Firsts and Lasts

This was our first Christmas with baby Kate. I have been giddy since I found out I was first pregnant at the thought of having a little one around at Christmastime. Nothing will ever be the same and that's a good thing. Santa is more fun, Silent Night is more profound, gift giving is more interactive, traditions are more important, memories are more special, family is more cherished. 

At certain times in our lives, the word "last" can lead to feelings of anxiety, sadness, regretfulness, or bitterness. For me, it means excitement. Today marks the beginning of my last year in my 20's. Today, I am 29. 29. 29. I almost have to say that over and over as if to pinch myself to prove this can truly be real. I am not sad or fretful or even fearful - no, I am thankful and just, well, excited. 

I am so thankful for my full life thus far - no regrets - SO many adventures, and ready for even more this next year (I think- whew). Who would have ever thought that I would be living in New York City, with a beyond unbelievable husband, involved in planting an amazing church, with a precious 6 month old daughter!?

Another first this year is my baby brother is playing in the Cotton Bowl. Arkansas and Missouri will battle it out tomorrow morning for bragging rights and memories. It has been so fun getting to be with the whole family and even Rhett during the holidays. He is a celebrity now, you know, so each day is a bonus with him. He told us last night that he had to sign 7 autographs just so he could get from the entrance of the hotel and into the elevator, just to discover that he lost his key and had to sign 9 more autographs just to get down to the reception desk and back up. ha! His life is just not normal now. 

What a great year this has been in every sense.  I could not be more excited for 2008 to be here and all that it will mean to me personally and to our family. 

My focus this new year will be discipline. Spiritual discipline, physical discipline, emotional discipline - discipline with my time, our resources, food, priorities...all of the above. I'm excited. Are you focusing on anything this new year? 

As this is the last day of the year and tomorrow marks the first...

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone and don't forget to cheer on #51 and the Arkansas Razorbacks! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! We hope you have a very special day with your family and friends. We are all so blessed and have much to be thankful for today.

Mom

She is wife to one, mother to three, Cheryl to many, and Grandma to only one (for now).

 Although I call her mom, she is much more to me. She is a servant, she is wisdom, she is strength, she is gentleness, she is selflessness, she is a true example of Christ, she is unconditional and eternal love, and she is a best friend to me.

My mom decided to come to New York, rather last minute actually, when she realized Kate was sick and I was running on empty and there was much she could do to help with this weekend. She will also help me fly back with Kate on Tuesday to Texas as opposed to me having to do it by myself (not that I can't - it's just more complicated). All this to say - why is it that as more time passes by, I realize that I need my mom just as much, if not more than I did when I was younger? 

I am SO thankful for my mom and just had to say that. 

I also realize more and more how big those shoes are for me to fill, and then I realize that I won't be able to fill them as much as I can follow them. What a noble path that is for me to follow. Thank you, Mom, for all of these things and more. I love you. 

Kate napping with Grandma, or should I say Grandma napping with Kate?

Kate waking up with Grandma.

My Sweet Baby Girl

This is the first time Kate has been sick. It is so sad to me to watch her not feel good and feel like I'm so helpless. She has a cold, we think, and all that comes with it. It's just the saddest little cough and runny nose I've ever seen and she can't explain to us what hurts where. Sigh. 

Despite her sickness and her not feeling well, she is still able to look absolutely adorable to me. She even finds a way to smile through it all. 

I love her genuine feelings at this age. Usually when she's fussy - there's a good reason; when she's laughing - I know why; when she's tired - it's extremely obvious. It makes me wonder when and how we develop an ingenuousness of feelings. Why do we feel like sometimes we can't just be who we are, how we are, when we are? I so appreciate, though Kate doesn't feel well, she still gives me that big smile when I kiss her and I know it's real.

It makes me think that I can choose to still smile despite my circumstances and to really feel that smile. That's my goal this week. Even when I don't feel like it - I will smile, I will love, I will listen, I will be patient, I will be gentle, I will be kind. If Kate can do it...so can I. 

'Tis the Season

The Christmas season in New York is in full swing. The streets are lined with Christmas trees - just like you would see in a snow village with the string of lights hanging overhead. The snow has come. The temperatures have dropped. The halls are decked. Santa is here taking wishes, and a few more things have been going on...

 ...Our first "accumulating" snow was last Sunday morning, so I snapped a quick one on our way to church. Of course we walk to church, doncha know, with the stroller and all - in the snow. I might not be able to tell Kate that I walked up hill both ways to school when I was a child, but I can sure as heck tell her that when we lived in NYC, we WALKED everywhere and pushed her EVERYWHERE in her stroller -  no matter what kind of weather! So, there. 

...Kate met Santa -  THE Santa, of course. We went to Macy's and entered Toy Land and I'm not sure who was more amazed...me or Kate. It was truly magical in every sense of the word. I was giddy. In line, it was like a ride at Disneyland with moving and singing toys, snow falling, talking trees, snow villages outlined with lights. Amazing. Of course - our camera died in line, so this is the only pic I have of the experience (figures). However, we did buy the $30 package of a 5x7 and 4 wallets, which are designated for the Grandparents. (just like Disneyland!)

...Our Christmas shopping expedition took place on the World Wide Web - the only practical place to shop when 1) you have a 5 month old in New York City 2) it is 30 degrees outside and you have to walk everywhere 3) you have to ship it to another state anyway and 4) you have no idea what you are getting anyone.  I don't have a picture of this (i know you're thankful), but I must say that we have been getting GREAT deals online by just typing in the company name and "coupons" in a separate window and it's like getting free money! Does anyone have any great deals they have found online and want to share? Is that dorky? Ok, nevermind. But, if you do - I might be interested. 

...We finally received our Christmas tree in the mail, after realizing it would cost just as much for a 4 foot real tree off the street as it would for a beautiful, 7 foot artificial one, that might last us another year and actually fit in the ONE space we have in our apartment. No contest. 

I hope your Season is off to a great start!

If I left it at just this, I wonder what Christ would think of my "experiences". About three weeks ago, David and I met someone who would forever change our lives. Her name is Valia. She is a mother of four, a victim of domestic violence, and is now homeless in the City. She is being housed tonight in a hospital - the second one in just a month. She calls us every night at the same time - looking for peace, looking for joy, looking for hope, looking for a listening ear, looking for love. 

Valia won't have a tree this year. She won't go meet Santa (or at least - I doubt it). She will probably be thinking that her four children, who she will not see, will experience yet another Christmas without her - wondering where she is and if she still thinks of them. She will see snow much differently than I, as someone without a place to call "home".

 How does that change my perspective on this Season? It changes everything. I will no longer experience Christmas without thinking of Valia and the hundreds of thousands in her same position. What are we called to do during this time and onward? Outside of cherishing our family and friends, decorating our houses, playing in the snow, buying Christmas gifts - I would say it is to look for opportunities to be Christ to those around us, first and foremost. That's it. Now, let's go do it. 

5 Months

Yes, our little girl is already 5 months old. I have taken a few pictures this week to document this new stage. She seems so grown up to me already as she has long conversations with me throughout the day, can sit up on her own for about 15 seconds, can roll over from her tummy to her back, can push up higher on her tummy and look around, i could go on and on. 

She LOVES her conversations with Daddy when he gets home from work. This is how they talk - it's the cutest thing! She's like, "Mom - why are you interrupting my story time?"

Kate weighs 15 lbs, 5 oz and is 25 1/2 inches long. She is just about average with her 60 percentile self. Not a bad place to be, but it means she doesn't really fit in the sink anymore. She just "lounges" back and kicks her leg up, like she's just chillin' in the tub. She has quite a personality and sports some definite rolls!

Here's her "american gangsta" pose (she's giving you the "East Side" sign). She wasn't so happy with me putting the hat on her inside for the picture and she made this face. I was laughing SO hard. Like I said...she has quite the personality already! (Thanks, Kimber for the adorable sweater and hat!)

Let me tell you something - you do not want to mess with her in a dark alley way. LOL! Thanks for indulging me - it's another month, and that's a wrap.

Blessing by Faith

On Sunday, a friend shared with us that they are expecting again. The way in which he shared it was priceless and has stuck with me each day since. It would be helpful to understand the full background of this wonderful family and thus you would truly see how profound his statement was on Sunday. It is not my place to share in that detail, but picture this...

A family felt called to come to the City and share the love of Christ to the "nations". They gave up their suburban lifestyle and 4 bedroom house to move into a 2 bedroom apartment with their 2 children and dog (and now cat). In their minds their family was complete, and even if they thought about more children, the lack of space dictated otherwise. All seems well, and then there was a slight "twist" in plans. They are now expecting a third child. 

I'm sure you can imagine their thoughts at this point. Excitement. Confusion. Disbelief. Anxiety. Or as he put it on Sunday, it is a "blessing by faith". Profound isn't it? After a laugh or a tear or both, it is a blessing by faith. Love that. It hit me like a ton of bricks. 

On another but parallel note, our family heard yesterday that Coach Nutt of the Razorbacks is leaving the team after 10 years and moving on to coach Ole Miss. I know it sounds trivial in light of other situations going on in life, but it is still one that hits close to home. He is the coach that invested in Rhett, got to know our family, has been a motivator for my brother in this crucial time of being a freshman starter, and now he is leaving. Just like that. My family is having a hard time with it. 

This news, of course, coming after a win over LSU and tons of media coverage of the team and the future. Interesting, isn't it? There was a "twist" of plans and yet I must say that I go back to the phrase and choose to see it as a blessing by faith, praying that others will too. 

Is there something in your life that you need to claim as a "blessing by faith"? Do we have enough faith to see it as a blessing? Does it take faith to see some blessings? What if those of us in the covenant church of Christ lived life by this phrase? What if this was the first response we had when something didn't quite go as we planned. 

It reminds me of the passage in Mark 9, where the man says to Christ, " I believe; help my unbelief." I find myself at this place quite often. Is there something in your life that is leading you to cry out to God - God I trust you, help me to have greater faith. God, I know you are sovereign and so, I am choosing to see this as a blessing - by faith. I pray that I, too, can respond this way. For I know life has many more turns and "twists" and I want to be able to respond without hesitating... this is a blessing by faith.