Moving

We're moving...
It's good and bad. Happy and Sad... (feel free to sing along)

So we have a little over a month left here in Iowa. And I am totally torn.
For 5 years (from the day I left for college until when we moved into this apartment) I (we) moved every year. This is the longest I have lived in one place since I moved out on my own.

There are so many things that make this place special in my heart forever. It is the first time I have ever lived FAR away from any family. So, it made me really grow up and establish things for myself. It also changed me because of our circumstances. I have spent so much time alone, or just with Elizabeth over the last 3 years that I had to make my friends and neighbors more like family. I am going to miss people tremendously. This is the only house my 3 year old has ever really known, and to leave it and our friends makes me so sad for her.

Many of you know, that this is also a welcome move. Some of you may know that Iowa is probably not my favorite of the 50 states... :) But despite the terrible driving, road planning, snow storms, and cold it hasn't been that bad. I am happy to be moving closer to family. (Even if it is short lived.) I am happy to be moving away from winter wiper blades and bundling my kids up like eskimos. I am happy that this means Justin is one year closer to fulfilling his dreams, and we are all one more year closer to being done with school.

I'm delaying getting boxes, because then I can delay packing. As long as I delay packing I can almost delay the reality of facing this jumble of emotions. (I can at least brush them from the front of my mind.)
I'm sure many of you have moved before and know what I mean. I'd love to hear anything you have to say about the subject. And if you're around here, do you know where I can get boxes? I can't put it off forever...

What I love about blogging

What I love about Blogging is that so many people are doing it. I just spent the last hour finding things out about old friends and acquaintances. I love that my college was small enough that I can find all sorts of people just by clicking links and following trails of friends. It's also fun to know that I can keep up with my friends from here once we move too.
The only thing I don't like is the debate to comment or not to comment. I spend time wondering if people I was not really good friends with are going to think I am strange to look them up after all this time. But to tell you the truth, I think it is neat to know that friends old and new, both close and casual can find out about me on the web. So no matter who you are, if you want to comment please do!
What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Sweet Baby Caleb

Today Caleb is 5 1/2 months old. It is hard to believe how fast time flies. He isn't my little newborn anymore. :( But he is so much fun! Since I've already posted about his big sister I thought I would tell you some of my favorite things about Caleb.

1. Caleb is SO smiley. He loves to smile and chuckle.
2. Caleb has a dimple. It is high up on his right cheek, and it is just absolutely adorable. Since he smiles so much I get to see it a lot.
3. Caleb thinks Elizabeth is the funniest person on the planet. No one can make him smile as easily, laugh as loudly, or keep him laughing as long as she can.
4. Caleb loves his Mommy and Daddy. He lights up for us with smiles and whole body flails.
5. Caleb is a chunk! He has the chubbiest cheeks, at least two chins, and it looks like he has rubber bands on his wrists. He is also really tall. At his 4 month check he outweighed (by almost a pound) what Elizabeth weighed at 6 months, and was 1/2 an inch longer than she was at six months. (What that really means is we had to take him out of his carrier car seat at 4 months. BOO!)
6. Caleb is easy going and quite content. He is pretty much happy doing whatever. Sometimes he is so relaxed that I can use the nose sucker on him, and he doesn't even flinch!
7. Caleb is chatty. Many of you may know that Elizabeth is quite verbose. But if Caleb has anything to do about it he is going to talk as much as she does or more. He "talks" all the time! He talks to us, he talks to himself in bed, he talks to his toys. As soon as he learns a new sound he uses it all of the time. Needless to say he isn't going to let his sister talk for him.

I love this baby boy, and am so blessed that he is in my life.

Thank you God for this sweet baby boy. Thank you Lord for all of the circumstances that brought him to us.

He is so special. If I know you and you want to see pictures of my kids (and aren't on my shutterfly list). I am happy to send them to you. Just let me know.

Happy Easter!!

Blessings to you this Easter!!

Praise be to God this wonderful day that Jesus Christ our Lord is risen and lives today!

This is one of my favorite days of the year. I hope today you have been blessed to share the day and the joy of Christ with family and/or friends.

Hope is real, hope is new again today. I want you to have the unfailing hope and forgiveness that Jesus offers you freely today. If you don't I'd love to share it with you. If you do I hope we can share it together.

JESUS LIVES!!

Good Friday

Good Friday to you.
I haven't spent as much time reflecting today as I should have, but I have had a song in my head and heart all day. I would like to share the words with you.

Your only son no sin to hide,
But You have sent Him from your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the lamb of God

Your gift of love they crucified,
They laughed and scorned Him as He died,
The humble King they named a fraud
And sacrificed the lamb of God

O lamb of God, sweet lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God.
O wash me in His precious blood,
My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

I was so lost I should have died,
But You have brought me to Your side.
To be lead by Your staff and rod,
And to be called a Lamb of God.

O lamb of God, sweet lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God.
O wash me in His precious blood,
My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
(words by Twila Paris)

This isn't necessarily my favorite Easter song, but one that has made me think of the cross today.

What is your favorite Easter song? What speaks to you? I would love it if you would share the words with me.

God bless you this Easter weekend!

Palm Sunday

I love the church I grew up in. It was (and I’m sure still is) a wonderful place to establish and grow my faith. Being church of Christ though, we often didn’t discuss certain days, where other churches make special observances and have special festivities.
So it was this Sunday as I sat in my row and watched my 3 year old little girl coming in to church waving her palm branch that I decided that I wanted her to know what Palm Sunday is all about.
I wanted her to know the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Of his riding on the donkey colt as shouts of acclimation and adoration filled his ears. ( I wonder if that is a sound he clung to in his heart a few days later, as insults and hateful words were venomously spewed at him.) How the people laid down both palm branches and their own cloaks to carpet the road for Jesus’ ride. We read the story, and I have to say that it made my heart swell with joy as she walked around the house waving her palm branch and saying "Hosanna! Hosanna! Glory to God! Praise God!"
Later that night I was thinking about it and I realized I didn’t know what the word Hosanna meant. So I looked it up. (Any of you out there with more Greek/ Hebrew knowledge than me correct me if the definition I found was wrong.) Hosanna means "God save" and it is my understanding that this is a plea to God. That He would reach down from Heaven and send a savior to his people. And isn’t it wonderful that he did!
Praise be to God that he not only sent a savior, but that he sent his only son. His son Jesus, who was more than just his son, but is also a part of him. A part of him as much as my right arm is a part of me.


Side Note:
Here are Elizabeth's funnies for the day:
To the tune of Skip to my Lou "Glue, glue, stick to my glue!"
and during her prayer, " I love you God, and mommy and daddy, and Caleb and me and all my food, except one food. I don't like mushrooms. Please help me not to eat mushrooms."