One of my favorite things...

Ask Sam if you can see his muscles. You won't be disappointed.

Muscles from drewandbekah on Vimeo.

Birthday Pictures

Today:

Isa traded in her crib on her 3rd birthday for a toddler bed. Freedom! She was very, very excited.We got her Annie, her favorite movie to borrow from Kristi when we were in Vancouver.

Birthday Pancakes from drewandbekah on Vimeo.

Yesterday:

Drew wanted Isa to have a pinata for her birthday. Isa didn't really get into hitting it (not sure why-she loves hitting her brothers) so the older kids helped her out.
Drew planned a very nice little birthday open house for Isa and I. We had Care Bear cookies for Isa instead of cake. She loved them.

Happy Birthday Eloisa!

I canNOT believe you are 3 years old. The time is flying by. Seriously, how is it November 2009?

Most people tell me that 3s are harder than the terrible 2s. I am not claiming that. I think 3s are your year to shine, baby! Happy Birthday, beautiful!

Newborn

1 Year Old2 Years Old3 Years Old

On Turning 30

I never think too much about birthdays. It always just feels like another day. However, 30 is a big milestone and my 20s were too full to not stop, relect and take some notes.

I entered my 20s as a single sophomore college girl and am leaving my 20s again on a college campus but as a married woman with three children. My college years were simple and carefree and fun. I had a blast at college with friends and then I got to go home for breaks and have a blast with my amazing family. As a 20 year old, I had not tasted the deep sorrow of death, the thrill of marriage, the fears and excitement of moving and making new friends, and the unexplainable joy of bearing/adopting children.

So here it is, looking back...

I look back at wedding pictures and remember the fresh, raw grief of Sara, my sister and best friend, not standing by my side. I remember thinking if my heart could crush my body that it would. And yet, I also remember how the Lord was so present that day and anointed Drew and I and my family with fresh strength and peace. I remember kneeling down with my husband to receive communion and the power and promise of the resurrection nearly overwhelming me. It was a holy moment. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I remember my parents moving Drew and I out to Denver after our wedding. I remember hugging them so tight and not wanting them to let me go. And yet, the community the Lord gave us there brought so much joy and hope and healing to my grieving soul. The Lord knew my pain and he used those precious friends to carry me through. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I remember my dad being diagnosed with cancer for the final time. I remember seeing him writhe in pain while in the same breath reminding us to 'keep the joy of the Lord'. He was fully confident that the Lord would heal him and fully surrendered to whatever that looked like. I remember sitting by his bed and reading Psalm 40 to him and hearing him say, "Again!" everytime I finished. I remember bawling my eyes out when I heard he was Home and laughing at the same time picturing he and Sara's embrace. Sweet reunion. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I remember welcoming Benjamin into the world. I remember the physical pain of those few hours being quickly forgotten when I held that tiny little miracle. I remember holding him as we dedicated him to the Lord at the church I grew up in and everyone saying how much this grinning baby reminded them of my dad. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I remember the long process of bringing Eloisa into our family and the relief that came when she was finally in our arms. I remember thanking God for this 'physical gospel' that reminds me that I was grafted in to the Lord's family. I am an adopted daughter of the King. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I remember driving to the hospital 6 days after Isa came home to give birth to Samuel. I remember thinking, "This is crazy. Are we going to be able to survive adding another child to our family so soon?" And yet the moment he entered this world, he completely captured my heart and I couldn't imagine my life without my sweet little Sam. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

I remember moving to Vancouver. I remember the weight of leaving family so far behind and yet knowing that the greatest gift I could give my children, even better than living close to family, was obedience to the Lord. I remember the Lord using that year to restore my soul and refresh my marriage. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

And now I'm here in Upland, a place I never imagined myself living, in a dorm apartment most people think is too small for 5...and yet, it could not be a better fit, a bigger gift, or a more perfect blessing and reminder that the Lord knows our hearts, that He is good, and that He alone is God. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

So here's to a less tumultuous fourth decade. And yet whatever the next 10 years brings, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful,

Where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name.

Blessed Be Your name when I'm found in the desert place,

Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise.

When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say--

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.

Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me,

When the world's all as it should be, blessed be Your name.

Blessed be Your name, on the road marked with suffering,

Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise.

When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say--

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.

You give and take away, You give and take away

My heart will choose to say "Lord , blessed be Your name!"

Sunny Days

It has been so sunny here! Praise the LORD for the beautiful fall days we have had.

Words that have warmed my heart today:

I heard Sam wake up and I was finishing up something in the kitchen. I asked Benjamin to go tell Sam I would be right there. "Sam, mama will be right here, okay? It's okay Sam. Your drother is here. I love you, Sam." I walked in to Benjamin holding Sam's head and patting his cheek while Sam smiled over at him.
Sam has started to point his finger at me and say, "Be 'wight' back!" as he heads off to get something-usually a book. It's so weird for me to have my little man talking so much. Stop growing up! He is slimming out. The dimples where his knuckles should be are fading, his rubber band wrists are almost gone, and he doesn't have rolls on his thighs anymore. Sob!
Drew was dressed up for work and Benjamin said, "Ooooh Daddy. You look like you are getting married. I like your tie, Daddy." Isa exclaims, "I'm going to marry Jesus!" Drew and I burst out laughing.

Fall Fun

The kids had so much fun tonight collecting candy around the neighborhood as well as in the dorms. All of the sugar was good for helping them stay awake an hour later tonight.

We had a Hall Director Social this afternoon. This is all of Res Life staff's kiddos. I love how Jared is trying to make Sam smile. We woke Isa and Sam up to go-can you tell?
Sam did not let me put him down for most of the party because of the picture two below. He was absolutely terrified (shaking, crying, clinging to me) of the Taylor Fort Wayne Falcon.

Decorating cookies.


Benjamin with Oliver, a Dharma workman from Lost for those of you who aren't fans. Crack me up.

Sweet Duck and Chicken.
Frog hitting on Duck.
Buddies.

Hiding God's Word?

On Wednesday nights, Benjamin has been attending a kids' program put on by our church. He has gone three times and loves it. Each week they have a memory verse to learn for the next week.

Benjamin was talking to my mom today and was telling her his memory verses that he has learned. My mom said, "Benjamin! I am so proud of you and excited that you are hiding God's Word in your heart." Benjamin exclaimed, "Hiding??!! If I hide it, how will God find it?"

I am thankful today that nothing is hidden from our great God and I'm also thankful that Benjamin is not hiding these truths but rather proclaiming them and remembering them.

Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare to Him to whom we must give account."

Letters

It's been a few months but it's still a crazy thing to see Benjamin writing his name. When did my baby grow up and start asking me how to spell things? He now is correcting me when I write words in all capital letters. "Mama, that's not how you do that. You need to use lower case. Let me show you, okay?"

I also felt really old school when I got a note home from his teacher a few weeks ago saying that kids would not be learning cursive anymore-people don't write anymore, they type. I can't remember the last time I wrote in cursive but it was still weird for Drew and I to hear our kids wouldn't even learn it.

Benjamin with his pumpkin. Not sure why it has legs.

Don't Mess with Morris Hall

Seriously, if this picture does not make you laugh, you are a grumpus.

Field Trip

I went with Benjamin's class to a pumpkin patch today. It was great to meet all of Benjamin's little friends that he talks about and their moms. They had a little lesson for the kids about how pumpkins grow, they went through a corn maze, they got to hold little chicks, and they went on a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch to pick their own pumpkins. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day--70 and sunny!