Four

After much anticipation,  and with plenty of  fanfare and celebration,  Alethea turned four yesterday! Somehow it sounds different to say I have a four year old. Four is just different than three. Here are a few pictures from her special day, soon to be followed, I hope, by a birthday letter. 

Seriously contemplating those cupcakes!

My mom and sister Alyssa made her this beautiful prairie girl outfit. Needless to say, she loves it! 

My other sister, Gloria, made her a lovely poppy garland. 

Erik and I gave her a treasure hunt, with this dollhouse at the end. (We found it on Craigslist in December, and were so excited to finally get to give it to her!) My parents gave her a tiny family of dolls for Christmas, and now they have a home. She is having so much fun with this, and I love to listen to her play.

She keeps saying "My dollhouse is the best thing Daddy every gave me!"

Every year I make her a "poppy dress". Here is The Poppy Dress #4. I really love how this one turned out. I've liked them all, but this one may be my favorite. I love how feminine and sweet it is, and the whimsical touch the bloomers add. You can see the rest of The Poppy Dresses here. 

Happy birthday my sweet, sweet Poppy! I love you my girl. 

Come Spring

I wrote these words two years ago about some of my first impressions of Great Lent, the period of preparation leading up to the celebration of Christ's resurrection. We're now in the second week of Lent, and it's a new experience for me this year, as I'm able to partake a little more fully in it. (I had Raphael about midway through Lent last year.) We are called upon to deny ourselves (fasting), pray more, and to give (of our money, time, of ourselves.) It is meant to be a time of repentance, of humility, and drawing near to God believing His promise that He will draw near to us in return. The "mood" of our services is serious and penitent, leading us individually and corporately toward the Cross. 

Last week was very difficult. The kids seemed to be naughtier than usual and I found myself, for all my good intentions, impatient and frazzled. On more than one occasion I dissolved in tears, feeling like I was at the end of my rope. On Friday it finally dawned on me. We have not merely entered a period of time, but a battle. If we are earnestly, although feebly, endeavoring to walk more closely in the footsteps of our Saviour, then we should expect some opposition. I wondered silently to myself "Is it worth it? I think I was nicer to my kids before I entered this struggle."

It's March, and here in Oregon the weather is fickle. I've been enjoying the brave and cheerful faces of daffodils, crocus, and dutch iris popping up in my yard. We've had gloriously sunny days, days where I've pushed my long sleeves up and savored the sun on winter-white arms. We've had torrents of rain and gusts of wind. Right now the sky is blue, sun shines on the trees as their branches sway gently in the breeze; an hour or so ago it was snowing, and by the time I'm done writing this it will likely have changed altogether. In spite of the weather though, I've been itching to get out and work in the yard and garden, dreaming of planting seeds, tending them, and reaping the rewards of that labor a few months from now. Along with the sunshine, the spring rains, and the colorful bulbs, the weeds are already springing forth from the damp soil, eager to stake their claim. There is much to do to prepare the soil if I want to grow good things in this year. Springtime is not a time to be idle, but a time to prepare. 

Lent is also called "a spiritual springtime". It is time to seek God fervently, to struggle hard, to find the weeds, big and small, and by His grace, tear them out by the roots. It is a time to prepare the soil of our hearts to that the Holy Spirit can grow pleasant fruit in our lives. It is a time to turn our hearts toward Him and allow Him to soften us, to warm us, to cultivate His Life in us.  Gardens, left to themselves, do not produce much in the way of good fruit. I, like my children, need to be pruned, weeded, and watered. While this time is not an easy one, I welcome the struggle, for I trust that it will be worthwhile in the end. 

Spring is coming! Resurrection Day is coming too! Let us prepare our hearts to follow Jesus to the cross so that we may be raised together with Him! 

Do you observe Lent? If so, what preparations are you making in your own hearts and lives? I've enjoyed reading about how other families mark this season, and would love more ideas on making it meaningful for our children especially. A blessed Lent to you! 

Knights of the Rectangular Crib

When I was pregnant with Raphael, Peregrine was so excited to have a brother so they could sword fight! Well, Raphael is still a ways off from sword fighting, but who says he can't be dressed up? This is what I found yesterday morning when I went into the boys' room: Sir Lancelot (Peregrine), King Arthur (Raphael), and their baby dragon (Stuffed Iguana). They were all dressed up and ready for a great adventure, in spite of the fact that the King can't leave the crib on his own. King Arthur looks like he's about to say something very intelligent to the Dragon, does he not? 

Compassion

'If he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him' (Luke 17:4). As the searcher of hearts, the Lord knows that men are liable to very frequent trespass, and that, having fallen, they often rise up again; therefore He has given us the commandment to frequently forgive trespasses, and He Himself is the first to fulfill His holy word. As soon as you say from your whole heart, 'I repent,' you will be immediately forgiven.    -St. John of Kronstadt

So many times each day I fall; I speak impatiently to my precious children, get irritated with my loved ones, judge others in my heart, seek selfish pursuits instead of serving my family. The list could go on and on. I'm challenged by this quote on two levels. The first, is to repent, quickly, when I've sinned, and to receive God's grace and forgiveness. This repentance includes asking my children and husband, who are the most frequent recipients of my selfishness, for their forgiveness. I do this often, and am humbled by how quickly they forgive and move on. 

The second aspect is for me to forgive quickly. When the children have disobeyed, or been unkind to each other, or complained, or whatever it is, I need to deal with it quickly and compassionately, and move on. "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy... As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear them." (Psalm 103:8, 13) I've been convicted lately by my lack of compassion for my children. Compassion is defined as "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."   When my children sin, I must confess that most often what I feel is not "deep sympathy". It is more akin to anger, frustration, impatience. They are suffering under the yoke of sin, and as their mama, it is my job to lead them gently to the One who can alleviate this suffering. I expect so much of them, but they are children. They are not miniature adults. And while that doesn't mean I should let them be disobedient, or mean, or rude, I do need to remember that they are young and impulsive and innately selfish. Kind of like their mother (only I'm older and know better.) I need to forgive them quickly, and by God's grace, even if they repeat their folly two minutes later, not throw up my hands in exasperation! 

If God so quickly forgives me all day long, then I need to do the same for my precious children. By His grace, may I learn to know His forgiveness, great mercy, love, and compassion so that these things will spill out of me onto my little ones. I want to become like Him, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. I have a long, long way to go toward this, but, I believe that if I walk in repentance and humility, getting up when I have fallen, He will continue to change me by His grace.

Upwardly Mobile

Yes, he climbed up on this box all by himself... I think I'm in for it!