"Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with washing soda, you would plunge me into the slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rode from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot." -Job 9:30-35

"How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news'." -Romans 10:14-15

"That if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' and belive in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." -Romans 10:9-10

"So because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth." -Revelation 3:16

"Just as the four extremities of the Cross are held fast and bound together by the bolt in the middle, so also by God's power the height and depth, the length and the breadth, that is, every creature visible and invisible, is maintained." -John of Damascus

"Let me love to sit at Thy feet, and suck in with my ears and heart the sweetness of Thy hold sermons. Let my soul be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, with a peaceable and docile disposition. Give me great boldness in the public confession of Thy name and the truth of Thy gospel, in despite of all hostilities and temptations. And grant that I may always remember that Thy name is called upon me, and may so behave myself, that I neither give scandal to others, nor cause disreputation to the honour of religion; but that Thou mayest be glorified in me, and I by Thy mercies, after a strict observance of all the holy laws of Christianity. Amen." -Jeremy Taylor

"Someone has said that all great discoveries are reduction from complexity to simplicity. But of all the reductions from complexity to simplicity the greatest and profoundest was in the earliest creed: 'Jesus is Lord'. Three words, and yet three worlds are in them- heaven, earth, and hell...How did it happen that this phrase arose out of a fiercely monotheistic people whose central confession was: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord' (Deut 6:4). His impact upon nature and human living was so tremendous that they found their unwilling lips making the most momentous confession that ever fell from human lips anywhere at any time. It was life's central revelation. And the revelation was this: 'This man, who walked our dusty roads, slept upon our hillsides, was crucified on one of our trees, and was laid in one of our rock tombs, was at the right hand of final authority- was Lord and would have the final say in human affairs.' That confession was breath-taking". -E. Stanley Jones

"We repudiate the false teaching that the church can and must recognize yet other happenings and powers, images and truths as divine revelation alongside this one Word of God, as a source of her preaching...We repudiate the false teaching that there are areas of life in which we belong not to Jesus Christ but to another lord, areais in which we do not need justification and sanctificantion through him." -Barmen Declaration

"We are fighting to-day for costly grace...It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son. Above all it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"'You shall remember the Lord, your God!' We are not asked to remember God in general. We are in constant temptation to think of some abstraction when we pronounce or hear the word 'God"...The Lord, your God is a God with a name, a face, a personality." -Karl Barth

Because we the church believe the proper human response to God's gift of grace is our confession of sin and of faith, I choose to make my full confession.

Christian Believer: Week Fourteen {Atonement}

2012-01-27T20:29:00.000-06:00

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

["When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", Isaac Watts]

The last lesson we had before our break was "Atonement" (Restored to Union with God).

We watched the video first. It discussed how Jesus death relates to our human condition- our distorted relation to God and how Jesus's death overcame sin. It's so much easier to view his death as an example of a good person fighting evil or as an event that exposes human sin. These aren't wrong, but they don't fully describe atonement, an event by which our relationship to God is changed. Atonement is a difficult doctrine for several reasons. First, the word atone is not really commonly used in our vocabularies. Second, it is rooted in an ancient practice that we have never (and will never) see- ritual killing of an animal and the use of it's blood in the temple. Finally, some object to the idea that God would even be involved in Jesus's death, and see this as cruel. The video ended with these lines, which I thought were really good- "The atonement is not something Jesus did to change God from a God of wrath and vengeance to a God of love and reconciliation. God's reconciling love is not the result of atonement, rather atonement is the result of his reconciling love".

The workbook started out by saying that some concepts are just to large to grasp simply by looking at factual data; we need an image. "So it is with atonement. The concept is too big for words; but when we turn to images, we are also in uncertain territory. In careless hands, images may seem confusing, or even unpleasant. Also, we discover different people need different images, and what conveys the concept to one is only bewildering or distracting to another." It then stated that the word atonement, unlike many theological terms, actually appears in the Bible.

There is probably no human experience more universal than the sense of separation from God, it continues, and the longing that sense of separation creates. We need somehow a way to be "at one" with God; a way for our sin stained relationship to be reestablished. Notably, this sense of separation is seen in all cultures, modern and primitive, even though standards of morality vary so widely between cultures. Many modern thinkers discredit this thought process as "primitive". However, they might better say it is "unspoiled by rationalization". Our basic instinct tells us we ought to be in right relationship with God.

The book went on to discuss and differentiate theories of atonement. The first, taken from the letter to the Ephesians, was redemption, meaning the human race is "mortgaged" beyond it's own power to redeem; even to the point where we are sold into slavery to sin. But our closest kin, our "divine Elder Brother" comes to pay the price of our redemption, the price being his very own death. The second theory, based off of John the Baptist's hailing of Jesus as the "lamb of God", is the expiation theory. Expiation means appeasing or purifying through a sacred rite, in this case through the blood of Christ, the perfect lamb.

The next theory was the moral example or the moral influence. This theory states that because Christ's death was the perfect example of God's love, those who recognize this love will be moved to salvation and will be influenced to live lives of love. During the twentieth century, this theory gained promince an was sometimes presented with more emphasis on Christ's life than on his death. It reasoned that there was "transforming power in the moral grandeur of Christ, so when person see the beauty of his life, teachings, and death, they will be moved to live in accord with Jesus' ways". This approach appeals to the idealistic nature, but some say it minimizes the importance of Jesus's actual crucifixion. I kind of agree with this criticism. The most often referred to theory is probably substitution and is based on a very simple idea, one life for another. It shares some of the same insights as the redemption and expiation theories and Scriptures that apply to those could apply to the substitution theory as well. The next theory one that focuses on reconciliation; it suggests that sin has put a great barrier between God and humankind and Jesus reconciles us to God by his death.

Yet another theory is the theory of wrath. Many theologians, especially during Medieval times, reasoned that Christ's death appeased the wrath of God, a wrath that a sin infected humanity deserved. The final theory is the ransom theory. Some contemporary theologians think that this is the oldest theory of atonement and the "classic theory". It states that the Adversary, Satan, had a claim on the human raise because of our sin, even to the extent of us being in his possession. Christ's blood is seen as a ransom for this horrific bondage. It's a great answer to the wrath of God theory because it puts the emphasis back on the goodness of God.

The book again goes back to how hard it is to convey accurately this doctrine, even with the images above. It says at some point we may have to stop analyzing and speculating and realize that we really have no satisfactory language to successfully convey it.

Here are my favorite excerpts from the text and Scripture from that week:

"The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those whoa are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God." -Hebrews 9:13-14

"Yet everyone becomes more righteous- by which we mean a greater lover of the Lord- after the Passion of Christ than before, since a realized gift inspires greater love than one which is only hoped for." -Peter Abelard

"Finally, since as God only he could not suffer, and as man only could not overcome death, he united the human nature with the divine, that he might subject the weakness of the one to death as an expiation of sin, and by the power of the other, maintaining a struggle with death, might gain us the victory." -John Calvin

Every week at the end of the workbook reading, it ends with an affirmation. I think I will start ending each post in the same way.

Because we the church believe Christ has made us at one with God, I accept the divine love and will seek to extend it to others.

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-01-24T23:03:00.002-06:00

Here are last week's posts:

one thing not on your to-do list (but should be) | chatting at the sky

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 06:07 PM PST

"We are tethered to our own usefulness, big-headed with our own accomplishments, crushed by our shortcomings. We miss the soul breath. We miss the smallness, the doorway through which we must walk to find freedom from the ever moving treadmill of time. Even if we steal time from our productivity to find the sitter, pack the bags, pay the money, sit through the layovers and fly to the shore to relax, sometimes once we get there we forget how. And I realized as I tapped my foot on sand that I have shed my truest identity. Instead of being the beloved, I feel more like the doloved."

I constantly feel "tethered to my usefulness". Can I just be?

No One Disciplines MY Kid! — The Spohrs Are Multiplying...

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 06:02 PM PST

This is one I'm linking to less for the actual content and more for the thoughts it provoked. Peyton and I talked about this awhile back and how we feel so BLESSED because we have a good many friends (mostly at church and a few couple friends) whom we would feel totally comfortable with them disciplining our children. I think it's neat to be able to have friends close enough you can feel confident putting that trust in their hands.

goodbye to the double stroller | Rage Against the Minivan

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 05:58 PM PST

"There is just no dignity when you are pushing a double stroller. The kind gestures and open doors you get when you are pregnant? Those completely disappear when you are trying to squeeze this monstrosity through a swinging door, with two other children in tow. I always felt as though I could exchange that thing for a shopping cart of my belongings in trashbags and the level of disdain from the general public would be about the same. The world is not kind to the double stroller dependent. Being untethered from this thing feels like a new level of freedom. I'm walking a little taller now. Literally."

I'm not sure I totally agree. There is the occasionally person that helps you out, but they always look at you like you're so pitiful. Again, less about the content, more about my feelings. This post is bigger than a double stroller because it had me thinking about a lot of things. We are packing up so many baby things with the knowledge that it's going to be awhile before they come out again. I've got our big travel system stroller ready to go to the attic and to be honest, there is a bit of pain and fear that comes with it because, although we want more children, we've decided (assuming it's God's will- we're always open to surprises, hehe) we want a bigger space between Graves and our third. It's been a complicated thing to process lately and clearly it deserves it's own post. Which I will probably write soon.

Audrey Assad - Sparrow (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 05:55 PM PST

Found this via Ann Voskamp. Cannot get enough.

It's a Girl! Documentary Film - Official Trailer - YouTube

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:42 PM PST

This made me so angry. In fact, I had to retype this about five times to take out all the expletives. There is a part of me that really wants to put my hands around the last lady's neck and strangle her like she did her babies. But that's not Christ. The other part of me wants to find a woman like her and tell her not to kill her child- WE WILL TAKE HER. And love her. And tell her she's a little princess, just like we do Ann Peyton. Dammit, I want to so bad now.

The Invisible Woman - YouTube

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:32 PM PST

"...with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees"

"At times my invisibility has felt like an affliction to me. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of self centeredness; it is the antidote to my own pride."

your hard is hard — The EO

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:08 PM PST

"I hesitate in venting because when I'm doing that it so often seems that other mothers assume I'm saying I win the Hardest Award, or that I'm wishing away my life. But I'm not. I'm just talking. I'm seeking validation and there is nothing more refreshing than another mother who simply sees me and acknowledges The Hard and nods and says, Yes, it's so hard, isn't it? The End."

Yup.

thankful house: Strong Enough.

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:08 PM PST

Seeing a theme here? Also, love this:

"Strong enough to be left. That's what we're trying to become, ladies. In one very large sense, we are never left - our identities are in ourselves, not in our children. And many of us are blessed with spouse-best-friends who will, Lord-willing, grow old with us. But in a very real sense, they are all going to leave. They will fly the coop, just like I did, just like Paul did, just like any healthy person does. We leave. So will the children. We pray it every day."

I mean, I also hate it though.

Chapters: Cold Sweat...

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:06 PM PST

This post was so honest. I love it when I read a blog and someone lets me in and trusts me with their secret thoughts.

Earning her way…and her pointe shoes | Elizabeth Esther

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:01 PM PST

"'I know," I answered. "But none of the other girls have five children in their family. The fact that we get to work for your lessons is actually a generous opportunity from the studio owner. We should be thankful.'"

I want my children to experience this. Having to work for something that's important to them.

Enjoy!

Weekly Happenings Post #148 (January 16-22)-- What With the Tiny Babies I Keep Raising???

2012-01-24T18:43:00.000-06:00

This past week was nice. Not too busy, not too boring.

We did have Graves's nine month check up and he's slowed down on his weight gain a lot. It looks like we're back to doing weight checks and stressing over how often they eat. I really thought we were going to avoid all that with him and I swear if you look at him he looks like he has plenty of chub. And then there's the fact that he and AP are literally like one size apart in several sets of pajamas (12-18 mo., 18-24 mo., respectively). His height is in the fiftieth, so I guess that throws things off. UGH. Honestly, I really think it's just their metabolism. Y'all know I have had my own weight issues and- I do NOT say this to brag- the only times I've broken a hundred pounds in my life is when I was carrying them. Also, I've had to just stop carrying Graves in his carrier at all because it hurts my back so bad. I really feel like God knew what he was doing because if I had one of these twenty five pound kids that still has to be carried everywhere I'm not sure I could wake up in the morning. Peyton did also say he thinks it might be how I kind of stopped worrying about sticking to my diet plan as much when the kitchen was all torn up. I ate way too much junk and skipped eating as often as I should have. Anyway, this week I've tried to do better with that.

In other news, my pictures are either of terrible quality or they're non existent this week. I looked back to last Summer and I did SO much better taking pictures with the camera. I think it's partly because I have a decent phone now and then also when we got the floors redone it threw me off and I was just surviving each day. [I blame everything on that dumb project!] Anyway, this week, I'm trying to do better! Here's a few examples of some of the great photos from last week:

Peyton said I had to put this one up. Someone's dedicated to blogging, yes?

Kid looks ill, ya'll.

This is actually a fun one that I missed last week. Peyton has gotten so much closer to BG lately. I think he's incapable of truly bonding with his children until he can flip them upside down and induce hysteical laughter.

On Monday, we had Graves's nine month visit to the pediatrician. We got up and all got ready since Peyton was going with us this time. We were right on time and then on the way there, someone rear ended me. It was just a small bump, but it kinda shook me up a bit. We didn't even file a report and we made it just a few minutes late. Well, things continued to go downhill. Graves had a good check up, overall, but he's now in the third percentile. I swear he looks like a chunk to me, but Dr. Denney is so cautious (which I really do appreciate) and we're coming back in six weeks for a weight check. I left the appointment early to go have brunch with Carrie and Ashley. Ashley was leaving town right after, but we got a one last fun meal in. Peyton had our kiddos, but Aubrey and Jude were there. We had a nice visit and some yummy food. I got home and Peyton told me the rest of what Dr. Denney said and we cleaned up the kitchen and from where Peyton had cooked breakfast. AP was eating and I fed Graves and then Peyton left and I put the kids down for naps. Annie never slept and I had to keep helping her potty. I watched Lost and got some clothes folded and then the kids both got up. I straightened some, but Graves was SO fussy. Annie stuck her hand in the toilet and made a huge mess with the water and then as I was going to get towels to clean it up, she slipped and busted her lip really badly. It was awful and Graves was SCREAMING. I was so thankful when I heard someone unlocking my house and Minnie walked in! We visited with her and I fed the kids dinner (Graves ate a ton!) and then she left.

I cleaned up some more and straightened up the nursery. I got Annie's bed cleared off (she has SO many books in it!), vacuumed in the kitchen and the nursery, put up some of their clothes, and got Graves ready for bed. I nursed him and put him to sleep and then AP played in our room while I put up laundry in there. I put her to bed and she fell asleep quickly and I got on the computer for the first time all day! Peyton got home and we chatted and then went to sleep.

We had Mother's Day Out on Tuesday, so we got an early start on our day. It was a good, but uneventful day. Peyton came up to the church to make some copies and bring some tea for our Ultreya group that night, so it was fun seeing him. We got home and I made AP's lunch and fed Graves and then Peyton got home. He had to leave for work right after and I put the kiddos down for naps. They both fell asleep SUPER fast and I took a nice, long nap, too. I also talked to my friend Amy on the phone about Graves's weight issues and called the pediatrician's office. I got up and got ready and then woke the kids up to go to Ultreya. We had to get there early because I was one of the hostesses that night and needed to get everything set up. We had a nice meeting, but there was a small turnout. Maybe because of the weather? Anyway, we got home and I fed the children dinner and put them to bed. AP was up late, but she stayed in her bed (or on the potty) for the most part. I got on the computer and then Peyton got home. We talked and I finished a post and went to bed.

Peyton had the day off on Wednesday and we started it off with dentist appointments for the both of us. We decided to just take one car and alternate taking care of the kids. Peyton gave them both baths before we left and then we left. I went first and Peyton took the kids to Primos to pick up some breakfast. I got a good report! They got back and he had his teeth cleaned while I watched the kids in the waiting room. AP and I split a blueberry muffin and I fed Graves some applesauce. We had a small orange juice spill so I lugged them both back to the car to get some wipes to clean it up. When Peyton finished, Dr. Toler did a very quick first visit with Annie. I was still feeding Graves, but Peyton said she did GREAT. After we left the dentist, we went by Target for some storage bins and to look at a new shelving system for the laundry room. We also went by Hob Lob to get a stool for Annie's bathroom so she can wash her hands without help. I got one, but it was too short. We got home and all had lunch and then we put the kids down for naps. Peyton went for a run with his brother and I did some reading for Christian Believer. I also got some stuff together in a bag to take to Goodwill. He got home and we packed up the kids to go look at a couple of antique/consignment stores for stool.

close up of her busted lip from the bar fight, um, playing in the toilet, incident

We didn't find anything and it was getting close to time for church, so we got a snack at Krispie Kreme and I fed Graves and then we headed to church. We had a good meeting and it was fun to start back. We got home and I fed Graves and put him to bed and then we fixed AP supper and put her to bed, too. Peyton and I ate and I cleaned up the kitchen and picked up toys in the living room. I got on the computer for a few minutes and went to bed.

Peyton had the day off again on Thursday and so he kept AP at home for some Papa Daughter time and Graves and I went to MDO by ourselves. We didn't have to stay late and the day just flew by. Also, getting in and out is SO much easier with one kid. Like whoa. After we got home, I fed Graves lunch and then Peyton and Annie got home from the grocery store. I unloaded the groceries and AP ate lunch and then we put them down for naps. I played on the Internet and ate my lunch and then I Choloroxed some of Peyton's pharmacy coats and worked on a little painting project outside. I organized some around the house and started marinating a brisket and then the kids woke up. We played a little bit and then went to run some errands. I had to return the stool to Hobby Lobby and we had some child safety things we've been trying to return to Babies R Us for months (they wouldn't let me make the return because my license was expired...what??). We also went by Lowes to get a shelving system for the laundry room. We got it to the car and I really thought I was going to have to go home and get my 4Runner to pick it up. Peyton made it fit, though:

Once we got home, we fed the children dinner and put them to bed. I ran to Target to look for a new planner and some duct tape and to the grocery store for some corn for a casserole I was making. I got home and Annie was still up, so I rocked her and put her to bed. Peyton and I watched a CNN presidential debate and ate dinner and fell asleep on the couch in front of a fire. I woke up a little later and put the leftover food up and went to bed. Graves woke up once and then was up pretty early on Friday morning.

We all got up around sevenish on Friday and Peyton helped me give the kids baths. He got out the latex gloves he uses to paint because he didn't want to get the band aid he was wearing wet. He's so funny! I fed Graves some solids and then Peyton took the kids to the park for an hour and I took a bath and got ready. We were planning on meeting Carrie and her kids for lunch, but he didn't realize and got back later than I expected. It cut Graves's nap short and he had picked up donuts for himself and AP (and me). I figured Graves would be sleepy and fussy and Ann Peyton wouldn't eat (and not want to sit and be still) and lunch would be a bust. I tried not to be too upset, though, after all he was trying his best to help me every way he knew how. I woke Graves up after thirty minutes and we met the Howies at Broadstreet. Lunch actually was one of our best ones lately. We got to talk more than we usually do and everyone was really well behaved. And Annie decided that she liked holding hands with Aubrey this week, so that was fun! AP mostly recapped the lunch here, but it also included Carrie using the phrase "throw you under the theological bus"...it's quotes like that totally affirm our friendship. Anyway, we got home late and I hadn't fed Graves at the restaurant like I meant to and by the time I got the kids fed and diapers changed and Ann Peyton took a few trips to the potty and all that it was close to three. They both fell asleep and slept GREAT and I really let them nap too long. I was trying to put a couple of apps on my phone and they kept saying "waiting". I Googled the problem and tried everything everyone recommended short of deleting every app on my phone. I really wanted to figure it out myself, but I decided to just wait and ask Peyton after a couple of HOURS of trying. I kind of assumed it would take him awhile, too, and be a few days before he could get around to it. I did get out the double stroller and put the two canopy things on it and tried to attach the front tray like I've been meaning to do. I couldn't figure out the tray, but the other stuff was easy. Dumb they've been sitting in our living room for weeks. I finally woke the kids up and we got ready and headed to my parents' house for beans and rice. We had a nice visit with them and supper was great.

We got home kind of late (intentional since the kids slept so late) and I put them right to bed. Annie took awhile to go to sleep, but Graves went right down. I wrote a post and Peyton got home and I fell asleep on the couch. Graves was up a few times and I didn't sleep great the part of the night I spent on the couch.

Graves woke up pretty early, but I snuggled with him on the sofa and he went back to sleep. I transferred him to his crib and climbed in my bed for another thirty minutes. Peyton had to get ready for work and he was waking back up, so I went and got him. Annie woke up right as Peyton was leaving and we got our day started. I sorted a bunch of laundry and started a load and then started running my bath. I forgot to stop it up and the water got cold, though, so I had to wait awhile for it to heat back up. I fed Graves breakfast and straitened up our room some and then took my bath while AP watched Veggie Tales and Graves played. I got ready and then put him down for his morning nap. Annie and I cleaned up the kitchen and it took a good while because it was such a mess. I've really gotten lazy about just leaving dishes in the sink at night. Graves woke up and I straightened up some in the nursery and fed him and then we went over to my parents' house. Ann Peyton fell asleep on the way. We had a good time- we had lunch, colored and baked cookies and then my mom and dad took the kids on a short walk so I could just have some time to myself. We left and when we got home, I put Graves down for a late nap. Annie and I read books and hung out and then Graves woke up. Peyton got home and I vacuumed the bedrooms and straightened some and then it was Graves's bedtime. Peyton took AP to run some errands- to two Walgreens and to the Dollar Tree for some supplies since I was doing children's church the next day. They got home and AP was fast asleep. He told me that at the second Walgreens (their last stop) she was asleep and he carried her around the store for five minutes without her waking up. Poor thing! I did some stuff on the computer and when they got home and he dropped her in bed. We chatted and then heated up leftovers for supper. We watched the end of Love and Other Drugs (Peyton had seen the beginning earlier) and then an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show off the DVR. I folded some laundry and then got on the computer again. I got my stuff ready for children's church and went to bed.

I woke up, got ready, got all our stuff together and then started feeling really sick on Sunday morning. I ended up throwing up a couple of times. I think it was just the vitamins I took on an empty stomach, but Peyton said not to risk it, so he ended up doing children's church for me and I stayed home with the kids. I had already woke AP up, so we got going. I fed Graves and started some laundry and the kids played. I fed Graves his solids and then put him down for a nap. I was pretty tired and still feeling kind of nauseous so I put Annie in our bed and we read stories and watched a couple of videos. Graves never did go to sleep and was fussing on and off, so finally I just went and got him up. I was feeling better and we got a lot done around the house. Graves played well independently and I straightened, stripped the beds, swept the hardwood floors, cooked some carrots, and did more laundry. I put the cover I had washed back on the high chair fixed the kids' lunch. I put a mattress pad and fitted sheet on AP's bed and then put them down for naps.

Graves only slept for forty five minutes but I did manage to clean up their lunches, eat my lunch, and read a chapter in Radical and a bit in my Christian Believer text. After he woke up, I folded a bunch of laundry and then I went and got Annie up. She never did take a nap, but she rested pretty good. We watched Galloway's service from that morning (I had DVR'd it) and I did more laundry. Annie was so cute; when they sang Come Thou Fount, I was singing it too and she was trying so hard to sing, but she didn't know the words. We started getting ready for our Radical study really early and actually left on time. Graves didn't fall asleep in the car (surprisingly), but Annie did. The study was good and Graves had fallen asleep when we picked the kids up. We got home and Peyton left to go run with his brother. I put the clean top sheet on on AP's bed (we only have one top sheet) and hung up some clothes in the nursery and then put Graves to bed. He had SUCH a hard time going to sleep and I felt terrible for him. There was just nothing I could do and my nerves were shot by the time he finally fell asleep. I let AP stay up for a bit so he could get into a good sleep. I read Pooh to her and we prayed and read her Bible story. It was about God making the world and I told her God made everything. I said "God made Annie. And God made Baby Graves." and then she said "And God made Momma. And God made Papa. And....God made AUBREY." I'm glad she loves her friends! I got her to bed and Peyton got home and we just chilled out and went to bed early.

This week I'm starting back my morning Bible study and Peyton is working every day. He has something on Saturday, too, and I've got a baby shower. I think it'll be a good amount of busy, again!

Annie's Lunch Recap: Children Not Run Around

2012-01-20T22:38:00.001-06:00

I am so terrible about taking videos of the kids these days. We have countless (okay, a couple of hundred) ones from Annie's first year of life, but lately I haven't made it a priority. Really, I am without excuse, though, because even though the video camera can be a pain, our DSLR camera has a video setting and of course, my phone has video capabilities. Anyway, today I took a couple of videos on my phone, just for fun.

Here is Ann Peyton discussing our lunch date we just arrived home from:

[Playlist is on the right.]

A few observations:
1. Thank goodness Ann Peyton has such a strong role model in her dear little friend, six months her elder. It's so nice for me and Carrie when Aubrey keeps tabs on things and makes sure the "children [herself and Ann Peyton] not run around".

2. Annie has clearly picked up my uh/um habit. She probably doesn't have much of a future in public speaking.

3. I'm pretty confident I didn't mention where we were eating at all today. However, it seems she can identify Broadstreet upon entering Banner Hall. Girlfriend knows her Jackson eateries.

4. In the second video, you can hear one of her new things. She will quote someone or imitate an animal noise and then say "like that". Sometimes, she even does it for non verbal things. For example, the other day Graves was playing on the floor and I was in the other room. He started screaming and was face down on the floor. I knew exactly what had happened; he had fallen over and face planted. I asked Ann Peyton, though, and her response? "He say" [imitates the forceful face plant] "like that." Well, then.

5. After these little interactions, she got out her play telephone and pretended to call Aubrey. Their "conversation": "I don't know where my toothbrush is. I don't know where my pink ring is. I don't know where my STUFF is." Welcome to life, Baby Bunny.

6. Re the second video: I've kind of been debating when is the appropriate age to stop sharing pictures of her in just a diaper. It's hard because, like her Papa, her skivies are her uniform when we're home for more than five minutes at a time. Y'all may have observed this is about 50% of my weekly family pictures. Peyton says he thinks four is the cut off. I'm unsure. Opinions?

That seems like the most awkward place to end this, but I have nothing else. So there's that.

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-01-18T23:03:00.002-06:00

Well, this is WAY late and I don't even have many links this week. I guess I just didn't do as much blog reading last week.

A Harvest of What is Yet to Come

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:33 PM PST

"Could we rejoice in the season of waiting, believing that God who brought Jesus out of the black tomb and brings green shoots out of hard earth will bring new life out of all dark seasons too? Could we know that beauty is in this whole process, the waiting part too, not just the end result?"

I think Katie's story is SO neat and inspiring.

WFMW: Preschool Shoe Tip — We are THAT Family

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:32 PM PST

Smart idea!

The LDS Scriptures – and why I’m reading them. | The Outdoor Wife

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:32 PM PST

"We've lost a sense of discovery, hard work and independent thought when it comes to learning about other faiths. We take to our computers and scan Wikipedia for a few bullet points. We ask our friends. We maybe read a book or two, but even that is rare these days."

"Don't get me wrong, I think at some level, it's healthy to not engage emotionally and it's healthy to know where I am in the steadiness of my faith. I should always be evaluating that and making smart decisions."

"But, at what point will I decide to grow a pair & be intellectually honest? How can I engage a thoughtful, genuine conversation about the LDS faith WITH people OF that faith, without even knowing what their Scriptures say? Without ever touching the pages and reading the words for myself, how can I talk about it with any kind of integrity? It's too easy to slip into hearsay and assumptions. And frankly, I'm tired of assuming."

I think this is really fascinating. I do think you have to be pretty solid in your faith before you approach something like this, though.

green enough for me: bringing the war home...

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:30 PM PST

This was a really bold post. I so appreciate transparency in blogging.

9 Things to Tweet About — Momcomm

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:29 PM PST

Interesting and informative.

Hope you enjoyed the small selection!

Christian Believer: Week Thirteen {Savior}

2012-01-17T22:14:00.001-06:00

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

["Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners", J. Wilbur Chapman]

The topic of week thirteen was "Jesus Christ: Savior" (The One Who Came to Save). To be honest, I didn't have a lot of new notes from this lesson. I think partly it kind of restated some things we had already studied in a different way. It was a good lesson, but I definitely have less to share.

That particular week I got more than usual out of the video. First of all, it explained that before Jesus, in Jewish though, a savior was someone who delivered the people from oppression and conquered their enemies. Jesus not only conquered the worst of all evils, but he created a new community. Just as sin is not purely individual, salvation has a communal aspect. The video then discussed how for most Christians our behavior doesn't seem that different from the secular public and we rationalize the commandment to be perfect "as your Heavenly Father is perfect". It then stated how most the the influential intellectual movements of the past century (Marxism, Freudianism, Nietzscheism, ect.) are all radically atheistic and interpret absolute claims, truth, beauty and God as "smokescreens behind which privilege and power hide their greedy intent". The video stated that such criticisms have some truth and that's why we have a need for a Savior. [I'm not sure I agree there. More thinking required.] It did say that our sin only has the power God grants it and God's last word on sin is the Savior, Christ.

Finally, the video stated that we should have a "heightened sense of Earthly evils" if we are "truly ruled by the compassion of our crucified Savior". It went on "Does our confidence that God can redeem the tragedy of human existence lead us to self serving resignation (nothing of final significance can be accomplished, God must do it all) or does it lead to an intense passion for the triumph of God's kingdom, passion so focused on the resurrection that it sees the eternal significance of everything that takes place upon Earth. Does the salvation in Christ drive Christians to a ceaseless resolve by prayer and service and self sacrifice to manifest that salvation to the world?" I feel like I've been asking myself that type of question a lot lately.

The workbook talked about how the phrase "Jesus Saves" seems so simplistic for such a broad, important principle. However, "saving is the reason for his birth; the ultimate subject of his teaching, the cause of this death; and his resurrection, finally considered, is the purpose of authenticating his right to be the Savior. If 'Jesus Saves' seems so terse as to have no dignity, remember that when one needs to be saved, dignity is hardly the issue. Urgency may well be the primary issue". It then goes on to talk about Mathew 1:20-21, which is where an angel tells Joseph Jesus' name, which is given to him because he "will save his people from their sins". In Jewish culture, names were very significant and believed both the sound and meaning should reflect the child.

We then read about what seems to be a "disproportionate structure" of the Gospels. Nearly a third of their content focuses on the death of Christ. However, the gospel writers understood that Jesus came to die and told his story accordingly. The book stated that any reading of the Biblical record that ignores this focus is "intellectually irresponsible".

It goes further and says that a martyr's death is a powerful thing and may even bring new levels of commitment from others, but it cannot effect the balance of the spiritual world or the universe. However, if the one who died is "the firstborn of all creation" (Colosians 1:15) and the one in whom "all things hold together", then the death is cosmic and the "structures of the universe" are shaken. This is the "power inherent in naming him Savior".

The word "Savior" has no meaning unless we need to be saved and we don't really want to be saved until we come to understand our inability to save ourselves. So a savior is offensive to the "human sense of adequacy". The fact that he saves us by way of dying compounds the offensiveness of the story. If Jesus had saved by "writing exquisite literature, by mounting a political structure, or by the sheer nobility of his life" the saving would have been more palatable and attractive.

During our group, we mainly focused on discussing the Scripture and we also talked about why it was that the Jews didn't recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Lastly, my favorite excerpts from Scripture and the text book readings:

"I know my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the Earth." -Job 19:25

"...by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities." -Isaiah 53:11

"...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -John 1:10

" I am the good shepherd, The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." -John 1:11

"...that being reduced to the measure of our weakness, he might raise us to the measure of his power." -Clement of Alexandria

We have our next meeting tomorrow and I still have one more "catch up" post to do. I'm going to try to do both of those in the next week.

Weekly Happenings Post #147 (January 9-15)-- Finished Floors!!!

2012-01-16T23:00:00.000-06:00

Last week was great on so many levels. The biggest highlights were having the floors finally finished and seeing my good friend Ashley who was in town for the weekend.

Peyton worked a double on Monday, but it actually ended up being a good day. The kids woke up at the normal time, around eight. I got a bath and we had breakfast in our room and played while I got ready. I put Graves down for a nap and Annie and I played some more and finished getting ready. I started some laundry and then we woke Graves up and I nursed him and we headed out to meet the Howies at Newks. We had a good time, but it does seem like things have gotten more chaotic lately. I'm not sure what will happen once we add Alaina into the mix! I decided we needed to run by Target on the way home for several things (tights, bedroom slippers, sippy cups and pacis, dishwasher detergent, and more panties for AP). I ended up splurging on some cute mugs and a dish towel, as well! We got home and I put the children right to bed and they fell asleep easily. I unpacked all our Target stuff, straightened around the house, started laundry and dishes, and moved a bunch of stuff back into the laundry room from when we had the floors in there finished. They both took long naps so I got on the computer and read some blogs.

When they woke up, I folded some laundry and put it up in the nursery while they played and then fed them dinner. I had a snack and unloaded the dishwasher and then we cleaned up the nursery and I finished folding more laundry.

[AP's closet. She had a few things in the wash and has a few dresses on the other side of the armoire, but y'all this is a new thing. She outgrew her clothes and I didn't buy an insane quantity of new ones!]

I put them to bed and got back on the computer. I worked on a post and uploaded a bunch of pictures and also some videos from our video camera and then I put pictures on Flikr. Peyton and I read Radical and went to bed.

Tuesday we had Mother's Day Out. I had gotten up to pump super early and then went back to sleep for a bit. We got ready and headed to school. It was a good day, but I was so tired when we got home and the rain was making me lazy. Peyton had the day off and we talked and ate lunch. We fed lunch and got her and Graves down for naps. I goofed off and then laid down myself. Graves woke up and Peyton played with him

They woke up Annie and they all went to the Science Museum. I stayed in my warm bed and just enjoyed the break. It's SO hard for me to let them do fun things like that without me, but it really was nice to just relax. After they got back, I got up and we got some things together because we were meeting our friend, William, for dinner. We used to work with William at the pool and it was so fun to catch up! We went to Schlotzsky's and it was really good. When we got home, we put the kids to bed and just chilled out. We watched TV and I did a few things on the computer and went to bed early!

Peyton was off again on Wednesday, but he had meetings that morning. The kids got up around the time he was leaving and he put AP in the shower because she really wanted to play in there with her new fish spout thing. I let her play a few minutes and then toweled her off and took my own bath while she watched cartoons and Graves played on the floor. I got ready and then put Graves down for his nap and AP and I had breakfast.

Elliot came over to work on the floor and I straightened up a bit. Annie played and I did some of those things that take ten minutes, but I've been putting them on list after list for weeks. I cleaned the guest bathroom and dusted in our bedroom and worked on some laundry. Peyton got home and helped Elliot move a table and then left again to have lunch with his co-workers. Graves woke up and Peyton got back and he dropped the crib. I started trying to pin the bedskirt to make it work, but it was taking awhile and the kids were exhausted. I gave up and we put them to bed and I made a dessert for the Chili Cook Off that night. Graves slept for about twenty minutes and woke up MAD. I straightened up some around the house and got some Christmas stuff packed in boxes to go to the attic. We got Annie up and got ready to leave for church. We had so much fun at the Chili Cook Off and when we got home we fed AP some supper and I finally got the bedskirt ironed and pinned and looking decent and then we got the children to bed. I talked to Peyton some and cleaned up our room. I hung up a bunch of clothes and unpacked some of my Christmas presents from my parents (yes, I'm terrible!) and then got on the computer. I finished a post and caught up on a few blogs and then Peyton and I read an article together and went to bed.

Thursday was LONG, to be honest. We had one of the teachers from MDO leave after Christmas and it hasn't really caused too much of an issue since Darlene keeps the thing REALLY well staffed, but it did mean we all needed to step up and stay late (until 2:00) a couple of days a month. Anyway, Thursday was my day. I got up and got us ready and packed some lunch for me and Graves (AP was having pizza) and we were on our way. I was so tired because Annie had been up at 4:00 again for the second night in a row. This time I had a little more self control and we didn't just throw her in our bed, but it took me about thirty minutes (and some time outs) to get her to get in her bed and stay in it.

We had a good day at MDO and the kids did great staying late. Graves took his morning nap, but neither of them would nap in the afternoon. Of course, though, they fell asleep in the car on the way home. I treated myself to a cherry limeade from Sonic and was planning on just playing on my phone in the driveway so they could nap more once we got home. Well, Graves woke up the second we pulled in. I took him inside and put a little crib mattress cover on AP's bed since she was still in panties and I don't trust her to sleep in them. I tried to transfer her, but she woke up. She was still happy to relax in bed a bit, though. I nursed Graves and about that time Ellis and Minda dropped by. I was still nursing Graves and it was the first time I've done that in front of a guy other than Peyton or my dad. I felt really proud of myself and it wasn't a big deal at all! We had a great visit and Annie got up and showed them a bunch of her books and played dress up a little bit.

After they left, I took Graves's monthly picture and the kids played in the nursery.

Love this face!

We got things cleaned up and then headed over to my parents' house. I wanted to pick up some cold slaw at a place by their house for the dinner I was planning to fix and since I was going over anyway, I decided we'd visit. I dropped AP off with my mom and Graves and my dad I drove to Cock of the Walk to get the slaw. There was a guy there saying "Fourteen dollars ain't too bad. My pregnant wife just HAD to have some cornbread". For some reason, I thought this was hysterical. Maybe because it was forty five degrees and he's standing there is sweats picking up a HUGE bag of cornbread from a fish house? I was thinking "What a winner." We got home and I ate the BBQ sandwich my parents had picked up for me with their dinner and then got the kids into pjs and we headed home. They both fell asleep in the car and I transferred them and then started working on Graves's letter. He woke up and I just got him and snuggled on the couch. We both ended up falling asleep before Peyton got home. At some point, I obviously moved to the bed, but I didn't even attempt to put him in his crib. I was so tired.

We had a SUPER lazy day on Friday. I woke up around the time Peyton did to go to work and I nursed him and then started some laundry and took out the trash. I took a bath while he played and then got him changed and fed him solids. He played a little more and then I put him down for his morning nap. Annie woke up and I put her in my bed and we just watched Veggie Tales and I dozed. It was nice and I didn't even feel guilty for being so lazy! Elliot got here to finish the floors and Graves woke up and we played in the nursery again. I got on the Internet on my phone and put up a little bit of laundry and then we got ready and drove through Chik Fil A for lunch. We all ate in the nursery and then I put them down for naps. Graves took a good one and AP had some nice quiet time in her room. I got on the computer and answered a couple of emails and worked on Graves's letter. The kids got up and I started getting ready for my big night. Ashley was in town and Carrie and I were going to have dinner with her. I got dressed and Peyton got home and I left (after saying my final goodbyes to Elliot, ha!).

Carrie picked me up and we met Ashley at her hotel, which was like literally two minutes from my house.

We had THE best time catching up and Ashley even had a legit notebook of topics for us to discuss and dissect (per my encouragement for her to get in listmaking mode before her arrival). We went to Bon Ami (a personal fave) and then drove through Sonic for some late night limeades. Peyton had taken the kids to his parents' and then to mine for red beans and rice and so he met us back at the hotel with my car. We went home so I could feed Graves and I changed into my comfy clothes and went back to the hotel for our slumber party. We stayed up until 3:30 trying to make sure to hit every topic.

Peyton was going to a leadership retreat for Ultreya so I had to be back home before eight on Saturday. It worked out good because I decided to go to Moms Pointe, a thing that Morgan's church (our church's church plant) does like once a month. Anyway, Graves hadn't even needed the bottle I pumped. He was in bed with Peyton, but he said he'd only been there an hour or so. I fed him and got a bath and got ready and then got the kids ready. I dropped them off with the babysitter that was keeping everyone's kids that morning (mine ending up being the only ones there) and then headed to the group. It was so good and SO encouraging. I really had a wonderful time.

I picked up the kids and since they had had breakfast late while I was at the group, I just dropped them in bed. No one napped, but they did stay in there awhile. Graves fussed and got pretty cranky and it was kind of frustrating. I laid down but I couldn't really rest. Peyton got home and we decided to just go for a drive. We picked up a Sonic snack and of course, the kids fell asleep. We drove around some and I thought we might could just transfer them. It was still too early, though. We kept Graves up a bit and then put him down but Annie stayed up pretty late.

I got on the computer and finally finished Graves's letter and did a few other things and then Peyton and I chatted and went to bed.

We went to early church on Sunday because Peyton was teaching Children's Church. We gave the kids baths and got ready and headed out the door a little late.

We made it, though and church was great. It was all about Samuel hearing God and how we should be open to hearing Him speak to us. We started a new study on Collosians in Sunday school and that was interesting, too. We got home and changed clothes and all hung out in the back yard some.

We had lunch and put the kids down for naps. They both took good naps and I worked really hard on straightening/cleaning. I sorted and started laundry, straightened the laundry room, cleaned the microwave and high chair, did dishes, and straightened up the living room. Graves woke up and we got ready to head back to church for our Radical study. It was good, too, and after that we came home and started getting the kids ready for bed. Ashley stopped by to pick up some magazines I had for her and she visited a bit and then I straightened up the nursery and we got the kids ready for bed. I made these black-eyed pea cakes for myself and Peyton and then we snuggled on the couch in front of the fire. I put up the leftovers and threw the dishes in the sink and got on the computer for a few minutes and then went to bed.

We don't have too much exciting stuff going on this week, but Peyton and I are planning to try to tackle some projects one the days he's off.

Letter to (Nine Month Old) Graves

2012-01-14T21:22:00.000-06:00

Dear Graves,

You are nine months old and so, so adorable. You really are at a great stage- one with all the benefits of you being really expressive and truly starting to communicate in your own little way and without the constant vigilance that is required during the age of mobility. Especially on your really good days, I kind of wish I could freeze you for a bit, but then I think about your sister and all the fun that lies ahead for us.

You'll be going for your nine month check up next week, but last time we were in you weighed a bit over sixteen pounds. You're starting to feel like a bowling ball, though, and my arm falls asleep when I carry you for very long. I've packed up everything six mo. and under and you're getting close to outgrowing many of your nine mo. things. It blows my brain and rocks my world to put you in twelve month things. My little newborn is getting ever closer to a year as the calendar pages flip and the clock ticks.

You roll all around to get to where you want to go and you've learned to sit yourself up unassisted. You're also doing a backwards crawl thing and I thing the real deal is not far off. Ann Peyton crawled at ten months and I can't imagine you'll be much different from the looks of things. She got her first tooth at eleven months, and again, you seem to be following in her footsteps. I adore your toothless grin, so teeth can wait!

You went from not really being interested in baby food to LOVING it and also being super interested in feeding yourself. Having no teeth makes this a little hard, though. You've had success with bananas and avocados and very, very soft cooked carrots. And you still love you some Baby MumMums.

Your personality is growing increasingly adorable. We had a first last week- you and your sister kept each other up at nap time not by wailing and fussing, but by giggling and "talking". Y'all were cracking each other up and it was too precious for words. You make a lot more noise these days and I love the little happy sounds you've started making. I can't wait to hear what your little voice actually sounds like one day (I'm sure it will sound like an itty bitty Southern gentleman for sure!).

Graves, we love you so much and are so thankful for you. You melt my heart and I fall more in love with you every day. I can't wait to see what the next ones hold!

Love,
Momma (and Papa)

P.S. Your penguin stretchie is a 12 mo.

Christian Believer: Week Twelve {Jesus Christ}

2012-01-12T17:05:00.001-06:00

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,

O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

["Fairest Lord Jesus", Muster Gesangbuch]

I took a big long break from these, but I have a few to catch up on before we start back meeting on Wednesday nights. The topic of lesson twelve was "Jesus Christ: Human/Divine" (Fully Human Fully Divine). It was an interesting, though complex, topic.

We started out with the video. It started out by stating the Doctrine of Incarnation- "God became embodied in a human being (incarnated)" and went on to say that Jesus was human in all ways except that he was without sin. It then talked about Docetists, who were people who said that Christ only seemed human. They said that he appeared out of nowhere and that either the divine spirit escaped before he was crucified or there was some mix up and someone else died in place of him. Then it discussed how many early Christians thought that Christ was divine, but not fully God. This was probably due largely to the Greek culture with its many divine and semi divine beings. One of these people was a man named Arius, who lived around the year 300, and said that Christ was a lesser divine being who was sent to do God's work. Another teacher, Athanasius insisted that this was a fallacy, as this would mean we weren't actually saved by God and that when we encountered Christ we were only encountering a lesser being and God was remaining hidden. Anthanasius (and the church) maintained that Christ was really God and used two terms for Christ: the Son and the Word. Both terms emphasized the closeness of the relationship with God- both children and words come from us, just as Christ came from God.

The video continued to articulate some important doctrine. While Jesus is distinct from the Father (for example, he prays to the Father), he is much more than a mere emissary. He is of the same substance (or "Godness") as the Father and he didn't become God's son at Jesus' birth. He has always been in relationship with the Father. Finally, it is amazing that we all share in the human nature that was brought together with divinity in Christ. "Know your worth, oh Christian," said Augustine, "you were made a partner in the divine nature." Compared with that all our human distinctions seem much less significant.

The reading in the workbook was interesting. The first thing I thought was really fascinating was that there are four new books published about Jesus every DAY. Wow. It then talked about Jesus' life- when he died there were about one hundred and twenty persons loyal to him. Secular history doesn't say much, which probably reflects how little attention he was paid at the time. It focused on how the most oft used title of Jesus for himself was Son of Man and how that he probably used it because it described the sense of unity he had with the human race. It went on to note that when unclean spirits shouted he was the Son of God, he quieted them and also told his disciples not to share with others that he was the Messiah. Until the last days of his life he seemed content to let people think what they would about him.

It then discussed the doctrine of "the preexistance of Christ" which states that Christ existed eternally and that he was god incarnate when he came as Jesus of Nazareth. The early believers took very seriously his "equality with God", so much so that sometimes they began to see him as exclusively divine, which was the first real heresy. ["Heresy is denying as doctrine of the church or holding any belief that does not agree with the official teaching of the church. Medieval cannon law defined different levels of heresy as marital heresy (wrong belief without blame, as when one has not been taught right belief) and formal heresy (persisting in wrong belief after having been taught correctly."] It went on to further discuss heresies, councils and creeds. The first creed was a simple statement "Jesus is Lord". After that came the symbol of the fish, icthus- an acrostic in which the Greek letters stood for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior". Later came the Roman Creed, the Apostles' Creed, and the Nicene Creed.

One thing the book said that I thought was interesting was that conflict in the early church often arose "more in matters of emphasis than in points of contradiction, but of course what begins as a difference in emphasis easily becomes an issue of truth." How true is that even today? Another factor in these conflicts was that communication took so long and churches became isolated from the "larger body of Christendom and its unifying influence on beliefs".

The first Christological issue faced was denying the humanity of Jesus, which lead to gnoticism. This philosophy focused on trying to gain secret knowledge, declaring all matter evil, and thus stating that Jesus wasn't really human, because being matter, human bodies are evil. More sophisticated issues arose after that. Modalism, Sabellianism, or Patripassianism centered on the nature of Christ. Sabellius taught that God is "one nature and one person" with three names. Modalism is the belief that God was revealed in different ways at different times, in three unique "modes" of appearance. Arianism, named for the theologian Arius, held that Jesus was the greatest created being, but was not of the same substance as the Father. However, the church concluded that if he were something that was created, it would be wrong to worship him, as he would be a creature rather than the Creator. Where Modalism had stated that Jesus and the Father were one, Arianism taught that the Son is of "different substance" than the Father. The Council of Nicaea confirmed that God the Father and Jesus were, in fact, of the same substance.

Later, Apollinarius raised another issue by trying to say Jesus didn't really have a human soul. Then the Nestorians declared that Jesus had tow natures and two persons. Finally, the Monophysites explained that Jesus had two natures and two persons. All of these views were condemned as heretical and the Council oat Chalcedon agreed that Jesus Christ is one person in two natures.

The book then stated how Jesus says he is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6)- "We seek for the turth because the truth invested in us at our creation is passionate to find itself. We seek the way because we know we are not meaningless vagabonds, we are made to reach a destination. We seek for life because we were made for eternal life."

There was one more exert I really liked toward the end of the reading- "He doesn't allow us the privilege of trivializing him. We can accept him at his own recognizance, which is a grand step of faith; or we can reject his own self-description. But we really can't say his the greatest teacher who ever lived (a quite unsupportable opinion) or that he is an utterly fine human being, perhaps the best the world has ever known. because, of course, if he is not what he said he is, he is a quite irresponsible teacher and an unscrupulous human being."

Here are some passages from Scripture and the text readings that I really liked:

" The people walking in darkness have seen a great light." -Isaiah 9:2

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed." -Isaiah 53:5

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." -John 1:14

"...the property of each nature is so wholly preserved, that the Spirit on the one hand did all things in Jesus suitable to Itself, such as miracles, and mighty deeds an wonders; and the Flesh, on the other hand, exhibited the affections which belong to it. It was hungry under the devil's temptation, thirsty with the Samaritan woman, wept over Lazarus, and was troubled even unto death, and at last actually died." -Tertullian

"...he raised the dead, healed all by the word, and also changed water into wine. These were not the acts of a human being. But as a human being, he felt thirst and tiredness, and he suffered pain. These experiences are not appropriate to a deity...And yet these are not events occurring without any connection, distinguished according to their quality, so that one class may be ascribed to the body, apart from the divinity, and the other to the divinity, apart from the body...He spat in human fashion, but his spittle had divine power, for by it he restored sight to the eyes of the man blind from birth. -Anthanasius

"For he was not first born an ordinary man of the holy Virgin, and then the Word descended upon Him, but having been made one with the flesh from the very womb itself, He is said to have submitted to a birth according to the flesh, as appropriating and making his own the birth of his own flesh." -Cyril of Alexandria

"The central dogma of the Incarnation is that by which relevance stands or falls. If Christ was only man, then He is entirely irrelevant to any thought about God; if He is only God, the He is entirely irrelevant to any experience of human life. It is, in the strictest sense, necessary to the salvation of relevance that man should believe rightly the Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ." -Dorothy L. Sayers

It was a great lesson and the two that followed were also really good. Be looking for those posts in the next week or so!

Weekly Smorgasbord

2012-01-10T21:46:00.001-06:00

This week has several links from one blog. I feel like sometimes I find a blog I love and I get hooked. It takes a lot of self control not to link EVERY post. I've been going back on this particular blog and reading some and I just loved so much of it.

transracial adoption | motherhood| rage against the minivan

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:36 PM PST

This really opened my eyes. Mainly because, with my anxiety, finding out this much detail about human atrocities in the FIRST grade would have SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME. Peyton and I were in bed talking about this the other night and it really further cemented our decision to homeschool our kids at least in the early years. I just don't want someone else filling my kids' heads with ideas that they are so not equipped to handle.

The Glamorous Life of a Housewife: The Balance Of The Home.

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:33 PM PST

This was a neat post about how one parent is often the Disciplinarian and the other is the Softie and what a good balance that makes. I'm sure some people would be surprised, but I think Peyton is more strict than me most of the time. I probably have more rules (because he doesn't care about AP wearing a tacky outfit to Target or something), but the rules he has he enforces really well. I will say (as I've said before) that I feel like discipline isn't just punishment; it encompasses the teaching/correcting part of the process, too.

Our Happily Ever Afters: Old Fashioned Childhood

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:28 PM PST

This. I want this for my kids. A nice LONG childhood.

Jen Hatmaker - An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:27 PM PST

"Enough with the obscene excess while the rest of the world is burning down outside our windows. Enough with the waste as 25,000 people die today of hunger, while I throw away another pound of food we didn't get around to eating. Enough with the debt, the spending, the amassing, the irresponsibility, the indulgence, the fake discipleship, the rat race, the hamster wheel, the power and positioning and posturing with a hunger still for more, more, more, all the while pretending to follow a Jesus who didn't even have a place to lay his head." Now I want to read this. Gotta read Radical first, though.

green enough for me: two seas

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:20 PM PST

Such a beautiful post on the return of a soldier.

fat mum slim: Photo a day challenge: January 2012

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:19 PM PST

I'm doing this!

Love Well: Dear January

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:19 PM PST

"The best part, January, is that it's all somehow unexpected, like no one believes you can compete with the drama of December. Thing is, you don't even try. Your gift is more substance, less show. You are reality. Like the gift of a good chef's knife, you are both prized and practical. You make even the routine of everyday a little radical."

I'm so glad it's here.

Emerging Mummy: In which [love looks like] a mess

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:18 PM PST

"Darling, it's all a mess. We don't know what we're doing half the time and later tonight we're going to hang out in the front street, watching Anne ride her bike and Joe launch rockets and Evelynn resting in your strong arms. I'll think to myself, tonight, like I do every night, I love you more. Grow old with me, my love, these are the days we'll remember someday."

So incredibly beautiful.

Clover Lane: New Years Resolutions

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:17 PM PST

"I know some people think New Year's Resolutions are dumb, and self-improvement is some sort of silly psychological stuff, but I feel it's my duty to God-to this gift of life I have been given-to work hard on shedding the weakness of our humanness and strive to become the person He intended me to be every day. And the awesome twist in achieving strides toward being the best person-a virtuous person-is that the rewards are all mine. He takes none for His self-this is not me sacrificing and working FOR someone else-I am the one that reaps the direct benefit every single day. What would be stopping me? Weakness. Laziness. It was a challenge to myself. I don't want to be either of those-weak or lazy-when it comes to any part of my life. And I know have the God-given strength to be neither."

One Word for 2012: OPEN - SortaCrunchy

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:15 PM PST

"Since 2009, I've chosen a word to guide each year. Or, more accurately I suppose (though I know it sounds quite mystical), a word chooses me. It's never an easy word and every year without fail, I groan a little bit as soon as the word lands in my thoughts."

I love this idea.

Emerging Mummy: In which I assign positive intent [My Practices of Mothering]

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:14 PM PST

"I try to operate from the standpoint that they want to be good and my job is to help them navigate, with grace, the mistakes and missteps that naturally come with the enormous job of growing up to love God and love people well."

This was a really profound thing to think about.

Emerging Mummy: In which I have worth [My Practices of Mothering]

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:13 PM PST

"In Christ, I am loved. I have value beyond my productivity or accomplishments or choices as a person and as a mother." "And it helps me to look first to God instead of my tinies to define me. Because that's a terrible burden to place on our children, isn't it? Make me feel valuable! Make me feel worthy! Make me feel loved! It's too much to expect anyone to give you that sense of belonging and worth, let alone your tinies."

PREACH.

2011 Lesson #2 : Don’t Carpe Diem » Momastery

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:11 PM PST

I think parenting young children (and old ones, I've heard) is a little like climbing Mount Everest...They try because during the climb, if they allow themselves to pause and lift their eyes and minds from the pain and drudgery, the views are breathtaking. They try because even though it hurts and it's hard, there are moments that make it worth the hard. Even though any climber will tell you that most of the climb is treacherous, exhausting, killer. That they literally cried most of the way up." "Anyway. Clearly, Carpe Diem doesn't work for me. I can't even carpe fifteen minutes in a row, so a whole diem is out of the question."

I *loved* this post (as did at least 1300 other people who commented). So true. And I've struggled so often with those feelings of not only "Why am I doing this all wrong?" but also "Why isn't every blessed moment pure joy?" Since this is the only thing I've wanted to do my whole freaking life. Such perfect words.

Baby Mamas (Put a Sling On 'Em) - YouTube

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 08:48 PM PST

Oh my word, so hilarious!

Stand to Reason Blog: How Do You Know when Your Child Has Genuine Belief? (Video)

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 12:58 PM PST

Peyton shared this with me. Obviously, we baptize infants at our church, but I still think there is a lot to be gained from this video. Specifically the idea that it's better to engage children in an ongoing dialogue about faith and let them determine when they accept Christ rather than asking them point blank if they're ready to.

Chapel's Adoption Story | the feature on Vimeo

Posted: 06 Jan 2012 01:28 PM PST

WHOA. What a powerful story- it's long, but so worth it!

Enjoy!

Weekly Happenings Post #146 (January 2-8)-- Welcome Back, Predictable Routine!

2012-01-09T23:25:00.001-06:00

We had a nice week last week and it was so good to be back in our routine. I've always known that I crave routine and predictability, but this December made it abundantly clear. I really felt like I was about to jump out of my skin a lot of moments, but last week was SO much better!

Graves slept TWELVE hours on Sunday night. He woke up and ate around 7:30 on Monday and then Peyton played with him a little. Annie woke up and I got up around 8:30. I took a bath and Peyton fixed breakfast and we had a pretty slow, easy morning.

I got the kids ready and we took AP's monthly picture and our (late) weekly family picture and then we headed out to do errands.

We went to Kroger for groceries and then to the Mediterranean Cafe for some hummus.

Wish I could relax that much at the grocery!

I was so excited when I tried these. I felt like I could nurse him until he was eight! Obviously, there are a million other reasons I wouldn't do that.

We stopped at Wendy's to let AP use the potty and then Peyton got pulled over because his tag was expired. We got a ticket :( We headed home and I fixed Ann Peyton's lunch and nursed Graves. Peyton left for work and I put the kids down for naps. I put up groceries and cleaned out the whole fridge. I even scooted it out a bit myself so I could take out some of the drawers to scrub them out. I also moved Annie's play kitchen back into the kitchen. I had to use one of Peyton's furniture hauling tricks- I put it on a blanket and scooted it. Funny because he does that for armoires and stuff! I got some laundry going and then had a snack and got on the Internet on my phone. Graves woke up and then Ann Peyton did. We got ready and went over to my parents' house. My mom made tuna croquettes for dinner and we took some food to their neighbor whose husband just passed away. I also helped my mom clean out some the stuff that's still in my old closet over there. We got home and I put the kids right to bed. I got on the computer and sent a few Facebook messages and worked on a couple of posts and then I started cooking some soup (from a mix) for supper. Peyton got home and we talked and I finished up Annie's letter.

Peyton worked Tuesday morning and the Graves woke up around the time he left. AP had had a bad dream and was still asleep in our bed. I nursed Graves and changed his pajamas because his diaper had leaked (it was a disposable!). I changed his bedding, feed him solids, and then decided to go ahead and bath him. I tried to put him back down for a nap, but it was still too early, so he played while I straightened up. I put him down for a nap and since Annie was still sleeping, I was going to crawl back in bed, too for a few minutes. She started to wake up, though, so I decided not to. I cleaned the tub and toilet in our bathroom and then took a bath. Annie woke up and I got ready and made the bed. Graves woke up from his nap and we all finished getting ready and I nursed him and we left to meet the Howies for lunch.

We went to Beagle Bagel and lunch was interesting. Actually, lunch was fine...but afterward we all went to the bathroom and it was kind of a circus. Ann Peyton kept going to the potty like several times. Carrie and I were still talking, so I let her. Then Aubrey started trying to hold her hand and she didn't want to hold hands so she gave Aubrey a "mean look". That really didn't sit well with Aubrey. Ha! Anyway, Annie pulled off her shoes and tights and started to put her head in the toilet! At that point, we knew it was time to leave. Carrie and I were both sweating; it was so hot in there. I feel so weird typing all this...how did all this happen in the bathroom? The Howies left and I tried to get AP to come on. She kept saying she had to potty, but then nothing happened. Finally, I told her we HAD to go. She threw herself (literally) on the floor and sobbed. I had to put Graves down on the nasty floor just to get her to put her panties and shoes on (I didn't even worry about the tights). It's times like that that I think I should still be hauling him in in that heavy carrier! We finally got to the car and she bucked and fought me getting into her car seat.

Graves fell asleep on the way home, but I tried to put them both down for naps. She fell asleep pretty fast, but Graves wasn't ready since he got that car cat nap. I kept him up and just played on Twitter and had a snack. I got him down finally and Peyton got home about twenty minutes later. We chatted and then had to wake up Annie. Graves woke up a bit later and Peyton read to them while I did stuff around the house and worked on a post. I fed Graves solids and AP ate dinner and we put them to bed and Peyton ran to the grocery store for something. I finished up my blog post and then cooked some Tilapia and asparagus for supper. While it was cooking, I unloaded/reloaded dishes and pureed Graves some carrots I had cooked earlier in the week. Peyton and I started watching a documentary on FDR and I fell asleep on the couch.

I moved to the bed at some point and Graves woke up once at some point. I think he was just cold, but I couldn't get him back to sleep easily and I'm a sucker so I just fed him.

The kids both woke up around 7:45 after Peyton left on Wednesday. I nursed Graves and then we all played and snuggled in the bed for a bit and then I changed everyone and fed Graves solids. I organized some stuff in their room while they played and started laundry. I put a fresh sheet on Graves's bed and it was tighter than our other ones. I noticed that there was a pretty significant space between the end of the mattress at the bottom and the crib (I could fit my hand in it and turn it around...not like slide my hand down between it, but like slide it and turn it all around). That made me nervous, so I turned on the old AngelCare monitor and called Peyton and he said we'd figure out something when he got home. I put Graves down for his morning nap late and he slept a really long time. I took a bath while AP watched Elmo and wasted some time on Twitter and Facebook. She and I ate lunch (grilled bologna for me...yay!) and I cleaned up the kitchen a bit and started working on our finances. Graves woke up and I put AP down. Not the most desirable...but whatever. I worked on our finances some more and tried to feed Graves the carrots. They weren't pureed enough, so I ended up having to redo that bowl and then he wasn't even really interested. I finished working on finances and folded some laundry and then woke AP up and we headed to my parents' house by way of Sonic. I tried a strawberry limeade per Cookie's suggestion and it wasn't as good as the cherry. We picked up my mom and went to Leap Frog (my favorite consignment store) to find a few things for the kids because they are both outgrowing their Winter stuff. I found several things and then we went back to my parents' house.

My baby in 12-18 mo. overalls and an 18 mo. shirt. I tweeted the picture with a similar caption and SEVERAL people commented they thought it was going to be AP. Ha!

We didn't stay long and when we got home, Peyton played with the kids and we talked and then I got on the computer for a while. We had leftovers after the kids went to bed and stayed up too late.

Thursday was our first day back at Mother's Day Out and I woke up with a terrible headache. That made for a long day. We ended up staying for lunch and by the time we left I was just done. We got home and I had managed to keep both kids awake in the car. I assumed they'd both fall asleep easily. Um, no. Neither did. They did play happily for about an hour in their beds, though, and we had a first- they kept each other up not with crying and screaming, but with laughing and "talking". If I hadn't been so darn tired and felt so bad, it would have been really cute. I mean it was really cute, but ugh. I laid down in bed but they kept needing things (books!potty!paci!) and then Graves got fussy. I tried to nurse him again, but it didn't help, so I just got him up and played with him and then fed him solids. Annie never fell asleep either and I ended p putting them both in bed with me and we all just watched Elmo. Elliot came over to work on the laundry room floor and Peyton called to say he was going to be late. UGH, I had really hoped for a few minutes before we had to be back at the church. I got us all ready and Peyton met us in the driveway. I had a UMW circle meeting and he was going to watch the kids in the nursery. The meeting went well (one of the ladies from the "older generation" circles talked and it was all about making sure we took care of ourselves and took personal time out of each day). I felt better after the meeting. We put the kids right to bed and I finished a blog post and read blogs. I read my Bible and went to bed.

Graves woke up around 7:45 and talked to himself until about eight on Friday. Annie had woke up screaming in the early morning and she was still snoozing in our bed. I nursed Graves, got him dressed, fed him solids and then started cooking some vegetables. I cooked black eyed peas for a recipe I was going to try later in the week, green beans to puree for Graves, and some edamame because Annie loves it. AP woke up screaming (for a cupcake that had fallen on the ground on the way home from church the night before, ha!) and I asked her if she wanted to get up or if she was still tired. She said she was still tired and fell back asleep until around nine. I finished up with the vegetables and unloaded and loaded the dishwasher. Ann Peyton got up and I started laundry and took out the trash and then put Graves down for his nap. I took a bath and got ready and played on the Internet on my phone a bit. Graves woke up and I straightened the house some and then took the kids outside. We stayed our for close to an hour and then came in for lunch. While they were eating, I pureed the green beans and made some of the carrots a little thinner. I put the kids down for naps and washed dishes, changed over laundry, and got on the computer.

Peyton got home and we got the kids up and got ready to go to the park. When we got there, we saw my friend Kellie from MDO and then we ran into Morgan and her girls and some of her friends, the Blairs. They were all going out to eat after the park and invited us to join them. We decided to forgo beans for the week and take them up on the offer! We went to Aladdin, which I used to not like (bad pregnancy experience!), but it was really good and the kids did great- all SIX of them! The Blairs were going back to Morgan and Haydn's house afterward and they invited us to go, too. Peyton was supposed to work out with his brother and it had fallen through several times, so he said he'd pass. I wasn't going to go, but it was still too early to put the kids to bed, so I decided I would. We went by our house to drop Peyton off, and right as we got there Elliot arrived to put another coat of sealer on the floor (he had to work at his main job that day, so yes, he was there at 7:30). We left and went to the Roberts' and when we got there both kids were fast asleep. I woke them up and we had a great time! The gym ended up closing early on Friday, so Peyton met us there, after all. We got home kind of late and put the kids right to bed. I got on the computer and then went to bed myself.

Peyton had to work on Saturday, but the kids slept SO late. Graves woke up early early, but I nursed him and put him back in bed. He woke up again around eight and I fed him again and he fell asleep, so I just let him snooze in bed with me and he slept until about 9:30 when my mom called.

Annie didn't wake up until ten and I was already in and out of the bath. I bathed the kids and brought breakfast into our room for them while I got ready. We headed to Batte around noon because my mom wanted us to meet her to go look at some precious outfits she had seen for the kids at a nearby store. Ann Peyton had an epic tantrum getting in the car (she hated her shoes, wanted to get in by herself, and then bumped her head in the fit throwing process). We finally made it and ran our errand.

My mom picked these up specifically for Ashley, but I'm gonna browse them a bit first this week!

On the way home, our friends, the Deckards wanted to know if we wanted to meet them at the park and I decided to be brave and say yes. I never take them by myself because it's just crazy and exhausting, but I thought it would be fun and Ann Peyton loves it so much and had been SO sweet shopping. We got there and it was super, insane crowded. Buzz (the daddy) held Graves for me a bunch so I could chase AP, but after awhile we moved from the big part to the little two to five year old area. I was still keeping a close eye on her, but not "hovering". Anyway, I'd check for her at least every ten seconds. Well, one time I checked and I couldn't find her. I panicked. It was awful. It probably wasn't even a minute and I heard someone say my name. It was my friend Sherra (another MDO friend) and she had her! I gave her (and Sherra!) a huge hug. That was TERRIFYING. It was almost time to leave anyway so we played a few more minutes and then loaded up and came home. Annie and I had pita pizzas for a snack and I nursed Graves and fed him solids and put them both down for naps. I sorted some laundry and unloaded dishes and then got on the computer.

I got ready because Peyton and I were going to a party for a high school friend on mine that got married that night.

Glad I looked at the invite. I could have sworn it was "dressy dressy". We'dve looked like morons.

I had to wake both kids up to take them to my parents' house and they both fell back asleep in the car! Poor babies! Apparently, they got some good rest because they were both ready to play when I dropped them off. I met Peyton back at home and we had a quick chat and he got ready and then we headed to the party. It was really fun seeing a lot of people from high school and I couldn't get over how Peyton told everyone what a wonderful job I was doing at home with the kids. I'm sure I was just beaming. He knew I had had a really rough time about the park. [Honestly, it happened so fast I didn't have time to really even panic that much, but later I kept having these awful thoughts of "What if?" and thinking about someone grabbing her.] We went to my parents to get the kids and AP still hadn't had supper so Peyton scrambled her some eggs and then we came home. I got on the computer and worked on a post and went to bed.

We went to Sunday school and late church on Sunday. The sermon was really good and I was so well rested for some reason and really felt like it was such a worshipful experience. We came home and ate lunch and put the kids down for naps. Neither one ever feel asleep :( I folded laundry and watched Lost while Peyton organized some stuff and played with AP in the study. We got ready and headed back to church for the kick off of our Sunday night group. We're reading Radical and this was kind of the introduction. I'm excited, but a little nervous! We got home and fed the kids and put them to bed, but AP had a TERRIBLE time going to sleep (she had fallen asleep on the way to church in the car). I cleaned up a bunch of dishes in the kitchen and then got on the computer.

This week we have a lot of fun stuff going on- we have the chili cook off at church and I've got a really fun Friday night planned with Carrie and Ashley, who is coming into town for the weekend. Peyton's off work a couple of days and I'm hoping we can accomplish a lot, as well. And finally, our floors should be complete by the end of the week!!!

2011: The Best of In the Warm Hold

2012-01-05T22:51:00.000-06:00

Again, this is another post I did last year and really enjoyed it. So much so that I made a link below my header for it. Last year I made the observation that I felt like my blog was a big smorgasbord with the variety of different posts. At points that's really bothered me. I've felt like it needed to be more cohesive- a blog about our daily life or a place for deeper, more meaningful ponderings. I made it a goal last year that I would try to write more creative, literary type posts. Those posts stretch me but I so enjoy writing them and pouring my heart into them. I feel like I probably accomplished that goal to a greater extent than any other. Of course, I have chosen to still use this blog as a virtual scrapbook, as well, primarily in my Weekly Happenings posts and in the "Picture Posts" I do. I've come to accept that I want both and at this point, I have no desire to set up two separate blogs and isolate the two because so often they overlap. I feel like for the most part I covered the latter in my Synopsis post as it was basically a summary of our year. These, however, are my favorite posts and the ones I consider my "best" from this year. It's a pretty extensive list because there are so many that are really important to me.

I didn't write much super deep stuff in January, but there were a few posts worth the mention.
Letter to (Twenty One Month Old) Ann Peyton- I reflected on the year with my girl and all the beauty she brought to it.
The Great Santa Debate- I did my best to articulate mine and Peyton's feelings on Santa and our reasons for celebrating the way we do. It's interesting because of all the things we do differently from most people, this has BY FAR gotten me the most flack. And we aren't even that extreme about it!
A Portrait of Humility- I wrote this post about my sweet sister in law. She's shown a lot of grace in never making me feel like I'm a bad parent because I mother differently than her.
Invasion of a Toddlerkins- Just a fun post showing my living room that also functions as a playroom.

I was a bit more introspective in February, focusing on discipline and love-- two things that were (and I hope will continue to be) of great significance in my life and the life of our family.
Herrington Toddler Discipline Philosophy [Part 1]- I shared our framework for discipline and my overall philosophy on what all discipline actually entails.
Herrington Toddler Discipline Philosophy [Part 2]- This post was less theoretical and more about the practicality of discipline. I shared a lot about mine and Peyton's opinions on spanking, as well.
Like Any Other Day: In Love with My Loves- It was Valentine's Day and I wrote a little about Peyton and our relationship.
Beautiful. Blissful. Chaos.- This might be one of my favorite posts to date. I used my feelings about something I absolutely adored (Ann Peyton's nursery) as a metaphor for something else- the end of an era where it was just her.

I posted a lot of truly significant things (as well as some silly, fun things that I enjoyed, too) in March. I think it had a lot to do with being on bedrest and with the state my mind of was in. I was just very pensive and reflective as I awaited Graves's birth.
Letter to (Twenty Three Month Old) Ann Peyton- This was the last letter to her as our only child, so it was pretty special.
Name Significance- This post was about how we chose Graves's name. Naming a child is such a wonderful, neat experience.
Lemonade and Coco and Raindrops and the Validation That I Needed to Hear This Week- As we got closer and closer to Graves's arrival, I really relished the time, and the moments, with my Annie girl.
A Different Kind of Birth: Final Decision- I wanted to share my reasons behind our final decision to have a natural birth.
I Pray That She'll Be Ordinary- I had read a post that inspired me to write this about Ann Peyton. It's another all time favorite.
Five Minute Friday Prompt: On Waiting- I love these prompts. I wrote this one about waiting for Baby Graves.
More Fashion Rules- Age Appropriate Dressing of the Babykins- This was one of those silly posts, but it was a fun one.
Flashback Friday/Annie Banani Fashionista: Bubblicious- Several people responded to the above post saying they didn't know what a bubble was, so I preceded to do some educating.

April was a life changing, life giving, and life affirming month because it was the month we welcomed Graves into our family.
Letter to (Two Year Old) Ann Peyton- For the first time Peyton wrote Annie's letter. It makes me teary.
The Amazingly Different Story of Graves's Birth- This is a birth story that I am quite proud of.
Amazingly Different. Amazingly Beautiful.- A comparison of births. They were both just that. Beautiful. And different.

I was a wee bit busy in May, but I did find time to write a couple of worthwhile things.
We've Got the World and All Its Charms- One hundred family pictures.
In Which Infection Overtakes My Body (Okay, I'm Being Slightly Melodramatic)- This post makes me laugh. Now. It wasn't funny at the time.
Teeth Grinding. Stomach Churning. Heart Breaking.- This post is filled with passion. And I'm kind of proud of it.

It seems June was rather busy, too. I really only had one post I feel like is worth mentioning.
Terms of Endearment- Not a deep post by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought it was an interesting topic.

July was a rough month emotionally, in a lot of ways. I wrote the first post through tears and I shed them now reading the second.
Weekends Are....hard. Birthdays Are....hard. Motherhood Is....Hard.-Just an honest post about a new reality.
Sister-As my sister got close to moving, I poured out a few memories onto the page.

In August, I experienced a strong sense of conviction and I tried to articulate some of my feelings on parenting decisions.
Letter to (Twenty Eight Month Old) Ann Peyton- In the last paragraph I described my feelings about our life at that point.
Convicted- After counting Ann Peyton's Summer outfits, I nearly vomited. I was so appalled by our (read: my) excess. I will never forget that feeling.
The "Versus" Strikes Again: Opinionated vs. Judgmental and Good vs. Best- I have been criticized (always tastefully) on my blog multiple times for being too judgmental and polarizing in my statements about parenting decisions and I wanted to try to convey my general philosophy on these things. I still fully believe that being opinionated and being judgmental are two entirely different things and that sometimes it's okay to choose "good" over "best" if it's in the best interest of your entire family or if the difference between the two is marginal.

In September, I wrote some about my weight issues and about Graves growing.
Letter to (Twenty Nine Month Old) Ann Peyton- The last paragraph just brings tears because it's so, so true.
Letter to (Five Month Old) Graves- I wrote Graves a short sermon as part of his letter, ha! But seriously, parenting is so tied to my faith and I love writing about that.
Five Minute Friday Prompt: Growing- I take a lot of pride in my role in Graves's growing big and strong.
[Too] Skinny Minnie- This was another really honest, transparent post about something I was struggling with.

There wasn't a whole lot truly stirring in October, really.
Strong Willed?- Again, nothing especially meaningful, but I thought it was an interesting topic to address.

November featured a diverse collection of posts.
Election Day- I posted about our feelings regarding a very important vote in our state.
Five Minute Friday Prompt: Unexpected- This was the last Five Minute Friday I did this year and it was such an important one all about the sweetest unexpected gift ever.
What I Wore Wednesday- Nothing important, but a fun post nonetheless.
Multitudes on Monday- I'm linking to all of them, because they were all really special.

December was kind of full of mundane things, but I did write one post I'm really proud of.
Because I Said So...- I wrote this after a conversation with a group of friends got me thinking about how my mom intentionally avoided this phrase and how I hope to do likewise.

Whew! I want to thank you guys for hanging around here and reading all the crazy thoughts that come in my head and out my fingertips. And for the encouragement and understanding you are so quick to offer. I've said often that if no one read this thing, I'd still keep it up because it's my outlet, but you guys make it even more worthwhile!

Weekly Happenings Post #145 (December 26-January 1)-- Farewell, 2011!!!

2012-01-04T21:54:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm a little late with this. I feel like this time of year is kind of exhausting blog wise. There's so much I want to blog about and just no time. It's weird, I remember a time when I had these things out on Sunday. Then I moved it to Monday. And here we are on Wednesday night, really late. Whatever. Next week I'm going to be back to posting on Monday. Maybe.

Last week was really good. I was glad to done with the busyness of Christmas and ready to start the new year. We didn't do a whole lot and it was really nice!

Graves was up a lot during the early, early morning hours on Monday and then we had to get up early because we were going to celebrate Christmas at Granny's (Peyton's grandmother) house. We left the house before eight. Peyton had to work that afternoon, so we left my car in Richland and rode the rest of the way together. We had a good, but short visit since Peyton had to be back at work by 3:00. It was really fun to see Granny and Aunt Beth and Uncle Reid and the cousins.

Before we left, Peyton's parents asked if I wanted to leave AP and just let them bring her when they left a few hours later. I knew it would mess up her nap, but she was having a great time so I agreed. It was so sweet of them to offer!

Peyton dropped me and Graves off at my car and headed to work. He slept the whole way home, so I missed that nap, too :( He was in a pretty good mood that afternoon, though, so I started cleaning up Christmas presents and organizing while he played on the floor. I put him in the high chair and gave his some avocado and a few pieces of ham (he actually did okay, sans teeth) and he had so much fun eating like a big boy. I grated some soap and made laundry detergent and then gathered and sorted laundry. I stripped our bed and AP's and washed all our sheets and got Annie's gingerbread house set up.

My living room looks like something from Candy Land!

The Herringtons dropped AP off and she had slept the whole way home. I had just gotten Graves to bed, but it ended up working out fine because we had several hours together just the two of us. I cleaned up the kitchen and unloaded and loaded dishes, finished up the last of organizing stuff in the sun room and folded some laundry. I played with AP in her house and read to her and she ate supper and helped me clean up and then I put her to bed, too, way later than usual.

AP totally fit in with the Candy Land color scheme in her infant glow worm costume from her first Halloween. Girlfriend is just.like.me. (and my dad) and is all about "soft" things. I think she would choose plush over princess any day. And to be honest, I *love* that. [I also love watching her put on a crown and saying "I'm a little princess".

Peyton got home and we talked some and I finished the laundry and then got on the computer. I read some and went to bed really late after I put the fresh sheets on our bed.

Tuesday was a really good, easy day. I basically gave myself the closest thing to a day off that this job will allow ;) but then had a productive night. Graves woke up early, but Peyton was sweet and took him after I fed him. AP woke up after that and I got up and watched her while Peyton took a bath. We put Graves down for his morning nap and Peyton took AP up to the church to pay the rest of our tithe for this year and to do a few other errands. Then they went and fed the ducks at the pond in our neighborhood. Graves slept that whole time and I took a long nap, too (which was really just an extension of the night, ha!). Once they got home, Peyton went to meet his brother to work out. I put fresh sheets on AP's bed (she had just been sleeping on the mattress pad) and got lunch ready for myself and the kids. I took a bath and Peyton got home and got ready for work. I fed Graves and put him down for his nap and then put AP down. They both went down SO easily and slept so long. I had been prepared for nap time to be an ordeal since it had been so sporadic the past few days, but I guess they were just really tired.

I "wasted" almost the whole time on the computer. I read blogs and played on Facebook and Twitter and shopped online a bit. I did manage to straighten up our bedroom, make the bed, and put up a little laundry. I had a snack and then woke up the kids. I nursed Graves and gave him a bath and then spent a couple of hours working in their room- hanging up a TON of laundry, getting all their Christmas stuff sorted (some to go to the attic, some of AP's put up in the closet because I think she might be able to wear it next year) and just straightening toys. I had organized her books the day before and I put some more of those up and then I went through a box of cloth diapers from the attic. I wanted to put them in one of those under the bed boxes because I think the heat in the attic was messing up the elastic in them. I fed Graves some solids and then at 8:00, since we were all awake, I decided to run some errands. I know, CRAZY. It took me awhile to even get the kids loaded up and then my windshield was all foggy and I had to get the stroller out of one car and put it in the other and I almost just decided to unload everyone and not go. I'm not one of those people that thinks "well, things aren't going well, we should just try tomorrow", though. It makes me mad and more determined to do it.

Anyway, we went to The Children's Place to get some new jammies for Graves because he's growing so fast and I just can't put him in AP's old pink ones like Peyton suggested. After that we went to Target and it was kind of an adventure. I wanted one of those big bins to put some of our Christmas decorations in (the ones we didn't even get down, ha!) and I thought it would fit under the cart, but it didn't. Here's how we ended up:

I'm dedicated to those storage boxes, y'all.

Watching them love each other is one of the best feelings I've ever known.

I should have just left them that way but after we checked out (for the second time, I forgot something, ah!) I decided it would be better to carry Graves (plus a drying rack I bought for the laundry room) while pushing the cart with AP in it. I was rough and a guy outside offered to help me. He said "I know you don't want some strange man pushing your cart with your baby in it, but you look like you could use some help...". I turned him down. I probably shouldn't have, but I felt weird. Anyway, we made it to the car and got loaded up and as I was backing out my windshield was foggy again and some people walked right behind my car and yup, I almost ran them over. Everyone was crying and mad and it was 9:30 almost, but we still needed to go to the grocery store. I got everyone out again and we really hurried. Annie pitched a fit and threw her books so once we got home, I put her in time out (after she sat on the pottty- I was so proud of her for having dry panties that whole time!). I fed Graves and put him to bed and then got AP supper and a treat (a juice box). Peyton got home and he read her a book and she went right to bed. We talked and I got on the computer and went to bed.

Peyton was off on Wednesday and I had SO much I wanted to accomplish. I woke up with a bad headache, though and felt pretty rotten. I took some medicine and got a bath and we went ahead and ran errands. We got the kids ready and went to Primos for breakfast and I could hardly eat anything, I felt so nauseous. I think it was just drainage, but I was feeling so gross. After that we went by Lemuria for a book on landscaping for Peyton (he really wants to get a plan for our yard this Spring) and then we went to Continental to price new sewing machines(!!!) for me. We had to go back by Lemuria because Annie had left her baby doll. We got home and put the kids down for naps and I took a nap myself. Actually, I couldn't sleep and was near tears my head hurt so bad, but I just rested. My mom came over a couple of hours later and brought some paint chips because we're going to repaint the sunroom. After she left, I took another bath to try to steam away my headache. I felt some better, but not great. Peyton left to go run with his brother and I put fresh sheets on Graves's crib, cleaned the absurd amount of magazines and books of Annie's bed and took out some trash. I got Graves to sleep and fed AP supper and then she and I watched a movie until Peyton got home. I fixed myself some Ramen noodles and went to bed before Annie. Peyton gave her a bath and put her to bed. He got in bed late and I woke up and chatted with him a little bit and then went back to sleep.

The kids both woke up around 8:30 on Thursday. I nursed Graves and then hustled around trying to get some laundry sorted and started. I was hoping to get a bath before Annie woke up, but she got up right after Graves did. Peyton's been working a lot of afternoon and mid shifts and it's been awhile since I've gotten ready with them on my own. It's been a long while since I've done it when we didn't have somewhere to go and I set an alarm to get up and it's been even longer since I tried to do it without the help of my best babysitter, Elmo ;) I felt like since we watched a movie the night before, I just wanted to try not to turn on the TV that morning. Well, it wasn't easy, y'all. Annie didn't want to get off her potty and I can't fit them both in our master bathroom comfortably (or maybe at all?) anyway, so I put them in the guest bath and took a bath in there. With Graves's "Gravey pen", the frog potty, and a bunch of books, I could hardly put my big toe down. Graves was fussy the whole time and as I got out AP got SO upset because she found a piece of gum by the trash can and I wouldn't let her throw it away herself. I moved us all to my room and dried my hair and then I fed Graves some solids and put him down for a nap. Annie and I had lunch and Elliot came by to see if the floors were dry. They weren't :( but he did have a few ideas for us. He put some kitty litter down in a few spots to see if it would help dry it up. I took the kids outside to play for a little bit and then we had lunch and I put them down for naps.

I worked on a post and then Graves woke up. Peyton got home and we visited and I finished my post. Peyton cooked spaghetti and I took a bunch of stuff to the attic and organized it. Peyton left to go work out and I got Graves to bed. He got home and we put Annie to bed and worked on some end of the year finances.

The kids got up early on Friday and we both got up with them. Peyton fixed oatmeal and I worked on our budget most of the morning. We straightened up the house and he went over to his brother's house and I put the kids down for naps early. Graves would not go to sleep- he had taken his typical morning nap a little early, but I have no idea what threw him off. Elliot came back over to try some other things with the floor and I got on the computer.

See how it looks around the edges? That's why we're not sealing it yet.

Graves played while I folded laundry and watched Lost and then when AP woke up we got ready to go to my parents' house. Some of my college friends were getting together, so I left the kids with my parents and went to P.F. Changs to catch up with them. I typically don't really like it, but I found some good stuff! I got back and fed Graves supper while AP ate her beans and then we came home. I put the children right to bed. Peyton got home and we chatted and I worked on a blog post and my January blog design. I went to bed pretty late.

Peyton had to work Saturday and we spent the whole day at home. We got up and had breakfast and I put Graves down for his nap pretty early because he had gotten up early. I took a bath while AP played in the bathroom and dried my hair and then Graves woke up. Elliot came over to do some more work and I started some laundry. I fed the kids lunch and did dishes and ate a sandwich myself. I had to give Graves a bath, he got so messy and then I made AP clean up a bunch of toys by herself. It took her about half an hour and then we went outside for another thirty minutes.

My little jailbird. My friend Logan gave him this outfit and I'll never forget- she said it reminded her of Peyton. She's got his style pegged, no?

We came in for naps and she pitched a fit and had to go to time out. Her and Graves both fell asleep pretty fast. I had a snack and got on the computer for a couple of minutes and Graves was back up. He had been kind of fretful all day and he was not a happy boy the rest of the afternoon. Even when I held him, he fussed. Annie woke up and I managed to fold some more laundry. I fed Graves and got him ready for bed. Peyton got home and he and AP watched some fireworks since it was New Year's Eve. I cooked these tuna cornbread cakes. They were pretty good, but nothing special. AP ate dinner and then Peyton gave her a bath and we put her to bed. I got on the computer and then worked on my Sunday school lesson for the next day. I finished my redic long 2011 wrap up post and went to bed. Such a wild New Year's Eve!

Annie took SO long getting to sleep the night before that I decided we better let Peyton (who was working) go by himself to early church and just go to Sunday school and late church on Sunday. I got up and took a bath and then the kids woke up. I gave myself an hour and a half and I don't know how I did so well because I managed to get us all ready AND somewhat clean up the kitchen from the night before AND feed Graves a bowl of fruit/cereal. I was so proud of myself...until we got to church and I realized I was wearing brown tights with my black shoes and gray dress. Um...okay. I dropped the kids off (poor AP had had a meltdown and I coaxed her in with promises of seeing "Ms. Penny" her Sunday school teacher). Sunday school went well. I'm really glad our class is so laid back because I wasn't that nervous about teaching at all even though I'm not near as smart as a lot of people in it! We had a special service this week at church- it's a John Wesley Covenant Renewal ceremony. We do it every year and it's a really neat time to just reaffirm our commitment to Christ. I loved this part of the covenant that we read...

Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honer, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and temporal interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves, in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is assuredly given to us in Christ, who strengthens us.

After church we came home and had lunch and then all took naps. Actually, AP never napped and at one point I was asleep on the couch and she came in and told me she pottied. I asked her where and she said in her diaper (she was naked) and so I went to the bathroom to check things out. Sure enough, there was a dirty diaper in the trash can minus the major contents. I asked her where it went and she told me the potty. I'm just praying she didn't "handle" it too much. We had a talk and I sent her back to bed. I fixed some Slice N Bake peppermint sugar cookies and messed around on Twitter and then Graves woke up. We all played in their room and I put fresh sheet's on AP's bed and just kind of straightened. I fed Graves supper and was loading dishes while the kids were playing. Annie kept saying "He's crying". I told her he wasn't and then he started SCREAMING. I ran in the room and she was holding him(!!!) and then dropped him flat on his face. Oh my word. While I was taking care of him, she started hanging on the coffee table and I told her not to. She told me "I want to break it!". What?!? Then she started pulling on her frog rocker and saying the same thing. I sent her to time out and thankfully Peyton walked in the door.

He played with Annie and I put Graves to bed. Peyton had to go pick up something from another Walgreens so I hung out with Annie and then she ate supper. We put her to bed and I got on the computer and then went to bed.

This week we've started getting back to normal. We haven't started back with our Bible studies yet, but we have Mother's Day Out tomorrow and we had our weekly lunch date with the Howies yesterday. I'm glad to have our routine starting back!

2011: The Year in Headers

2012-01-03T20:00:00.000-06:00

I saw a post like this last year and it's actually what inspired me to create new headers each month. I thought it would be fun to do my own little header round-up this year. I think they really improved over time!

Letter to (Thirty Three Month Old) Ann Peyton

2012-01-03T00:22:00.000-06:00

Dear Ann Peyton,

You're getting so close to three. It's mind boggling. I can't imagine having a three year old little girl and in a few short months that will be us! This month has been a blast with you and, as always, it's so much fun to watch you change and grow.

You are still so tiny. A few of your Christmas outfits were 2T, but I also saved alot of those up for next year. You wore mostly 24 mo. and a couple of 18 mo. things that still fit from last year! I just put up one outfit that was a 12-18 mo.! You are now only one diaper size above Graves (a four and a three, respectively).

Speaking of....your doing fabulously with potty training. We still have accidents from time to time and you wear diapers on occasion (to the church nursery and sometimes on errands), but for the most part, we are wearing panties, even on the go! Papa and I joke that at this point, your bladder control is almost equal to mine! You definitely have *strong* preferences when it comes to panties and convincing you to let me wash certain pairs can be an epic battle.

You've gotten to be a bit more of a picky eater here lately. The day has finally come where you turn up your nose at unseasoned steamed vegetables. I guess I'm fortunate to have had that luxury for almost three years. Things you will never (or almost never) turn down include corn dogs, a PB&J sandwich cut in the shape of a heart, a dinosaur, or a teddy bear, and Mickey's red beans and rice. You actually like typical "adult" food-- you eat lots of salads and you don't mind spicy casseroles and soups. You actually love them!

You still sleep well, but bedtime and naptime are sometimes a battle. You take a long time to fall asleep and I think it's hard for you to unwind sometimes. One thing I've done to try to make naps or bedtimes less of a battle is to think of things to make it fun for you. You know that you don't get "rewards" for staying in your bed, per se, but some days I do have a little treat for you right around nap time- it might be a new stationary catalog that came in the mail and I hid for the occasion or a Christmas blanket I got out in December and told you you could only use in your bed. Today I actually let you put on one of my really soft t-shirts to take your nap and it made you so happy!

Papa, however, is the master of creative parenting. The other night I couldn't get you to tell me something you'd like to eat (we were having leftovers for dinner and I gave you a few options, none of which you seemed to like). He got out this little wind sock cheerleader thing that I had in high school and has become the object of your obsession. Then he started asking "cheerleader girl" what she'd like to eat and fixed it for both of you!

He also came up with a great strategy for teeth brushing, which is something you alternate between thoroughly enjoying and violently protesting. He asks you to name of the things you've eaten that day and then proceeds to "find" them and scrub them off. For example: "Oh, you had carrots, today, Annie? Okay, I see a carrot piece there way in the back. Let me get it!".

There are so many wonderful things about you, Ann Peyton. This age is hard because you're really trying to assert your independence, but it's also so much joy and it's one of my favorite ages. When you talk to someone about me in the third person and you refer to me as "MY momma"-- "My momma gave me these pjs...". When I squish you and Graves together in the top part of the shopping cart and you quickly take your little hand and grab hold of his littler one or when you put your head in his lap so he can play with your hair because you know it's his favorite thing to do. When you tell me "Jesus love Annie. Jesus love Momma. And Jesus love MonkMonk". I look at you and smile. I gaze into your deep brown eyes and I see the face of God. We adore you.

Love,
Momma (and Papa)

P.S. Your outfit this month is a 2T.

January Happenings

2012-01-02T22:28:00.001-06:00

I think this may be my favorite header to date. I thought using the Instagrams would be fun and different and I think it turned out cute. I also have to say that one of my favorite things each month is finding a relevant quote for the header. I see it probably daily and it's important to me to pick a meaningful one. I'm determined to have so many "best days" this year. I also really like the new background- it's not as "cutesy" as some of the previous ones and honestly, I think it's more me. I hate that there's going to come a day when I'm going to run out of three column backgrounds to choose from (the blog only has two columns, but a wide middle one, so I have to use three column backgounds). At some point, I do have a goal of becoming more skilled at doing the whole shabang myself. I've done it once, but it was a little time consuming. I'm sure I'll figure it out!
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Whew...thank goodness it's January! I feel like I can breath a little better this week now that all the holiday obligations are over and all the time sensitive stuff is done. Last month wore me out with the floors and everything and I'm glad things are a little bit more relaxed. Anyway, here's the update:

- The floors still aren't actually done, but they will be soon. We moved all our stuff back in to try and let the grout dry for a couple of weeks and not a whole lot happened. Elliot had a great idea to "paint" the bricks with cooking oil and in the spots where he's done it it's made it look much more consistent and all the same color. It's darker than what we planned on the area where the grout shows between the bricks, but it looks fine so we're going to do the whole thing that way. It should be done soon!

- We're starting back to Mother's Day Out this week and our normal Bible study schedule and all that will resume the next. I'm glad- I really enjoy the routine!

- We don't have a whole bunch on the agenda for January and I'm really glad of that, too.

- One thing that I am SO excited about is that my friend Ashley is coming into town. I can't wait to visit and catch up!

- We also have a party this weekend to celebrate the marriage of one of my friends from high school. I'm sure there will be a lot of people from high school there and I'm super excited about that.

- Peyton's new schedule has him only working every third weekend and it's an AMAZING blessing that I don't think I'll ever take for granted. Even though his schedule is crazy at times and I do grind my teeth a lot when I'm doing bedtime by myself for that fifth night in a row, it really does work for us. I love that on days like today he didn't go in to work until 1:30 in the afternoon. On the days he works nights or midshifts he actually gets more time with the kids and they (and I, of course!) love having him here!

- I think I'm going to try something new this year and instead of making a list of goals and resolutions at the begin of the year, I'm going to try to make a few each month and really be intentional about those. There's this whole one word movement thing about choosing one word to focus on this year and I think I am going to do that, but I still have to pick my word. Anyway, I'm not going to ever set more than three goals a month and sometimes it may be fewer. This months goals are:
1. To be more intentional about prioritizing time with Peyton in the evenings. I have let the computer and it's siren call woo me away from my husband one too many times. And y'all, as much as I adore you to pieces, our relationship is not representative of Christ and the church, it is not of paramount significance in the raising of our children, and it's not one that I pledged my life to in a holy covenant. I'm going to try to keep that in focus.
2. To finish this ever lovin' kitchen. I want the floors done, but I also want to finish a craft project and a sewing project and I want to paint the attached sunroom and the shelving unit that goes in the laundry room. It may not get done and that's fine, but it's a goal.
3. To spend time in the Word in some form every.single.day. Weather it be a Bible study, a short devotion with accompanying Scripture, or just picking up the thing itself and flipping around I want to be intentional about making it more of a priority.

Here's to a relaxing, enjoyable January!

2011: A "Breif" Synopsis (Post and Picture Overload)

2011-12-31T23:16:00.014-06:00

This is the third year for me to do this type post and it's always such fun to look back over the year. It's also such a strong reminder of what an amazing tool blogging has been for preserving our memories. Later in the week, I'll also be doing a list of my favorite posts, since this is really just a recap. Without further ado, a little synopsis of 2011:

In January, we finally settled on a name for Graves and I shared some of my goals for the year (many of which are at least partially accomplished). Carrie and I also took a super fun trip to Missouri to visit Ashley. I was thinking back about this trip last week (because Ashley is coming to visit this month!) and it's SO weird because Jude is now almost as old as Ann Peyton was, Graves is older than Jude was, and Carrie will be at almost the exact point in her pregnancy with Alaina as I was with Graves. Those little details blow my mind for some reason!

February was largely uneventful. Baby Graves and I hit the thirty week mark and we had a low key Valentine's Day.

March started out with me being put on bedrest for two weeks, making a final decision about our birth choice, and transitioning Sister to a big girl bed.

In April, we closed the door on Ann Peyton's first two years of life and opened the door to her third. We acquired a fabulous new camera and (after eight hours of unmedicated labor) an even more fabulous baby boy. We worked on getting adjusted, celebrated our Risen Lord and brought our son to church for the first time, and had our first visit to see our precious pediatrician.

May brought Peyton's birthday, a revisiting of our discipline philosophy , a terrible bout with mastitis, and a showcasing of toddler artwork.

By June we were becoming adept at recognizing all things comforting to Baby Graves (the usual front-runner being the rice sock) and felt brave enough to embark on a six hour drive to the beach where I was chastised by a concerned older woman for not putting a hat on Graves in a covered area of an outdoor mall. Papa Peyton also instigated some truly humorous games and activities around the Herrington house.

In July I had one of my first truly hard experiences as a mother of two and I prepared my heart for my sister's upcoming move. We hit a milestone when I put Annie and Graves is the same size clothes from the same line. I also decided to give babywearing a shot and wasn't to proud to admit my mistakes in originally doing it all wrong.

I wrote about a strong sense of conviction I felt in August and Peyton and I both got "dramatic" new hair cuts.

September was full of excitement- I shared my incredibly Southern accent with y'all and then I felt compelled to share Ann Peyton's, too. Ann Peyton exerted her independence and I struggled with some weight issues.

I worked toward achieving a more healthy weight in October and we joined the Howies in bringing our whole family to Saint Louis to greet little Liam Lancaster as he took his first steps on American soil. Sweet Graves got Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease.

Peyton and I had the opportunity to vote our convictions on a very important issue in November and I really struggled with having to being dairy free due to Graves's intolerance. I made a habit of participating in Eucharisteo (giving thanks).

We spent the month of December wrapped up in a big house project and had lots of chaotic moments, but lots of sweet, precious ones, as well.

What a wonderful year 2011 was. We are so excited to begin our 2012 adventures!

Weekly Smorgasbord

2011-12-31T23:13:00.003-06:00

This week's links for your enjoyment:

transracial adoption | motherhood| rage against the minivan

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:30 PM PST

"Right now, I can't adopt or be a foster parent. But you can." Convicting much?

Red Letter Christians » Christians, Take Up Your Mats and Walk

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:29 PM PST

I think this is so common- churches wanting to grow without making real changes

approval for sale | Grace Is For Sinners

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:27 PM PST

"Don't you think there are 'get holy fast' schemes just like there are 'get rich fast' schemes? Don't be taken by the gas station taquitos when you're on your way to a gourmet feast." This post was really, really interesting to me.

#4 in 2011: How to be humble. | Jon Acuff's Blog

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:25 PM PST

"Because you already know your stories. You've heard them a dozen times. But the coworker who is so sarcastic he's practically surly, you know that guy? He's going to cry at lunch when you ask him about how he's doing, because it turns out he's walking away from the wreckage of a second divorce, and he's exhausted carrying his story alone. It's really heavy. And he'd gladly share it with you if you weren't so focused on thinking it's all about you."

Adventures in Babywearing: It was only glitter

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:24 PM PST

"During a recent daydreaming session I worried that people don't stare out windows anymore. How do we imagine bigger things if we aren't looking at the sky? We look down at a screen and just take other people's dreams and goals and try to pass them off as our own. Have we become too lazy to even dream our own dreams? I still daydream, today at the snow, and sometimes I wait for the uncomfortable to get me to finally bend but I do, I bow, and stretch, and comb this life out." Again, great writing from Steph.

That Was A Bit Of A Hiatus, Wasn’t It?

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:23 PM PST

"I practically hitch-kicked in our foyer on the day the unexpected package-o-potions arrived, and I thanked the Lord for sweet friends who spur us on to exfoliation and wrinkle prevention when it comes our skin care goals."

Get More Followers By Breaking the Rules | Goins, Writer

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:22 PM PST

"Stop choosing the middle of the roadThere are way too many lame messages out there. Way too much crap for you to play it safe.We need you to be dangerous.Pick a side. Stand for something.Some will love you for it, and others will try to stone you.But.Please.Say.Something.You can be remarkable, or you can be mediocre. There is nothing else.You can tickle ears, or upset the status quo. You can infuriate, or earn passive dismissals.One will make you average; the other will make you a hero. But you have to choose." Yup.

Emerging Mummy: In which I share my favourite books of 2011

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:19 PM PST

I love lists like this. I still have lots of New Year's list posts in my Reader to plow through. Of these books, I'm interested in the first one, the Common Prayer book, and the second two parenting books. Too bad my bookshelf is way too full as is.

Namaste By Day: Food Allergy Fridays: Milk Substitutes

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:17 PM PST

This is an interesting post that I filed away in case I needed it at a later date. Here's hoping he outgrows it, though.

Emerging Mummy: In which I practice realistic expectations [My Practices of Mothering]

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 08:16 PM PST

"I don't expect to enjoy mothering all of the time. I suppose the big thing with this is that I try to be gentle with myself if I'm not SUPER HAPPY HAVING FUN YAY MOTHERHOOD all of the time. That is unrealistic." "When they make a mistake, it's normal; when they need to be trained or taught, that's my job. If they knew it all, I wouldn't be needed." "I will fail in some way at mothering. And it's amazing how much the knowledge of that helps me...I have the realistic expectation that we all mess up our kids in some way and it's okay. They won't emerge from childhood without both of us well aware that I didn't do everything perfectly." LOVE this post. I think I need to tape it to my mirror.

Thanks for playing!

Joy to the World [Christmas 2011: Part 1]

2011-12-29T16:31:00.003-06:00

Like I mentioned, we had kind of a weird Christmas (which was basically my fault and the fault of circumstances- the kids and everyone else did great!). Anyway, also like I said, there were a lot of bright happy moments and the reason we celebrate Christmas is unchanging even in the ones that aren't bright and happy. I don't want to just skip over those fun, happy times and I'd be remiss to not share every one that I captured with you ;)

[Also, if you read my blog in a feed reader, excuse the trigger finger on the previous post.]

These first pictures are actually from "Christmas Eve Eve". We went over to my parents' house for our usual Friday night beans and Annie ended up being able to participate in one of my favorite traditions, making the "Santy" cake.

The kids also enjoyed some story time with Minnie!

On Christmas Eve, we were back for more fun at the Perry house!

Annie and Cookie-- they've missed each other terribly since Cookie moved to Nash.

Mickey holding his "Bud". Mick is the baby whisperer, for real. He does this by basically zoning himself out into such a relaxed state that he looks like he's asleep himself- "you have to relax your entire body." While I'm sharing Mickey quotes, this assessment of Baby Graves's behavior is especially adorable- ""He studies an object intensely for a few minutes and then he attacks it veraciously". Um, yes, being a boy momma is a different beast entirely.

He made the transfer to the Pack N Play surprisingly easily and slept surprisingly well all night! And yes, he has a blanket and various other lovies and stuffed animals. I would have flipped the heck out over the suffocation risk round one, but somehow I just felt like once he started picking his head up really well and rolling around it was okay. I think Annie got a blanket at around eighteen months. My anxiety is SO much better.

How stinkin' cute are these two? Peyton and I were talking later about this sleeping sitch and I kept saying they were co-sleeping. Peyton said it didn't count as co-sleeping because it wasn't part of a bigger parenting philosophy. It was a "one night co-sleep"...kind of like a one night stand. Okay, dude, let's not talk about one night stands and our daughter in the same sentence EVER AGAIN, okay?

Yes, I know you've seen it three times, but here is our annual family pic in the Christmas jammies. They are all from Target or Target via eBay and I consider my life goal accomplished as we've possibly persuaded another family to do whole family matching Christmas morning pjs. Also, these are a first for both children- they've never one had real pajamies like this, just sleepers and tight stretchy cotton sets. They look SO grown!

We woke up and did presents for about an hour before we had to get ready for church and it was a bit too rushed for my tastes. I think next year we'll do Christmas differently, even though it won't be on a Sunday, anyway. We had asked my parents to TRY to be minimal in their gift giving as to preserve the true meaning of the holiday and they actually did better than I anticipated.

First, here's what we got the kids. We actually did better than I had thought we would, too, but I think we're going to scale back even more next year.

Here's the big thing we got them- a gingerbread house to play in. I got it off Zulily a while back and it's been the source of much happiness and joy.

We got Annie the stuff on the floor- two costumes that we bought on clearance for less than five dollars after Halloween, some adorable vintage inspired flashcards I saw on my friend Ashley's blog, and since the devotion I ordered didn't come in and I was determined to adhere to a Something You Want, Something You Need, Something to Wear, Something to Read gift giving stipulation as much as possible, I regifted a Bible I gave her last year and put in the attic because it wasn't entirely age appropriate. [I figured she "needed" the flashcards and wanted the playhouse.] And that was it. I was proud of us.

I had a harder time following the stipulations for Graves's Christmas and instead of Something to Wear he got Something to Shake. I also didn't get him anything to read- when the devo come in, I'm sure we'll all read it together. We got him a sippy cup (need), two lovies that aren't hand-me-downs from Annie (want), a rattle and some Christmas sheets for his big boy bed one day.

My mom found some neat things for Annie and Graves. Here's Ann Peyton's stash:

She got a babydoll that goes in the tub (that we ended up taking back because she got a cuter one from someone else- do you think I've been vocal enough about her hatred/fear of the tub??), a picnic basket tea set, some cds, sidewalk chalk, several books, bedroom slippers, a Max and Ruby dvd, an owl sippy, and some Mr. Potato Heads.

And here is Graves's:

Graves got some precious masculine things- his very own set of blocks, several books, a "dressy" train bib for church and other more formal affairs, some slippers (which AP promptly usurped), a teddy bear sandwich cutter, and a space ship sippy.

And here's everyone enjoying their presents on Christmas morning. The playhouse was a big hit with Annie.

She refuses a bow and yet spends half the day holding her hair out of her face like this.

She was excited to have a visitor come a calling...

Another visitor...this place is just too much fun!

Baby Graves (Big Boy Graves?? ahhh, my heart!) was enjoying some quality time with his aunt.

Annie loved her ice cream costume and her tea set!

And books are always a hit.

[This is a new face she does all the time- when she's mad, frustrated, or (as pictured here) contemplative.]

Graves enjoyed his rattle and his bear sandwich cutter.

And I'm hoping he'll have some success with the sippies since he really doesn't consider bottles an option.

Here's Peyton with some sheets I got for our bed. I also got him a journal and a t-shirt from this site and A Charlie Brown Christmas. My parents got him this cool hydration system for bikers.

I didn't even take any pictures of my gifts this year- my mom got me some jewelry and clothes (per my request for no more house stuff, there's just not room!) and Peyton got me a memory card for the camera because we've been arguing about it for months- he says just erase the things, but it makes me too nervous even with them backed up three places and he tried to find me some new slippers (occupational hazard, ya know?) but ran out of time.

So that was the first part of our Christmas. Even though it was sort of frantic and crazy, it was spent with those we love and that's what is important. I'm so blessed!

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing!

Weekly Happenings #144 (December 19-25)-- Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night

2011-12-27T07:22:00.008-06:00

Last week was weird, as I shared here. It wasn't terrible or anything, but it wasn't like any other Christmas and I just felt tired and frazzled and by the time Sunday rolled around I was kind of over it. I'm so glad the kids were too young to really notice and they enjoyed the day! [Oh and for anybody that thinks it's weird I'm super tired and hormonal (Carrie Howie), I made Peyton pick up a test last night just in case...one line, no worries ;)]

Monday was kind of weird- one of those days where you feel like you just can't accomplish one thing. Graves got up around eight and I fed him and played with him and when AP got up at nine, I brought her in our room.

The plumbers hooked back up the water heater, so I put up clothes for about half an hour after Peyton left for work and then got a bath while Graves took a nap and Annie watched Elmo. I talked to Darlene for an hour and also started trying to print our Christmas letter. Here's how that went:
1. It wouldn't print on both sides
2. I got it to print on both sides but it wouldn't print multiple copies
3. I ran out of colored ink
4. The paper jammed.
5. I ran out of black ink.
6. I cried.
7. AP called me crying because she teeteed on our bed- actually on a tote bag of clothes beside our bed; poor thing was trying to make it.
8. I cried. [Just kidding. But almost]

Anyway, after Graves woke up, we went over to my parents' to get some laundry and MonkMonk, who got left again the night before. We got a late start, but we didn't stay too long. Annie wanted to go to the park, but I told her we could stroll around my parents' neighborhood. Having a double stroller is really nice! She turned around at one point and said "Momma, I LOVE strolling." Guess we need to get the thing out more. Anyway, there was traffic on the way home and I was sure she was going to have another accident or fall asleep. We made it home, though and I put both kids down for naps. I had to FB message/email some people so I did that and then played on Twitter and Pinterest, like I didn't have a mile long list of things to do. I ended up having to wake the kids up. We played in their room and I put up laundry and then brought in another big basket to fold.

[6-12 mo. bear suit; undies as a hat-- it's a fun age, I tell ya!]

Peyton finally got home and his brother helped him move the washing machine and dryer back in and then his brother left and he hung out with me and the kids. I decided to run to Target for a bunch of random stuff (more Christmas sheets, a hair dryer, a veggie chopper, some makeup and hairspray, wood floor cleaner, printer ink, and a storage box). I got home and AP had fallen asleep waiting in her bed for me to rock her! Graves got really fussy and Peyton worked on the printer, which at that point, had stopped working almost completely. He couldn't fix it and he got really frustrated with all the storage boxes waiting to go the attic that were junking up the study, so he took them up there. I was feeling sort of yucky, so I took a hot bath and Peyton drove around with Graves. I got on the computer and then went to bed.

Peyton helped me wash Annie's hair before he left for work on Tuesday and I got a bath and gave both the kids theirs and got ready to go meet Carrie and her kiddos for lunch. Graves took a short nap while I finished getting myself and Annie ready and then we headed to Mellow Mushroom. We had a good lunch. Graves sat in a highchair and AP wore panties. She did really good, until the end when we were talking outside and then she had an accident of the number two variety. UGH. I changed her in the car and then we headed to Office Depot so I could get copies made of our Christmas letter.

Both kids took good naps and I wasted the majority of them on the computer. I sent a blog friend an email, finished my Weekly Happenings Post, and strangely ran across an old email exchange from a friend from the week after Graves was born. I had been so frazzled and it was so, so sweet and actually made my whole night feel better.The kids woke up and we played in their room awhile until Peyton got home.

We fed them dinner and then Peyton took AP with him to pick something up from the Walgreens near us. She had another accident in the store, but it wasn't a huge deal except that he forgot the diaper bag so she rode home naked! I got Graves to bed and cleaned up the kitchen which was a total mess. I did my best to straighten up the living room a little- I got all the small appliances that were under the kitchen sink put up (we took them out because it was leaking) and sorted laundry. I got on the computer and worked on Christmas cards and went to bed late.

One Wednesday, Peyton got up with the kids and I tried to sleep a little late. AP wanted to climb in bed with me, though, so I didn't really get much rest. I went ahead and got up and got ready for the day and we got the kids ready and dropped off my Buick to have the tire fixed again (since they didn't fix it last time and it got flat over night). We headed to the park after than and Peyton's sister and her little boy met us. We had so much fun and stayed for two solid hours.

We picked up the Buick and came home for lunch and naps. Peyton left for work and I straightened up the house a bit and then got on the computer. I finished a post and got on Twitter and then I watched Lost and worked on a sewing project. The kids woke up and I got things together and we went over to my parents' house for dinner. We had sushi- yum! We got home around nine thirty and I told AP keep saying she had to go the potty when I put her to bed. I told her it was the last time, so to make it count. At ten fifteen, she was still counting. Ha! She finally got up and told me she wanted her elephant pjs and went straight to sleep. I straightened some in the office, started laundry and picked up a little bit. I got on the computer and tried to work on my sewing project, but my machine was messed up. Peyton got home and we talked and I actually almost made it to bed by my midnight goal.

Graves woke up around seven on Thursday and I fed him and played with him some. When Annie still wasn't up at 8:30, I put him back in his bed and went back to sleep (Peyton was asleep the whole time). AP woke up around nine and we put her in our bed and watched Elmo for an hour. Peyton had been up watching Harry Potter until the wee hours of the morning and I don't know what was wrong with me. Thanks, kids, for cutting us a break, though! I finally got up around ten thirty and Peyton made breakfast. I unloaded the dishes and started laundry and got in the tub while Peyton reloaded dishes. Elliot came over and we decided to just move back our furniture and wait until next week to seal the floor. I was kind of bummed- I was so ready to be DONE. Peyton watched the kids while I ran to TJ Maxx for some last minute gifts and to Old Navy for some new yoga pants. I got home and Peyton left for work. I fed AP lunch and put the kids down for naps. I watched Lost, at my lunch, wrote a blog post and emailed a friend. The kids woke up and we spent the entire evening playing in their room. I folded several loads of laundry and vacuumed the nursery and study and then I fed Graves some solids, nursed him and got him to bed. I fixed AP's dinner and then got her ready for bed. That child moves so slow- she took thirty minutes to eat, about that long to potty, and two hours to go to sleep. AHHH! I got on the computer and talked to Peyton when he got home and then went to bed, again, at a reasonable time.

Graves did SO good that night- I put him down at 7:30 and he didn't wake up until around 6:00 and then I put him back down until 8:30. Annie woke up around that time on Friday and we all got ready and headed over to my parents' since Cookie was home. We had fun seeing Conrad (her boyfriend), too and eating breakfast. We left before noon but Annie feel asleep for seriously two minutes in the car. We got home and I put the kids down for naps. They both had a horrible time- I guess those two minutes threw AP off and Graves was cranky because he had missed his morning nap. They did stay in bed for awhile, but I had to keep going in and enforcing nap rules/putting pacis back in/turning on the mobile/ect. I worked on organizing my gift wrap drawer and cabinet for about half an hour

Then I spent an hour and a half trying to get the living room back in order. Remember it looked like this. It took me awhile because I wanted to go through everything and just get rid of some stuff and better organize all of it. Once the kids got up, we got ready and headed back to my parents' house. I stopped at Sonic on the way and AP fell asleep again. We had a good time and AP helped Cookie make a Santy cake. We got home and I put the kids right to bed. AP had trouble, but she finally went to sleep. I messed around on the computer and went to bed shortly after Peyton got home.

Saturday was Christmas Eve and Peyton had the day off. Baby Graves got up around 5:00 and wouldn't go back to sleep, so I put him in our bed and he slept until eight. Annie woke up at nine and we had a slow fun morning just playing around the house. We got ready and headed to Peyton's parents' house to spend some time with them and a couple of his brothers.

[Annie picked her own outfit- my tshirt, a tutu, and girly Chucks]

We had a good time, but I was so tired and just stressed for some reason, so afterward Peyton and AP went to the park and Baby Graves and I took a nap at home. They got back and AP had some rest time in her bed (she had fallen asleep earlier in the car) and I worked on straightening the living room some more. There was still a good bit of stuff to sort through. I ended up getting it basically picked up, but I still want to go through some of my bins that have cleaning stuff in them and organize even more. I fed Graves some solids and we got ready and went to our church's candlelight communion service.

[I LOVE this picture. He looks like somebody in our families to me, but I can't tell who!]

There was no nursery and both kids did great. AP fell asleep in the car on the way there and on the way home! After we got home, I got stuff together to take to my parents' house because we always spend Christmas Eve with them. I packed our stuff, got down a few presents from the attic and wrapped some others and then I ate dinner and got on the computer for a couple of minutes and I packed up the kids and we left. Peyton was going to a midnight mass at a Catholic church with some of our friends. [He used to be Catholic and still adores the holy day masses.] We got to my parents and visited and ate some more and got ready for bed. I got the kids in their Christmas jammies and put on mine and put Graves in the Pack N Play that I had moved downstairs to my old bedroom where we were sleeping. He hated it, though, so my dad held him and somehow got him to sleep.

[Mickey with his "Bud"]

We transitioned him to the Pack N Play and I let AP stay up and play and we went to bed really late even for her- around eleven. It was so hard making her stay in bed with me. She actually started telling me she wanted to go home and get in her own bed :( I started talking to her about all the trips she had taken where she had slept in different places and she told me all about the zoo in Saint Louis and the sand at the beach and finally went to sleep. Peyton got to my parents' house about one thirty and I woke up, let him in, and we put out all the kids' presents. My parents woke up and put their stuff out, too. I was SO impressed with how well both kids slept. Graves woke up once in the early morning, but I fed him and he went right back to sleep!

I set my alarm for seven, but I snoozed it until almost eight on Sunday (CHRISTMAS!).

[More pictures to come- obs.]

We had to leave for church by 9:30, so things were kind of rushed. We did presents and then I hopped in the shower and got ready faster than I ever have maybe. I had on no make-up and was planning to do it in the car, but Peyton reminded me he wanted to drop off one car on the way to his parents' house after church. We were already running late, but I agreed. We got there a little late and as Peyton was getting Graves out I noticed the car seat belt had come loose again. I got really mad, started crying, and maybe dropped an F Bomb after the kids were out of the car. It was definitely not a way to enter into a Christmas worship service. Heck, it was not a way to enter into a worship service, period. I spent (literally) about a minute and a half putting on VERY minimal makeup and caught up with Peyton and the kids.

The service was nice, we sang lots of Christmas carols and just read passages from the Christmas story. The kids got to bring one present to show the congregation during the children's sermon time, and we opted out of that since we really didn't want that to be our focus. Fortunately, AP was too young to even notice and she did get to bring some of her new books to read during the service. We dropped off my car at home and I told Peyton that our options concerning the 4Runner were a) sell the freaking thing, which breaks my heart more than y'all could know, b) keep it but have a no kid policy, which seems stupid on so many levels or c) let him tear up the seatbelts "rigging" the thing and basically screwing them in place to hold the seats. Anyway, I'm glad I have the Buick, because I'm done with that thing. Peyton changed clothes and we headed to his parents' house. We had a good visit with them and there was lots of yummy food. All of his siblings were there and so that was really fun. We left there about two and headed back to my parents' house for a late lunch. Both kids took short naps on the way to the Herringtons, but they were having a hard time at that point. Peyton just let Annie play during lunch and we got Graves to take a nap. Lunch was really good- steaks, crunchy romaine salad, and twice baked potatoes (minus the cheese and sour cream on mine, boo!). After lunch, I took a long nap in my sister's bed and Peyton was so sweet and packed up all our stuff and presents and then we headed home. We actually put Annie to bed right when we got home (around seven). We tried to feed Graves solids, but he was so tired we just ended up putting him in bed, too. I got on the computer and went to bed early.

I'm glad that this week we really don't have much on the agenda- just hanging out at home and enjoying some relaxing days!

Weekly Smorgasbord

2011-12-26T11:25:00.000-06:00

I guess this will be my last Smorgasbord with lots of Christmas links. We're still really trying to figure out the best way to do things for our family. This year we scaled back a lot, but I'd like to do even more of that in the years to come. More on that later!

Fun with Analogies: Co-Sleeping and Knives, Car Travel and Guns; PhD in Parenting

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 09:53 PM PST

"If people stopped traveling by car except when it was really necessary, there would probably be more accidents and more deaths because the roads would be full of inexperienced drivers. And when parents are generally discouraged from sleeping with their babies and then bring them into bed when really desperate, there are more accidents, more deaths."

This is kind of an older article, but I was reminded of it after a discussion with a friend and realized I never linked to it. I love it because the author is very clever and succinct and she's not pushy with an agenda (i.e. co-sleeping is better). She simply makes the case that people are going to do it, so let's enable them to do it safely.

The False Currency of Shock: Why Mark Driscoll Gets Attention but Doesn't Change Minds

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 12:51 PM PST

"Shock should be used like cayenne pepper – rarely, intentionally, and sparingly."

Two churches located across the street from each other. At least the Catholics have a sense of humor. lol

Posted: 17 Dec 2011 02:21 PM PST

Haha.

If Mary and Joseph Used Facebook.mp4 - YouTube

Posted: 17 Dec 2011 02:21 PM PST

Really funny and cool!

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY - YouTube

Posted: 17 Dec 2011 02:20 PM PST

This one is pretty good, too.

Why did the Duggars photograph a stillborn baby? - Duggar family - Salon.com

Posted: 17 Dec 2011 02:06 PM PST

"The idea that the dead are inherently creepy is far from universal."

And far from reality, in my opinion, if you're devout Christians, like the Duggars.

Six Golden Coins

Posted: 19 Dec 2011 02:55 PM PST

This blog has some great gift ideas that are line up with the Advent Conspiracy (link directly below).

[The Advent Conspiracy] - Advent Conspiracy

Posted: 19 Dec 2011 02:51 PM PST

Watch the video. Such a neat idea.

Enjoy!

A Long December

2011-12-26T07:51:00.001-06:00

I'm going to do a full post of pictures and more details on all the fun we had this weekend, but I wanted to type out what I've been feeling this holiday season first. I kind of hesitated to blog about it because I hate to be negative and whiney and we are SO, so blessed. But I really want to always be honest on my blog and I want to be able to look back and see what life was really like during this time.

Yesterday had some really bright, fun moments but it was like no Christmas I can remember. Our church had a single service at 10:00 AM and it just didn't feel right to miss that opportunity for corporate worship. Well, trying to get there made for a really busy, really hectic, really chaotic morning. Backing up, we've spent Christmas Eve with my parents every year since we got married and for some reason it's always hard to get there. This year and last year I was doing a million last minute things and we got there late and it was just rough. Peyton went to a midnight mass [he used to be Catholic and still loves holiday masses] and getting the kids to bed has been rough at our own house, so needless to say, it was significantly more difficult in a strange bed. It made me really reconsider if it was worth the effort. I was so tired and Christmas morning came really early and I just didn't give myself enough time. Every year until this year, I've gotten up, showered, put on make-up, and gotten back on my pjs, before anybody else woke up. This year- the one year I really needed to do it that way to make things work- I decided to do it differently. Anyway, I ended up missing out on a lot of present opening and I left the house for church really, really frazzled.

I feel like I've found myself feeling that way this whole month. I've just been weird and edgy. I think a lot of it has to do with the month long kitchen project going on here. I said before, but we've saved a TON of money having this guy who does this part time do it for us, and if I had to do it again I don't think I'd change what we did. I do think I'd pick a different time of year, though. It was just too much with the normal December activities and then I was in a wedding at the beginning of the month and had a lot going on with that and I (stupidly) signed up for extra stuff, like a sewing class and it was just all too much. I keep thinking that the house thing really shouldn't be a big deal but basically living out of two rooms of our house with two really young kids and having limited kitchen functionality for the month has been hard on me. I'm the type person who really likes things to be in their place and even though we have way too many piles lying around most of the time, I don't like a truly messy house at all. And it bothered me a lot that we couldn't really decorate at all.

I think that's a lot of it and it will get better soon- the grout is still not dry (it's taking forever because of the humidity partly, I think) but we moved everything back and Elliot is just going to come seal it next week after it dries. [We are currently keeping our house miserably (even for cold natured me) hot to try to get it to dry.] But I know there's more, too- I literally feel like I've been in survival mode. I don't even think I felt this exhausted and touchy when my kids were newborns. I think it may be a hormonal thing- since we started doing solids more consistently with Graves he's stopped needing to nurse as often and with him sleeping through the night, I think things are just changing a lot in my body. It's normal and good and praise God for it, but I think I'm just trying to adjust internally.

Today we're doing the last of our Christmas celebrating and then I'm hoping things will just level out a bit and we can all breath.

Merry Christmas, Friends!

2011-12-25T21:40:00.000-06:00

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. -Luke 2:11

You've Got Mail! {2011 Herrington Christmas Card and Letter}

2011-12-23T09:22:00.005-06:00

Happy Holidays from the Herringtons!!!

As our card this year says, “Oh, what a year it’s been!”. 2011 has found us busy and blessed. We have so much to be thankful for as we look back over the past year and we have such joyful anticipation for the upcoming one.

By far the biggest event of 2011 was the addition of our second child, Graves. Graves Jackson Herrington was born on April 12 and we have fallen in love with him more and more each day since then. We had a bit of a rocky start with him, but after I cut dairy out of my diet (per my wonderful sister in law’s suggestion), he was like a new child. His personality is so bright and sweet. Whereas Annie was more laid back at his age, she was not nearly as expressive. Although she was our “easy” baby she wasn’t appreciative of affection as an infant. Smooches and tickles put Graves over the moon! At this point, he is sitting up well and rolls to where he wants to go. I don’t think crawling is too far off. Graves has so many admirers, but the on the top of the list would have to be his “Mickey” (my dad). He never had a little boy of his own, since it was just me and my sister growing up, and I think he’s redeeming the time with Graves, who he refers to as “Bud”. He loves to take him outside to go “exploring” and he likes playing little games with him. It’s so precious to see those two interact! Graves really melts his heart and for a self proclaimed graduate of the “John Wayne School of Manhood” adding a little more testosterone to the family had an entirely unexpected effect, I think!

Ann Peyton is still such a sweet, sensitive child, but I will say any fears we had that she would be overly compliant and passive have certainly been assuaged. She can be as stubborn as I was at that age and I am learning quickly to choose my battles (taking a bath a minimum of three times a week: yes; wearing socks that don’t match her outfit: no; eating a corn dog for both lunch and dinner: varies). She is a hoot and I love that she’s now verbal enough to carry on a true dialogue with us. Just tonight she was telling me about a cow in one of her books and what he eats (“He eat cheese. He eat string cheese. He eat spicy cheese. And sometimes, he eat GOAT cheese.”).

One of my absolute favorite things about both Annie and Graves right now watching the interaction between them. Ann Peyton had about a month of hard transitions right after he came, but she slowly warmed up to him and now she’s absolutely smitten. She wants to hold him often, even though he’s nearly as big as her (despite a full twenty four months age gap, they weigh less than nine pounds different). When he takes a nap, she constantly wants to know if it’s time for him to wake up and she’s so excited when we go get him together. And she loves to snatch his paci, grab his cheeks in her hands and smooch him on the lips. Graves is equally infatuated with his sister. He never minds getting his paci stolen if it results in affection from her and he falls into fits of laughter when she unzips his pajamas to tickle his tummy, as she frequently does. Watching them grow up together is one of the greatest joys of my life.

Peyton has been busy with work. He is still at Walgreens, still working in Byram, and still managing the pharmacy. With his new position, I have seen him really grow in the last year. He’s learned so much about the business side of pharmacy and he’s gained many new skills. In addition, he’s taken on several new roles at church. He leads our Wednesday night small group in a study about Christian doctrine and belief and it’s right up his alley and the perfect fit for him. He’s also working, as part of a committee, on restructuring the other committees in the church to make things more efficient and effective. In addition to all that, he’s involved in some professional organizations. Thankfully, he still finds time for great conversations with his wife and trips to the park and the museum with his kids!

I cut back a lot on substitute teaching this year, since Graves was so young, but fortunately I’ve been able to keep working at the Mother’s Day Out program at our church. It’s a blessing because I take the children and they both love it! I enjoy it because it gets me out of the house and lets me be around other women who love children and ministry. I am the youngest of the staff and I benefit from their wisdom more than they know! I tell everyone I know that it’s not really “work” and I had to correct myself when I said I had the best boss I’ve ever had because I remembered back to my old lifeguard days when Peyton was my boss!

In the midst of our day to day activities, we’ve taken a couple of trips, done a few house renovations, and worked on acquiring some new skills. I’ve taken a few sewing classes and I’m trying to improve my abilities with our camera and my abilities in the kitchen. I’m seeing (slow) progress in all these areas. We decided to focus on our kitchen this year and are in the process of having new flooring put in. Before we did that, Peyton sanded and painted all of our cabinets himself (with a little help), against the recommendation of most everyone we discussed it with. We are not typically DIY people so it felt really nice to accomplish this together! Since becoming a family of four, we’ve taken two “big” trips. We went to Destin this past Summer and then recently we took a family trip with some dear friends to Saint Louis to welcome home another friend and her newly adopted son. The kids did phenomenally well on both trips and I am thankful for their sweet dispositions on long car rides.

As 2011 neared it‘s end, I spent the month of November being very intentional about focusing on little things I was thankful for during the day and it was both a wonderful and a revealing exercise. Wonderful because it forced me to have a better, more positive attitude and revealing because I realized how many things I had been taking for granted. I am praying that in 2012 I will spend the whole year cultivating a spirit of thankfulness.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Peyton, Sarah Denley, Ann Peyton, and Graves Herrington

Time for Tea (Bon Ami Berry Tea Copycat Recipe)

2011-12-22T14:22:00.002-06:00

In the past month, two different people have emailed me asking for the recipe that is a copy of the Berry Tea served at Bon Ami, a fabulous restaurant here in Jackson because upon Googling it they were lead to In the Warm Hold.

So, I thought I'd go ahead and make it easy on future Googlers, as well as blessing anyone else who takes the less than five minutes this recipe requires. By some good fortune, Minnie was able to attain this little gem several years ago. Here ya go:
- 2/3 cup Lipton or Nestea Instant Tea w/ Lemon
- 8 cups of water
- 3 cups cranberry juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 tub Crystal Light Lemonade
Just mix it all together.....it's so easy!

Minnie says that it's not an exact match, but it's darn close in my opinion. It's perfect for the (sadly, about to be over) holidays. However, it's even more perfect for those (sadly, still pretty distant) Summer months!

Because I Said So...

2011-12-21T13:51:00.001-06:00

Someone mentioned to me last week, in regards to Peyton's views on spanking (and discipline in general) that I should be prepared because he wasn't going to want me to say "Because I said so" to our children. I had to laugh because, honestly, it's something I want to avoid as much as possible.

First, let me say that I understand there are occasions where that is the best, maybe even the only, answer a parent can give. Sometimes time won't allow for another answer. Sometimes a child is too young to understand the reasoning. Sometimes, a parent may just be at the end of his or her rope and needs to end the discussion.

I also understand that it's a valid reason. I don't want to give the impression on this blog that because we take a different approach to discipline than some, we don't recognize our authority. I've said it before, but our home is not a democracy and Peyton and I are the captains on this ship. We don't owe our children an explanation or a rationale for a rule. And we don't expect obedience because they understand our reasoning. We expect it because they are to honor us. Frankly, I don't understand everything that God requires of us, but I do my best to live in obedience to His will.

All that said, I think back about my mom and how very few times she used that line. It is one of the things that really stands out to me from my childhood and a gift I appreciate to this day. First of all, it made me feel so much more valuable. Like I was worth the time it took for her to explain something to me. And let me tell you, it took a LOT of her time. I was one of those children who asked endless questions. She really wanted me to go to law school because I have a very logical, rational mind and I like reasoning things. It was really important to me to know the "why" in so many areas of life.

So often I hear mothers say "I just don't have time for that" in regards to many issues, one being discipline. And I get that. I totally do. But the way I see it (and I don't expect everyone else to see it this way)-- at this point I do have time for it. I have two very young children and my days are what I make them. While I'm not going to talk to Ann Peyton until I'm blue in the face trying to explain something she can't grasp, I am going to make initial attempts to share the reasons behind our rules. I could say I don't have time for that and chose to prioritize other things above these discussions and those things could be good, holy things and that is not wrong for some families. But to me it would feel wrong. Because here's the thing- I didn't choose to forgo a teaching (or any other) career so that Peyton could have hot dinner every night or so that I could make sure to stay caught up on laundry or so that I could do endless house beautification projects (praise the Lord, because none of that happens on a regular basis). [And please don't hear me saying I think that's why any of you chose it, either.] I chose this life, in large part, because I wanted these discussions. I wanted to have the entire day in which to engage her in conversations about the reasons behind her behavior. Because inevitably, these conversations grow into bigger conversations about our values and priorities and relationships. When I say "Because I said so", in many ways I miss an opportunity to instruct her in being a good steward of the Earth, or taking care of her possessions, or treating others in a way that reflects the Golden Rule. If nothing else, I at least miss an opportunity to say that which would take one more breath "Because I am your mother. I have your best interest at heart. And you are to obey me."

Secondly, this approach that my mom took made me feel smart and confident. She treated me with respect and like I was mature enough to understand her reasoning and act in obedience whether I agreed with it or not. I try my best to talk "up" to our children. Long ago, Peyton and I decided that we would operate under the assumption that Ann Peyton could understand far more than we could imagine she was capable of. We felt like if we didn't, we would never encourage her to her full potential and we would always be "babying" her (something I admittedly, do have trouble with on occasion). I want my children to feel the way my mom made me feel- smart and strong and empowered.

Finally, it made me realize the value she placed, not only in me, but in our relationship. Certainly, I did not suffer under any disillusions that we were equals, but I did feel like I was more of an active participant in my coming of age experiences, more and more the older I got. Again, it was clear that the value of these frequent interactions was of greater importance than the value of her daily tasks.

To me, all this is part of a much larger picture. I feel like I'm constantly reevaluating how I do things and I think that's a good thing. In some ways, I know I've become stricter. I was talking with a good friend about it just the other day. For a long time I considered her much stricter than she actually is and I think she considered me probably more permissive than I truly am (or have come to be). As Annie has gotten older, I've come to have higher expectations of her. And as she's gotten more stubborn, I'm having to be more assertive with her.

Even though I said I would limit spanking her greatly out of respect for Peyton, until recently I kind of viewed the "gentle parenting" approach as a bit of a crock. And I will say that I still think one of the unfortunate drawback of such an approach is that it can encourage an attitude of permissiveness. In fact, I think it may often manifest itself in that way. However, I've come to think it doesn't have to.

All I mean by a "gentle approach", I guess, is more talking and less "reaction". I am NOT saying we don't punish her. If she disobeys, there's a punishment (usually time out, in infrequent cases a spanking, and, in many cases a natural/logical consequence), but I also want to be able to have a coherent discussion with her about it.

I use the "Dobson shoulder pinch" on occasion to make a point, but lately I've been seeing that many times it further escalates the situation. She just gets inconsolable upset and it's beyond stressful. A friend suggested that maybe I should ignore her after punishment or redirect her to another activity? Here's the thing- I don't want it to be an immediate consequence and then a distraction because she's so worked up from the consequence. I want there to be an opportunity for dialogue.

To me, it makes sense that the older a child gets (starting at about eighteen months), the less physical punishment should be used. When AP was a young toddler she could not understand the concept of time out. However, if she disobeyed me after a warning, I wanted there to be a consequence. At that point we spanked her (a light pop on the leg), albeit rarely, because we felt it was the only effective method. As she gets older and older, I want to move more and more toward a rational approach. Like I said, we believe that there should be a punishment for misbehavior, but that is only a small part of our discipline philosophy.

I have to say that the most important thing I am learning is the importance of me being in control of the situation. I know that the second I loose my temper the whole thing becomes so much harder on everyone involved. Lately, I've seen things I hate in myself- raising my voice, grabbing her by the arms and spinning her around, finger wagging, and using empty threats. I know that is not the way to parent and I'm trying to work on a different approach. It's slow going, but at least it's going.

The lessons she is teaching me are as profound as the ones I am teaching her.

Weekly Happenings #143 (December 12-18)-- Bedtime Nightmares

2011-12-20T15:22:00.002-06:00

[Peyton is forever asking me to use ridiculous outtakes like this, but I'm really compulsive and I can hardly put a picture up if his arm isn't around me the same exact way it usually is. It's a problem, y'all. Anyway, this week it seemed appropriate. And yes, this is week two of a family picture featuring our kitchen table. I learning patience. Last bit of commentary on this picture- does AP not look a bit like a sorority girl with that Colonel Rebel cup? Thank goodness that's just grapes she was partying with!]

Anyway....We haven't had any legit nightmares this week, but nap time and bedtime has definitely been truly nightmare-ish in the figurative sense! I had probably the singularly hardest night of my parenting life (not overstating) on Monday and Ann Peyton really struggled with naps. Graves had two nights where he was just beyond consolable (one because he was sick and one because I inadvertently ate something with dairy, I think). He has started sleeping through the night pretty consistently and I'm so thankful for that. I know he's eight months old and it's time, but y'all- he did it with NO intervention. It was just like one night he did it and here we are. Anyway, all that to say it was a rough week on all sleeping fronts and I really made it worse on myself because with them taking forever to get to bed and taking sporadic naps, I couldn't get as much done and stayed up way too late a lot of nights. Add to that the mess that is our house and there were a couple of days I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. Of course, we had some wonderful, sweet moments, too,and I'm (slowly) learning that the holidays are just going to be very different with two small children!

We had a super hard night Sunday and I was so thankful AP slept until nine on Monday since Graves had us seeing every hour of the clock all night. We got a slow start and poor Graves spent most of the morning continuing to howl. I felt so bad for him. I got a bath and got dressed and then spent about an hour cleaning up our disaster kitchen while Peyton bathed AP and played with Graves. I fed Graves and put him down for a nap and did a few things around the house. We all had lunch and then Peyton left for work and I got everyone ready and dropped AP off at Peyton's mom's house and took Graves to the doctor. I adore my pediatrician, but he is thorough, so it takes a while to get in and out. I got there at two thirty and we left about two hours later. Anyway, basically he had a bad cold. We did get him weighed (sixteen pounds) and I talked to him about how bad he's scratching his neck and ears (steroid cream for dry skin) and about the weird thing that happens when he's laying down and trying to do a "sit up" (it is, in fact, a hernia, but not something to worry about until he's two at which point, if it isn't gone, we'll contact a surgeon), and finally his crazy, grabby hand movements (not ADD or autism and also not an issue at eight months, but maybe if he does it as a toddler). So, whew! Wish I could just opt out of our nine month well baby since Dr. Denney basically did it!

After we left, I picked up something for the floor from Jimmy Lyles and then drove through Chik Fil A. They forgot my mayo, so I ended up stopping at home, running in and refixing my sandwich and then going to get AP. I visited a bit with the Herringtons and then we came home. I had really thought we wouldn't leave the house on Monday and we ended up with our tails in the road from lunch time until after dark. I can't lie, I'm a planner so I was a irritated, but at least I was full and had healthy baby and bonus! AP had a wonderful time playing with her grandparents and cousin!

We got home and I fed Graves solids (for the first time that day-whoops!) and gave him a bath. I took his monthly pictures (a joy with his mood) and put him to bed.

[I love the Christmas backdrop. I wish I had used it for Annie's, too. Oh well, there's always next year. Because, more than likely, I will be doing this to her when she's three and a half.]

AP was being a handful, but she helped me clean up in their room, so I let her watchhates him getting in her space in her bed...it's so weird but I think it's because he gets in there and annoys her (tickling her and such). Anyway, I think the whole situation really broke his heart and I told him we needed to discuss it because time out didn't seem to be helping and neither did just rocking her or laying down with her. I'm not sure a spanking would help either, though, because I did do the shoulder pinch and all it did was frustrate her. Sometimes it does work, but in this case I think she was just so tired and worked up a spanking might have put her over the edge even more. I did manage to fix some spaghetti for supper. I cleaned up the kitchen and then stayed up late working on Baby Graves's monthly letter.

Tuesday was, thankfully, much more typical. Of course AP was a little cranky from not getting enough sleep but we had a good day at Mother's Day Out. I brought lunch so I wouldn't have to feed her when we got home and I could put her straight down for a nap. I ended up talking to Darlene and Daniel, or associate pastor, in the parking lot for a good while and AP feel asleep before we even left the church. Of course, when we got home, she didn't really want to get back in bed. I told her she had to, but I did fix her some juice. Graves took a great nap and she stayed in bed for a while. I got on the computer and found some last minute gifts for Peyton and then watched Lost and folded laundry. She got up and I worked on laundry some more and then Peyton got home. I fixed a dessert and we got ready and went to the nursing home where our Ultreya group was caroling. It was fun and AP was a hit with the "elders" as they call them.

[This sweet lady wooed Annie with her bag of potato chips. The way to this girl's heart is through her tummy, for sure!]

Afterward, we had a little party where people brought all different kinds of soup. We got home and put the kids right to bed. I got on the computer and really worked on a couple of posts for the first time in what seemed like forever. I uploaded pictures and put some on Flikr and then went to bed.

I woke up early on Wednesday to feed Graves and then he fell back asleep and Peyton and I chatted and then he woke AP up and washed her hair for me and then left for work. I got us all ready for Bible study and we headed to it. It was our last one of the year. It was good and I stayed a bit and talked and then we came home. AP feel asleep in the car again and sabotaged her nap. I made her rest in bed for about an hour and tried to get Graves to nap, too. Neither one did. I wasted time on the computer and once they got up we all had a snack/lunch. Peyton got home and I got things together and we dropped them off at his parents' house and went to our Christian Believer group. It was a good discussion and then we picked up the kids and came home. We moved furniture and stuff back in the sunroom and completely cleaned out the laundry room. I cleaned up the kitchen and got on the computer and then went to bed.

Thursday morning came early! It was our last day of MDO for the year! Peyton had the day off, but he got up and helped me get the kids ready (after he ran to the store at 6:30 to buy the sweet tea I was supposed to bring to our party after school). Anyway, it was a crazy day, but a relatively good one. Annie wasn't near as disobedient/whiney, but she was really clingy and kept wanting me to hold her and refused to let anyone else take her to the bathroom. After MDO, we all went over to Darlene's house for lunch. We had a good time, but one of Graves's teachers, whom I ADORE, announced she wouldn't be coming back. It was really sad and there were lots of tears. I kept AP awake in the car asking her all about the Christmas story- "And tell me again, WHO was Jesus's momma?" "And who was his papa?" (I let that go with "Joseph", but Peyton later asked her "And who else?" and then told her God. Big concepts for little people!).

I got home and put the kids down for naps, but Graves couldn't fall asleep. Peyton took him for an ice cream run and then got him to sleep. I wasted a bunch of time on the computer and Annie woke up later than I planned. Peyton was taking a nap, too, so we woke him up and we all went to Chik Fil A for supper (mainly because Peyton had promised AP a trip to the park and it was just to dark and wet and he's big on keeping promises). We ate and played and dropped Peyton off at the gym. His brother brought him home and then they loaded up all the old laminate pieces that the garbage men left to go haul to a dumpster themselves. While he was gone, I unpacked all our stuff from MDO (presents and such) and straitened up a bit. Annie tried to feed Graves some applesauce I left sitting out and also spilled chocolate milk in her purse(??) and on the floor. I got those messes cleaned up and kind of picked up their room and put up laundry. I gave Graves a bath after I fed him the applesauce and then we got ready because Peyton wanted to go ahead and take my Buick to the tire place since we've been meaning to do that for over a week. We all loaded up and did that, got gas, and went by Sonic. It was super late when we got home. Graves fell asleep easily, but AP fought it. I was really proud of her because while she did fuss a lot (which we're trying to encourage her not to do since she's sharing a room with Graves), she didn't get out of bed one time. I used a calm voice and told her from the very beginning that if she got out she would go "straight to time out". I read my Bible some and got on the computer and finished a post and just caught up on blogs and stuff.

Friday was a good productive day. Peyton and I got up early and got the kids up and dropped my 4Runner off at another car place because it was leaking oil and then headed to my parents' house for showers since our hot water heater was in our garage while the floors were being redone :( The plumber was supposed to put it back in Friday afternoon, but we ended up having to wait until Monday. Anyway, we visited for a little while and then came home for early naps. Both kids were tired and I took a nap, too. Peyton went to lunch with a pharmacist friend and I got on the computer and started addressing Christmas cards. Peyton got home and we woke up Annie (Graves was up already) and picked up the key to the Buick and then went and got the 4Runner and ran by the post office for stamps. Peyton took AP and went to the grocery store for a few things and Graves and I drove through the bank and went back to my parents' house to get MonkMonk, who got left that morning. We came home and picked up the Buick and then I cooked dinner while Peyton played with the kids.

[Annie in her bee pajamas that came with a matching tutu- so fun, right? She picked out her Missoni shoes and ski cap to go with them. Also pictured: the new floors, sans sealer. (The sun room has been sealed already, see the difference?)]

I cooked this Cajun Shrimp Casserole. It was good, but kind of time consuming and I forgot one thing I needed and had to send Peyton to the store once the kids were in bed. Actually, it was white wine and since we live in a dry county he had to go to a neighboring one, ha! Anyway, it was good, but next time I'm going to add less cayenne pepper because it was SO spicy! Peyton went out for drinks with his brother and I messed around on the computer and cleaned up the kitchen. I put some pictures on Facebook and read blogs and Peyton and I chatted and went to bed.

Saturday was a nice, relaxing day. Graves woke up around seven thirty when Peyton left and I nursed him and then snuggled and played with him in bed. AP got up around nine and we watched some Elmo and then I put Graves down for his nap. Annie and I rested a little more and then Elliot came over to seal the floors. They weren't dry yet, though, so he left and when Graves woke up we got ready and headed to my parents' house for baths. My mom was working, but we had a nice visit with my dad and then I took a bath and gave both of the kids one. We got home and AP took her nap with absolutely no protest. So nice!

Graves had a hard time falling asleep, but he slept for awhile once he finally did.

[Y'all: that lip. I am in love. There was a time I really thought I'd never love him as much as AP (I can admit it now), but sometimes I look at him and I think "You are perfect. Don't ever change." and I can't even comprehend how much I adore him.]

I watched Lost and folded laundry and got on the computer. When they woke up, we just played in their room and I put up clothes. Graves was pretty fussy. When Peyton got home, he played with AP and fed her supper while I got Graves to bed.

[She's such a good eater- that's a salad she was eating. As long as it's got Ranch, she loves a good salad!]

We put Annie to bed and then Graves was up again. He was screaming so loud and I could hear the gas in his tummy. I still can't figure out what I ate, but I'm sure it was my fault :( He went to sleep again finally and I got on the computer, wrapped a present and baked a dessert for a party the next day, worked on a sewing project, packed up some stuff to go to the attic, and watched more Lost. I went to bed way late, even for me.

[This makes me sad. Also, see again: SD is insane. See that detailed labeling? absurd! I am thinking that the baby cousin arriving in a several months will benefit not only from my compulsive shopping, but my compulsive organizing. Ha!]

We got up early Sunday and took cold baths (yuck!). I jumped in and out in less than a minute and washed my hair in the sink. We went to early church because Peyton was assisting with children's church and we got there early because we still had about twenty hymnals in the car from the when we sang at the nursing home. We went to Sunday school and then headed to Target to buy some diapers for Graves and then home to change clothes.

[One of last year's outfits. It's a 12-18 mo. for anyone curious.]

We loaded back up and went to our Sunday school class Christmas party. So fun, but so much yummy dairy :( After the party we came home and I took a nap after we put the kids down. When I woke up, we went over to my parents' house because they were having beans and rice since they had Christmas parties and stuff on Friday. My mom was a little under the weather, but we had a nice time visiting with Mickey. We talked about his morning Bible study time and that was interesting- he said he always tries to pick things that he's interested in and doesn't know enough about. Lately, he's been examining John the Baptist and Pontius Pilate. Peyton and I also both took baths over there, ha! We got home and I was still feeling tired and yucky, so I went to bed after I got on the computer for a few minutes.

I'm glad Christmas is almost here. I still haven't mailed Christmas cards and I decided yesterday that there was just no way we were going to decorate at all and if our house is remotely back to normal by Sunday it will be a Christmas miracle. I'm still glad we did the project this way (we saved a ton of money and Elliot is so friendly and accommodating), but it has been a process, to say the least.

Weekly Smorgasbord

2011-12-16T23:07:00.000-06:00

Links from this past week:

The Morning Center -- The Morning Center

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:14 PM PST

Another neat way (see"Donate a Safe Delivery" link below) to actively contribute to positive birth experiences.

The 50 Funniest Tweets Of 2011 | Happy Place

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:11 PM PST

HAHA!

Her.meneutics: How 'Modest Is Hottest' Is Hurting Christian Women

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 09:06 PM PST

"However, "modest is hottest" also perpetuates (and complicates) this objectification of women by equating purity with sexual desire. The word "hot" is fraught with sexual undertones. It continues a tradition in which women are primarily objects of desire, but it does so in an acceptable Christian way." Interesting.

Nestlé boycott - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 08:29 PM PST

Peyton and I were talking about the boycotting issue (in part from a fair trade perspective, in part due to some friends of ours who don't donate to Susan G. Komen due to their association with the abortion provider Planned Parenthood) and I shared with him about the Nestle boycott. He had never heard of it. So sad that babies in developing nations DIE because of unethical formula marketing (and obviously, this is totally different from the decision to bottle fed in a developed country like the US, so don't hear me attacking anyone, please). Anyway, guess there's another thing to add to the list.

People I Want to Punch in the Throat: Over Achieving Elf on the Shelf Mommies

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:34 PM PST

Language warning. This post is a bit crude, but I think it's just comical the way some people go overboard with their elves!

Emerging Mummy: In which I threaten a spanking

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:13 PM PST

Okay, y'all know by this time that I am not hardcore against spanking (and neither is Peyton in some situations). We are (him particularly) not comfortable with using it as a primary form of discipline, however. Still, I link to this post with hesitation, because I don't want to be misunderstood. The reason I am linking to it is because I had a terrible, exhausting, loose my temper and almost all control, night with Annie last week. And after discussing it with a lot of women whom I really respect and whose opinions are very valuable to me, I got not one answer different from "Well, if you just spanked her once it would probably fix the situation".

And, you see, that puts me in a difficult situation. Because I want to honor Peyton. If I had a firmly held conviction, I would expect him to honor it. I simply can't, in good conscious, do something that goes against what he believes. So, after these discussions, I felt like I was once again up a creek without a paddle. I just wanted some advice and encouragement that took his view into account.

And I found it.

Also, weird that the little girl's name is Anne and she shares a room with her two years younger brother. Because, y'all? The shared room has been great for the most part, but it really compounds the problem in this kind of situation. Anyway, irony abounds.

Emerging Mummy: In which we have a routine [My Practices of Mothering]

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:50 PM PST

I've been stumbling through the weeks here lately, to be perfectly honest. Somehow, I stumbled upon this post and it occurred to me that part of the problem is that we are simply doing to much. By many people's standards, we probably aren't over committed at all, but it's been too much for me and too much for the kids and I'm done. After Christmas, we're reevaluating and probably saying "no" a lot more often. I've been reading through Sarah's "Practices of Mothering" and I could probably link to every one I've read so far. I love the way her home seems so calm and tranquil. I don't want my kids (or myself) to look back at these early days and remember a rat race and a frazzled momma.

Amazon.com: Kurt Adler Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar with 24 Magnetic Figures: Home & Garden

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:25 PM PST

Even on sale, it's kind of expensive, but I *love* this nativity/advent calendar combo. I've been looking for a nativity for AP and I think this is PERFECT.

Donate a Safe Delivery This Holiday Season | IRC Gifts

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:23 PM PST

I thought this was so cool and then I came up with an idea-- we decided that every year on our children's birthdays, we are going to give a donation in their honor so another baby can have a healthier birth!

Spanking children: A guide for the science-minded

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 11:50 AM PST

Peyton and I have been having a lot of conversations re: our spanking decision. I thought this article was really fair in how it treated the issue. I'm one who is usually skeptical about statistics on behavioral issues. It's easy for me to see things like breastfeeding or birth decisions as more clear cut, but with spanking and CIO and those sort of things I think it is MUCH easier to twist the data and spin things. Anyway, I'm not saying there's not a bias at all, but among the articles I've read, this is one of the better ones.

Enjoy!

Flashback Friday: Just Because He's Pretend...

2011-12-16T08:37:00.000-06:00

...doesn't mean it's not fun to [make] believe.

Graves- Eight Months Old (12.12.11)

Ann Peyton- Eight Months Old (12.02.09)

* vintage Santa sweatshirt, circa 1985, courtesy of baby SD's closet

Christian Believer: Week Eleven {Salvation}

2011-12-15T23:46:00.002-06:00

I love to tell the story, ’tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

["I Love to Tell the Story", Katherine Hankey]

I'm so, SO behind on these. This is from the lesson from before Thanksgiving. Wow. The topic that time was "Salvation" (God So Loved the World). I have to say that it was my least favorite so far, which shocked me, it being such a hugely important topic. I think part of it was that it just seemed kind of redundant, like a lot had been covered in previous lessons specifically Sin and Grace.

We watched the video first and I found it super interesting that week. First it talked about the question "What does God want to save us from?" Is it individual sin, death, oppression, injustice? Sometimes the term "salvation" implies political liberation, sometimes eternal life. I like this line- "we cannot preach eternal life while people starve, nor can be be content with promoting economic justice while people have no communion with God". It discussed how the Old Testament view of salvation was that of the problem of idolatry and how God's solution was discipline and rescue. Salvation at this time seemed to be mostly concerned with political and economic liberation. Salvation was often tied to obedience; if you obeyed, you prospered; if you disobeyed, you suffered. In the New Testament, we see that the problem is a flaw in the inner being and the solution is found in God's deliverance through Christ.

John 11 seems to imply that Jesus was a political sacrifice given in order to keep the Romans from killing many of the Jewish people when they sensed restlessness among the people. However, we see later that the deliverance brought by Jesus was much more than a political one, it was a rescue for individuals from sin and its consequences. Paul understood salvation to be about "forgiveness of past sings by the cross of Christ, personal transformation by conforming to Christ in thought and conduct, and the promise of a bodily resurrection at the final judgment".

The early church fathers defined sin as a misplaced desire and found the solution in Jesus, who reestablishes our desire for God at the center of our life. The Eastern church later began to understand salvation as God rescuing his people from sin, restoring humankind to original perfection, and turning us toward God. Transformation occurs as our worst self changes into our best self as we grow closer to God. The Western church viewed God as being angry with us and acknowledged that our disobedience deserved death. Early on, the church thought that God provided sacraments for the forgiveness of sin. However, the sacraments begin to take on a life of their own in the Middle Ages and created much anxiety. Martin Luther thought that "although the church retains the power to make God's presence and love real to people through the sacraments, the assurance of salvation resides not in the church's ministry but in the heart of each Christian". Other, more radical reformers denied the church's authority totally and stated that salvation was based only on an individual's personal acceptance of Christ. Liberation Theology returns to the earliest Biblical understanding and is interested in social and economic conditions that separate the poor and weak from the wealthy and powerful. Salvation is a "release from debilitating social and economic circumstances". However, the traditional Christen view simply states that we are judged guiltless based on Christ's reconciling us to God by his work on the cross.

The reading from the workbook was pretty good, too. The first thing it said was that "Salvation involves two parties, the Savior and the one being saved. The effectiveness of salvation depends on a peculiar kind of cooperation of both parties."

The book then discussed the German word Heilsgeschichte, which means "salvation history". This is a theological term for reading the Bible as the "narrative of God's working out redemption purposes for the wold". The book went on to summarize this history. We were created with the chance of a problem occurring because we were created with freedom of choice. Not only did we assert our independence, but also our selfishness. Our first instinct in self-preservation and preserving ourselves usually comes at the expense of someone else's desires or convenience. While modern Christians often think of salvation as private and personal, the Hebrew writers tended not to differentiate between physical and spiritual matters, or between personal and community. Later in the New Testament, we do see a stronger emphasis on individual response and a sharmper description of sin and destructive consequences. The most important issue in the New Testament, however, the issue that "makes all other matters of preliminary consequence" is the role of Jesus Christ. He is named Jesus because the name means "savior" and he has come to "save his people from their sins" (Mathew 1:21).

The book went on to define and describe several terms. Soteriology is the study of salvation. The terms new birth or regeneration have taken on special meaning because they emphasize that salvation is "more than just a matter of personal reformation; it is a radical change, so radical that it is described as the making of a new person". The term "born-again Christian" is redundant because a person cannot come to Christ without being born again. The term adoption is also discussed, "the emphasis is on our familial relationship with God and on the necessity of God's redeeming action; it is the parent who adopts the child". Conversion is another synonym for salvation and means "turning around". It is similar to repentance in that regard. Justification is a more complex term that means to be justified, or made right, by faith in the work of Christ. Redemption has an Old Testament background. The nearest kin could redeem someone from a debt or even slavery; Christ brings us back from slavery and bondage to sin. Commitment was the final term. It's not a classic term, but Protestants seem to use it often. The books says that it is a "weak term theologically, as it carries no sense of repentance...[and] the emphasis is moved from God's action in saving to the human quality of response".

It went on to talk about ideas about salvation that were made popular during the Protestant Reformation. Salvation was a very important issue because the reformers were reacting to the idea that salvation could be gained by "meritorious actions". They insisted that salvation was a free gift, given by grace alone.

In our discussion, the book compared the sin problem to someone drowning and in need of saving. One of the questions was "Is that description too strong?". I said that personally, I didn't think it was strong enough. A drowning person is still alive and the Bible describes us as being "dead in sin". I think a more truly analogous comparison would be a person who has already drowned and is pulled from the water with the savior resuscitating him or her.

Finally, some of my favorite passages from the textbook:
"Q60: How are you righteous before God?" A: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. In spite of the fact that my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have not kept any one of them, and that I am still ever prone to all that is evil, nevertheless, God without any merit of my own, out of pure grace, grants me the benefits of the perfect expiation of Christ, imputing to me this righteousness and holiness as if I had never committed a single sin or had ever been sinful, having fulfilled myself all the obedience which Chris has carried out for me, if only I accept such favor with a trusting heart.

Q61: Why do you say that you are righteous by faith alone? Not because I please God by virtue of the worthiness of my faith, but because the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ alone are my righteousness before God, and because I can accept it a make it mine in other way than by faith alone." -Heidelberg Catechism, 1562

"It is not something at a distance: it is a present thing, a blessing which, through the free mercy of God, ye are now in possession of...And this consists of two general parts, justification and sanctification. Justification is another word for pardon. It is the forgiveness of all our sins, and (what is necessarily implied therein) or acceptance with God...At the same time that we are justified, yea, in that very moment, sanctification begins. We are inwardly renewed by the power of God...We feel the love of God...producing love to all mankind, and more especially to the children of God: expelling the love of the world, the love of pleasure, of ease, of honour, of money; together with pride, anger, self-will, and every other evil temper- in a word, changing the 'earthly, sensual, devilish, mind into 'the mind which was in Christ Jesus'." -John Wesley

"To be saved does not just mean to be a little encouraged, a little comforted, a little relieved. I means to be pulled out like a log from a burning fire. You have been saved! We are not told: you may be saved sometimes, or a little bit. No, you have been saved, totally and for all times. You? Yes, we!" - Karl Barth

"Sometimes the change is so radical that it seems miraculous. Sometimes there is a gradual,...almost imperceptible, change in values, motives, feelings, and modes of responding to situations. If there is no difference at all, regeneration has not occurred." -Georgia Harkness

"Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near...'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways'...Then you will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you..." -Isaiah 55:6, 8, 12

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water form the wells of salvation." -Isaiah 12:2-3

"I tell you...there will be more rejoicing over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." -Luke 15:7

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrated his love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ die for us." -Romans 5:6-8

"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life to all men...For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." -Romans 5:18-19

Weekly Happenings #142 (December 5-11)-- Entering the Construction Zone

2011-12-14T00:08:00.000-06:00

Last week was kind of crazy. With the floors being redone, Christmas coming up, and the week's normal activities it felt really busy. Annie has been fighting me about naps and bedtimes and that just makes the days long. And on top of that, we've had to keep the kids out of the living room because all the stuff from our kitchen and sunroom is piled in it. It's no fun limiting them to our room and the nursery, so I tried to get us out a lot! This current week is our last week of MDO for the year and while I have some fun things this week, I'll honestly be really glad for next week when we can just breath!

Monday started out good, but it got a little rough by the afternoon. Graves woke up around eight and I was so happy because he only woke up once between that that morning and ten the night before (and he woke up because AP was fussing). I got up and fed him and took a bath and dried my hair and then we got AP up. We played a little and then I put him down for a nap and cleaned up our disaster kitchen. Peyton had put the food up from dinner the night before but that was the extent. I just hate waking up to dirty dishes! Anyway, I took care of them and took out the trash and then I realized it was time to get ready for lunch. I had to wake Graves up and we ended up running late. Luckily, the Howies were, too!

We went to Primos and it was really good. Ann Peyton decided she wanted to sit in the booth with Ms. Carrie and Aubrey not the one with Momma and Baby Graves. Ha! They were sweat and made room for her! She also surprised me by asking to "go to the bathroom" (it was also surprising that she used such nice etiquette in her wording) even though she was in a diaper. She did teetee, but we had to make about three trips over the course of an hour. Girlfriend got her momma's small bladder genes ;) We got home and played some and then attempted naps. Graves was out like a light once I fed him, but AP was another story. Not only did she not want to sleep, but she kept needing to go to the potty. It wouldn't bother me at all, but , at this point, I have to help her every time with wiping (sorry if that's TMI) and washing her hands. Anyway, I was trying to upload some pictures to Flikr and that was frustrating me and I also realized that I've spent hours on it and uploaded hundreds of pictures and it's probably 5% of our stuff, if that. Whew. Anyway, I was so frustrated and then she woke up Graves. I was just so irritated. Usually if they skip naps or whatever, I can deal with it. I was just being selfish and wanting some "me time".

It really upset me how mad I got about it. I'm used to dealing with strong sad feelings from time to time, but I've never really had a hard time with strong angry ones. Until now. My blood was just boiling and it was over nothing. I seriously wanted to throw Peyton's iPad out a window and when I envisioned telling him about it, I was saying "at least it wasn't one of your kids". Um, woah. I turned on a movie for AP and just tried to relax. Peyton got home and I told him about my day and how upset I was. In typical Peyton fashion, he suggested I go exercise. Maybe if that was something I was in the habit of doing, I would go for it, but I did not feel like starting a new routine. Ha! He also mentioned seasonal depression from not getting enough sunshine. Also, typical Peyton. Anyway, I went and worked on the pictures some more and then when he went to the gym we all loaded up to go to my parents' house. My mom had already invited me before she knew I was having a bad day because she was making chicken pot pie for herself and my dad and she knows I love it, so she made me a full pie to eat and take home! We had a good visit and I felt MUCH better when I got home. I asked Peyton to go get AP from the car when I got home and he said he didn't have shoes on and I was kind of ugly about it. He got upset (understandably) and I felt so awful again! He put the kids to bed and I just kind of moped. We made up and I got on the computer for a bit and then went to bed. Not the best day, but it could have certainly been worse.

On Tuesday we had Mother's Day Out and Peyton helped me get the kids ready. We got there a little late and then I spilled AP's cereal all over the floor and the pants she was wearing were too big. It ended up being a good day, but a busy one! We were taking pictures of all the kids individually and in a group and working on some holiday crafts. We're not as intense as some of the other MDO's in town and are not ones to do a craft every week. Ha! Ann Peyton did have a bit of a rough day and I'm not sure what the problem was. She opened the door in the gym (I would not have thought she was capable) and ran out it after I told her to stop pushing it. I think running away like that is a safety issue, so she got a spanking. As we were packing up, she just threw a fit because she wanted to go in the lunch room. I was put her in time out and then just tried to distract her and told her to follow her little friend. Once we were outside the church, the little boy (who is older than her and whose mom allowed it) took off running. Well, she took off, too. I spanked her again for letting go of my hand and when I did her little body shook a little bit. It upset me so much because I've never seen such a physical reaction, but I know I didn't do it hard or in anger, so I guess she was just shocked. Anyway, when we got to the car she told me "I was following Chapel, Momma". I felt bad because I had told her to, but when I discussed it with Peyton he said that I did the right thing. I think Mr. Anti-Spanking isn't as hardcore when it comes to a real live toddler. Theories are great, but....

We got home and I ate a quick bowl of soup and then my dad came over and we loaded the kids in Peyton's car and Daddy and I rode in my 4Runner to get our Christmas trees! I meant to get pictures, but the kids only got out of the car for a few minutes because it was really cold and raining. UGH. We got home and got our tree in and then Peyton left with my dad to take their tree to their house (they get a ten foot, two hundred pounder). I put the kids down for naps, but they neither one could go to sleep. I let Graves fuss a little bit and tried to rock him and nurse him again. He was so tired, but he couldn't fall asleep and AP kept up her same bathroom routine from the day before. I decided I was just going to have to make a potty rule and limit all this. Peyton was on his way home and an alarm went off on my phone to remind me that Graves had a doctor's appointment IN TEN MINUTES. He had taken the carseats out of my car, so he had to take him (I can't drive standard- it's on my to-do's). Annie just played and I spent about an hour straightening around the house- changing over laundry, distributing things to different rooms, going through a few piles and filing some things. Peyton and Graves got home and we all hung out and played and talked. We put the kids to bed and had hot dogs for dinner. I got on the computer and then went to bed.

Wednesday was, honestly, exhausting! We were supposed to go to Bible study and I got up and got a bath and then chatted with Peyton a little. Graves woke up while we were chatting and Peyton helped me give him a bath and get AP ready. We were set to go and I spilled something in the kitchen and realized that the car seats were still not back in my car. We were running a little late and I decided we should just stay home because we had a lot going on. Peyton was off and he was already working on scraping up the laminate flooring in our kitchen. I went to Chik Fil A and got us some breakfast and we ate and I fed Graves and then got a package ready to mail for a book swap. I ran some errands while Graves napped and AP watched a movie and Peyton worked in the kitchen.

I went to the post office, the bank and the grocery store. I got home and Elliot was there working. I immediately starting making chili- I was making three batches, one for some neighbors who just had a baby, one for our small group that night, and one for Morgan because when I had talked to her that morning she had told me how she was having a rough time with her youngest's sleep schedule at night. I know how hard that is, so I wanted to help in a little way! I cleaned up the kitchen and started my dessert and then the butter I melted exploded in the microwave. I got that cleaned up and unloaded and loaded dishes and at that point Elliot was laying brick right by where I was standing. Peyton had given AP a bath and was playing with the kids, so I helped him put them down for naps and then he went and got us lunch from Newks.

We read our Christian Believer lesson and then woke AP up. We took her to my my parents because there was no nursery since our is the only group meeting and then dropped of the chili with Morgan and headed to church. We had a good lesson and the food was good, another girl in our group brought a yummy pasta salad and rolls. We picked up Annie and got home and put the kids to bed and then we moved the rest of the stuff out of the kitchen and Peyton finished pulling up the flooring. I got on the computer for a few minutes for the first time all day and then went to bed.

I woke up freezing on Thursday and Peyton went to check the heat and realized it was broken. We had MDO and I actually made it on time in spite of the redic state of our house and waking up a little late. Peyton left for work right before us. He called me around 8:30 to tell me that he had bad news- he had driven to Byram and realized he was supposed to work the afternoon shift. I was so bummed because Carrie and I had a girls night planned. Peyton called his parents, but they couldn't babysit and I felt like I had asked mine way too much. I called around and ended up getting the teenaged daughter of a family friend to do it. We stayed for lunch at MDO and then rushed home so I could do a few things. I vacuumed in the bedrooms and changed AP's sheets to some really fun Christmas ones and put fresh ones in the crib, too.

[stocking sheets!!!]

I put the kids down and then left to buy a few things at the grocery store to leave with the sitter (baby MumMums and processed snacks for Annie). I tweeted that I was breaking all my recycling, tv, and processed food rules this week (we actually eat WAY more processed stuff than we should, but I try to keep it away from the children). Anyway, Peyton left for work (again) and while they took a nap, I did dishes, changed over laundry, swept, and straightened. I just couldn't leave my house super dirty, even for a highschool kid. Elliot got ready to leave and I was going to move my car so he could get out and right then Annie started fussing about a dirty diaper. I changed it and I knew I couldn't trust her to stay in bed, especially if she heard me go out the door and crank the car. That kind of situation just makes me nervous (that somehow she'd get out of the house or hurt herself inside) and so I bundled her up in a sleeper (she always sleeps in nothing but a diaper even in the Winter now) and strapped her in her car seat and moved my car.

Graves woke up shortly after that and I fed him and then he played while I put up laundry in our room. Annie never did go to sleep so I got her up and then I played with them and got ready. I got ready way early and got them some snacks together and it was SO nice not being in a huge rush. Emily, the babysitter, got here and we talked some and I explained everything and then Carrie got here to pick me up. She also brought a few of Jude's diapers because AP was on her last one and I though it might be a bit much to ask the babysitter to do panties or cloth dipes.

[I set up a little snack for them and left it on our bed!]

We left and went to Julep for supper. I had strawberry pecan salad and a cup of tomato basil soup. SO good! We went by Starbucks afterward. It was so much fun to get to talk without any precious little distractions! When I got home, Emily had Graves asleep and was watching a movie with AP. I was worried it would be rough, since they are so not used to non family members keeping them and since they could really only play in the nursery and our bedroom. Emily said AP was great, though, and Graves was one of the easiest babies she had ever kept. WOW! I was really happy to have found someone I trust for when our parents aren't available. Putting Annie to bed was a little hard. I think she was just overly tired and wound up. She finally went to sleep and I blogged and got on the computer. I tried to put more pictures on Flikr, but it was taking forever. Peyton had said he thought it was going to be too much of a time suck and I should just get multiple hard drives. I did my Beth Moore study and went to bed. Graves slept through the night that night!

Friday was rough. I woke up with a bad headache and it really didn't get better all day. Peyton had a meeting at church so he watched the kids until he had to leave. I got up and played with them and took a bath. I fed Graves his applesauce and gave him a bath and then put him down for a nap and snuggled with AP while she watched Elmo. Peyton got home and took both kids to the park and to get my oil changed and I took a nap.

[Getting ready for the park]

He got home and got ready and left for work and I fed the kids lunch and put them down for a nap and then took a nap myself. When they woke up, I got us all ready and we dropped some chili off with the neighbors that just had a baby and headed to my parents' house. We got home and I put the kids to bed and got on the computer to type up our Christmas letter and then went to bed myself.

I felt SO much better on Saturday. Graves slept through the night again and I felt rested and relaxed. He woke up first and I fed him and popped in the tub as Peyton was leaving for work. I was able to finish getting ready before AP got up. Once she got up, we had breakfast and I gave her a bath. I put Graves down for a nap and she played in the study some while I uploaded more pictures to Flikr. I hardly ever let her play in the study (it's not baby proofed at all) and there were several tubs to go to the attic. She just sat on top of one and read her book for awhile. Yes, I do let her sit (but not stand) on storage boxes. After that, she watched a video and I folded and put up a couple of loads of laundry in our room.

[Yes, I let her play in the Exersaucer. She was so bored. Actually, I let her in it whenever Graves is not in it. Choosing my battles.]

I woke up Graves and we got ready to go to the Natural Science Museum. I decided maybe I should take the double stroller a friend had lent us, but it needed cleaning a bit. After I unfolded it, I thought maybe we should just take one for Graves and AP could walk the whole time (Peyton swears that's easier). She was really excited about the stroller, though, so I vacuumed and cleaned it quickly. We all loaded up and drove the the museum. We had a good time and spent about an hour there.

[I got my first "twins comment". I think it was the double stroller. "Um, no sir, he's eight months and she's two and a half".]

["Momma, what's that boar talking 'bout???"]

After we left, I let Annie eat some Nabs I brought and fed Graves some baby food. It was kind of chilly outside but I really wanted to just drop them in bed when we got home. They ate and we loaded back up. Graves's car seat had come loose and I worked on fixing it for five minutes while he screamed. [I talked to Peyton later and he said that is happening way too much and we should probably not use the car seats in my 4Runner anymore and really it would be best for me to learn to drive his car (it's a standard) because it has a LATCH system.] Anyway, I got it and was feeling so good about myself for taking them alone, feeding them lunch, and fixing the seat. Well, we got home and AP hadn't been buckled in at all. I was SO upset. I put the kids down and got on the computer for a few minutes and then I fixed myself HALF of a chicken pot pie and some Debbie snack. Yes, I can certainly eat my feelings. I watched Lost and folded laundry and then I got ready because we were ringing bells for the Salvation Army at the grocery store. I got the kids up and got them ready and Peyton got home and we immediately left.

It went better than I expected. Peyton rang the bell the whole time and the kids and I alternated between "helping" him and just enjoying driving one of the fun cars attached to the grocery carts inside the store.

[He adores her.]

[And she feels likewise about him.]

Graves had a TERRIBLE diaper and I had to take off his onsie and just let him wear his little jacket without one. After we left the Kroger, one of Peyton's coworkers was having a party, so we went to that. We got home pretty late and put the kids right to bed. I got on the computer and rewatched a Christian Believer video and went to bed.

We had a nice relaxing Sunday. We woke up and got ready and went to Sunday School and late church. Our class is going through the book, The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem. It's a really good close up perspective of the Christmas story. It was so interesting and Peyton and I are really enjoying it. After church, we went to one of our favorite restaurants in Brandon, Annie D's, for lunch. We came home and all attempted naps, but I don't think anyone really got much sleep. We let the kids snuggle in our bed a bit and then we got all bundled up and headed to the new park right across the street from our neighborhood. I need to bring my camera next time because it is FABULOUS. We had a blast and had to drag Annie away kicking and screaming....literally.

[Peyton put on her bonnet backwards. She was having so much fun, though!]

[This is one of my all time favorite BG pics.]

We went by Target and I got a Peppermint Hot Chocolate for me and Peyton at the Starbucks and some chocolate milk and new sippy cups for it to go in (they are actually really boyish...they were so cute and I wanted to get some that weren't just plain for when Graves gets to them, ha!). I forgot to tell them to use soy in my hot chocolate until the last minute and when I got to the car I realized they hadn't added the peppermint. Peyton was so sweet and went back in to get it fixed. We drove around and looked at lights and then dropped by my parents' house for a few minutes and came home and put the kids right to bed. I was SO tired, I climbed in bed myself before ten. It was a good thing I did because Graves was up seriously every hour of the night. It was one of his worst nights EVER and I'm not exaggerating.

We've already been to the doctor and it's not the ears. He does have a yucky little cold, but I can't figure out how that would keep him up like it did. Maybe a cold plus teeth? He's been drooling buckets for months and I can't see or feel anything, so who knows? He seems to be doing much better. I guess we'll see this week.