B....B....Bye

This little one is keeping us all on our toes, just as his big sister did!  We just got back from the park where he acted as if he was a big kid; climbing to the top of a play structure and going down the slide all by himself.  Then running up a hill and turning around to run back down as fast as his little legs could take him till he fell into a tumble along with a fit of giggles.  It is a joy to watch him go, go, go.  

Along with his physical development, his little brain is working over time.  Just yesterday he mastered "Bye" and today I heard him say "bah-bah-bee-bah-baby".  Baby was one of Phoebe's first words and I thought for sure 'ball' or 'book' would be Justus' since those seem to be his favorite things right now.  He loves kicking the ball, any ball, and to sit in a chair with a stack of books.  He is a sweet little one.

Just Joking

Lately, Phoebe has been intrigued with the idea of "Jokes", though she doesn't understand the concept of a joke.  (It is a hard concept, right?)  Here is her latest joke:

P: Why did the raindrop turn into a sunshine?

me: I don't know, why?

P: Because it was a sunshine drop of rain.

me: (puzzled)

P: (burst into laughter)

I vaguely remember telling jokes when I was young, and I am sure they were about as funny as this one of Phoebe's.  There is probably some sort of humor development happening now that encourages our 4.75 year old to think that putting together a random grouping of questions and answers is a joke.  The funniest part is that she thinks she is funny.  So, we laugh at her as she giggles about her 'joke'.    One of my favorite parts of the joke telling is when she is done giggling she often asks, "Was that a joke?"  

No, no it wasn't. 

I see you

"Do you see me?"  I wonder, is that the same as,"Do you love me?" or "Am I important?"  It is so hard NOT to see this little one.  She is bright, charismatic, and energetic.  She makes sure you see her.  You cannot miss her.  I cannot miss her.  But she still (we all) yearns for the answer to those questions to be "YES!" Emphatically, Yes!  P and I struggle in the day to day, but I love her with my whole being.  And I hope that she knows that beyond my frustration or correcting of her, my heart is full of love for her.  

He is Risen Indeed!

Celebration, originally uploaded by 207 Living.

We had a beautiful weekend celebrating life, the risen life of our Lord. Once again, we went to the Easter Vigil on Saturday night hosted by our church-- where we start in the darkness of Holy Saturday and into the Light of Easter morning. Then on Easter day we had brunch with dear friends, followed by Easter service. And then a surprise feast at our house; a number of neighbors came over with food and we pulled together a 14 person feast followed by a fire pit fire on the back patio. A lovely day together with friends, basking in the life that Christ offers.

Today is Friday

In our home we started lent with one rock, and we went through lent one rock at a time. Now, the Stone is rolled over the grave and we wait. As Watchman Nee says, "We would like to have death and resurrection put together within one hour of each other. ...we cannot bear to wait." This is so true. But we must sit in the darkness today, tomorrow, until Sunday. Today is Friday. 

We follow Lent to follow Him

A time of sacrifice and prayer

We give up something we desire

That His example we might share.

-Excerpt from a Lenten poem by Elena dal Friuli

 If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.

If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

-Edward Shillito

Maundy Thursday

^"3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 13: 3-5

Tonight we weren't able to make it to church for the Maundy Thursday service so we held our own at home.  Phoebe has been soaking up so much of the Passion story over lent that I have been hoping to encourage that with as much physical-ness as I can.  Tonight after saying the Vespers Office from Phyllis Tickle's, The Divine Hours, we washed one another's feet and served communion to each other.  It was a lovely service and a great way to help us all remember what we are heading into over the next few days.

^"1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
² My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.^[b]"Psalm 22:1-2

finding your voice

- Shel Silverstein

Naps

Today he took 2 naps, but his rhythm seems to be shifting.  Could be already be dropping a nap at 13 months?  It is inevitable, our quiet sleepy mornings will soon be filled with play....only to rush home for that sacred afternoon nap.  At least the afternoon nap isn't going anywhere for a while!

Snow Days

Baking with Auntie, originally uploaded by 207 Living.

Our trip to KC was all about Snow....we were hoping for a warm spring weekend, but it was a weekend full of snow....which meant hot cocoa, baking, and sledding. So Fun!

The Library

We Love the Library! The one that we like to go to is in Shaw. We can't walk there, but parking is always a breeze. It is the perfect after-nap-activity because we can get there, pick out our books, hang out for a bit, check out and get home in about an hour. Phoebe loves new books, and we love when we have new words to read to her. Though, her taste in literature isn't always the same as ours, we can always agree on Mo Willems! Last time I was there I found out they have 'kits', which are books with a cd of the book being read aloud; this will expand our horizons giving Phoebe a new activity at home.  And something about this library attracts some awesome librarians; engaging, young, high energy, and quite trendy.  (makes me giggle a bit to see a tattooed, hipster reading to and singing with a room full of babies)

Story time with a little egg shaker music.

Love running into friends at the Library

J picking his own books

Reading

Jay-walking

Justus has been working at walking for a few weeks now.  In the last week he has gotten quite proficient.  His first steps were on Inauguration day while we were watching the parade (on TV), I think he was inspired watching the President and First Lady walk down Pennsylvania Ave. 

Here he is toddling around the house just last week. 

jwalking from Dawn Luecke on Vimeo.

red, pink and everything in between

 

P and I just finished looking through her Valentines. All shades of pink and red surround me here at the table and I am struck by the sweet kindness her classmates have shown one another today. A class made up of 7 boys and 3 girls and still her valentine bag was full of red and pink and lots of "I Love you"s. How lovely it is that 4 and 5 year olds can embrace this sharing of love so easily and tenderly.

Ashes to Ashes

Joel 2:12-17

¹² “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

¹³ Rend your heart
    and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity.
¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent
    and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
    for the Lord your God.

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion,
    declare a holy fast,
    call a sacred assembly.
¹⁶ Gather the people,
    consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
    gather the children,
    those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
    and the bride her chamber.
¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
    weep between the portico and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.
    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
    a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

Eleven-teen

The learning that is happening in this house is so pure it brings this momma such *joy*. When I hear P say, "A starts with Apple," I just smile because she has no clue that it is the other way around; she doesn't quite get it but she gets it enough to be confident in what she says.  Another one of my favorites is when she counts past 10 on to 11, 12, and 13, somehow eleventeen fits in those upper teens.  That word just makes me giggle, where did she learn it?  Somewhere in her little mind.  It is pure joy to see such pure learning!

Crown

He donned a crown for his big day. King for the day. Justus certainly reigns as a prince in this house, we all wait on him hand and foot, some because he needs it and some because we just can't stand not to.

1 Year

 

This little guy turned 1 at 8:40am, February 3. We had a lovely day of celebration, now I need to find some space to reflect.  Every night, as I lay his little head down, I thank God for this little one He has given us. So Thankful!

Rainbow Connection

In the bleak midwinter it is so lovely to wake up and see a cheerful, color-clad little girl!  This week she brightened our days with some fantastic outfits that I HAVE to document.  I didn't get a picture of all of them, but I came close....and they don't all show off the fantastic nature of the outfit, but you get the idea!  At first I was calling her Rainbow Brite, but as the week went on I realized she was probably a little more like Punky Brewster. (btw, did any of you know her character's name was Penelope?)

Fountain dress with striped leggings...none of the colors match!

More striped leggings with a matching turquoise top

One leg purple one leg green-tights, blue skirt, pink tee

purple shirt, magenta pants

I will admit, I have purchased most of these clothes so it isn't as if she is pulling these outfits out of thin air, but it is quite fun to see what she thinks 'go together'!

Good Night 2012

As I close out 2012, there are so many thoughts that I would like to share, and so many pictures to remember the year.  This one somehow wraps up 2012 for our family.  2012 was about these two littles; our darling babes.  Bringing J into the world, helping P accept that, nurturing them and nurturing their relationship.  

I have been inspired by many "2012 review" posts throughout the blogosphere this month that I would have loved to emulate, but in the end I decided this picture could wrap up our year quite nicely.  Plus if anyone really wants to know what we did the last year, it is mostly all documented here on this blog...just go through the archives! :)

2012

Epiphany

2013....we are well into the year....well, the *New* part of it....11 days in.  But just a few days past the start of Epiphany; the day we celebrate the Magi visiting little Jesus and the season of enlightenment. 

In the book, “All Year Round”, the authors write, “The star that the Wise Men followed led not away into the widths of the heavenly worlds but to a house, an earthly dwelling, and an inevitable part of their journey was their encounter with evil in the person of Herod.  We, too, may be following a star, seeking the abode of our highest aspirations.  This is always to be found on the earth – set firmly in the ground of daily life, earthly tasks and responsibilities.  On the way, we meet unforeseen difficulties, disappointments, even dangers, which may force us to change direction.  But on all this the star shines:  on the success and the failure, on the good and the evil, and in the clear light of its rays we are guided ever forward.”

Phoebe and I made this craft to celebrate.  While she was out of the house I wrote on the paper with a white crayon "We come to worship" and drew some stars, then along the bottom I drew in black a silhouette of the Magi walking to a small dwelling.  When she came home I had her paints ready and encouraged her to paint the sky, we were both amazed as the paint slipped away from the wax to reveal the scripture and the stars.

May newness be revealed to you on your path in 2013.

craft supplies:
white and black crayon
watercolor paints and brush
water
watercolor paper

Some Christmas Favorites