Happy Fauschnaut Day!

Elizabeth licking her lips to taste what was left of her doughnut we got while making a quick run to the post office/grocery store.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Having heard that this was a good movie, and having seen the previews, I thought that this would be a great intellectual film. At Christmastime, I eagerly set out with my family--sisters and brother and brothers-in-law, and one soon to be sister-in-law to be entertained. I have been unable to fully express my disappointment in words, but this article came close to articulating my feelings, so I thought I'd put a link to it here.

http://www.gospelandculture.org/2009/01/unfortunate-case-benjamin-button/

There's a Party in Heaven!

That's what my mom used to say when one of us or someone we knew got saved. Here's what the Bible says: "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." --Luke 15:10 Also this one comes to mind, "And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." --Matthew 18: 3-4

Friday afternoon my sister Candace called to tell me that my niece Faith, had a loose tooth. She will be 5 in just a few weeks. She is one of my oldest nieces, and the first to coin the name "Uncle 'Siah" for Josiah. We were excited for her but honestly that is something a mom can rejoice in more than an aunt and uncle. Today Candace called again as we were walking in the door from church and told me Faith had some very important news to tell me, and that she wanted to tell me herself. I mentally prepared to be excited over a lost tooth, and understand her shy words perhaps with a new lisp because of a missing tooth. But her words were perfectly clear when she said, "Aunt Rachie, I became a Christian today." A moment later I had to apologize for screaming in her ear, and explain that I was crying because I was so happy for her. Even now my heart is bursting with joy, because my niece whom I prayed for has now become my sister in Christ.

After a moment I asked Faith to put Candace back on, so I could share in her excitment. She explained that Faith had been sick today, and that she had stayed home with her. Together they had "church" and read the story from Acts 26 of Paul recounting his conversion story to King Agrippa. Then Candace told Faith they were going to pray--Candace just had a simple blessing for their day in mind. When Faith bowed her head to pray though, she asked Jesus to forgive her for her sins and come into her heart. When Candace quizzed her to see if she understood what she just did, Faith said that her sins had been forgiven.

I am so thankful that Candace chose to share this special moment with me, the most important desicion that Faith will make in her life. It makes me so thankful for God who so freely and lovingly forgives us for all our sins the small ones and the big ones.

Married to a Techie

When we were dating and first married, Josiah had one of these. It's a PDA--a Visor Edge by Handspring. One time we were horseback riding on a college resident assistant retreat, and he pulled it out just so he could say he'd even used technology on a horse.

He called it his memory or brain or something (but really that's me). The part that used to really bug me was when he pulled it out on Sunday morning in church to read the Bible on it. I think it mostly bugged me because I worried what others might think--because to me it looked like he was working or playing while he should have been paying attention.

A few days ago at church, as I sat in the sound room with Josiah, both he and another lady next to me pulled out their blackberry and iphone, respectively, and looked up the appropriate passage. I giggled a little, because I suppose this is becoming normal--or maybe I'm just used to it because I'm married to a techie.

Learning her ABC's

"If learning your letters is part of your job, meet alphabet Larry and alphabet Bob..." This quote is from one of the few childrens books I've had the privilege of memorizing, Bob and Larry's ABC's by Phil Vischer. We read the Veggie Tales books by Phil Vischer so often in fact, that when looking at books Elizabeth often says, "by Phil Vischer", but thats a side note.) These last couple months we've had the joy of watching her actually recognize some of her letters. On a good day, she can recognize all of the vowels. Here's a picture of her playing with playdough letters from last week.

A New Phase

No, not of the moon. Of parenthood. My dear friend recently welcomed me to the world of advanced climbers, as I bemoaned the fact that Elizabeth could crawl out of her crib. Since then we have transitioned her crib to a "toddler bed", and are again working on sleep habits. She loves this new mobility! The funny thing is that she is already "staying up late to read books". It's getting hard to count the times we've found her in her rocking chair asleep with a book. A couple of days ago I found her like this:

I couldn't resist trying to capture this beautiful moment before carefully picking her up and placing her back in her bed.

Elizabeth is a PA-er

Okay, so this is a really weird thought I had today, and this is also a very Maryland way of saying it! Elizabeth has lived in PA longer than she lived in Maryland!!! Whoa. Try as I might I still feel compelled to tell most everyone I meet that I am from Maryland. This is my home now, but my heart is tied there by "a hundred different strings" (quoted from a Max Lucado kids book I read twice today). In Maryland you are a Marylander. So that is how it came to my mind as I was driving today-she is a PA-er. We moved here when she was 9 months. Now she is two (as she will point out often, while struggling to hold up just the right combination of fingers.) She has lived in Pennsylvania for longer than half her little life (outside the womb). She will not struggle with which football team to cheer for (okay scratch that, between my family and "Aunt Timanda", she will probably be a die hard Redskins fan living in Eagle territory). But, there are so many things that I miss about home, that she will not. This is her home. Everything here will be normal for her. And that's cool. (And yes, I know that technically it's Pennsylvanian, not PA-er).