To Keep Things Fair

Just to keep things fair between the siblings and to to debunk any theories floating amongst you that I no longer take pictures of my firstborn, here is a recent favorite of Caleb. Look at that smile on his face. . . sheer joy!

Blueberries for Belle

One of Annabelle's favorite foods is blueberries. She will eat and eat and eat them until she's blue in the face (and everywhere else).

9 Months Old (Part 2)

9 Months Old (Part 1)

Conversation Snippet 5: Counting

I've been working with Caleb lately on counting. He's starting to recognize numbers and can (sometimes) count to ten. The other day he lined up a string of his toy cars and brought me over to look at them.

Caleb: Mommy, can you count them?
Me: (slowly pointing to each one) One, two. . . . eight. Eight cars.
Caleb: Wow! Good job, Mommy!!! You can count!!!

Mother's Day Picture

I love being the mother of these two!

The Lord Will Provide

My cousin, Jessica, asked her blog readers to share the lyrics to a song that has been meaningful each of them. This song has really been resonating with me lately. The words were written by John Newton (author of Amazing Grace). The version that I have was adapted by Matthew Smith (Thanks, Yvette, for buying me the c.d.!). It's a beautiful poem on it's own, but if you can download the song, it's 100 times better with the music.

So why this song? The words are so deep and really, I can think of about 100 reasons this song has blessed me lately. I think the most profound is that God himself has made provision for me on that last day. I love the last line and I do hope that is how I enter glory--shouting, "The Lord will provide!"

1 Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us whatever betide,
The Scripture assures us, "The Lord will provide."

2 The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be denied,
So long as it's written, "The Lord will provide."

3 We may, like the ships, by tempests be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost:
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, "The Lord will provide."

4 His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we have a good guide,
And trust in all dangers, "The Lord will provide."

5 When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith:
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, "The Lord will provide."

6 He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain;
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, "The Lord will provide."

7 No strength of our own, or goodness, we claim;
Yet since we have known the Savior’s great name,
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide.

8 When life sinks apace, and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through;
No fearing nor doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting, "The Lord will provide."

Conversation Snippet 4: Vacation

I rarely let Caleb sit in front of the TV to watch a movie, but yesterday I was desperate to catch up on some housework, so as soon as Annabelle went down for her morning nap, I decided a movie was just the trick for keeping Caleb busy.

Me: Hey Bud. . . I want you to go sit on the couch.
Caleb (climbing onto the couch): Can I have a snack?
Me: Yep. I'll cut you an apple for snack. And guess what, you can watch a movie while you eat your snack!
Caleb: Oh wow!!!!! Are we on vacation?!?

8 Months Old! (a little late)