anticipation!

"Let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church with joy in our hearts: let the birth of a Redeemer which redeemed us from sin, from wrath, from death, from hell, be always remembered; may this Savior's love never be forgotten! But may we sing forth all his love and glory as long as life shall last here, and through an endless eternity in the world above! May we chant forth the wonders of redeeming love and the riches of free grace, amidst angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, without intermission, forever and ever! And as, my brethren, the time for keeping this festival is approaching, let us consider our duty in the true observation thereof, of the right way for the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls, to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; an event which ought to be had in eternal remembrance." 

ONE!

I can hardly believe that my sweet baby boy is one-year-old today! Haddon boy, your life brings real joy and light into our lives. We see God's love and kindness very clearly when we see you. The Lord has blessed us and gifted us with you and we are forever thankful. You are sweet, gentle, sensitive, funny, so happy (when your mama is around;)) and you sure do love your big brother a lot. My son, every part of me yearns and aches for you to grow and know how deeply you are loved by Jesus and my hearts cry is that he would reveal himself to you. Time is going by faster than I thought that it would (about as fast as they said it would) and I feel really, really privileged to be your mama. I am so grateful for these days with you.






"I want you to be one of the best men that ever lived—to see God and to reveal Him to men. This is the burden of my prayers. My whole being goes out in passionate entreaty to God that He will give me what I ask. I am sure He will, for the request is after His own heart. I do not pray that you may 'succeed in life' or 'get on' in the world. I seldom even pray that you may love me better, or that I may see you oftener in this or any other world—much as I crave for this. But I ask, I implore, that Christ may be formed in you, that you may be made not in a likeness suggested by my imagination, but in the image of God—that you may realise, not mine, but His ideal, however much that ideal may bewilder me, however little I may fail to recognise it when it is created. I hate the thought that out of love for me you should accept my presentation—my feeble idea—of the Christ. I want God to reveal His Son in you independently of me—to give you a first-hand knowledge of Him whom I am only beginning to see. Sometimes more selfish thoughts will intrude, but this represents the main current of my prayers; and if the ideal is to be won from heaven by importunity, by ceaseless begging, I think I shall get it for you."
-Forbes Robinson

blueberry pickin'

We went blueberry picking with some of our friends from church the other night. It was the first time we've picked blueberries and it was such a fun time! This particular place is open until 9pm and it was nice to go when the weather was cooler. That has always been my reservation about blueberry picking-- I'm a wimp when it comes to heat especially when I'm pregnant (and it sure seems like I'm always pregnant) so I've never really wanted to go.  Anyway, we ended up picking 30 lbs (!!!!!) and have spent the last few days washing, snacking and freezing them. By the way, 30 lbs is as much as it sounds like ;)! Looking for all kinds of blueberry recipes to put these guys to good use! 

a new baby!

Our family is so, so blessed! The Lord has graciously given us another sweet baby to love on! I am due in January and am feeling pretty good but pretty anxious for the second trimester to start ;). We're  talking all kinds of baby names and anticipating the months to come! 

central oregon family vacation!

We spent last week in central Oregon on our family vacation! It was actually the first time we've ever gone away just our little family and it was such a sweet and refreshing time for us. We spent our time reading, napping (a lot of napping), talking, going on hikes and walks, going to the beach (!!!!), exploring, and just being together. We had originally planned on tent camping but found out that it was going to be too cold so we decided to rent this little rustic cabin, and I'm so glad we did! The first two days were cold (so, so cold) but the rest of the time it was so warm and sunny. We really had a wonderful time and the boys loved spending so much time outside! 

good, good friday.

"Alas, and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a sinner such as I?
Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown
And love beyond degree

My God, why would You shed Your blood
So pure and undefiled
To make a sinful one like me
Your chosen, precious child?

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, the creature’s, sin
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness
And melt my eyes to tears."

and, we're done!

I honestly never thought that I would be saying this! Not because I didn't think that my sweet husband was capable but because it was challenging and expensive and life still seemed to go on all the while Adam was in school. It felt like eventually all of the work and busyness would catch up to us and we'd have to quit, but my goodness, God's faithfulness to us has been incredible! From real financial stress, to sleepless nights filled with homework and crying babies, to days without really seeing each other, to sacrificing wants for needs, learning how to live more frugally, learning how to open ourselves to our church-family, to really growing and developing a tangible love for The Lord. Seeing our weaknesses, our empty bank accounts, our inability to manage stress well, our lack in parenting and love for one another, has caused us to see the inverse of God's strength, provision, steadfastness and intimate care for us and we are thankful that this is the means that He has taught us to trust Him more.

The Lord has sustained us for four long years of Seminary! Adam has been a full-time student, worked full-time (between multiple jobs) so that I can stay home with our boys, been a kind, loving, forgiving and encouraging husband, has been faithful in our desires to grow our family, been a loving, engaged and tender disciplinary for our children, he has been a committed friend, devoted to his studies, grown in a desire to understand God's word and to see it proclaimed and I am beyond grateful and proud that he is mine!