Full of Personality

When he sees the camera aimed at him, he tries to smile but just squints instead.



His favorite thing to do is eat. "Eat" and "Drink" were some of his first words. Here he is trying to climb in his highchair. I need to get a video of his wild arm waving that he does when he wants more(while he still has a mouthful of course)


I tend to see the back of him a lot as he loves to run. If he thinks I am going to change his diaper or put him to bed he takes off running; yet, if I say, "Let's go to Creed's bed," he walks there himself!


I caught him raising his eyebrows. He is outside which is his favorite place to be. He is forever bringing us his shoes in hopes someone will take him outside.

Two Thumbs Up

I heartily agree with this as quoted below:

Dear Young Facebook Friends,

You have requested me to be your friend on facebook. I was reluctant to accept, but took the advice of my husband who said that it would be a good way to know what is going on in your lives and to be an encouragement to you. What I have seen has left me confused, sad, and frankly disappointed. I see where you say you love God and the Bible is important to you, and I don’t doubt that; I really don’t. Perhaps that makes me even more sad. I wonder how certain aspects of training have fallen through the cracks. I wonder where we have failed in training your parents so that they can adequately train you. Are you wondering what I am talking about?

I am talking about the manner in which you portray yourself on facebook. The unwholesome talk that comes from your fingertips; the OMG(taking the Lord’s name in vain); the careless words and chatter that you don’t stop to think about how it is perceived; even calling people “suckers” and telling them “they suck.” You may say these things in jest but it doesn’t’ change the words, the meanings, or the degradation of your character.

Then there are the pictures you post. Besides the fact you portray yourself as a narcissist when you post picture after picture of yourself in pose after pose, there are the poses themselves. To be blunt, you might as well “pimp yourself out.” I am not sure what the motivation is in posing in a sexual manner, angling the camera so we can see down your shirt, wearing shorts so short that it looks like you have none on. You fondle poles, you pose as if kissing or licking other girls, and pose like gang members. It makes me wonder just what sort of boys you are hoping to attract with your pictures because I am pretty certain it won’t be the Godly young man that is being raised to be a man, husband, and father.

With a burdened heart , I exhort you to please think about the kind of person you want to be, how you want to be seen, and most importantly how you can glorify God in the comments and pictures you post on facebook. Take some time to reflect on “Finally Brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. “ Philippians 4:8,9

Willingly Suspend your Disbelief

If you are really, really good at this you might just realize that they are not standing on a washer board, but flying in a helicopter. Anne Michal has the rope that gets twirled for blades, Jack is looking to see just how far it is to the ground, Creed is watching the clouds just above him, and Emma is dazzled by the paparazzi.

Nothing New under the Sun

There really is nothing new under the sun An excerpt from the Belinda by Maria Edgeworth written almost 200 years ago:



I see-or at least when I went out more than my health will at present permit-I used to see multitudes of silly girls, seemingly all cut out upon the same pattern, who frequented public places day after day, and year after year, without any idea further than of diverting themselves, or of obtaining transient admiration. How I have pitied and despised the giddy creatures, whilst I have observed them playing off their unmeaning airs, vying with one another in the most obvious, and consequently the most ridiculous manner, so as to expose themselves before the very men they would attract; chattering, tittering, and flirting; full of the present moment, never reflecting upon the future, quite satisfied if they got a partner at a ball, without ever thinking of a partner for life.

A Middle Name

Rachel has graciously agreed to letting me give Molly the middle name, Hope. I find it particularly fitting given her previous post. Creed's first name is Simeon because we, like Simeon in Luke 2, are waiting for the consolation. Hope carries with it the sense, not of wishful thinking, but of confident conviction that such consolation will indeed come in all its fullness. We have this hope because all the promises of God are 'Yes' and 'Amen' in Jesus. So, I leave you with some verses about hope.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ - Titus 2:11-13

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God - Romans 5:2

My story is His story

This is one of those posts I have been mulling around for a few weeks while I try to make all my normally jumbled up thoughts clear, but I am not sure that is every going to happen. I want to talk about a couple of pictures. This is the first one:


I wish I could make it larger but I can't. The night of Knox's acciden,t I had a black and white copy of this picture on my mantel. My friends, Hannah and Marian who were there were telling me how much they liked it. It is kind of a crazy picture because Knox had been really sick with a fever and he was crying almost the whole time they were taking pictures. Every time they would start acting silly to make everyone smile, he'd stop crying while they took the picture but he never did smile. Jack was extremely uncooperative and wouldn't smile either. He went home, took a nap and woke up with a 104 fever. Despite the fact that neither of them were smiling, it turned out to be a very sweet picture and one I'll always treasure.
I told Hannah and Marian how I wanted to move it above my piano and on either side I wanted framed the words to Whate'er my God Ordains is Right and Beneath the Blood-Stained Lintel. I chose the first because as I have grown in my faith and come to cherish reformed doctrine, I found such comfort in the sovereignty of God, and wanted my kids to grow up to rest in the understanding that God is in control, He is good, and what He does is right. I chose the second as a song that was sung at Jack's baptism and a beautiful reminder to us of God's promises to His covenant people, and that He doesn't forsake us. I don't think I actually explained all that but was telling them my plans for the picture. What I didn't know what that I'd be clinging to those truths an hour later while pleading for Knox's life.
Sometime later another friend Bonnie, wrote out the hymns in calligraphy for me and I kept putting off framing them. I was having second thoughts about hanging them above my piano. I still wanted to do this because none of my original reasons had changed. I still held those promises and truths close to my heart and in reality more so than ever, but I didn't know if I wanted to have to explain the pictures to people, and I worry that people will feel bothered or uncomfortable not knowing what to say when I tell them about Knox. Yet another friend, Martie, has really helped me to be comfortable telling my story. "Your story is His story" is what she has told me numerous times. It may not be anyone else's story but it is mine and it is His. All of this has passed through His hands. He has ordained it. It is right. His promises to us have not disappeared. People may not understand it, but I can tell it because it is my story and His story. In times when it seems like friends, family, and ourselves are suffering greatly, perhaps it will be a source of comfort for more than just us so the pictures now all hang together over my piano and I love having them there.


Then there is the picture in my sidebar which is this one:

I am not sure how long after Knox's death this was taken but it wasn't more than a couple of weeks afterwards. I am not sure how I can explain how it is related to the above...when I look at it, I can see the grief and tiredness behind our eyes, but I think that if you didn't know what had just happened you would think that we were a happy couple with a good life. Marian told me not too long ago that she hesitated taking this picture because she felt like she was intruding. I am so glad she did because it was priceless for me to see our smiling faces in the midst of our sorrow. Now when people go through tough times especially ones that are life-changing, I always suggest they keep taking pictures and capture the moments; they are a tangible reminder that there is joy in sorrow and to keep living. I keep this picture on my sidebar because it is a reminder that God is Good and faithful; that He goes before us and He makes all things right. It reminds me to hope for the future and cling to His promises and not to quit living when the grief sneaks up from behind or a new sorrow hits.

Recent Funnies

We are studying the Ancient Greeks right now. I was going to read a book out loud to Emma and Jack and one of the choices was Jason and the Golden Fleece. Jack asked, "Can we read Jason and the Golden Snitch?" I feel quite certain they didn't play Quidditch in ancient Greece.


Then today Elizabeth was diagramming sentences. One of her sentences was The extremely chubby bulldog drooled. She asked if she could cross out bulldog and write Creed instead.