Lord, That I May See

  And once again, time is flying!  The year is already waning, and my children's growth is careening ahead and I am left scrambling to pause and treasure the days.   These must be the crazy years, right?  Someone tell me they are!  The driving is ramping up, the need of for outside activities is increasing, and yet, again, we have a baby who is happier at home, and with a need for naptimes and such.  Maybe the crazy years are only beginning . . . ?  I suspect so and am determined not to look too far ahead! So much growing and changing has happened with the kids in the last six months, that contrary to the title of this post, I can't fully catch this blog up.  Ten month old, Zuzu, is walking now!  She is the constant delight of the family and Sparky still says prayers of thanksgiving for "[Zuzu] in our family now!"  We love her so much  -- despite everyone's growing dismay at her fast-increasing propensity for "maraudi...

A rare and beautiful old American Chestnut tree Little by little, I look ahead. Little by little, I hear hope in my head. Day by day,  You always meet The needs we have, Your plan complete. Moment by moment Each gift lands Your abundant measures In our outstretched hands. When round about My head life swirls,  Please slow my heart To gaze on pearls. When hope seems thin, Your plan confused,  I want it now,  The wait refused. But oh my soul, Be still, be still,  Ahead there rings Song on that hill. I climb again,  To you I turn My eyes anew While my heart burns Little by little,  Each step I take Each moment I learn I will not break For deeper, I know Inside me lies That hope for your dream The promised prize. Oh, might I not Discouragement friend,  But look to the hills To glimpse my end. 9-27-17

photo: Warner Brothers The girls have been listening to an audiobook version of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  The story is new to Sunshine and a favorite of Turtle's.  I was struck while listening to bits of it of how wonderfully this story reflects Truth to us. The book has so many beautiful messages.  Sara has such strength. Once s he says, "When you will not fly into a passion people know you are stronger than they are, because you are strong enough to hold in your rage, and they are not, and they say stupid things they wish they hadn't said afterward.  There's nothing so strong as rage, except what makes you hold it in -- that's stronger."   I love when her benefactor secretly fills her room with good things while she is at her lowest, and how then she is able to go about the day that is filled with harsh circumstances, and peevish, vulgar and rude people, yet she is filled with this marvelous secret.  In fact, she can sometimes s...

Every time I wear a ponytail (read: a lot), Sparky tries to take it out. I figured he just likes pulling on something and being rascally. Until, one day he said: "Ugh! I don't like it when you have a ponytail!" I was surprised. "Why?" "Because you look weeeeeiirrd!  And I don't like weird people, I only like nice people!" Alrighty, then, Mister!

I'm taking a quick nap on the couch. The kids are outside and the baby is actually sleeping longer than an hour. (Zana is a cat napper, and even stays up past midnight every night. I'm exhausted!) About 17 mins into my nap I am awakened. "GUYS!!!"  Sparky is leaning out the front door yelling to the girls. "GUUUUYYYSS!  Mommy is SLEEPing!  So when you come in you should be QUIET and TIPtoe cuz her eyes are CLOSED!" The girls must not hear him.  "MOMMY IS SLEEPING!  WHEN YOU COME IN YOU SHOULD TIPTOE!  HER EYES ARE CLOSED! IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S LOOKING AT HER PHONE BUT SHE'S NOT! THEY'RE CLOSED!" I sigh and fake sleeping a little longer. Then I finally open my eyes and look at his face hanging over mine. "Oh hi, Mommy! You're awake now!"

Baby Zana has been sick this week.  Sicker than I've ever had a newborn be before.  We think that it was RSV or something like it.   I have spent many hours of rocking and praying and staying awake in the night.  It was a long, scary week.   She's finally on the upswing today and I am so so thankful for God's mercies and care! Here's seven things that have been saving us this week: 1.  A nebulizer I'd never used one before, but then I'd never had a tiny baby with such shortness of breath before! 2.  This Breathe  oil blend .   I use essential oils often and I know that the commonly used respiratory oils such as the mints and eucalyptus are not considered safe to use on little babies.  This blend has all safe oils for little ones. 3.  The Nose Frida This is so much more effective than the bulb suckers!  And the force of the suction can be more controlled by you. 4.  My essential oil diffuser I've been...

On January 15, 2017 Dearest girl,  Finally your baptism day arrived!  You are one month old, and we had tried to schedule your special day last week, but your godparents were snowed in and so we postponed it.  I know that you had been waiting for this joyful moment for your whole little life, waiting for the time when you would finally get to be full of His radiant Light! Your sister Sunshine  was especially eager for your day to come.  We both had been saddened when we talked earlier about how you did not have the Light of Christ in your heart yet, how you were waiting so patiently for that beautiful sacrament that you do not have the words to ask for!  When I explained to you  how we had to postpone your Baptism day, you looked at me so intelligently and I know you understood.  You are good at waiting for your blessings, my little one! You laid so calmly with wide dark blue eyes as the deacon poured the powerful waters and said the ...