May 2012
6 posts
A Story From The Life Of Napoleon
After a long and brutal battle, Napoleon and his army finally conquered a highly prized Mediterranean island.
The usual sitting and drinking and savoring occured afterwards, but this evening saw a seemingly unwelcome and improper interruption. A young officer approached Napoleon.
Napoleon: What do you want?
Young officer: Sir, give me this island.
Can you imagine the laughing and mocking that...
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
– Maybe this verse is Jesus once again taking secret pleasure in shocking us with bold proclamations that rearrange the circuits in our puny brains. Steve Shadrach
10 Months!
Killed two birds with one stone today, we did.
Celebrated my first “official” (life at conception…last May Mercedes was ever my daughter and I her mother) Mother’s Day and Mercedes’s 10 month Birthday.
The day was unbelievably gorgeous. This type of weather puts Minneapolis on the map. Or at least keeps people here for another season. City of lakes…Lake...
“I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it,...”
– Ecclesiastes 3:14
April 2012
7 posts
Prayer of Dedication
February 18 we dedicated Mercedes to God at Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Two of the most important pastors in our lives were involved: Pastor Kenny performed the dedication, and Pastor Tom prayed over us to conclude the service.
We just received the DVD of the service in the mail this week, and tucked in with it was the prayer. I love this. Our church is incredibly thoughtful and intentional in so...
Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying... →
David Platt speaks at Together for the Gospel. Perhaps the best sermon I’ve heard on missions…ever.
Bottom Left
Mercedes has cut her first tooth! Bottom left!
I was surprised at my own excitement.
We were driving home from a little Monday night family treat (ice cream for Will, walking around Patina for me) and I decided to ride in the back with M. I was showing her the complexities of certain hand movements when she grabbed my finger and stuck it in her mouth. I felt it instantly! A tooth!
It had to...
Niner
Nine months old, Mercedes is today. We travelled, I was sick for a week, I woke up and feel like I have no idea who she is. I kept saying to Will this weekend, “I feel like I don’t know her anymore!” Meaning:
She has changed SO much and SO rapidly. What I thought was her “normal” is yesterday’s story. Today is brand new! I feel like this everyday it seems.
...
Clapping, Grasping, Amen!
Mercedes and mom spent this past weekend in Loon Lake, WA celebrating Grandma Presley’s Birthday. It was a surprise. And a pretty good one at that. But both Grandpa and I agree that it was 1. Hard to keep it a surprise, and 2. Probably the last gift like that EVER because of point 1.
It was sweet to see my mom (grandma) spend every moment that Mercedes was awake with her. Feeding her....
March 2012
6 posts
It's Official...
Mercedes is crawling!
It’s not always pretty, and she has her own style right now, but I mark today as her official “crawling” day because:
she’s making more forward progress than backward
she gets to what she wants, and pretty quickly!
hand over hand, knee over knee
She never did the army crawl, but rather has been up on her feet, in a plank position. I thought one...
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord...”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:9
8 Months & 8 Things
In honor of Mercedes’s birthday, here are 8 things that make her the 8-month little lady (chunk) that she is:
She’s not crawling, but will be by the end of the week (I’m sure of it). Just in time to show off to Uncle Haden and Aunt Lauren in Denver!
Still tooth-less. Though we’ve been saying for the past 4 months, “I think she’s teething…” Ha!
...
February 2012
19 posts
Baby Legs
The more I put Mercedes in “normal” clothes, the more and more I’m convinced that my favorite version of her is:
1. Nudesy
2. Onesie with baby legs
Is it because she’ll wear big-kid clothes for most of her life and I’m savoring these little-her years? Or is it because I think she’s so cute all on her own that I don’t want GAP jeans and a sweater...
Dedication & Trial
I vividly remember the first Child Dedication we witnessed at Bethlehem. It wasn’t long after we moved from Korea.
As we walked into the sanctuary the usher handed us a bulletin. I skimmed over the order of worship and my eyes landed on Child Dedication. I didn’t think much of it. Expected some crying babies. A hiccup in the flow of worship, that’s all.
After a song, a...
(Final) Question #5
I wanted to make Mercedes a dress for her dedication. But, small problem…I don’t make dresses. So I bought one. But I have been trying to add a few personal, handmade touches for the special occasion.
Her flower headband was made by a dear friend who will be standing up there with us with her husband and son on Saturday night.
Her baby legs (little tights) were cut from socks and...
Question #4
Saturday we drove to Mall of America. We almost kept driving right past it. Turns out half the city had the same idea. When it’s too cold to walk outside, MOA is sort of like a stroll in the park. Or in a hamster maze.
On our drive we talked about what we would do, or wouldn’t do, to commemorate Mercedes’s dedication. I’m always looking for an occasion to celebrate with...
Happy 7 Months M!
So many “firsts” this past month:
answering “yes, please” to the server who asked if we needed a high-chair
dressing her in a skirt (see pic above)
catching solid poo in the red potty
feeding her what we eat
fever of 103
waking up at 3:30am to find her on the floor (she sleeps on a mattress on the floor)
standing up on her own while leaning on a chair
moving...
Question #3
Thursday night we had an elder from our church and his wife over for sweet and savory nuts and frozen blueberry coconut ice cream.
The visit was another requirement for child dedication. We talked, laughed with and at Mercedes, told stories, and they prayed for our family. It was sweet to have them in our home and get to share our smiley babe. She even showed off her potty skills for them. Atta...
Question #2
We spent one Saturday morning at the “Foundation Builders” class as a requirement for child dedication. We left Mercedes with an able neighbor, only to arrive and see a dozen babies playing on the floor, sleeping in carseats, sleeping on shoulders…it made me miss her.
But I’m grateful that she was able to stay home and take a good nap, get some good love and play time,...
Question #1
February 18 we are dedicating Mercedes to God at Bethlehem Baptist Church.
We will stand in front of the church and answer “We do!” to 5 questions with the sustaining and keeping power of the Holy Spirit in mind. We can’t do any of these things on our own.
The strength and power we have now as parents comes from the same strength and power God used to do the most all-mighty...
WatchSomehow this simple video brilliantly captures our daughter.
WatchTook this one awhile ago of M in the tub. She has since outgrown her whale bath, and now showers in a rubber ducky from Grandma Karen.
Hold On
It’s dry here. So we bought two humidifiers. But I’m not sure if they’re fit for the task. My hands still need a shea butter bath every few hours, and I still wake up with a dry throat and burning eyes.
“It’s dry here,” says my heart. Mercedes has been waking up more at night; I feel tired and ready for a nap just about the time I put both her and Cedar down in...
January 2012
11 posts
Ultrasounds and Abortion
I didn’t get an ultrasound when I was pregnant. I had a few reasons. I don’t think it’s wrong to have ultrasounds, so read on if you’ve had one. This is not a condemning post.
I’m one to question. Especially if I’m in an unfamiliar place. Like pregnancy. A kind, gentle caution from a dear friend about ultrasounds prompted a lot more reading and research than...
“And if I want my baby, my baby is a person. And if I don’t want my baby, it is...”
– John Piper, They Poured Out Innocent Blood
The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree
Will and I are doing a Bible reading plan. We’re on schedule to read through the Bible twice in one year. Four chapters a day from four different books. Thus far, it has been really surprising.
I’m surprised by this:
routine is making room for spontaneity
How can God really speak through scripture to the day-to-day joys and struggles when I’m on a “plan”? The...
Half a Year!
Our girl is 6 months old!
And as such, she’s…
huge. 18lbs 13oz, 26 inches long.
ready to get her hands on some solid food. We’re starting this weekend!
making at least 5 new sounds (this may not seem like a big deal to the non-parent, but for months all you hear is a few different versions of “cry.”)
transferring things from one hand to the other.
dropping...
Our Potty Animal
Disclaimer: This post is about infant potty training. As such, “pee” and “poop” will be used in abundance. This may not be suitable for all audiences.
It’s time for the world to know: Mercedes goes pee and poop in her little red Baby Bjorn potty. She’s almost 6 months old; she’s been at it since 6 weeks.
Encouragement: Read the entire post, then...
“Private, personal prayer is one of the last great bastions of legalism. In order...”
– Paul Miller, A Praying Life
“Jesus does not say, “Come to me, all you who have learned how to...”
– Paul Miller, A Praying Life
A Book and A Poem
I’m in a book club. First time ever. So far it’s been wonderful. I’ve read books that I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise, and have been extremely blessed by these books, and by discussion with about 6 other women.
The most recent book we read was One Thousand Gifts. It’s a bestseller, has a website and quite the following…I would have never read it. I always...
December 2011
6 posts
Happy 5 Months Chades*!
Someday we won’t celebrate the 13th day of every month, but for now, recounting the goodness of God in our lives through Mercedes Ari is very necessary.
She changes so rapidly. Just a week ago she was barely sitting up; now I even brave stepping away from her for a second to grab my phone or wrestle with Cedar. My favorite part about this development? My daughter sitting contentedly in my...