Classic play this Thanksgiving

Barbies, Lite Brite, Books, Trains, and the Great Outdoors!

Just a few that make me smile

On a lighter note: some wedding flowers

(I think my sweet sister-in-law Diana took a couple of these photos - thanks, D!)

Lucy Louise

"Whate'er Thy sovereign will denies,
I calmly would resign;
For Thou art just and good and wise,
Oh, bend my will to Thine.
Whate'er Thy sacred will ordains,
Oh give me strength to bear,
And let me know my Father reigns
And trust His tender care."



6 months ago our sweet baby girl was born...just hours after she had died. Her life was so short, yet she was still a gift from God!

It is hard to write in part because there is so much I could say. I've decided to just include here a letter (lightly edited) I wrote to a friend who had a miscarriage, a couple of months after Lucy died.

"In the first few weeks after Lucy died, I would look in the mirror and wonder who was looking back at me. I felt like I grew so much older in the span of just a few days. There have been times when the sadness I feel is nearly crushing! Now, the days have gotten much easier, but there is a sadness I will carry the rest of my life on this earth. How thankful I am that Christ, full of compassion, carries that burden with me.

I have gained much comfort thinking about the fact that Lucy will never experience the pain and sadness of this sinful world. That she isn't "missing out." I am missing out, and that is what hurts. But she is with our Jesus in perfection, and when I think about her tiny body laid in the grave, I cling to the hope of the Resurrection.

I read something recently about how it takes a "careful eye to see the hand of God in our bitter disappointments." His hand is there, working out His good, perfect, and pleasing will. I have been reminded of the significance of life, every life, no matter how short. Lucy's short life has had such an impact already, and although that doesn't take away my heartache, it brings me great encouragement! God is working in my heart, in Todd's, and the hearts of our other three children. The conversations we've had with our kids have been amazing. They got to see their baby sister, hold her, be a part of everything. This is never something I wanted them to deal with, but God gave it to us, and they are doing well. We talk fondly of Lucy every day. The things we have been able to talk about with friends, doctors, and neighbors because of Lucy! I pray that people come to know the Lord because of her. I pray that fellow Believers are encouraged as they see how God is faithful to us.

I have never seen God's love shown through His church as I have these past two months. I can't imagine what we would have done without both our families and our church family. We had to move 9 days after Lucy was born, and the church moved us. The church cleaned our house. The church painted and did yard work. The church brought us 4 meals a week for 6 weeks. The church took care of Lucy's funeral. A lady from church sends me a postcard with Scripture every day that the mail comes. We have a beautiful tree in memory of Lucy from college friends. I cannot tell you all of the ways that God's people have reached out to us in love. The phone calls, the letters, the remembering.

There are days I am pretty dry-eyed, and days I am so teary. No day is void of joy, but some days are full of sorrow. I am so thankful for my dear husband and precious children, who bring me so much light and laughter! They are God's intentional gifts to me..."

6 months later, we are doing well.  God has been so faithful.

 

Wedding prep

Abide with Me

Tonight, my Grandma Harriet is dying. I am thinking of many fond memories I have of her...

walking to her house every afternoon to practice piano when I was a little girl without a piano,

feeding the birds on her deck,

listening to her read to me
(The Chronicles of Narnia and The Borrowers were two of our favorite series),

gathering around her piano on Christmas Eve to sing carols while she played,

learning silly songs she had grown up singing (like the Hot Dog Man!),

together finding the first little pasque flowers that poked up in the chilly Colorado springtimes.


Her last 10 years or so have been spent in the shadows of Alzheimers. I am so glad for her that she will soon be Home, with Jesus, free from what has trapped her here.

"I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, tears lose their bitterness.
Where is Thy sting, death? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, abide with me.

Lift up Thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the dark and point me to the skies;
When morning breaks, and earthly shadows flee,
Through life and death, Lord, abide with me."

Trick or Treat?

13 hour day in the car. Arrive home at 7:45 pm, kids begging to trick-or-treat. In 5 minutes pull together "costumes" (over pajamas from night before) - princess, army guy, construction man. Knock on 5 doors, get candy at one. Go home. Mope a little. Eat candy. Go to bed.

"Polly and the Prince"

My sister got married last weekend! To a wonderful man. Our time with family and friends was precious; the wedding was perfect. My sweet niece Nora captured it well with the phrase "Polly and the Prince"!

From my Aunt Celia's blog:

"Polly was a beautiful bride. Her dress was perfect with a sheer inset yoke that brushed over her shoulders accented with enough bling to set the day apart as no other. Her vintage style reception with giant pastel paper flower balls hung from the ceiling; deli delights; cakes, doughnuts, cookies; jars of water flavored with fresh cucumbers or oranges; punch and coffee; canning jars with candles and fresh flowers, calico bunting banners made a sweetheart setting.
Beautiful vows, "enthusiastic "I do's," touching speeches by the fathers of the bride and groom, darling little children who were so well behaved before limply falling to sleep exhausted, private stories of how Polly met Brian and how their love grew and meeting all the people who had prayed for them to meet that someone special who was God sent especially for them combined to make a treasured night. Grandparents and far away relatives watched by Skype in Colorado and Canada dressed up for the occasion with their own cake to celebrate. Even my own mother- lost-in-alzheimers' shadow of her presence was felt in the use of her oak leaf patterned silver punch ladle she had treasured then shared with the next generation. Tears of joy were the diamonds worn by many rejoicing in the beauty of love personified."

(Oh yes, the "prince" goes by the name Brian!)

More photos to come.

And to those of you who commented on my last post....thank you for the encouragement!!

Beginning somewhere

I wonder if anyone still checks this blog? Over a year since my last post!

A month or two ago I got ready to write here, but as I thought about everything that has happened in our lives over the past year, I got about as near to an "anxiety attack" as I ever have! In tears and with my heart racing, I went to bed and skipped the blogging. God has been absolutely faithful and good to us...it is just overwhelming to think about too much at once!

Other times I have sat down with the computer only to get lost in thousands of photos, beautiful photos. Too hard to choose which photos to share.

But I've decided to just "begin somewhere." So here are a few photos from the morning of our celebration of Will's 4th birthday. He had one of the best days of his little life! It was also our first snow of the season. These pictures are simple, but they remind me of the joy and blessing of our family and our home.

So, I think I'm back.