Jeremy bought flowers for both of his girls last night and Liv’s response was sheer joy. It was something else, we’ve never seen her so giddy. She kept talking and talking and talking—to the woman buying flowers next to us, to the cashier, to Jeremy and me. She said something to Jeremy like, “I know that you very loved me!” and gushed joyous proclamations left and right. And here we thought her love language was physical affection! It was so fun.
It’s good for me to look at happy images this evening because today has been rough. Livia has pneumonia, just a slight case, but her cough is waking her up very early in the morning and keeping her up way too late at night. Already a spirited personality, Liv becomes almost unmanageable on too little sleep. It’s hard to keep nursing your little one when you feel like you just need a break from not only the incessant coughing but also the unbelievably bad behavior. And oh my goodness, that kid got on every nerve tonight.
But finally, she’s asleep. Dear Jesus, let the medicines do their thing tonight. And, in the meantime, let me be refreshed by the beautiful gerber daisies on my dining room table. (Thanks, sweetie.)
Jeremy and Liv are either playing the Stare Game or they’re cuddling. Whatever they’re doing, I’m in favor of it.
Credit for the first image goes to Renae. Thanks, friend, for letting me post it here!
As lovely as the previous post’s images are, I’ve decided to move on to something else.
March in Nebraska. I’ve never been so grateful for rain! Finally finally finally the air has warmed up and the snow on the ground is gone. This winter was something else. A few weeks ago I imagined myself frantically scooping all the snow out of my yard and wondered if the neighbors would think I had gone mad. We’ve had snow on the ground since early December! Something about that was demoralizing. But spring! Spring is on its way and I couldn’t be happier.
Here are a few images from last Thursday when Renae and I sought out sunny skies among the prairie grounds at Pioneers Park.
Oh my goodness, check out this precious little face!
Quinlyn is the seven-month-old daughter of my longtime beloved friend Sarah. It’s hard to live far away from your girlfriends, but I suppose that makes weekend trips that much more special. This weekend my family got to meet Quinlyn, whose round eyes and sweet checks make her look remarkably similar to her big brother Calvin.
More photos coming!
The pace of life over the past few days is leaving me a little breathless.
Jeremy’s grandpa passed away on Thursday. His death was not a surprise, but nonetheless, the family is mourning and we miss Grandpa Fred a lot. It’s just plain sad. Perhaps like many of you, I have a lot of thoughts related to death but I can’t quite figure out how to sort them out. I hate death. It sucks. Although it is clearly the natural progression of things, it is wrong and feels wrong. The death of a loved one seems to occur in something outside of real time. Driving back and forth to the hospital to visit Grandpa Fred, I thought it seemed strange that the rest of the world keeps on moving. People are still impatient in traffic, they are still going about their daily activities, nothing is put on hold for a family that is grieving. I remember feeling the same way when my Grandma Iola died. I would walk into the nursing home and feel instantly transported to a surreal existence where my beloved grandma was breathing her final breaths. Bah. This is hard stuff to write about!
But like I said, life moves on. Jeremy still has work and I have a freelance project to focus on. We still need to make our basement safe and comfy for Sarah & baby Quinlyn who are visiting soon. Dinners need to be prepared. Livia needs to play. The dog didn’t eat for two meals in a row so clearly someone needs to worry about that. Say nothing of the persistent colds we keep trading around the household—who ever has time for a cold?
Time for a funeral, to remember and rejoice in Grandpa Fred’s life, will be made. If you think of it, pray for the family, that God would love and support Grandpa’s wife, five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they adjust to life without him. Thanks, friends.
The following song has been playing in my mind for over a week now. The lyrics are excellent.
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
God put a deep and powerful love for this child in my heart. At the end of a long day, even at the end of the worst day ever, I think about this little face and my heart jumps a bit. Parental love is intense and beautiful—and I praise God for letting it overcome all the crap we’ve been through by the time bedtime rolls around.
I praise him for this love, and I praise him for his love. Someday he’ll redeem even our good things, like my love for my child, and make it perfect. That day will be something to behold.
Bath time around here is an Event. (And when it can’t be an Event, it becomes a difficult task for everyone involved.) Sometimes there are bubbles and sometimes there is a new, special bath toy, but always there is one little girl, tons of mismatched and somewhat random toys to play with, soap and water.
And by the time the little girl gets out of the tub, she’s usually quite relaxed. She rolls up in a towel and takes a breather. All that fun in the hot water is hard work!
Challenge for the day: take your camera somewhere new. Let me know if you blog about it.
