Category Archives: Family File

Thoughts on family life

Glory Days

Posted on by

It’s been a glorious two weeks.

For a window of time, all the kids were home along with spouses, fiance and grands.

Counting PB and me, that makes thirteen…and counting.

Two more babes will join the tribe this year.

Here are some lessons from the past two weeks:

Keep looking out for each other.

E and E

You can never have too many bubbles.

bubbles

If you just keep sucking it up, something good will happen.

straw2

Chocolate chip cookies are best at Nonnie’s house.

Cookies

Make sure you get a little sunshine every day.

Sun

Things aren’t scary when someone big is holding you.

slide

It doesn’t matter if you have a booger hanging out of your nose as long as you’re happy.

booger

Double chins are cute.

Eli napping

Don’t under-estimate the power of a good nap.

Ella napping

These are the Glory Days.

Best Fam

Milk

Posted on by

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow up in your salvation.”  1 Peter 2:2

DSC_0042

Newborn babies have one thing on their minds — milk.

They crave it, they cry for it, they live for the next feeding.

When they are hungry, their miniature mouths open wide as they frantically search for the source, then land it and guzzle like there’s no tomorrow.

They suck with all their might, jaw muscles pulling, drawing, tight and strong.

Milk is what they desire — milk is what they need.

Without it they would die.

So they cry out every few hours for more and more and more.

Elijah and Eleanor inspire me.

I watch their single-minded intensity and I am envious.

To want something so desperately and to be so completely satisfied by the nourishment it gives —

they are teaching me how to love God’s Word.

DSC_0049

They also are reminding me that newborns require regular feedings and must be treated with gentleness and patience.

Neediness, dependence and messiness is to be expected.

Developing into a grown-up takes time.

May we give those newly born into faith the same kind of nurturing care.

Awesome Easter

Posted on by

I hope you had a lovely Easter.

DSC_0088

I hope you breathed deep of the lillies.

DSC_0089

I hope you celebrated the empty tomb.

DSC_0094

I hope you worshiped the risen King of Kings.

DSC_0082

I hope you ate candy and cheesecake and strawberry pie.

DSC_0084

I hope you didn’t judge me when you drove by our house.

I hope you understood that just recently the snow banks melted enough to reveal the buried Holy Family.

I hope you know I begged PB to put the Christmas decor away before Easter

He tried.  Honestly, he did.

But they were iced into the ground.  Frozen solid.

So the pastor had a nativity scene set up in his yard for Easter.

Awesome.

Holy Week

Posted on by

There I was, thinking about how it’s already Holy Week…..

and I hadn’t even given it much thought.

I hadn’t contemplated the bread and the wine….

I hadn’t kept watch in the garden….

I hadn’t walked the Via Dolorosa.

There I was, thinking that Easter was creeping up on me

and that I might miss it this year.

I was wrong.

I have been experiencing Easter Life to the full.

Here I am, witness to life bursting forth from the dark womb.

Here I am, staying awake into the night to watch and pray.

Here I am, washing the feet of my daughter, serving her needs.

Here I am, holding in my very hands life — downy soft, sweet smelling life.

Indeed, this has been the holiest of Holy Weeks.

IMG_0365[1]

Welcome Home

Posted on by

IMG_0336

Eli and Ella weren’t impressed with their welcome home sign.

In fact, they didn’t even blink an eye.

Tucked inside their cozy car seats, they slept through the whole thing.

But coming home for the first time is a big event and needs to be celebrated.

So while the babies slept, Mommy and Daddy and Nonnie rejoiced…….

…..and took a nap.

Best party ever.

Baby Watch Day 2

Posted on by

DSC_0034

Babies now-a-days have it so good.

Back when I was born, babies were lucky to have a rattle, a scuffed up pair of leather shoes and an old tin cup.

We didn’t have all this highfalutin’ paraphernalia.

No siree, we got by with a few boxes and an imagination.

(Do I sound like a grandma yet?)

Actually, I can’t wait to spoil these sweet peas.

(There.  Now I do sound like a grandma.)

Oh, hurry and come.

I long to call you both by name.