Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Yay!

The Walk.


Melissa & I - smartypantses.




Jes, trying to entertain Haven during the absolutely not enthralling ceremony.



My Dad, schlepping everybody's stuff.


Thanks for all of the support, love!

Haven: "So... when are we gonna ditch this joint
so I can get something to eat?"

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Purpose. Glory.

The other day my mom said, "God has great plans for your life." Has. Like He has yet to give them to me.

In the past I imagined "great plans" meant long term missions to remote tribes, authorship of best-selling books, speaking events. When I was a kid there was always a sense that something better was coming down the pike if I could just hold on for it. I interpreted this to mean that "regular" life was not and could never be purposeful.

David Crowder has a new song that Dave and I can't stop listening to and it's called the Glory of it All. The chorus goes like this:
Oh, the glory of it all
Is He came here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all
(David Crowder)

I believe that I'm living the Great Plans God has for me, though my life has never been more regular in well, the "regular" sense. These Great Plans are this relationship with God; His rescue of me. Additionally, I have people in my life to love and be loved by. Also Great.

I was probably 12 years old when I wrote a letter to Elisabeth Elliot and asked her, "Why do we exist? Why does God exist? What's the point of everything?" When you are a 12-year-old home school girl, you are pretty sure somebody like Elisabeth Elliot will have the answer to this question. She replied to me - which was more exciting than getting a letter from Madonna (also thanks to the home school life) - and said simply that this is a question that philosophers have asked for ages. Since we are human we do not understand everything. I got the impression that she was saying ... for the glory of it all.

Here is to that glory in my life today. The purpose I have in faith spills out into purpose in the ways I love Dave, Haven, my little girl, my sisters, parents, friends ... and the people who are less easy to love. May you find the glory of your life, may you see that it is not just a tiny distant speck but an enormous present light.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

a word to the wise


Today is free Ice Coffee Day at
Dunkin Donuts!

See their website for to find one.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Life's like that.

The cool air has returned, reminding me that it is not yet Summer and Spring may wax and wane for a few more days. I put up a countdown on our whiteboard for how long it is until the baby comes: 7 more weeks. I guess I won't buy diapers on today's trip to the store, tempting as it will be. Haven's naps have been eratic; he slept yesterday for 4 hours straight but only 1 hour on Sunday. I'm just about done with school; it's so close I can taste it and have no desire to do those last few assignments.

We had a fun Mother's day. When I say we, perhaps I should say I, because I was waited on all day long. Dave cooked, cleaned up, we went for a hike, watched a movie and ate homemade (by Dave) ice cream sandwiches. Thanks, Babe! I hope my fellow mamas also had a relaxing, fun day!

Now that Haven is down for his nap, I have a few things to do, but I prefer to sit here and write and look out the window. Here, in this last room to get organized in our home. I've given myself the deadline of next Tuesday to finish it. My Dad is coming then for my graduation and he'll need to be able to get to the bed without getting hurt. I like to give myself generous deadlines.

Maybe this goes on my pregnancy blog, but it's kind of strange to know that a baby is coming and not have the need to raid Babies R Us. Since Haven was a baby two seconds ago, we still have all of his things for this one to use. Excited grandparents have supplied us with the only thing we didn't have: girl's clothes. I did splurge a little on a beautiful bassinet. I found it on craigslist in perfect condition for a third of the new price. It currently stands in Haven's room holding the doll Dave bought her; a symbol of who is to come. And we've decided on a name. So she's graduated from "the baby" to ... well, it's a secret.


That's life around here. Oh, and one more thing. We saw these three bears walking through our 'hood when we left for church on Sunday.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

In just a couple of weeks I will don that goofy graduation getup and get the most attention I've received since Haven was born (maybe about 5 whole seconds) while my name is called and I am handed a piece of paper that represents the diploma that I won't officially earn until the end of June. What a charade. But I wouldn't miss it.

I'm so happy that I'm going to be finished with school. I guess that goes without saying for most people. But it's been a lot of work for three years. Between working and two pregnancies and moving - I am so ready to get on with my life.


Just as the the culmination of my education began to sink into my soul, Dave said, "I'd like you to think about getting a PhD." I looked at him like he was a crazy person and said that if I do get a PhD it will be in Nutrition. I think that almost changed his mind. The last thing he'd like is an increase in the whole wheat bread to potato bread ratio around here. Or, for me to finally say, "Potatoes are not vegetables" and subsequently serve only his vegetable nemesis. The green ones. So, with the, ah, broccoli dangling, I continue to bask in my great accomplishment. My last graduation.