Dedication

Today, among family and friends we dedicated Myra Rose to the Lord. Our children smiled and waved to the crowded pews. Lulie chattered on in girlish delight and milled from hand to hand. Finally, Daddy tethered her grinning self to our side for the prayer. Jane, Jack, Lulie, grandparents and Great-Grammie, aunts and uncles, cousins, a baby in our arms -- such blessing near and far. As we stand before God and all, I smile wide. And, even with my eyes closed I feel Craig at my elbow, the best part. I know every step will be blessed. Lord, our daughter is yours.

Who knew on the one year anniversary of my half-marathon we'd dedicate our fourth child to the Lord? And to think in three short days my brother now leaves for Africa. Has it really been a year since Craig was there? I wonder what the next one-year-stride will bring.



Gratitude:

22. The bleating cry of my baby.

23. Dirt under two-year-old fingernails.

24. My belly sinking back to normal size.

25. Going barefoot.

26. Painting fingernails with daughters.

27. Tall glasses of water.

28. Stretchy swaddling blankies, bright colors.

29. The guileless blue of my husband's eyes.

30. Little boy who holds my hand so cars won't hit me.

Anniversary

So today marks a nine year anniversary. Nine years ago I married this man (the one on the right). Here he is in Africa, handsome from half around the world.

Africa. The whole thing reminds me of an IQ test we took years ago. Craig beat my score. An unfortunate and decisive victory. {Sigh} It's laughable now, a couple of measly points and I did the only logical thing a smart girl does. I FREAKED. For those of you who know him, Craig wins at EVERYTHING. He's amazing. :) Think we're competitive? Let's just say we even have blood pressure competitions seeing who can score the lowest blood pressure at the grocery store pharmacy. (Try it, just thinking about it will raise your blood pressure.)

So anyway, I moped around for a few days until finally a very sweet sister-in-law asked, "Do you want your husband LESS intelligent than you?" Haha, touche'. No wonder it is a delight to banter with this guy still nine years later. He keeps me guessing. And who can put a score on irrepressible optimism. Pure gold.

Africa? That was an outrageous idea. Crazy. Out of the question. Worse than an IQ test, another worthy freak out topic. And still I hear my brother's voice, "Well, what kind of a man do you want Jack to be seeing?" And imitating. A fearless one. Honorable and fearless.

The kids still talk on Africa. Yesterday, driving in the heat their giggles weave into the roar of wind blowing through the windows. Through the white noise Jack's voice surfaces, "But, WHY did Daddy go to Africa?" His voice hangs in the air.

Janie takes the reigns, "Because GOD told him to go to Africa!"

What a gift. He went because God told him to. It's as normal as water. God TOLD him to. How inadequate I feel. Or blessed. Spoiled.

Janie's chest swells with a smile. "'Cause God told him to!"

Clippings

Just wanted to say, thank-you to Momma and Mommy-in-law for making this possible. Look at what sweet grassy feet we've gone on and made. Trouncing through the fresh possibilities of our children I pray we grow them so well. Treasure beyond words. Thanks.

10 Years

10 years. 520 Sunday lessons. Thousands of children. Hundreds of volunteers. A man devoted to his Savior. Breathtaking. Thanks, Craig. I'm proud to be called your wife. Happy 10 year anniversary as a Children's Pastor.

Resurrection Clothes

My children wore their Easter clothes to a funeral today. Resurrection clothes, I guess. Plaid and flowers hand in hands we munched over stodgy spring grass up a neat sidewalk to the funeral home. Inside my children's wide eyes absorbed black ornate rugs, soft and deep as quicksand, solemn faces, and I suppose, the knees of a lot of suits. Janie carried our handwritten card as a matter of rank. Jack held my hand.

With friends and relations we marked the passing of a friend of a dear friend. While people shared, I realized the shadow of this man was far greater than the man himself. I was struck by the indelible mark he's left on lives close to him. Funny, if the lighting is right, we are so much more than the sum of our parts. Isn't influence like this, a shadow cast far out beyond our feeble attempts at greatness. It's almost as if it sneaks up on us, piled up in small gestures, simple moments around a table passing the potatoes and carrying on about deadlines and raises and dessert. Suddenly before we know it, there behind us is a shadow quotient of all those days ironed out in a perfect silhouette of character. I was honored to come today with my kids.

I savored up mismatched moments of Jack and Jane racing over the front lawn, a flurry of watercolor blue and chestnut brown tangled in a game of tag. Race to sidewalk, race to Momma, lob a Cheerio in Lulie's mouth, refrain from tagging to the ground. Base! One of them grabs my leg.

In the end I left, shadows trailing behind. Each day I pray my face will be warmed by the light of my Savior that my shadow may rise up and honor all it touches.

POP!

Taking a moment to marvel at the extravagant kindness of God, we welcome my nephew, Jude Dana, into this world. 8 lb. 14 oz., Monday, March 9, 2009. I'm sure Cerissa will share the richness of this boy and his brothers in the coming days here.

Love and kisses to all and also baby Gabe, Jude's new cousin, born just a few days before him. What lavish blessing.

For all you mommas out there, Janie wants to know: Is it really LOUD when babies POP out?

Please do tell!

Lulie Lu Hoo

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,























And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all...

~Emily Dickinson


My friend Rose Emily takes pictures of moments you've forgotten anyone is watching. You could probably tell from the pics on this post.
http://rfeuersteinphotography.blogspot.com/

Let's All Shout!

Here's a shout out to Daddy's Momma and Dad!
Yay!! Ya-Hoo, Yippie, Hooray for Gramma and Grampa!














Way we see it, anyone who can grow a super-hero as great as Daddy is definitely worth their salt. Hope we all turn out so well, we've got a legacy to carry on. Family, what a treat to be a part of something bigger and better that any one of us alone.














You can see that little Lulu is an excellent judge of character.

Great-Gramma

I remember my Gramma making this same expression sometimes when she was thinking. One more flash of the incredible heritage we have in family. As if the antithesis to society's decay, we pass on a little bit of who we are. And like Gramma's expression, it appears in moments of its own choosing, echoes of who we came from.



















What a great work of art to be a part of - the hilarity and delight of looking like our generations, but also the elegance of souls linked together through time.














Always in motion.

The Measure of a Man

Here he is, the man of the house, the world, the century! Yes, God picked Incredible Hulk as king of our mountain.















I don't know where he finds the energy to whip these chillin's into such a joyful ruckus each night as I am settling in to let the rigor of the day melt away.














I suppose anyone who inspires such unguarded admiration should be the one they'll picture when they think of God.




















This guy, even fishes out slivers.














And gives big kisses!

Tin Cup

This September we had the distinct privilege of visiting my Grampa in Montana. He sure is a spry young man for 87. We talked life and politics and left better than we came.

What a blessing.














The kids and I were really winded keeping up with him on the morning walk!














I used to swing between these same trees when I was a little girl.
Made me think of all the precious things we pass on to our children.
One day, like Grampa, we look back and have a legacy.
What a heritage we have!