Happy Halloween

This afternoon was the downtown trick or treat in Clemson so we headed out after nap time to do a little trick or treating.

I couldn't believe how brave Lydia was to approach strangers and say trick or treat.
Bryn, on the other hand, was a little more reluctant.

this picture makes me smile

The kiddos with the jack-o-lantern (sorry for the skivvy picture!)

Today the baby is...

...the weight of a rutabaga.

Your baby rivals the average rutabaga in weight -- about 1 1/2 pounds. (Length: 13 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

College Students

We love college students and the privilege of doing life with them. I'm so glad that part of Jeremy's role at Crosspoint is college ministry. As our kids get older I appreciate more and more the uniqueness and benefit our kids have in growing up around college students. They love it! And we, as their parents, love the influence they have in the lives of our children. I love that our kids will grow up with such great role models as they see college students love the Lord and growing in Him. We have started allowing Carson to stay up a little later on Monday nights for our college small group at our house because he loves it so much. It's fun to dream about the impact this could have on his life as he grows up.

This weekend is the Summer LINK reunion for all the students who went either to India, Myrtle Beach, or Clemson this summer with Crosspoint. Friday night we had a meal together at the church and then there was a dance social. We stayed for the first part of the dance and our kids had a ball. Carson and Bryn were trying to learn to swing dance during the instruction time. So sweet!


Today the summer link group had a tailgate before the football game so we joined them for that. When we sat down to eat Bryn said, "Mom, do college students ever sleep?" I guess from her perspective it's a legitimate question:)

We are thankful for college students!

Missing my friend...

...Brandy

Before Brandy and her family moved overseas they had to get rid of a lot of their stuff. One of those being these shoes. I had to have them. I don't wear these shoes, I just keep them in my closet and they make me smile and think and pray for my friend whenever I see them. These were Brandy's staple shoes in college and so they bring back many sweet memories with her. You are missed here B!

"And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" - Romans 10:15

I just saw this post on a blog that I follow and wanted to share this great reminder to all the moms (and moms-to-be) out there...

Missional Mothering

Jani Ortlund » Family Children Home Mission

Young mother, it seems like everyone wants something from you. And you’re probably already giving way more than you ever thought you could give. But even with all your giving, you might struggle with guilt—lingering, joy-drenching, energy-sapping guilt—that you should be doing more, giving more, accomplishing more.

Don’t waste that guilt. Pay attention to it. Use it. Take it out of the shadows and examine it in light of Scripture. Is this a godly grief that leads to repentance or a worldly grief that produces death (2 Cor. 7:10)? Is it life-giving or life-depleting? Ask yourself, does this bring fresh joy and peace to those nearest me, or does it add unnecessary stress and strain to my home?

Mother: You have a mission field

Our first and primary mission field is our children. God values our children. Jesus became indignant when the disciples didn’t embrace the worth of children in God’s expanding kingdom (Mark 10:13-16). God tells us that children are his blessing to us (Ps. 127:3). And he places great importance on our teaching our children to love and serve him (Deut. 6:7-9).

Don’t feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment in their early years. Your availability, sensitivity, affection, and unhurried attention are irreplaceable.

There are no neutral moments in a young child’s life. Someone is going to be influencing your children, inculcating values and imprinting standards on their impressionable young minds. Let it be you!

Accept your calling from God to serve your family. As a mother, you are helping to shape the souls of your children for Christ and ultimately influence the world. Your children are your gift to the future.

Stay on mission

Does this mean you will never invest in others outside your family? Goodness, no. But if you are a young mother, stay on mission. Use your primary ministry of mothering to serve Christ now. Don’t let anything diminish your unique role as a wife and mother. It is not godly guilt that would call you away from a wholehearted investment in your little ones for his sake.

“Don’t feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment in their early years. ”

This season in your life is just that—a season. And each season is a divine calling from our creator and king. Organizing a new event at church is important. Teaching your little boy to be kind to his sister is also important. But which one can best be done by you during this season? Serve God well by ministering to your children first. Very soon they will be grown and gone, and you will be unable to recapture the teachable moments you have now.

Mothers, listen to Psalm 78:4-7: “We will . . . tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders he has done . . . that the next generation might know . . . so that they should set their hope in God.”

Today the baby is...

...the size of an ear of corn.

October Glory

We have wanted to plant a tree in our backyard for awhile now and today we did it! We are hoping that this tree will grow to give good shade to our patio and yard to make it more usable during the day, especially during the warm months of the year. We did some research to find a good tree to serve this purpose and we decided on the 'October Glory' Maple tree. As we were buying it today I had a thought. It's pretty appropriate that this tree is called 'October Glory' because this October God has showed His glory in a very real way! He has healed this baby's placenta and shown Himself faithful! I hope that I will always remember His faithfulness and glorify Him when I look at this tree and reflect on the events of 2010. He is good and faithful through suffering and loss and also through healing and life!

My working men!

Carson LOVES working in the yard with his dad!

It's planted!

Resume

re·sume (r-zm)

v. re·sumed, re·sum·ing, re·sumes v.tr.

1. To begin or take up again after interruption: resumed our dinner.

2. To assume, take, or occupy again: The dog resumed its post by the door.

3. To take on or take back again: resumed my original name.

This was a good word to hear today at the doctor...resume! He said I may resume former activity! Yay!!!!! The baby looked great and is measuring right on track and my cervix is long and the placenta is healed nicely with just a very small clotted area (normal). I am so thankful! I'm thankful for so much....the health of this baby, the support and help of family and friends during this "interruption", the peace provided by Jesus, the sweet lessons and perspectives gained from a time of bedrest, the gift of life and children....to name a few. I'm anxious to resume activity and get back to "normal" without overdoing it.

I was pretty shocked at how much he resembled Carson. What do you think?

Today the baby...

...weighs about as much as a large mango -- just over a pound. (Length: more than 11 inches.)

Today the baby is...

...as long as a spaghetti squash

Hair Cut

This past month Bryn has had "fun" with the scissors on multiple occasions. We tried to fix it but I just haven't been crazy about her layered hair lately so today we went for a hair cut and lunch date! She was such a big girl getting her hair cut and she hasn't stopped saying how much she loves her short hair. I love it! She looks like such a big girl:) I also enjoyed time with just Bryn over lunch. She's growing up...

Freek Accident

We had an eventful night! Right after we had dosed off to sleep Carson came rolling into our room from his bed crying about something. It took us awhile to figure out what had happened. He said he ran into the wall and he kept holding his teeth saying they hurt. We turned the light on and realized that his top 3 front teeth had been pushed back towards his throat and his top lip was swelling. By morning we got more details. Sounds like he was looking for his pillow and crawled to the foot of his bed and he probably lost his balance somehow and fell on his top lip/teeth on the foot board of the bed. It is awful! He moaned and cried from the pain and fear of what would happen. It was so hard to see him hurt! We gave him ice and medicine for the swelling and pain. This morning we took him to get an x-ray at the dentist to make sure there wasn't damage done to the root or his permanent teeth (thankfully he hasn't lost any baby teeth yet). Hopefully he'll just lose these baby teeth soon because the awkwardness of his teeth in a different position can't be fun. He can only eat soft/liquid-like food today. Poor guy!