a momma and Elijah day...

is what Elijah started asking for about two weeks ago. It had been a while since we had had one, and with kindergarten just around the corner I decided it was time. So last week we had a wonderful day together - just the two of us. Just tonight he was telling me that when he's a grown-up we'll still have Momma and Elijah days.


outside the movie theater - we saw The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything

He chose Krystal's for lunch and then we just had to stop by Krispy Kreme.

Since he has a recently acquired love of space and planets we decided to visit our planetarium. They just happened to be showing what they typically show the kindergarten kids, so it was age appropriate and held his attention. This picture was taken in the entry to the auditorium where he got a kick out of the black lights.
We had so much fun. I remember sitting there wishing that the day would lengthen somehow. I love this age, and Elijah is just so fun to be with, especially one on one. He's a great little companion. And while I don't believe (or hope) that he will always live with me (another thing he told me earlier tonight), I do hope and pray that he will always want to have days spent with momma every now and again. Just like Mary did with Jesus, I will treasure the memories of this day in my heart.

last lecture professor dies of pancreatic cancer

logan

look at this sweet little one...

logan is here!

My new little nephew arrived today. His name is Logan and he weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces and they say he looks like his big brothers did, except with a little meat on his bones. He weighed exactly what Ella weighed when she was born. I'll post a picture as soon as I've seen one.

hope

My sweet friend Gina shared a scripture with me earlier today that speaks to losses we have both endured, and that we continue to work through even today, every day. I was so touched that I came to her heart while she was reading God's word.

I have come to realize that many of the promises God gives us will be given when we are with him in heaven. It is so easy to become angry with him and wonder why? why this? why now? why not? why is that? what are you doing? where are you? Now, while I believe God created us as we are and understands our emotions and is big enough to take us in our angriness, I also try to remember that his plan is divine and sovereign. Our reward will come and what he promises he will fulfill. Maybe not now, maybe not until life here is over. But he is everlasting, unchanging. What he says he will do, he will do.

Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth...Be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years... Isaiah 65:17-20

Thank you Gina. This has blessed me.

little cuties

Look here for Ella's 18 month pictures and Miles 3 year pictures. Anita took them today and they are too, too cute. Proud momma here couldn't help but share them.

He Is

Priscilla Shirer quoted the lyrics to this song in her message at Deeper Still. I just loved it and wanted to share it.

He Is

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign

Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song

In Proverbs, wisdom's cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire

In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He's the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He's the great missionary

In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain

In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He's the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin

Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He's the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor

In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords

He is, He is, HE IS!

The prince of peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God
The great I AM

He's the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
and when time is no more
He is, HE IS!

still thinking about Deeper Still

It's almost been two weeks since my time at Deeper Still and I just keep thinking about it. During all three lessons I feverishly took notes to refer back to for my own purposes but also to share what I learned here. I just can't do justice to what I received while there, but I found someone who could and did. If you're curious, then go here for Beth Moore and here for Priscilla Shirer and then here for Kay Arthur.

It was so immediately obvious that Kay had a painful message to share with us, one that actually made her physically ill. As part of it she urged us to commit to daily bible study. I felt convicted of my lack of making daily study a priority. I can stay up late to sew or blog, but sadly reading the bible hasn't kept me up many late nights. That's embarrassing to share. But I am going to change it. I want to learn to look into the word and see and receive words from God in a new way. I have a new bible study to start with that is just about getting into the word.

Miles' favorite

Miles and I were talking this afternoon about who he loves...

Me: Do you love Daddy?
Miles: Yeah.
Me: Do you love Ella?
Miles: Yeah.
Me: Do you love Elijah?
Miles: Yes.
Me: Who else do you love?
Miles: Granddaddy. He's my favorite boy.

sweet little face

I am missing this sweet little face and the little things he says, like "do" when he wants you to do something for him or the not so sweet way he yells "no!" about many things. His life is really about to change when his new baby brother arrives on the scene in a few weeks. But, if Miles can sort of handle having Ella around then I'm sure Ian can hang in there with his baby.

we're home

and I'm very happy that we are. We had a fun (but too short) visit with Kevin and his family. Getting there and back was not so fun. This is what we had to deal with for a total of approximately 24 driving hours and many more hours counting stops and meals:



sadness silliness anger

ella and ian had fun together and fought a little bit, too

miles took a ride in Uncle Kevin's pick up truck. this was truly the highlight of the trip for him.

we went to The Henry Ford Museum. Great collection there, including the weinermobile and the Dymaxion House (which really made me miss my favorite architect).

as part of the car exhibit the boys were able to build kinex cars and then race them down slides. I actually made the sad little one Elijah has, while Miles found one that had been abandoned by someone more talented than me.


The actual bus Rosa Parks was on when she refused to give up her seat. Notice the old WSFA advertisement inside.

We also visited a small planetarium. Elijah has become quite the little expert on space and asked the college-aged speaker some neat questions and also told him a few things. Like how their aren't really aliens - they are only in books (which I tell him to save him from fear and bad dreams). So, 21 year old college astronomer tells him that actually there is a high likelihood that aliens do exist. Thanks for that.

Kevin said being with Ella takes him back to when his baby sister was really a baby.

A sweet moment between Miles and Ella at the hotel on our way home. She found this great little perch by the window and happily shared it with her brother.

Even though the trip was difficult, especially for my mom who now needs a vacation after our vacation, I am happy that we did it. The thought of the ride was always scary to me, and almost kept me from deciding to go. Thinking of it now that it's over is still not much fun. But the fun the kids had is so very worth it. They need the chance to go and see new things and visit with their cousins. I can handle a very unrelaxing trip to afford them the great time that they had. Maybe, just maybe, we'll do it again one day. But their dad will have to go, too.