Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Dear Tracey Ann...
Dear Tracey Ann,
Your daddy and I looked back at pictures of you from when you were first born last night, and we cannot believe how much you have changed, and how much you have changed us in less than three months time. You were the tiniest little newborn... and now you are a beautiful, smiling, plump infant. Where have these 11 weeks gone?
I am sure, before I know it, I will be teaching you Colossians 3:23-24,
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance form the Lord as a reward. It i the Lord Chris you are serving." I know, as your mother, I need to set a Godly example through my actions... and that doesn't start when you're 3 or 5 or 13 or 18... it started long before you were even conceived. It is on me to live a Godly example in the hopes that you, too, will delight in following Biblical teachings.
This verse is very strongly on my heart this week because, this is the week I go back to work after 11 glorious, blessed weeks of maternity leave. The only place in the world I want to be is home devoting my time and energy to caring for you and your daddy, my hubby. My highest priority is you... and yet, my calling for the next 7 weeks is to return to work, teach my students, and finish the school year.
From the very beginning of my pregnancy with you, Tracey Ann, there have been PLENTY of difficult stretches -- less than a week after Daddy and I found out you were on your way, I went off to Greeley, Colorado, without your dad, for a month of a blindfold graduate class. Not long after that ended, when my first-trimester un-pleasantries were at a high, I spent 3 weeks, away from your dad, working in 100*+ temperatures in Tucson, Arizona. Finally, I spent another stretch of time away from your daddy that fall, when I finished my studies in Austin, Texas. All of those seasons were incredibly difficult -- but I think these next seven weeks will rival all of those in difficulty.
You grandparents will be arriving soon to be your full-time daycare, which will be so special for your relationship with them. After that, your other grandparents are taking over for a little while. Then, it will almost be the end of the year. You will be very well-loved and well cared for these next seven weeks... but... despite the perfect arrangements we have made... the arrangements are not perfect, because I am not the one caring for you.
Did you know, I have not been away from you for longer than 60 minutes for the past 11 weeks? And even the quick errands I have run without you add up to approximately less than 10 hours. You have become my little side-kick. You are always with me. There is a reason my body responds when I haven't held you for a few hours (speaking of my milk coming in). My body knows how often you need me, and how often we are supposed to be joined.
Okay, its time to wrap up this letter before my tears get bigger -- you, Tracey Ann, are going to grow up to be a very strong woman. Sometimes you will have to do things that you do not want to do... but remember Colossians 3:23-24. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.
That is the example I am going to try to set for you in my work for the next seven weeks.
Your daddy and I looked back at pictures of you from when you were first born last night, and we cannot believe how much you have changed, and how much you have changed us in less than three months time. You were the tiniest little newborn... and now you are a beautiful, smiling, plump infant. Where have these 11 weeks gone?
 |
| Tracey Ann 1 hour old |
 |
| Tracey Ann 2 months old |
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance form the Lord as a reward. It i the Lord Chris you are serving." I know, as your mother, I need to set a Godly example through my actions... and that doesn't start when you're 3 or 5 or 13 or 18... it started long before you were even conceived. It is on me to live a Godly example in the hopes that you, too, will delight in following Biblical teachings.
This verse is very strongly on my heart this week because, this is the week I go back to work after 11 glorious, blessed weeks of maternity leave. The only place in the world I want to be is home devoting my time and energy to caring for you and your daddy, my hubby. My highest priority is you... and yet, my calling for the next 7 weeks is to return to work, teach my students, and finish the school year.
From the very beginning of my pregnancy with you, Tracey Ann, there have been PLENTY of difficult stretches -- less than a week after Daddy and I found out you were on your way, I went off to Greeley, Colorado, without your dad, for a month of a blindfold graduate class. Not long after that ended, when my first-trimester un-pleasantries were at a high, I spent 3 weeks, away from your dad, working in 100*+ temperatures in Tucson, Arizona. Finally, I spent another stretch of time away from your daddy that fall, when I finished my studies in Austin, Texas. All of those seasons were incredibly difficult -- but I think these next seven weeks will rival all of those in difficulty.
You grandparents will be arriving soon to be your full-time daycare, which will be so special for your relationship with them. After that, your other grandparents are taking over for a little while. Then, it will almost be the end of the year. You will be very well-loved and well cared for these next seven weeks... but... despite the perfect arrangements we have made... the arrangements are not perfect, because I am not the one caring for you.
 |
| Tracey Ann 10 days old |
 |
| Tracey Ann 11 weeks old |
Okay, its time to wrap up this letter before my tears get bigger -- you, Tracey Ann, are going to grow up to be a very strong woman. Sometimes you will have to do things that you do not want to do... but remember Colossians 3:23-24. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.
That is the example I am going to try to set for you in my work for the next seven weeks.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Verses for Today
These are the verses I'm clinging to today:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:1
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:1
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Wrinkles
Since our wonderful baby came into our life, Hubby and I have too many wrinkles. Not wrinkles in our faces, although I'm sure those will be coming, but wrinkles on our clothes.
You see, while I have been home with Tracey Ann, I have worked hard to keep up with household tasks -- cleaning, some cooking, laundry, etc. It has certainly been an adjustment doing my usual home-making duties while juggling a baby and working around nursing. That being said, neither Hubby or Tracey Ann or I have ever been without clean and dry clothes or underwear. This far, I have always kept up with laundry... And it is always clean and dry.
That being said, some days it is REALLY wrinkled!
While I always manage to get the dirty clothes in the washer, and the clean clothes in the dryer... I even manage to get the clean, dry clothes out of the dryer... But not infrequently, the clean, dry clothes then sit in a laundry basket for several hours (or days *insert ashamed face*).
I love taking care of my husband and baby, and recognizing that we have a problem with wrinkles at present gives me something concrete to improve in these next few months.
If you see us in something unusually wrinkled lately, trust me, it's clean... We just have a lot of wrinkles in our life right now.
You see, while I have been home with Tracey Ann, I have worked hard to keep up with household tasks -- cleaning, some cooking, laundry, etc. It has certainly been an adjustment doing my usual home-making duties while juggling a baby and working around nursing. That being said, neither Hubby or Tracey Ann or I have ever been without clean and dry clothes or underwear. This far, I have always kept up with laundry... And it is always clean and dry.
That being said, some days it is REALLY wrinkled!
While I always manage to get the dirty clothes in the washer, and the clean clothes in the dryer... I even manage to get the clean, dry clothes out of the dryer... But not infrequently, the clean, dry clothes then sit in a laundry basket for several hours (or days *insert ashamed face*).
I love taking care of my husband and baby, and recognizing that we have a problem with wrinkles at present gives me something concrete to improve in these next few months.
If you see us in something unusually wrinkled lately, trust me, it's clean... We just have a lot of wrinkles in our life right now.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Someday...
Someday we are going to take a family picture with all 3 of us smiling and looking at the camera. That will be an amazing day!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Asleep in the Boat
In college, the minister of the church where I worshipped, Chap, preached a sermon one Sunday that stuck with me long-term.
Matthew 8, Luke 8, and Mark 4 all tell the story about Jesus out in a boat with his disciples. While they were at sea, Jesus fell asleep. While he was sleeping a fierce storm came up, and water began swamping the boat and the disciples (many of whom were fishermen -- very familiar with boats and the sea) were so afraid that they awoke Jesus. Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, and immediately the storm ceased.
Then, He turned to the disciples and scolded them for not having faith.
Chap's sermon talked about the fact that the disciples did exactly what was, as Christ-followers, are taught to do -- they called out to Jesus when they were afraid... and yet Jesus scolded them for having so little faith.
Chap said that, if the disciple's faith had been stronger, instead of crying out to Jesus, they would have pulled up a pillow and peacefully fallen asleep right next to Him. Chap said that in the storms of life, the only place he wants to be is asleep in the boat, right next to Jesus.
I want to have a great faith. I want a life full of trials and tribulations that consistently and repeatedly provide me with testimonies of God's faithfulness, wisdom, protection, and provision. I want to teach my children about strong faith through an example of my own -- but sleeping in the boat is a really hard place to be.
Hubby and I are praying like crazy about life next year -- we are considering many options -- everything from staying exactly where we are with the jobs we currently have, to moving over seas with one of us working -- and everything in between...
I am calling out to Jesus passionately, and often... but the best place for me to be is asleep in the boat.
Matthew 8, Luke 8, and Mark 4 all tell the story about Jesus out in a boat with his disciples. While they were at sea, Jesus fell asleep. While he was sleeping a fierce storm came up, and water began swamping the boat and the disciples (many of whom were fishermen -- very familiar with boats and the sea) were so afraid that they awoke Jesus. Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, and immediately the storm ceased.
Then, He turned to the disciples and scolded them for not having faith.
Chap's sermon talked about the fact that the disciples did exactly what was, as Christ-followers, are taught to do -- they called out to Jesus when they were afraid... and yet Jesus scolded them for having so little faith.
Chap said that, if the disciple's faith had been stronger, instead of crying out to Jesus, they would have pulled up a pillow and peacefully fallen asleep right next to Him. Chap said that in the storms of life, the only place he wants to be is asleep in the boat, right next to Jesus.
I want to have a great faith. I want a life full of trials and tribulations that consistently and repeatedly provide me with testimonies of God's faithfulness, wisdom, protection, and provision. I want to teach my children about strong faith through an example of my own -- but sleeping in the boat is a really hard place to be.
Hubby and I are praying like crazy about life next year -- we are considering many options -- everything from staying exactly where we are with the jobs we currently have, to moving over seas with one of us working -- and everything in between...
I am calling out to Jesus passionately, and often... but the best place for me to be is asleep in the boat.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
The Outfits!!!
Some days I still have to pinch myself because I have a baby girl! I have a DAUGHTER!
Chris and I would have loved a boy as our first born... we still hope to have a boy eventually, but the truth is I have always known that I would HAVE to have a girl in life. If Chris and I had six boys, I would still have to have a daughter. I am completely in awe that I am so blessed that our first born IS a daughter! She's here -- the daughter I have dreamed about.
The clothes that come with a baby girl makes me giddy. I am SO NOT into fashion... this shouldn't be news to you -- you've seen my outfits... but baby girl clothes are the most adorable things on earth!
FINALLY the weather is getting warm enough (and we took a trip to Arizona) that I can start dressing Tracey Ann in some of her ADORABLE outfits! She's adorable in everything, but in our chilly home, she mostly wears sleepers.
In Arizona, we got to dabble in the world of dresses, onesies, bathing suits, bows, and more.
Oh, the outfits!
Chris and I would have loved a boy as our first born... we still hope to have a boy eventually, but the truth is I have always known that I would HAVE to have a girl in life. If Chris and I had six boys, I would still have to have a daughter. I am completely in awe that I am so blessed that our first born IS a daughter! She's here -- the daughter I have dreamed about.
The clothes that come with a baby girl makes me giddy. I am SO NOT into fashion... this shouldn't be news to you -- you've seen my outfits... but baby girl clothes are the most adorable things on earth!
FINALLY the weather is getting warm enough (and we took a trip to Arizona) that I can start dressing Tracey Ann in some of her ADORABLE outfits! She's adorable in everything, but in our chilly home, she mostly wears sleepers.
In Arizona, we got to dabble in the world of dresses, onesies, bathing suits, bows, and more.
Oh, the outfits!
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