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(Our memory verse from the last 2 weeks.)
Thank you all so very much for your condolences and your care for us. Of course the heartache and grief are huge right now for our family, but at the same time we are so grateful for the care that God has planned for our family. We have been overwhelmed with all of the beautiful flowers that were sent, the cards of support, phone calls of encouragement to “weep with those who weep”, the offers to help with our children, and all of the many things you have done that would make the list too long for a blog post. Many of you have just stepped in to care for our family in practical ways, both big and small, that we never even thought to ask for. Thank you so much.
A very good friend loaned me a book after our last miscarriage in October, and I have spent hours poring over it and reflecting on the words shared by the author. I have of course been re-reading this book, along with some scripture verses that were particularly helpful (Psalm 138:6-8, Psalm 139, and Habakkuk 3:17-19, to name a few).
One quote from this book has been with me constantly over the last few months, and I wanted to share it here…
…I have often asked why. Many things have happened which I didn’t plan on and which human rationality could not explain. In the darkness of my perplexity and sorrow I have heard Him say quietly, Trust Me. … He knows exactly what He is doing. I am clay. Let me remember that when I question God’s dealings. I don’t understand Him, but then I’m not asked to understand, only to trust. Bitterness dissolves when I remember the kind of love with which He has loved me – He gave Himself for me. He gave Himself for me. He gave Himself for me. Whatever He is doing now, therefore, is not cause for bitterness. It has to be designed for good, because He loved me and gave Himself for me.
- Elisabeth Elliot, Keep A Quiet Heart
Asher! winner of Most Pleasant 2-year-old. I am convinced the older he gets, the more wonderful he becomes. Sitting and reading with anyone, chatting pleasantly with Mommy during the day, snuggling after naptime, playing with boy things, pretending sticks are guns (yes, we surely see a difference between a boy and his sisters), a fascination with mud, construction vehicles, trucks, rocket ships. Such a delight to be around our little man.
Lately he’s been pretty into drawing things…and he really gets into it.
Drawing trucks, his name, numbers, letters. Of course all this is unrecognizable and mostly a series of lines and circles, but we love it just the same.
(Isn’t there just something about the back of a little boy’s neck that makes you want to smother him in kisses?)
So although it still feels freezing cold here most days, we’ve decided to press on into Spring by doing warm weather things. One of our favorite Saturday morning family dates is some yard-saling around the area. Much to our delight, we found a pair of skates to match a set we had gotten some years back! So we got home, and out they came.
Roller derby is next week; we were thinking of signing the girlies up.
In the meantime, we’re gearing up to homeschool more during the spring and summer months this year, and part of our homeschool vision has always included music. So, Ivy started piano lessons a couple weeks ago and things are going quite well, I must say.
She is really excited to learn, and things are moving right along with progress. We are working very, very hard on it and learning new things every week. Along with this new season, I discovered the sheet music bin at the thrift store. Oh. Boy.
The blue Folk Song Book was a gift from Gramma, also found second-hand, and I about danced a jig when I saw it. Perfect simple songs that she’ll be able to play before too long!
Expect more pictures soon, as the weather gets a little more tolerable and pregnant Mommy feels a little more like getting off the couch. Argh. SO done with the nausea and general yuckiness-feeling. But, as a very good friend reminded me, “Great is your reward.” Very, very true. 17 weeks and counting!
