The Flowers of the Field

My awesome husband came home from work on Friday with these in his hands - beautiful gerber daisies! They are some of my favorite flowers, and I love that he knows that about me. 

When I asked what the occasion was, he replied with the best answer I could have heard. I have been struggling with anxiety the last few days, and he wanted me to remember Matthew 6:25-34. These verses talk about how the flowers of the field don't do anything, and God takes care of them.

I am so thankful that Adam knows me, knows God's word, and knows how to point me back to that when I'm having a hard time believing it for myself.

A Thousand Words Thursday

Tuesdays...

One of my favorite things about my old job happened on Tuesday mornings - our staff prayer meetings. Don't let the generic name fool you...this was not like any prayer meetings I had been to before. Imagine 75-90 people in one room, sharing stories of how God was working in their own lives and in the lives of those around them. Scripture was always read, quoted, and/or taught, and the purpose of the time was always to connect as a staff family and worship God together.

But this looked differently than I ever expected. If I had to use one word to describe it, it would be UNPREDICTABLE. 

I never knew what would happen. There were heartbreaking moments as folks confessed sin that they had been struggling with or shared stories of pain and death. These are some of the people who walk most closely with Christ that I know, and I've learned that the life of the believer is marked by pain and suffering, just as is the life of those who don't believe. 

There were times of great rejoicing and excitement as folks shared about stories of victory over sin in their own lives or the lives of those they love, news of engagements, marriages and births, and accounts of incredible ways that God provides.

And there was FUN. There were times I laughed so hard I cried as someone invariably had to perform a song or swim in the pond because of a lost farkle. There's still a group who swim in the pond after staff prayer every week because of a game they played at our staff Christmas party. I saw someone sing a college fight song in leather pants, someone else sing one wrapped in a Snuggie, and the one Englishman on staff somehow drew the unlucky straw of having to sing the American national anthem.

I remember anticipating staff prayer every Tuesday morning before I went to work. When I started working there, I allowed insecurities to keep me from sharing, and I honestly regret that, and realize now how silly that was. I loved when I got to share the fun news that Adam and I were engaged, or that we were expecting a baby. I also remember sharing about the hard things, like when I was struggling with body image or when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. What a great picture of the body of Christ...that we are called to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. (Rom 12:15)
 
I was challenged in my walk with Christ every week...without fail. I can honestly say that God used this 1.5 hours (sometimes more, rarely less) each week to sharpen me, motivate me, refine me, encourage me, move me, and grow me like little else has done in my life. Heb 10:24-25 says "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

I left those times excited about the job I got to do...but more importantly, excited about Jesus. I loved being a part of this team, and these times on Tuesday reminded me why.  Though I love my new job being a wife and mommy, I miss those Tuesday mornings. 
So I wanted to take time to share one thing that God is teaching me each week with you, my blog audience. (I'm not entirely sure that anyone reads this except for Adam and both of our moms, but nevertheless...) Each week I'll share what I'm learning, and how that is informing how I pray for Erin. 

The goal is to post these on Tuesdays. But, to be totally honest, I started writing this last Tuesday. And I meant to finish it yesterday. Oh well.   

Last week: Proverbs 18:15 says, "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out." I am praying that God will give Erin a heart and mind that is able to discern what is true, and that she will grow in wisdom as she grows in years.  

This week: I've been reading through Ezekiel with our church, (click here for more info on how you can join us), and I'm about halfway through. A phrase that has been repeated often is "...so that you [they] will know that I am the LORD." 

I am praying this week that Erin will know the LORD for who He is...not for who others say He is, or what her emotions or her circumstances tell her He is, but for what His unchanging Word says about Him and His character. I pray that she will rest in knowing Him, no matter what, and that this will comfort her and give her great courage throughout her life. 

And, because a post is always better with a picture...

Knitting

I think I've learned to knit 3 different times in my life. The first time, I was in the 4th grade, and I remember knitting a hot pad and a case for my eyeglasses. Insert picture of the red plastic frames that took up half of my chubby 4th grade face here. I think it was a class I took at school or something, because I don't remember picking up a knitting needle again.

The 2nd time, I was living in Dallas with roommates, and I had watched one roommate, Kristyn, knit cute, cozy scarves, and I thought it looked like fun. She patiently taught me...but my first scarf stopped at about 8 inches long and much wider at the the end than at the beginning. So ended the 2nd try.


A few weeks ago, inspired by my friend Amy, I decided to try again. Here was the goal - cute little toy knit balls that Erin could play with. 

 

Thanks to Amy's patience, I finally got started. Here was the beginning...I have to be honest, I was a little skeptical that this would turn into a squishie ball.

 

After several weeks...I finished! The long awaited day was here when I would present the gift to Erin and she would grin with delight, and quickly claim it as her favorite. Here it is! Honestly, I'm not sure she knew what to do with it.

See? She loves it. She's even drooling over it.

 

See how she follows it wherever it goes...

...and even tried to eat it.

See how angry she got when I told her it was time to put the ball down?

 

I sent one of these pictures to Adam at work and he joked that I had just put the ball in as a prop for the picture. I neither confirmed nor denied that. We like to laugh because I say that Erin loves her squishie ball more than her other toys, even though I'm well aware that's not the case at this point. But regardless, I loved getting to create something for my daughter. It really is special to me because it's the first thing I have made for her, and I loved doing it. 

I try to not take it when we go places as I tend to leave things behind, and I'd be so sad to lose this little ball. That's why I was VERY surprised to walk out to our car in the apartment garage and saw this:

Yep, that's Erin's very special ball, left overnight in the garage. It's amazing I remember anything.

Even though I didn't lose the first one, I'm still knitting. Fair warning...if you are pregnant or have had a baby recently, your little one may get one as a baby gift. :)

And just as a bonus...a funny mad face, drool and all. We love this sweet girl!

 

5 Months...or is it 7?

Surely there is a point when a new mom is unable to blame her forgetfulness and scatterbrained-ness and lateness on the fact that she is a new mom...but I don't think I'm there yet. Or, maybe I am, and I'm just all those things on my own. 

Erin turned 5 months old on Monday, 7.11. (I hope everyone enjoyed their free slurpee on that day...did you know that you can get a free slurpee from 7-11 every July 11th? What a deal!) We had a very fun afternoon, and got to hang out with 4 kids who are so special to me. I used to see them almost every day when I had the privilege of helping take care of them. They were 5, 3, and 1 when I met them...now they are 10, 8, 6 and 3...yes, one more was added to the clan. Watching them grow has given me a glimpse of what it will be like to watch Erin grow through the years...unbelievable and sweet all at the same time. I have turned into that woman who always has to make a comment about how much a child has grown...but it's really true! I see that already with Erin, and how quickly she's changing and growing. While it's so fun to watch as she learns new things daily, there's still something bittersweet about the fact that she'll never be so little again. 

These kiddos know me as Miss Leigh (or Miss Wee), and I love that they call our little girl Baby Erin. As soon as we got there on Monday, every one wanted to hold Baby Erin, play with her, or try to help me get her to sleep. They were all so sweet to her, and Erin loved being entertained by more than just me. When all the kids were having some quiet time, I took Erin's 5 month pictures. Here are the first ones I took...notice anything wrong?

 

If you figured out what was wrong, then you're ahead of me! It wasn't until I had enlisted the help of Avery and Gage to get her to smile that Avery said, "Miss Leigh? I thought you said it was her 5 month birthday today..."

Good point. 

After a quick adjustment, here are some more pics...

She's not sitting up on her own yet, but she's getting close!

Her eyes are still as blue as ever...

Of course we had to get one with the helpers...

And if you have a sibling you understand that fairness requires that everyone gets a turn. :)

I didn't get a picture with 2 of the kids this week with Erin, but couldn't leave them out! These 2 are from when Erin was just a few weeks old.

It's hard for me to believe I met this little one when she was just a newborn, and now she's holding our baby girl!

We love you, Baby Erin! The last month has gone by so fast...lots more pictures and thoughts to come. Adam and I continually thank the Lord for her, and can't wait to see what the next month will bring.