Sunday, June 29, 2008

Sarah's latest shenanigans...

One of Sarah's favorite things to do lately is sneak into the pantry (which the kids always manage to leave open) and sneak the cereal out. I often find her carrying the bag around eating it by the handfuls...she doesn't need the box, no...she leaves the box...I guess the bag is easier to carry? Today I found her camped out in the hallway helping herself. When I asked her what she was doing, this is the look she gave me...it's her fake smile...it's what she does if you ask her to smile...and she does it often to try to get out of trouble, too! Did I mention she's turning into twice the handful that Daniel and Hannah were combined?!? We're in some serious trouble. She's much brighter, more observant, and catches on much more quickly than even Daniel did...did I mention we're in trouble?!?
Sarah's also got a huge independant streak. She really wants to feed herself now with silverware. However, she hasn't quite got the hang of using a fork yet. She tried and tried to get the scalloped potatoes onto her fork AND into her mouth, but to no avail. So she gave up and stuffed the food in her mouth while holding her fork with her other hand...don't try to take the fork away no matter how little she's using it! I guess it makes her feel better to hold it and pretend to be able to use it while she smooshes the food all over her face...some days we are just so proud of our kiddos!

The day we've all been waiting for!


Hannah has been adamant about growing her hair out for a very long time because she wants to be able to have curls. Last night I decided to give the good ol' sponge curlers a try. She loved every second of it...especially when I took them out this morning and she saw all her curls! Her hair is so thick that many of the curls were still wet this morning so I had to curl them with the curling iron. She was so patient, too! She loved it so much and everyone's reaction to them at church I'm afraid we may have started a new thing!


I took several pictures, and her eyes were goofy in every one. So I told her to try to smile with her eyes open more, and this is what I got! I guess she can't open her eyes without sticking her tongue out or something! BTW...her other front tooth is so loose it'll be out in the next couple of days. I love it when kids lose both of their front teeth at the same time! As if she could get any cuter! :-)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Some things I've discovered...

My kids have been with my in-laws for the last 2 weeks so I've been able to sneak away for some bike rides on my own in the evenings, and I'm loving it! The other day I road 6 miles! I know that's not really that far in the grand scheme of things, but realizing how out of shape I am...well, let's just say, I thought it was really, really far!

Riding by one's self on the back roads around here is great because it's totally quiet and gives you a lot of time to think and ponder. I've put together a list of just a few of the things I've discovered while on these get aways of mine:

1. It’s really a great thing to hear the clicking of your bike as you coast down the hills with the wind blowing through your hair…it’s not such a good thing to have to ride your bike back up said hills!
2. It’s really a great thing to have back country roads to ride on with nary a car around…it’s also a good thing to have wide open roads to swerve all over as your bike wobbles from side to side as you struggle up those hills!
3. It’s really a great thing to be able to get a few steps even while riding your bike on back country roads…it’s a better thing to get even more steps as you walk your bike up those back country hills!
4. It’s really a great thing to have wide open country roads to ride your bike on and take in the different aspects of nature…it’s not such a great thing to have a bear cross right in front of you and be so winded from riding up the afore mentioned hills that you can only utter a slight gasp!
5. It’s really a great thing to get extra protein in your diet while riding your bike on the back country roads…it’s not such a great thing to pick bugs out of your teeth for days!

I'll be sure to add more as my experiences broaden my perspective...right now I'm just trying to get over the fact that we're close to the middle of June, and I was really wishing I had remembered my jacket before I left for my ride tonight! Who would have guessed?!?

Friday, June 06, 2008

Some reflections on heaven

We received word today that a dear, kind, godly man from our church in Chicago went home to be with the Lord recently. His health has been failing so his death wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it provided an opportunity to really reflect on heaven.

Wednesday night at church we sang the old hymn, The Sands of Time are Sinking. I love so many of the new songs we have started singing, but there's something about the words to the old hymns that are so sweet and meditative if one takes the time to notice them. I was struck by the last stanza Wednesday night as we sang it, and then again today while I was thinking about Mr. Johnson being in heaven.

We often think about going to heaven and the joy we will have as we "explore" all the wonderful things that await us. I like to imagine talking with all the different Bible characters and many of the saints who have earned a place in history for their walk with the Lord, but I have to agree with the hymnwriter that we will be so taken with our dear Bridegroom that we won't even be aware of other things. Can you imagine the compassion and love we will feel for our precious Savior as we gaze upon his nail-pierced hands? Oh that I would live for the Lord with just a touch of that passion that we will feel when we view Chrsit for the first time and our heavenly life begins!

Here are the words to the last verse:
The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear Bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His pierced hand,
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel's land.