Lucy Grace - 5 1/2 Months old!!

In some ways it seems that she has been here for years and in other ways I can't believe we're coming up on 6 months...that is half of a year! Yikes!! She continues to be such a sweet joy. She has the most content and laid back personality. She is just precious. She is eating great (LOVES solid foods), sleeping well (napping great in the day...not sleeping through the night yet...come on Lu!), playing with toys and engaging with us, babbling, and more. We are so thankful for her and can't wait to keep getting to know her more and more as the days and weeks go by. I thought about taking a picture of her in every dress that she owns/wears. That may be a post this summer. I LOVE dresses for her. We have so many hand me downs, that she has an over abundance of precious dresses. That has certainly been fun for me! Here are some pictures. If by some, I mean a lot :)

Fun in the exersaucer!



Sweetness!



Daddy made Lucy into a mighty fortress...she loved it! Might be the best way to keep her safe!



Watching some TV with the boys



Enjoying her ball.

Not to be forgotten...

I am about to post A LOT of pictures of Lucy for her 5 1/2 month post. I realized the other day that I generally take only pictures of Lucy these days. If you are not Lucy and you are in a picture, it is because you are in a picture WITH Lucy. The other day I snapped a few of the boys. The main reason that I don't have many pictures of the boys right now or Matt and I for that matter is that it's been a very rough season for the boys...and for us in response to the boys. LOTS of rebelling and craziness and anger and yuck has been residing with us the last few months (or more!). The bad news is, it's still here. The good new is that God is at work! He is taking away their yuck and ours, and He is making His Gospel very real and near and needed for ALL OF US!! We know more today than we did yesterday that we are sinners who need a savior and who have just that in Jesus. The good news is all that more "good" when you see how bad things are in your heart and your kids hearts.

Looking ahead

This week in our Wellspring Bible Study, we are looking at Psalm 145 and we are reflecting on how we have seen God at work this last year - how He has been faithful to us. The things that came to mind were bedrest (was that really this year?!) and day to day parenting. I couldn't help but look ahead as well as I was reflecting. I am at a point with thinking about homeschooling Owen for Kindergarten where I feel a bit overwhelmed with the responsibility of it all. God has been so good to bring me much joy and excitement and peace about it and lots of great ideas and plans are already in the making, but it's a big responsibility! This Psalm was a great reminder of my central task next year - to exalt the name of the Lord before my kindergartener and to trust God to be trustworthy and faithful and near. So as I plan out our math and phonics and reading and writing, and as we consider what sports or other activities he'll be involved in, and what school things I'll prepare for Baxter as well, and what ways to best love our sweet little Lucy, it is SO helpful to remember that I am to be in the word and to be remembering who God is and that I have the privilege of commending those things to our kids as we learn together at home. That is so life-giving to me, and I know it's what they need more than anything else!

I think that I will need to revisit this Psalm very often - maybe even post it on the wall of our school room. God is good to speak to us through His word!

Psalm 145:2-7

"Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness."

Just some sweetness...