A Moment Captured

Oh, isn't it easy to wish away the present for the sake of the future or past? I often catch myself yearning for the next step and it's good to remind myself how sweet the present is. Oh, thank the Lord for *this* moment with it's heavy end-of-summer heat, adorable baby, quick-learning and joyful toddler, easy-to-love husband, hopes and dreams tempered by memories of what's gone before. On this beautiful August afternoon, I want to capture the moment.

What is Done in Secret

"Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" -Matthew 6:6

Before becoming a mother, my labor was seen and appreciated. I taught in front of a classroom full of students who often appreciated the lessons, was paid regularly, and even observed and evaluated by my employer. I had specialized knowledge of the subjects I taught and was respected both for the knowledge and for communicating it well. It was very satisfying to drive home at the end of the day feeling that I had done well.

As a mother, my labor is hidden. My husband sees some of it, and a few close friends and family members, but I am much more aware that my primary audience is God. He sees each hard won triumph and ugly failure. There is no pretense, no fancy work-suit, only the truth of my labor and my heart laid bare before Him who has always seen.

I am not a perfect mother, and he knows it! He is my strength when I am week if only I will run to him. He rewards my hard work sometimes with sweet moments of obedient, joyful children; and sometimes with the creation of yet another unexpected mess. He is pushing me to maturity sometimes gently, and sometimes firmly. Oh how I want to learn my lessons well! How much depends on that! While others may not see and my pride is burned off in that, my children will carry a burden or blessing from how I handle them during our many hours at home together.

I so want to see my husband happy in the peaceful home that he arrives at after a hard day of work. I so want to be a "crown" to him rather than a "constant dripping" as I tell him of my day. I so want to see my children grow in character and go on to live useful, honorable lives walking with the Lord. What a vision to be praying and working towards!

I am so thankful for the 'monistary' of motherhood, where God is providing the rich soil of challenges for me to grow in without the opportunity to garner accolades which are their own reward. I thank Him also for the lack of 'adult conversation,' which affords me many opportunities to pray. Thank you, God, for the many secrets of motherhood!

Keeping Up

Oh, that's what I feel like I'm trying to do anyway! David is two now and very active; and now with Elsie to take care of too, we are busy with blessings :) Here's David thrilled by a lollipop, isn't he cute?And the kidos getting to know each other. David likes when I put Elsie on his lap for a while -- he sits next to me when I'm holding her and pats his lap when he wants a turn.
Oh, very exciting shot of David's new toy; a remote control car. He is still trying to figure out the whole pushing a button on the remote and seeing the car move thing. Fun to watch his mind work :)
Here's everybody; we took a picture with the timer on our camera. It was really hard to orchestrate, but at least everybody's mostly looking :)
And my beautiful sweet little baby, soaking in the sun before Church back when the weather was warm. I love dressing her in cute little dresses and bows... if only she would quit spitting up on them!

Elsie Rose's Birth-Day Story

So my birthday was January 16th and we had been saving the last two pieces of birthday cake in the freezer until our baby girl was born and, well...
I was getting impatient... Pregnant women like cake, you know! On February 2nd we had a big blizzard come through and I had read that sometimes storms with their low barometric pressure can cause women to give birth and I was hoping we'd have our girl soon. That night, I began having regular contractions so after getting stuck in our driveway, we called Lucas' parents to get David and have him spend the night over and their house. After all the stress of not being able to get our car out, however, my contractions stopped. They started again after we decided to wait at home but by 2am had stopped again.
Then after feeling very antsy for our girl for a few more days, I found myself with regular contractions again while out on our Thursday date-night on Feb 3. We went to the mall to walk around and the contractions became 3 minutes apart so we again settled David at his grandparents (who were so kind and flexible to help us out twice!!) and headed to the hospital hoping things wouldn't stop this time... and they didn't. It was a rather long and slow labor, but the nurses kept commenting on how happy I was for being so far progressed and I really felt very little pain until the very end.

After 20 hours of labor and some painful but blessedly brief pushing, our beautiful baby girl was born. A new person is here! Elsie Rose Hedding was born on Feb. 4th at 1:11PM weighing 6lbs. 9oz. and measuring 18 in. After looking forward so much to her arrival, I found myself mostly relieved to be done with the long labor when they first handed her to me. As the hours and days have gone by, however, and I have gotten to study her sweet face and watch her stretch out and learn to sleep and eat and snuggle, I am loving her more each day!

Lucas is so pleased to be the Daddy to a daughter and was so calm and helpful through the whole thing. He loves when it is his turn to hold Elsie to burp and change her and we are both so much more comfortable with newborn care this second time around.
Little David (23 months) was curious and happy to meet his little sister both at the hospital and now at home. He knows to leave her be when she is sleeping but sometimes likes to push his chair up to her crib and watch her sleep. He also likes to kiss her before naptime and bedtime and is very good about keeping his hands away from her face but patting her gently. So far, he seems to be enjoying getting to know his little sister.
I am so enjoying these sweet days with Lucas home from work to help. We get to have our whole family together and it is so nice! I really wish I could slow down time to stretch these sweet, early days out! Elsie's big job right now is to learn to eat and gain weight. David is learning about being a big brother and so far, carrying the mantle admirably. I am making myself rest and let Lucas take care of things while I heal and adjust to the nightly feedings. And Lucas is doing a wonderful job making to-do lists with me each day and keeping our home running very smoothly. I know I'm a little emotional right now, but life is so good, it seems normal to cry. God has been so very good to us!

Blizzard

David and Daddy are exploring the snow drifts around the front porch. Both of them thorougly enjoy playing in the snow and cry when they have to come inside.

David was a great help in shoveling the front sidewalk. He had a hard time throwing snow up over his head, but he did it anyway.

These are tears of joy.

The shared driveway took several hours to shovel, but its worth it. The sun came out and melted started melting the remaining snow so you can see parts of the pavement.

Preparing for Baby

So at 37 weeks pregnant, I am feeling like it will be SOON that we have another little munchkin bringing joy to our home and it is time to get ready! I am trying to find energy to deep clean the house and cook extra meals, actually getting baby clothes washed and a crib set up, and relishing these last days of baby kicks and one-on-one time with my first baby. Oh, and worrying about labor. Can't forget that one :)

The interesting thing I find as I have all these things on my "to do" list getting ready for Baby is that God has a whole other set of priorities in preparing me for what lies ahead. Lucas and I have been visiting a new church for the last month or so and are participating in their annual Daniel Fast that is held at the beginning of each year; seeking God's will for our lives and striving to grow closer to Him. I thought it was kind of a crumby time for restricted eating, beings as I get to gain weight these days, but it has turned out to be a wonderful time of growing with the Lord. I am finding that I let other things distract me from my relationship with God far too often and it is so good to get really close to Him in this season when I will need him so much. Fasting has also offered Lucas and I a wonderful opportunity to see our own weaknesses (especially as I was really sick during part of it) and prepare to lean on each other and God for the strength we need. It has also been wonderful to seek God's will for some specific decisions about our future and receive some clear and interesting insights. God has been so faithful to us in this season; and it couldn't have come at a better time, really. What a good reminder that, while we can get stuck in our small goals, God is still out there managing the big picture and working His change in us when we let him!

Christmas Highlights

OK, I know I'm really belated on putting up some Christmas pictures! It seemed like a flurry of a holiday season this year and then I got sick after it all so I've been enjoying taking things easy for a while now. I really want to get healthy so I can nest!

Anyway, we started off with my great Date Idea of bell ringing outside the grocery store closest to us. It was a kinda warm night so David joined us for the beginning then his grandparents took him home. He brought in a lot more money than Lucas and I did without him :)
Then on Christmas Eve, we went over to the Heddings and had a lovely holiday. Here's me with my brand new crochet hook set. I'm enjoying learning to make all kinds of fun projects this winter :) The snow fell all day and then in the evening David and his Aunt Kelli had great fun shoveling off the back patio. He loves his new toy shovel.
On Christmas morning, we really enjoyed opening gifts as a family and seeing each other's reactions. David just loved his new toy cars and Tonka trucks.
Then we headed over to the Gifford Christmas and enjoyed more time with extended family. It is so rare to have everyone together with Heather and Ned in Utah and life pretty busy even for those of us closer together.
And then in January, we had a weekend down in Branson with the Giffords and enjoyed a fun resort with an indoor pool and the chance to relax and spend more time together opening stockings and being family.