Does this half-smile make you think she was a little unsure about the carousel at first? She was.

Does this smile make you think that at this point in the zoo trip she was tired of cheesin' it up for the camera but wanted to please Mommy in the moment? She was. :)

                            

I LOVE my mom. And my kids do, too :)

I'll finish these recent posts with one last quote on motherhood: "You fulfill yourself by denying yourself, preparing the people you can’t live without to live without you" ~Andrew Ferguson

This is an excerpt taken from a popular book, Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss. Unfortunately I haven't read the book, but over the last couple of years I have seen this quote repeated in several places on the Internet and it's a joy to read it each time for a fresh reminder. Katy's sister-in-law had said another baby would be "one more mouth the more to fill and two feet the more to shoe, more disturbed nights, more laborious days, and less leisure or visiting, reading, music, and drawing. " In response to her, Katy says:

"Well, this is one side of the story to be sure, but I look at the other. Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God; and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all, to whom, while I minister in Christ's name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother's heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her lifelong prayers! Oh, how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!"

This quote is also taken from the Domestic Kingdom blog, and it's an excerpt from an interview with a pastor's wife, Elizabeth Bass. It has really changed my thinking this past week about how I interact with Vivian and Kate, even though it sounds so simple. I think her point is that if you can simplify your goals and mindset, all the other things you were aiming for will fall into place naturally as well.


What single piece of counsel (or constructive criticism) has most improved your motherhood?
My dear friend and older sister in the Lord shared with me to have the single-minded goal each day to be kind to my children.  This was a light bulb moment for me on my timeline of mommy-hood.  Captain Obvious, right?
Well, not so obvious when my to-do list included dramatic goals for each day.  In the midst of failing to accomplish my tasks, I would grow frustrated toward my children and respond in an annoyed manner.  But, when I approach each day with the one goal of being kind to my children, it’s been a very helpful perspective of gospel application.
How kind God has been to me through His Son, Jesus Christ.  God pursued me, He wooed me, and He called me to Himself.  Being kind to my children is a picture of the gospel (Hosea 11:4).  I pray I will look back and praise God that my children, in turn, bear the mark of kindness in their character.

by Gloria Furman (from domestickingdom.com)
The “Order of Service” in our church’s weekly gatherings includes the “Call to Worship.”
The essence of the Call to Worship is an invitation to worship God.
Even when I am not gathered together with my local church for corporate worship, I hear “calls to worship” throughout my days and nights.
Through the static buzzing of a baby monitor I hear a baby crying for food, warmth, company, and love.
The baby’s cries remind me of my soul’s desperate estate. I cast myself on the only one who can help me.“Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86:1).
Through the din of toys clattering in the bedroom I hear a frustrated child shriek for help to reclaim a treasured possession.
The child’s angst over an earthly trinket reminds me of how I, too, am tempted to bank my happiness on my stuff. Jesus provides a way of escape out of temptation inviting me to worship him as my Treasure.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Over lilting melodies playing through the speakers a tiny ballerina excitedly invites me to watch her twirl. Her expectation of shared joy reminds me of how Jesus invites me to share in his joy forever.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

Through the recycled air of the car I can hear whining coming from the backseat. Impatience is made manifest in complaining. This is so like me. I want what I want and I want it yesterday.
But God’s lavish kindness and patience toward me leads me to repentance. God judged my sin at the cross and the death penalty that I deserved fell on Christ instead. God doesn’t scorn me; he listens to my pleas for grace and he answers according to his steadfast love!

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace” (Psalm 86:3-6).

In the early morning hours I hear my door creak open and an excited, breathless whisper at my bedside announces the impending sunrise.
On these mornings my groggy disbelief is but a fraction of the weariness felt by the women who arrived at a certain tomb before dawn, not expecting to see the Risen Son.
But because Jesus did rise from the dead, every sunrise is marching forward and points me to look ahead to the morning that is coming that will be the end of darkness forever. On that day we will all see our Savior face to face with no more doubting or lukewarm affections or soul sluggishness.
Then we will call each other to worship God forever and ever saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13b).

Thank you, God, for the numerous “calls to worship” you give us every day!
Please give us ears to hear them.

In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, I thought I could post a few encouraging quotes or articles for my mom friends. Press on! Here's a start with something I read on the Mahaney's blog today:




"I am sure that, in my early youth, no teaching ever made such an impression upon my mind as the instruction of my mother; neither can I conceive that, to any child, there can be one who will have such influence over the young heart as the mother who has so tenderly cared for her offspring. A man with a soul so dead as not to be moved by the sacred name of "mother" is creation's blot. Never could it be possible for any man to estimate what he owes to a godly mother. Certainly I have not the powers of speech with which to set forth my valuation of the choice blessing which the Lord bestowed on me in making me the son of one who prayed for me, and prayed with me. How can I ever forget her tearful eye when she warned me to escape from the wrath to come? I thought her lips right eloquent; others might not think so, but they certainly were eloquent to me. How can I ever forget when she bowed her knee, and with her arms about my neck, prayed, "Oh, that my son might live before Thee!" Nor can her frown be effaced from my memory—that solemn, loving frown, when she rebuked my budding iniquities; and her smiles have never faded from my recollections— the beaming of her countenance when she rejoiced to see some good thing in me towards the Lord God of Israel."
~Charles Spurgeon, as quoted in Charles Haddon Spurgeon Autobiography: The Early Years 1834-1860 Volume 1

It was really impressive!

Vivian was just being silly with her baton, but Kate seemed like she was really trying to concentrate.

Scott

Toph

Gramme got the girls these coordinating dresses...they acted like they felt special in them. Thanks, Gramme!

This picture of baby was taken at the 19 week ultrasound when we found out he is a boy :)

This picture was also taken at 19 weeks. He weighed about 10 ounces.

This was taken at the ultrasound last Friday, at 23 weeks. He weighed about 1 pound, 7 ounces and measures in the 58th percentile overall. I don't know if you can tell, but he kept his arms and hands in front of his face the whole time, so we couldn't get a good picture! Here you can just see his ear, hand in front of his eyes, and chin at the bottom. But still so sweet to a mommy :)