Life, lately.

February was a good month. There was some sunshine, some snow, and a lot of time spent together. January and February are usually slower months for us and that usually drives me crazy, but I found so much joy in it this year. It was nice to just slow down and have quiet days at home spent reading and snuggling with each other. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and feel really rested. Which is especially nice because we were going over Adam's schedule for the next few months last night and we realized that starting next week, it will be the busiest that he has been since we got married. With finishing up his last semester of Seminary (woo!), working at Western and beginning to work for our new church, there isn't much time left for doing "nothing." But it's okay, because these things are good and it is good to learn to be intentional with one another and really appreciate the time that we have to spend together as a family and as a couple. And realizing that most families do not have the luxury of just spending open-ended time together multiple days a week... "real-life" is setting in a bit ;).

Anyway...

Elliot is turning two soon. TWO. What in the world? I think back to that dreary March day that made Adam and I parents and I can't believe it was nearly two years ago. I can't believe that he has been ours for TWO years. That boy becomes more and more delightful with every single day. Through the challenges of parenting and through the unbelievable joys of motherhood, this boy is showing me how good (so, so good) and how gracious The Lord is to me! Currently, he is pretty obsessed with "Monster Trucks"... yes, that's right. He walks around the house yelling "Monster truck! Yeah!" all. day. long. But basically, he's obsessed with all forms of motor transportation. He's all boy. He's sensitive, and funny, and caring, and smart and full of life and energy.

Haddon boy is five months old and full of sweetness. He is tender and loving and cuddly and happy and so, so sensitive. I think he would sit and watch his brother play for hours, he is completely in awe of him. He is beginning to look so much like his big brother, which is crazy because they looked so different from birth. He has started some solids (banana, avocado and some apple) and he LOVES them. He just eats everything right up. Currently, he rolls from front to back and can *almost* sit by himself. He is really strong and he loves his little toys already.

These little boys are such a means of grace to us. God is so good and gentle to us that even amidst all of our failures and all of our sin, he still thought it good and right to bless us so wonderfully with Elliot and Haddon. We are undeserving and we are so thankful. These boys make me want one hundred more kids. just kidding. kind of. ;)

22 months.

This little boy has been such a means of grace in my life. Being a mama of an almost two-year-old is challenging, at times, for me. There is so much real life happening inside this home and I am often times brought to tears by it's beauty. Motherhood is very different than I thought it was going to be-- and a very good different. I remember thinking it would be all art-work, kisses and play-dates. While there is some of that happening, most of our little life consists of a very different picture. Most of our life consists me seeing my need for Jesus and learning how to trust and rely on him in a very real and tangible way. God is using Elliot to teach me how to care less about what other people think and care more about being a faithful wife and mom, he is teaching me to care less about myself and give more freely to my family, he is teaching me that it is good and right that my body is different because it has bore these two beautiful boys (Romans 12:1) and their future siblings, that even though the days seem long and hard and tiresome, there is real refinement and sanctification taking place, and I am blessed. I am beyond blessed by this boy. Yes, motherhood is challenging but my goodness, it is rewarding! This little boy brings me more joy than I ever imagined. Every single day he is helping to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude in this mama. Every single day he makes me laugh and sing and pray and see the world in a new way. Elliot boy, you are a delight and a gift.



"Blessings, like children, are not ethereal and weightless. Sometimes they feel like they come at you like a Kansas hail storm--they might leave a welt! But if you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil, God will give you the kind of overwhelming joy that cannot remember the details. Motherhood is hard work. It is repetitive and often times menial. Accept it. Rejoice in it. This is your toil. Right here. Those are their faces. Enjoy things like this. But joy is not giddy. It is not an emotional rush--it is what happens when you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil. So rejoice in your children. Look them in the eyes and give thanks. You will not even remember the work of all this planting when the harvest of joy overwhelms you." An excerpt from "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic

january.

January was good to us. Normally we dread this month around here but this year wasn't so bad. I felt like we were able to calm down a lot after the busyness of the holidays. We spent a lot of time snuggled up together, reading, playing lots and lots of games, being outside (it has been so sunny), eating healthy, spending time with our new church family, taking mini vacations, watching family movies, and just being with each other. 

"I hear it in the rushing breeze;

The hills that have for ages stood,

The echoing sky and roaring seas,

All swell the chorus, God is good.

Yes, God is good, all nature says,

By God’s own hand with speech endued

And man, in louder notes of praise,

Should sing for joy that God is good.

For all Thy gifts we bless Thee, Lord,

But chiefly for our heavenly food;

Thy pardoning grace, Thy quickening word,

These prompt our song, that God is good."

January 2014. from Adam & Megan Triplett on Vimeo.

a new year.

I cannot believe that 2014 is here-- this past year went by quicker than any other has. What a wonderful year it was! And not because it was all good and wonderful things happening... but because it was hard and stressful and painful (and yes, of course good and wonderful, too) and it made us learn, in a whole new way, how to cling to Jesus. As we have reflected we have realized that our life is not as lovely and perfect as we may have portrayed (or even thought). We see ourselves more clearly today than we did one year ago and in turn, we see more evidently, our need and dependence on God. And that this is okay and it is good. The point is not to become sinless, perfect, happy people but to repent and trust and see our need for Christ; and to see just how good and loving He is. And what a grace that he has shown me in the ways that he has! He could have chosen awful, crazy, circumstances but He chose this little life that we are living. Oh, we are grateful for His kindness and gentleness to us. Through pregnancy, parenting a toddler, marriage, the birth of our second son, friendships, family quarreling, car problems, moving, seminary, death, financial troubles, bouts of depression, stress, changing churches, lots of love and so, so much grace, we can honestly say that 2013 was the best year yet.

2013, according to instagram from Adam & Megan Triplett on Vimeo.

It's happening!

This Sunday is our last Sunday at The Gathering Church! We are incredibly excited but also very sad to be leaving all of our wonderful family and friends. These people have become very, very dear to us. This church is where the gospel was really introduced and formed in my life, this is where Adam and I met, dated, married and had our children. Our children were dedicated to The Lord here, we have laughed (a lot) and cried here, we have been encouraged and uplifted on a weekly basis and our hearts will ache because we will no longer be in community with these wonderful, wonderful people. But my goodness, we are excited! 

The idea of church revitalization became more of a reality to us in June/July of 2012. We were approached with the idea and pretty right off the bat, we were in. Throughout the next year and a half Adam had countless meetings, phone conversations, and mentor relationships that really began to cultivate a strong desire for church revitilzation. Looking back, we can see so clearly the Lord's working in our hearts and practically in our lives. We began to have a real desire to see God's church flourish and His people proclaim his name throughout the city of Portland. Several times we went down to the prospective church and just prayed for the people that were in attendance there, this really began to grow our love for the people at Sellwood Baptist Church. This past May we had the opportunity to move much closer to the church, but much farther from the one that we were currently at. Adam and I had a lot of reservations and fears in doing this. We were concerned that our community life at The Gathering would deplete and we weren't even positive that this revitalization was even going to happen. But we did it. We trusted that God would be faithful to us even in Milwaukie and he has been. So, so faithful. And now we live five minutes from our new church and our community life at The Gathering is coming to an end in a sweeter season than I ever could have imagined. In October we had our first visit at Sellwood Baptist Church. Adam and I left that day and we were certain. We knew that this is what God has been preparing for us and we were humbled and excited and calmed. After meeting the wonderful members at Sellwood Baptist there was no way we wouldn't go! So many wonderful people that have been walking with The Lord longer than Adam and I have been alive!

So, we will be taking a trip back to North Carolina next week to visit our family. When we come back in the beginning if January, we will start attending Sellwood Baptist Church. Please be praying for us. Pray that our hearts would be content and find joy in The Lord. Pray that our family would stand firm in the gospel.  Pray that the people of Sellwood baptist would be encouraged. Pray that this transition would go smoothly for everyone. Pray that this church would be a beacon of truth and hope in the community of Sellwood. Pray that the gospel would be proclaimed and people would come to know Jesus Christ! 

Life lately and a 2 month old baby.

November is almost half-way through. What? How did that happen?! Life is going so quickly these days. I think life with kids is like that. "The days are long but the years are short." I like that. Life with two has been a bit of a learning curve for me, but it is good. So good. I am tired and my hair isn't usually washed or done, but there is so much sweetness and beauty in this season.  These little boys teach me, humble me, and show me how real God's grace is. I am grateful. 

Adam is back at it.  Working full-time at Western, working part-time for our church and he started his last year (woohoo!) of Seminary this fall. I am so proud of that man. I cannot believe he is graduating this Spring (with his Masters of Divinity)! He has been a student our entire marriage, so I am so excited to begin this new phase of our lives.

Haddon is two months old today. I can't believe it. The last two months of my pregnancy were the longest two months of my life and these have gone by so quickly. Haddon is wonderful. We absolutely adore that little boy. He is sweet and tender and so content (most of the time). Elliot loves him so much... It's so sweet to see his love and concern for his baby brother so early on. 

Elliot is changing so much. I feel like everyday he says or does something new, and each time it melts my heart. He is funny and caring and so, so energetic ;). He is talking a lot and communicating pretty well. He is OBSESSED with cars. I mean, really. That's usually all he talks about and if he isn't, you can bet he will be soon. 

My good friend took some pictures of Haddon the other day when we went over there. They are so simple and sweet. I love them. 

Also, our family may possibly have the opportunity to do something so, so awesome this coming January. We are potentially (with the partnership of several other families and churches) going to join a team in revitalizing a church in our area! This has been something we have been praying through for over a year now and we are officially finding out in the next few weeks if it is something that is going to happen. If you think of it, please pray for this work that God is doing, pray for our family, and pray for those who are joining with us. We are excited and we are nervous, but we are trusting Jesus. 

oof. my heart.

My goodness. This man. This year has been more challenging than we had anticipated. My pregnancy was hard. A lot harder than the first time and certainly harder than we thought it would be. But this man was so faithful and loving to me. Holding me as I cried, picking up the slack around the house, taking on so much with Elliot when I was too big and tired to move, pushing me when I needed to be pushed, and really, very earnestly, pointing me to Jesus. And now, here we are, with two precious boys. And my heart grows and leaps for him even more. Seeing him holding, loving, playing with and rejoicing over our children... oof, my heart.

Adam, my dear, you are so much of my heart.