One month old!

(February 5th)

He's here!

We are thrilled to announce the (early!) arrival of our son,

Colter James

January 5th, 2015

4 pounds, 11 ounces

18 inches long

After spending 19 days in the NICU, we are happy to have Colter home and thriving. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us!

Hey, God?

I thought I knew the man he was the day 
I married him. That gentle, ever-so-protective cowboy who chose me, out of all people, to buy a ring for...I thought I could never
 be more in love with him than on the day 
I wore that white dress. 

But God? There were so many things I didn't know. That voice that promised at the alter to cherish me and give all of himself all the 
time? I didn't know how it would sound 
when three months later it sang hymns 
to me in bed until I fell asleep.

Those hands that held mine so tightly as he slipped the custom made diamond ring on -- I had no idea how they would feel when he held my hair back as I threw up with morning sickness.  I couldn't have imagined the shine of pride in those brilliant eyes when I rode a colt I had broke under his patient teaching. 

And when I said "I do" on that sunny day in May, I had no idea that three years and two sons later I could love him so.very.much.more 
than I already did.

I knew he would spoil me, God. But I didn't expect him to buy me pearls for my first Mother's Day, and garnets when that second son was born in January. He promised to honor me and I knew he would, but I didn't know that honor would spill off his tongue every time he talked about me. That rugged, calloused-hand horse trainer...I didn't know how gentle he could be when holding his four-pound son, or praying with that two-year-old. 

God, you were there; you heard me tell him I would share myself with him for the rest of my life. I called him best friend. But I just didn't know that this is the life he would build, and that a best friend could be like this. I thought I knew. I vowed my entire self because I thought I knew him. 

So God, I just have one thing to say to you as I celebrate that completely-cherished Lover-man on his birthday today. I've said it before, but every day I mean it more:

  Thanks a million billion, God. 
You really outdid yourself on this one.

Seconds

Sometimes I feel like the kid who was accidentally served a second helping of dessert and no one has noticed yet. There are momentary thoughts of sheer thrill at such good luck, followed by a nagging conscience wondering if I should admit that I've already had my fair share at the risk of having it taken away.

Because, seriously, if God knew how happy I am and how well-loved and cared for and treasured, surely he'd have to make the decision to spread the joy around a little bit more. This tiny apartment we live in? Yes, it's crowded sometimes but I am perfectly content here. Our business is sometimes stressful but Warren loves his work, and we spend the majority of our hours together every day. At this very moment there's a baby that's kicking me from the inside. Earlier this year we miscarried for a second time and I honestly wondered if I'd ever be able to carry another baby full-term. Today my womb is full of life -- a healthy, vibrant life that we will get to meet in just a couple months. And there's that little boy who is so.very.inquisitive and observant and full of joy. Some people never know what it's like to be a parent, and here I am with my arms full of toddler sweetness and a belly quite literally filled to the brim with an infant. I could stop with all of this and anyone would agree that I've had way more than my share of dessert. But the icing on the cake? That Lover-man who is astonishingly wonderful and cares for me even more exuberantly than the year I fell in love with him, and invests so much in my heart. Our marriage is a safe haven of conflict-free bliss.

I'm not bragging. I have no intention of writing something that portrays my life as perfect, stress-free or immune to the real world with the result of arousing jealousy in a cyber crowd. I'm just writing what's been going through my head for weeks.

For weeks I've been afraid to put these words on paper because I might as well be a five-year-old calling attention to the distracted adult who just gave me seconds on dessert. And as much as that adult loves the five-year-old, the second helping will inevitably be taken away in the name of health and fairness. Or, at the very least, it'll be split with the other half-dozen children at the table and two extra bites will be the final portion.

It occurred to me the other day that living in fear of having my unexpectedly wonderful life shadowed by tragedy, poverty or some other catastrophe, is not God's ideal. It's possible that he is actually aware of what he's given me, and even gets a kick out of watching me enjoy it. I know, the concept is hard to grasp--at least for me, who has always struggled with an inaccurate view of God. Nonetheless, it seems like I'm giving God an unfair shake to react to this kind of abundance with fist-clenching fear.

I'm not really sure how to sit back and enjoy all of this. How to soak in the sheer happiness. How to relish each bite of o-so-sweet goodness as if a second portion isn't actually an accident. But somehow it seems like that will bring God the most delight. 

And if God is anything like the person he says he is, I have a feeling that he might just really like that. 

Thanks, God

These little babies are due just one day apart. 

I love it when God shows off! 

Of gray hair and silverware

There's no household chore I hate more than washing silverware.

I may be a year shy of thirty years old, but washing silverware makes me feel like a four-year-old with an empty crayon box and 1,000 crayons that have to be organized right-side-up and by color, and I just want to throw them all away and start over.

I will gladly wash every other plate, cup, tupperware, pot, pan, skillet, cookie sheet...I can turn a mountain of dishes into a clean kitchen in no time. I even enjoy dishes most of the time, despite the fact that I don't have a dishwasher.

But I.despise.washing.silverware.

It takes so much time for so little accomplishment.

The other day, that Lover-man came in from the barn and said he was going to wash dishes for me. I, of course, was thrilled, and watched him organize the dirty dishes on the counter and run water in the sink. Then he said something I will never forget as long as I live: "I always start with the silverware because I love washing silverware."

WHAT?! I couldn't believe my ears.

 First of all, what kind of person loves the tedious and completely unrewarding task of washing silverware? That's like saying your favorite job as a four-year-old was arranging 1,000 crayons into a tiny box with all of the tops up and the colors in the right order.

But second, how did we make it three years into marriage with me slaving away and sweating and striving and growing gray hair while I washed all the silverware when it's his favorite job?

And third, is there anything more glorious than to find out three years into marriage that your husband's favorite job is your absolute worst one?

Hmmm...you made us like that that on purpose, didn't you, God?

Happy birthday, Owen Wesley!

He loves to drive the tractor and Bobcat, play in the rain with his "puddle boots," and go swimming. 

He can eat more macaroni and cheese than Warren and I put together. 

And Curious George...there's just nothing in the world that compares to Curious George! 

He always wakes up singing to himself in the morning, and his life can be utterly shattered if he doesn't get to sit on our bed and read books at night. 

He is particularly attached to his "mainke" (blankie) and he still hasn't forgiven us for selling the paint pony that belonged to a client when he thought it belonged to him.

He loves his cowboy hat "like Daddy," balloons, and holding up two fingers to say "I'm two!"

He's got that contagious giggle and face-engulfing smile.

Two years ago we never could've imagined how much personality and joy this little guy would bring to life. We're so thankful for our Owen Wesley!

all photos copyright In the Blink of an Eye Photograpy