farewell, old friend - hello, new feature!

This weekend, we took down our Christmas tree. I know, I can hear some of your gasps of disbelief. Last year, though, our tree made it to Valentine's Day! The video of Aaron over to the side was taken last week and clearly shows our tree behind the little cutie.

The new feature I speak of is our "feature film" over to the side. We have been changing the video every few days...gotta love digital cameras!

Aaron is growing, HURRAY! We went to the doctor last week to make sure the cold he'd had for 2 weeks was JUST a cold (it is) and found out that he's up to 13lbs, 3 oz. This is great news for me, as I've been feeding him more often (I feel like I have a newborn again!) and it was nice to hear that the work has paid off! He's such a little wiggle-buns, I think he just needs more calories.

Speaking of wiggling, yesterday after church we put Aaron on his blanket to play while we changed, and we came back to an empty blanket. We found the little munchkin under a chair... smiling devilishly. I guess he's gotten the hang of hide and seek...

excuse me, do I smell?

My good friend Debbie emailed these verses to me today:

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 says, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

These verses make me think of things I like to smell - freshly baked brownies, clean sheets, crispy fall air - all make me take deep, savor-the-moment breaths. But these smells are not the only ones in my house. There are a few places that occasionally cause me to step away with a "ptwhth!" face...Aaron's trash can, our fridge when we have forgotten about leftovers...

What a convicting thought - that I am the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ! What does that smell like? (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control, for starters) Do I make those around me take a sniff and wonder, "Hmm, what is that delightful scent?" and cause them to want to know Christ more? Or do I leave a stinky diaper/old refridgerator smell in the noses of "...those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

Thanks, Deb, for directing me to God's Word, and making me think today!

you can say mean things about me, but...

Call me old fashioned, call me closeminded, call me brainwashed, or whatever else you like, but I'm sticking to my guns. I like hymns and songs with theological depth.

Today I stayed home from church with a raw throat and congested child, and as I listened to our church service on the radio, I was once again thankful for the godly leadership at our church and their desire to lead the church in corporate Sunday worship, as well as point out that worship is supposed to take place all week long, not just on Sundays.

The congregation sang (among others) one of my favorites, "My Hope is in the Lord"

My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

Refrain:
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

No merit of my own His anger to suppress.
My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness.

And now for me He stands Before the Father's throne.
He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

His grace has planned it all, 'Tis mine but to believe,
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.

Try as they might to convince me, no one will ever be able to get me to think this song (and there are plenty other good songs out there!) can compare to some of today's shallow favorites. Sorry, kids, but "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" just isn't on the same plane.

I thought I always bought jumbo olives...

Until I opened the can!!! Then I realized that I probably just bought the large ones. These are gigantic olives! Michael is having fun eating them on his fingers for the first time in years!










And speaking of eating things, Aaron's newest chewing preference is his own toes. He likes to do this especially while getting his diaper changed, which calls for a sharp eye and quick reflexes in case the situation gets out of hand.

two hours passed

cuddled up
enjoying
the blue expanse
of still-warm sheets
our little person
sleeps
eyelashes sweep
his pale pink skin
I take this moment in

each minute flies
each breath
each cry
there is a place inside
that screams for time to stop
so I can swallow
these seconds slowly

his little fingers twitch
his sleepy smiles
his heavy sighs
what dreams, what dreams

what dreams have I

opinions?

Tell me what you think of internet dating, or finding your spouse online.

weekend extravaganza!

This weekend, the Newlands came up and we went down to Holland, MI, converging upon the St. Clair hometown. It was great - we hadn't all been together in one place in a couple years!

a strapping lad

Well, Aaron is a shrimp. And we love him. At 4 1/2 months, he weighed in at 11lbs 13 oz and I went home armed with instructions to up the feedings. Today, at 5 months, the kid weighed in at 12lbs, 4oz. Our doctor says a gain of 1 oz per day is "normal" but I think he is crazy. (and I think someone's only been studying formula-fed children.) Our little guy is happy, healthy, and developmentally is doing great, exceeding the "normal" for his age. We have a happy shrimp.

Ephesians 3

Last night at church our youth pastor spoke from the last part of this passage. I came home and read it again - it has been an encouragement to me to meditate on it and I thought it might also encourage you.

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3, ESV

welcome to moose park?!?!

Why do all the little infant sized boy clothes have graphics? What is wrong with a PLAIN little shirt? Why add the screen printed graphic? It might be cute for other people's kids, but I want the plain clothes. That I don't have to pay baby Gap prices for.

I've seached high and low for long sleeve un-printed onesies, and this burning question lingers. It seems to me that it would be cheaper to make plain clothes. So who decided to decorate? Who decided it would be cuter to take this perfectly adorable little shirt and add something to the front? My fruitless searching causes me to ask things like, "I wonder if I could bleach that out?"

I suddenly find it imperative to impose my preference for unprinted t-shirts on my son, aged 5 months, who obviously will follow in his mother's footsteps when it comes to clothing tastes. Obviously.

The search continues.

aaron's christmas commentary