Lately Liking::

:: cooler mornings and evenings that can only mean one thing: fall will soon be settling in around us! I love fall.

:: Murder, She Wrote in the evenings, on my laptop, after the children are in bed.

:: curried chicken salad, crisp lettuce, avocado slices, and fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes in a whole wheat wrap.

:: purging the house of unnecessary clothes, books, toys, and belongings to make better room for the things we truly love.

:: several Willa Cather books, purchased this summer at a library book sale and now being enjoyed in snippets whenever time will allow.

:: soft, white prefolds and Thirsties covers on my baby girl's bottom.

:: rearranging furniture and decorations-- just ask my children and they'll tell you it's my new hobby.

:: Oreos. They're my latest dessert of choice.

:: Psalm 34. Aubrey's Psalm. I am feasting upon it again these days. And, sometimes, certain phrases bring me right back to nights when I clutched bedsheets and tears stung my eyes and I wondered if my baby would still be alive when I woke in the morning and I would stir Daniel and ask him, "Will you read it to me? Please?" and he would and my soul would rest once again in His love and peace. It's good to be reminded of those days, you know? God's done a work in Aubrey and in us. And the best part is that He's still doing it!

Afternoon rambles

Aunt Liana has whisked Gabriel, Bronwyn, Jackson, and Aubrey away for a late-summer stop at the playground. It's a beautiful, sunny, 75-degree day here in Madrid-- too beautiful to not be taken advantage of. My, but the house is so quiet when this sort of thing happens! I hardly know what to do with myself.

On top of being short four children, Claire has finally-- after fighting sleep for the past few days-- succumbed to rest and is peacefully sleeping in her bed, and I am catching my breath for a few minutes.

Whew.

It's been a busy bit as I've done some overhauling here at home in preparation for a new school year. More books/new supplies + limited space = purging, new bookshelves, and creative solutions. This overhauling can't just be limited to school things, though. Oh no. The bedrooms also are being rearranged and reorganized, including toys and dressers and baby things and more. I keep telling myself to hold off on the closets until the summer clothes need to switched out for winter clothes or else I'll be too tempted to get into all of that, too-- and where would that leave us when the temperatures return to the 80s as predicted next week???

This is also the busy time of year for campus ministry, which means that most days we don't see a whole lot of Daniel until after small children have gone to bed and even I have stayed up past my bedtime in order to see him for a few minutes. I don't say that to complain in any way, shape, or form because I've learned that this adventure I'm on with Daniel mirrors that of a farmer's in many ways: the work must be done when the harvest is ripe. It means that some weeks are long and stretch on with no end in sight, but the truth is that the pauses do come and we get to take trips to the beach and there are early arrivals home from the office and in those days I am the girl to be envied and I know it!

Yes, I keep busy here at home and Daniel keeps busy at the church & on the campuses and between us both we find ourselves excited and increasingly ready for all that God has for us this fall. I think one of the lies of our culture is that we will be re-energized when we've taken a break and had our chance for selfish indulgence. Drawing back in order to 1) be with Jesus, 2) re-prioritize the important relationships (family, etc.), and 3) take a fresh look at the things He's called us to, and then diving in with your whole heart: that's how to be renewed (for me, anyway).

Slowly but surely, we're back to establishing and re-establishing routines, order, and attitudes. Back to regular bedtimes and risings. Back to chore charts and systematic evaluation. Back to knowing what the day holds before it's half over.

(Okay, okay... so maybe that last one is wishful thinking on my part!)

Party

Today my home was filled with the happy sounds of a number of little girls. They were dressed in an array of beautiful "princess" gowns and they laughed and giggled and asked hesitantly for more pink lemonade and said thank-you-for-the-cake as they pushed their chairs away from the table.

My two boys gallantly joined them in tunics and breastplates, and Nana & Papa also graced our table and home, kindly donning crowns and castle garb for the fine occasion: my oldest daughter's sixth birthday celebration.

Ohmygoodness, ohmygoodnes! she exclaimed as she opened several gifts, all of which went very well with the little girl princess theme: dolls and hair ties and bubble bath and chocolate and princess story books.

And then they rode bicycles and shared toys and gave each other wagon rides and pushed back strands of hair that covered their eyes as they gave themselves to Play. The boys even acted out a battle at one point!

The party came to a close and the Head Servant (aka "Daddy") escorted our lovely guests home. I set about the simple clean up process of gathering new things, wiping down tables, washing up dishes, and sweeping the floors. And I thought to myself that it is a true joy to consider the memories I get to help make for my children.

Prayerfully, for the other children who happen upon us, too.

I think about the men and ladies these children will grow up to be. I think about how amazing it is that these simple acts of baking a cake and sharing it, setting the table with pretty plates and napkins, preparing little games and small prizes, can help shape a value system that says that people-- lives-- are important and worth our effort and celebration. It seems so small, and perhaps it will all be just a vague memory in the grand scheme of things. I don't know.

But these little opportunities for investment are all around me, and sometimes even  though they don't look like much altogether on their own, I do know that added up, they mean a lot.

A whole lot.

Anyway, it was such a pretty day and lovely party. It might have been for Bronwyn, but I had fun, too! And Bronwyn got her very own 18" Gotz doll, which has been quite the source of joy for both her and me this evening!

Another Year

Bronwyn turned 6 years old yesterday.

Time flies when you're havin' fun, I tell ya.

And, boy, is this girl fun.

I'm not sure what makes her look older, the camera or the stance.

Bronwyn loves jewelry and lipstick and sunglasses. She loves dogs and digging up worms and planting seeds in the ground. She loves pink and chocolate and getting her nails painted. She loves snuggling on the couch and holding my hand and wrestling with Daddy.

She sings all day long, until a sudden self-consciousness overtakes her and she decides she's more shy than adventurous-- for the moment, anyway.

Is it just me, or does she have the Celebrity Mom look down pat?

She daydreams of performing on stages, wearing a bridal gown, and owning a puppy.

Our family just wouldn't be the same without this sparkly-eyed, full-of-smiles, playful and pleasant girl. We are so happy to celebrate another year with our Bronwyn Eliese!

The smile that lights up my life each and every day!

3/4

Claire is three quarters through her first year of life. I still find that I think of myself as having a new baby. I have a feeling nobody else does.

Month 9 of Claire's life was a fun one. She sprouted more teeth (she has 6 now). She learned how to crawl. She discovered clapping, waving "hello," and how to boogie (read: bounce her arms up and down) to music. She went to her first amusement park and major league baseball game.

Claire is an even happier girl now that she can move. Somewhat naughtier, but definitely happier! She is a people-person, this little Claire Evangeline, and she follows me around as I do my work. She loves it and I love it.

I love her.

Claire weighs just over 19lbs and is 27" tall. This puts her at the 50th %-tile exactly. Practically perfect in every way, this little lady of ours!

This photo was taken on Sunday, August 1st, at exactly 9 months. She is poolside, which is one of her favorite places to be. She loves water, as long as it's not warm. Strange, I know.