mother's day

my second mother's day, and the second baby is almost here.
time is passing quickly, so quickly.
what will the next year hold? 10 new little fingers, 10 new little toes. New baby smells and sounds. Emma's first words. A little life beginning to explore the world, with a sister just barely older than he.
and God only knows what else.
one thing is sure - it will never be dull!

"smile"

Happy May Day!

(and Emma has eight teeth now. )

precious little moments

"These little moments ... matter, for they are where we live every day." - Paul David Tripp

Easter is coming - a few ramblings

Easter is just a few days away. It is a season that is precious to us believers. Sadly, it can be hugely commercialized (all those Easter bunnies laying eggs .....), and it needs to be celebrated in a God-glorifying way. I love what Nancy Wilson said over on her blog about celebrating it with traditions, traditions that are both solemn as we recognize the enormity of what Christ did, and joyfully childlike as we celebrate His victory and our freedom.

I have a wonderful husband. I really do.
We were driving home from church the other day and I mentioned how "the baby" must really be wanting some Peeps and a chocolate bunny .....
He bought me some.
They're only $1 at Walmart, but it made me feel so very loved and cherished. Isn't he just wonderful?
I love him.

I've posted something on the market blog again (yes, it gets updated really randomly - sorry about that). If you are interested in buying a few of the new spring pretties, you can find them here.

And we having wonderful spring weather!!! It's finally gotten into the 70s here, and I'm loving it. :) Emma wore a pair of shorts today for the first time this year.

recipe: Ambrosia, a.k.a. "5 cup salad"

This fruit salad has lots of memories for me: it was a standard Easter dish at Gramma's house, and often served at other Moose/Jacobsen gatherings as well. Gramma taught me the recipe when I was staying with her for a few weeks one summer and it is so simple that even a 10-12 year old can remember it. And it's really yummy, too (come to think of it, I say that about every recipe that I post here).

So here you go (ready? you might want to write it down ..... ;) ):

Combine:
1 cup chunked pineapple
1 cup mandarin oranges
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup sour cream

Stir.

Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour, until the flavors have melded.

Yup.
So simple. And so good.

spring is coming!

and there is a new post up over at the market blog.

12 weeks old yesterday

Emma and I walked about 1/2 a mile to the soccer complex down the street yesterday. The soccer fields have a small grove of shade trees off to one side, and, since it was over 80 for most of the afternoon, the shade felt wonderful.

Yesterday was the first time that Emma and I have gone to a park alone and we just laid on the ground, enjoying the outdoors. Even though the busy street was close by it still felt quiet and peaceful. All that was missing was a hammock and a glass of lemonade!

Emma really enjoyed laying on her back and looking up at the leaves, branches, sky and the light playing off of it all. It was like one giant green mobile. She would get excited when the breeze picked up, "talking" and waving, sputtering bubbles and kicking vigorously.

last night

Emma was tired and cranky, but too tired to easily fall asleep. John held her and soothed her while I got dinner together (we had fajitas - so I didn't really cook, just brought all the ingredients together), and when I looked up she was sound asleep. Safe, secure, and cuddled on her daddy's chest.

I went outside to look at the little plants after the dishes were done, and noticed through the window that John was reading in our room. It was such a peaceful sight: his toes sticking up over the footboard, all in silhouette, with the curtain blowing in the breeze.

It was a peace-filled evening.

Ben and Me - two years ago

Mi hermano y yo...
Don't we make a lovely pair?

mother's day 2009

family of three, originally uploaded by Lizi Beth.

'Twas a lovely day. I felt so loved and honored all day long.

John made me breakfast in bed and entertained Emma so that I could sleep another hour (not sure which gift I appreciated more!). They gave me a bouquet of roses, a gift certificate for a pedicure and a frame for a picture of Emma.

Emma had "encouraged" us to start our day a few hours earlier than planned, so we had time to leisurely enjoy our coffee together before heading off to church.

Afterwards we hurried home to make put the furniture back in place (John cleaned the carpet yesterday - thank you Darling!) and make lunch for family who had phoned to let us know that they would be arriving slightly ahead of schedule - by two hours!

Lunch turned out great, and we had a wonderful afternoon visiting with them all - John's mom Teri, sister Sarah and brother Brian, brother's fiancee Leah and her sister Esther. They were returning from a road trip for Brian's graduation from Liberty University with a master's degree in (international?) business.
John and I finished the evening by reading together as the light was fading ... and finishing off the rest of the cheesecake. :)

Here's a sweet tribute - of sorts - to motherhood that I heard on NPR: At My Place, Every Day Is Mother's Day

I hope you all had a beautiful day celebrating your own mothers - or being celebrated!

happy may day

may day, originally uploaded by Lizi Beth.

the flower bloomed a day late, but it did bloom!


"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
- I Cor. 10:31

rainy day

There is nothing better on a rainy day than a cup of cinnamon-laced coffee and a crowing baby. Other than having the baby's daddy here, too, of course. But he'll be back soon, and then we can enjoy the rain, the coffee, and our precious little baby together.

She is a little sunshine today, happy and cooing after a 12-hour night(!).

We are spending our morning nursing, listening to the rain through the open porch door, listening: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=313867933 (to the one on worry - good words, brought by Curtis Jones), nursing, napping (that's Emma's part), sewing and tidying up.

Oh, and trying to stay away from the cookies: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/ne-plus-ultra-cookies?lnc=ef2e802fb632c110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=cookie+of+the+day_recipe_b They do go well with coffee.

her latest accomplishment

I mentioned the other day that Emma has been rolling to her side, working on rolling all the way over. Here are a few pictures showing just how much she is enjoying practicing her new trick. Our little girl is such a joy.

quote to ponder, pictures after the storm

"By praying for our husbands and looking to the Lord rather than to our circumstances, we trust Him to carry both our husband and his burden. Then from the overflow of our hearts, we can give back to and encourage our men." -shaunti feldhahn, For Women Only