Nothing is sacred, nothing's a scam
Fall through the cracks, find who I am
You want to go higher, go deeper still
Dig deeper down, find who you will

Find your glory seeping through
Don't miss the love that's chasing you
A breath away is where is begins
A step away is where it ends

The leaves begin as buds on the tree
The heart begins with you and me
Maybe we're not all meant for freedom
Bound and gagged the soul stands weary

Who is learning more?

My next statement is not based on any sort of research, rather something I have noticed. When you ask someone what trait he or she would like to work on in his or her life, 9 out of 10 times the answer (in some form) is "patience." I absolutely find this true for myself. What is it about waiting that we hate? What is it about finding a place of peace within the waiting that is so hard?

Sometimes the waiting is a long period of time. Years, months, maybe days. We have recently made the decision to move in about year into (yet another) house. This house is located at the bottom of Garfield Community Farm and is an exciting move for our family. However, we've done the rehab thing (recall? lead poisoning? right.) We've done the "living amongst construction thing." And honestly, we were not excited about it. So with the prayer and discernment of our community and family we're not doing it that way. We're waiting until the house is mostly rehabbed (through the work of a friend from church who actually does this for a living and knows what he is doing - amazing.) But it's a whole year! It seems like forever. But it's not.

Lately my patience is tested and refined in short spurts. Yesterday after dropping Micah at preschool for the morning, Téah, Lyle and I had about an hour to kill before her homeschool co-op class she participated in on Wednesdays. We opted to get a bagel together and work on some math in the bagel shop. It started as one of those wonderful moments when I feel so glad that we homeschool. That I have the opportunity to work on math word problems in a bagel shop, instead of a classroom. It went south about halfway in though. Téah was having trouble with basic addition and subtraction. I was patient for what felt like forever (probably about 2 minutes in retrospect). Waiting for her to have her lightbulb moment. Then it started. First in my head, "Come on, Téah! This is so simple." Then out loud, "We've done this a thousand times! You need to remember these things!" I'm actually grateful we were in public setting because I was not being kind to my daughter and that kept me in check. She looked at me with a honest face and said, "Mommy, I just don't remember. I'm sorry."

Point taken. I didn't remember to be patient, either. I didn't remember that you are only 7 years old. I didn't remember to find the gentle reminders.

Romans 12:12 reminds me: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

We returned from vacation yesterday evening. The whole way home all I could do was go over and over in my head all the things we had to do upon our entrance into real life. Preschool (Micah), meetings, work, schoolwork (Téah), cleaning (will I ever learn to leave the house clean when I go on vacation?). The list goes on.

This morning as Téah and I look at what she wants to study right now and what I want her to work on we are excited. Vacation was the refreshing break we needed. We are ready to jump in and learn together. I am (kind of) excited to get the house clean and fresh.

Also, Lyle seems very ready to potty train. Here we go for real.

beginning

It is hard to jump back in to this. I don't know why. I think about it quite often and then something else comes up that is more important and grabs my attention and this little corner is shoved to the back of my mind again. I don't consider myself a great (or even good) writer. I compare my little remarks to those blogs that I love to read on a daily basis. Which is silly. I know this. But comparison is the thief after all. (Even in your 30's. I've heard it doesn't go away either).

So I begin again. I realized (and have, of course, really known for a long time) that I don't have great journals of my children's baby years, toddler years, childhood years. I have a bunch of pictures. Bunches. But I want more of these memories to last. Somewhere to look back on and remember the details that get lost. As we enter our second year of homeschooling I want to have more to look back on and have available for my children to look back on as they grow. After all, we don't exactly have report  cards or parent/teacher conferences for reference.

So I begin again.

Happy Birthday, Lyle!

1 year ago today we welcome Lyle David into our family. This kid is crazy. Crazy fun. Seriously. He's a fun guy! A huge part of that fun has been watching Téah and Micah interact with Lyle. They love their brother and it gives me such joy to watch my kids play together. I don't know if there is a way to feel more joy than for parents to just sit back and watch their children and thank God for the blessing they are to us. Ok, maybe playing WITH them is even better!

Dear Lyle,

On your first birthday I want you to know how much you are loved. Even if you are the third child and admittedly there are less pictures of you than there were of your brother and sister in their first year you are loved no less. You truly are the baby of our family. We all baby you and adore you. Lyle, you are for sure, your Momma's baby. Just ask your Dad! I can't wait to see what the next year brings and who you become over years to come. For now though, I would love to hold you as my baby and love you for being a big one year old.

We love you, Lylie!

When I Survey

A version of "When I Survey" that John and I arranged and recorded a few years back. (done in our apartment while John was still in seminary, so the quality is not the best). I love this song especially during Lent, but the message is always appropriate.

When I Survey by alyssacreasy

Kids in March thru Pics

If you primarily see my blog imported into facebook I apologize for the double pictures!

Love baby bums and growing baby hair. (he's almost 1!)

Found Téah reading to Micah one morning. Love it.

Micah fell asleep on the couch waiting for dinner. Note to Mom: cook faster.

This is the view from outside the window in our stairwell. Cute, right?

Also, dangerous. He is obsessed with climbing the steps to look out this window.