Never Grow Up

Oh darlin', don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up; stay this little.

Oh darlin', don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up; it can stay this simple.

Caden Playing Basketball

Big Boy Bed

I have to say, with the exception of the first 48 hours, our transition from the crib to the "big boy bed" has gone about as smooth as it could go (although I am not gonna lie; the first 48 hours were tough:) Every once in a while there will be a random day like today; Caden will just not want to nap. He will play and sing and talk but will not nap. This is what I saw when all of the sudden it became quiet in his room:

27 years ago today...

my best friend was born:) In honor of his birthday here are ten things you may not know about Chris:

1. He is the youngest of four children (3boys and a girl...the complete opposite of my family:)

2. His perfect day would involve: sleeping in, playing golf, basketball and being with his family.

3. He is the best dad. ever.

4. He was the first person in his hometown to get an athletic scholarship to a D1 school.

5. He was only the second person his family to get a college degree and the first to get his masters!

6. He likes Eminem and also likes to make up his own raps (we even have our own rap names;)

7. He is a really good painter.

8. He likes to watch Criminal Minds.

9. He makes friends everywhere he goes.

10. He is quick to share the Gospel to people he meets

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WE LOVE YOU:

...and then they do something like that.

I am way behind on blogging (just one of the many things that "go" when you have another baby;) To say this week has been a week of transitions for Caden woul dbe an understatement. Monday, he threw his paci's away. I knew it was coming. He just turned 2 so I figured we would get rid of them soon. He woke up from his nap one day and I said, "Caden, do you want to throw your paci away?" and he said "uh-huh." And really, that was the end of that. Easy enough. Thursday he decided to he was completely done sleeping in his crib (this is for another post). I wish I could say that transition has been as easy as the paci's. i. am. tired.

Still, after a somewhat sleepless night we packed up and headed to church this morning. Caden went to his class and Charlie to the nursery. Their rooms are next door to eachother. and when we picked Caden up they had a sweet story to tell.

Charlie was hungry and got pretty upset (keep in mind Char rarely cries.) Apparently Caden could hear him crying for mhis classroom. So; he went to the door and started saying "Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!" until his teachers took him next door so that he could check on him and tell him that "its okay char." melt. my. heart.

They make me tired. Sometimes frustrated. and then they do something like that. and you forget about everything else.

Esther Letters

My mom is a saint. and those of you who know her I am sure you agree:) When she started a Women's Sunday School class many years ago she wanted to think of a way to encourage the ladies in her class in a way other then just on a Sunday morning...so she began writing letters to them. Real letters. With stamps. That she sent in the mail. These started going out to just the women in her class; probably about 20 people...then 40...then 50--and then once she started emailing them these letters really caught on; and I think more than 200 people get to read these "letters" every week. I don't know why I have never posted them before; but I am going to start; and what better week to start then a week that she is writing about Charlie:)

"Dear friends,

Let me tell you about my grandson…. Don’t worry I don’t have the accordion style picture file to unfold for your review. What I would like to tell you about is how very much our 6-month-old, Charlie enjoys his meals! As his mom pulls out the baby food jar or those little chunks of orange or green “slime” that she has so painstakingly created with fresh fruits and vegetables with the help of a blender, Charlie begins to react. His reaction…. is over the top. He begins to kick both legs, swing both arms, and wail with enthusiasm. We’ve giggled at him a bit noting that he just must not remember from the last meal a few hours ago that, yes, indeed, he would be enjoying that coming meal. It is almost as if he could see it and was so very desperate for it, but just could not believe he was really going to get it. After enjoying the yummy green and/or orange delicacy, he is treated to dessert – a yummy bottle of formula. Reread the above account of the coming food and understand the same reaction accompanies the coming bottle. INTENSE… Clay was shocked this Christmas with an unexpected game system. A week later he has emerged from the basement “game zone”. He has been about as intense about his game as Charlie is about his food.

What I also noticed about Charlie is the relaxation of his body, mind and soul when the bottle reaches his sweet little mouth. It is that “Nestea commercial moment – falling back right into the sparkling pool of water.” Some of you young friends will not remember that commercial – ugh, I am showing my age again. The moment cannot be described with words, suffice to say, it is an “all is right with the world” moment.

So what does this has to do with the New Year and its goals and celebration? We studied this morning, from 2 Timothy chapter 3, Paul’s “passing of the ministry torch” words to his mentee, Timothy. His words included sound advice to Timothy, advice that we can peek right into and grab hold of… “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Paul used these same words in Ephesians 2:10. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Do you hear that, we are created to do good works, prepared for us by God, but the only way we will be equipped to do them is to immerse ourselves in His word… the Bible! I sure want to be available and prepared for anything that God has planned for me, don’t you? Our pastor challenged us back in the in fall to commit 2% of our day in quiet time with God. That equals about 30 minutes. Are you up for it?

I thank my God every time I think of each of you, and my prayer for you for 2011:

May God’s clear guidance lead you into the decisions, joys and challenges that will accompany 2011!

Let’s get prepared!

Susan"