The Coming Winter

Today we went to the apple orchard, probably the last trip of the season. Of course, we can never resist the piping hot apple fritter donuts and hot apple cider. We collected red, yellow, and orange leaves like you would seashells by the ocean. But still, winter is coming. I always miss the fall when it's gone.

I'm so thankful for my husband and for what a wonderful father he is. I love this picture of him. Its not often I get him to smile for the camera. He prefers to look mysterious and contemplative. He has a great smile, but he'll never fake it for the camera. He has to have a reason to smile, like being squished up next to an adorable baby.


On the way to the orchard, Aedan said, "Mommy, my hair is flat. Why?" He's going through his "Why?" phase. He really needs a haircut, so I had to do the comb-over to make it look decent. This new hairstyle was very perplexing to him. This is a picture of his flat hair and the "Why?" expression that has become so familiar as of late.

Lord, thank you for the fun day with our family. I pray that these kids will be able to look back on these years fondly, knowing that we always loved them.

The Quiet

This is my little one, Silas. He played so hard this morning that he ended up here, tuckered out on the living room floor. I have taken these special times for granted. I'm usually rushing around the house, scrubbing, doing laundry, preparing lunch. But not today. I'm going to watch my baby sleep. I can't think of anything I'd rather do.

Lord, bless this precious child as he sleeps. May I never take these moments for granted again. You are such a loving God. Thank you for letting me stay at home with him. It is certainly by your provision alone.

It's a bird! It's a plane...

I like to take my kids to the park. The fresh air and room to run is always good for us. This summer Aedan was at the top of the slide looking up at the birds. He reached out his little hands and said, "Look mommy! I can fly just like the birds." Of course in my heart I panicked, thinking, he's going to hurl himself to the earth. All I could see in my mind was flashing ambulance lights. This was clearly an over-reaction of a protective mother. Instead of freaking out I said, "Oh Aedan, we were never intended to fly." That little statement didn't really reflect what I believed. I go overboard with my son, acting out stories, pretending to be the voice of his imaginary friends and toys, Kung Fu fighting, the works. He has an incredible imagination. I couldn't believe that in that moment I would say such a thing even if I was just trying to protect him.

We were certainly intended to fly, even if only in our imagination. Why do our imaginations sometimes get rusty as we age? Let's get back to dreaming big and having a little fun. We all need to lighten up a bit. Maybe then the gravity of life wouldn't be so heavy. Maybe then we would be able to fly again.

Today I went to the store and couldn't resist the purchase of one size small, Superman pajama set, complete with cape. This is one four year old who was intended to fly! He jumped off the couch at least a hundred times until he was completely out of breath. "Look at me mommy. I can fly!" Go for it pumpkin. I'll catch you if you fall.

Lord, teach me to allow this child to reach his fullest potential in you. Let not my limited imagination ever affect his belief in the miraculous.

Signal the Death

It's funny how little children open our micro-world right back up. As adults we often are too overwhelmed with the details of life that we forget to pay attention to the little details of creation. My four year old Aedan notices every lacewing, every ant hill, every darting dragonfly. How wonderful to notice those things once again! I bought Aedan some new books on his favorite subject: bugs. I'm a student with him, learning the differences of each tiny and miraculous creature.

In those books I read about the great migration of the Monarch butterfly. I never noticed them predicting the beginning of each Autumn, their intricately painted pumpkin wings, sweeping across the horizon. I spent the whole week amazed by their long journey. I counted thousands as they flew over our car. I was able to watch a few as they stopped for a drink of a pink Zinnia's nectar, and then they began their journey again. What a creative God we serve!

I then thought how fitting it was that God would choose the one creature who once died to itself to birth a new creation. The Monarch signals the death of the earth, who once again yields to winter's treachery. But death in this Christian life always brings life. Pain is sure, but Spring is just around the corner. Glory to His precious and Holy name!

Have mercy on this soul, your creation, during the seasons of death in my life. May I always cling to your life-giving hand.