1 Month Old...Yesterday!!!!

Asher is now 1 month old as of yesterday! Time is going by way too fast. Where is my little baby going? I mean he was 9lb at birth and 12lb today. I tried to measure him but he wouldn't cooperate so I can't tell you how long he is but he is filling out his 3 month clothing and he is no longer swamped by his diapers. What a sweet little baby his is. I'm in love! Except the witching hour (7:30-9pm) and car rides and when I don't hold him he is a wonderful little guy. Here are some picture of his first month!

Endurance

Sometimes it seems as if all I can do is endure the day. What with changing a million diapers, making meals and cleaning up meals, trying to keep some discipline going (which is extremely hard when your 1 1/2 year old decides to act up while you are breastfeeding the baby), the nightly crying of baby, etc. I could go on but I won't.

On Easter Sunday our church, had a wonderful gathering. After sharing the Lord's Supper we had a time of prayer and we shared various promises God has given us. I've been reading in the Psalms and this one verse has grabbed my attention over and over, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more (Psalm 16:11)." And I feel like this is a promise for me.

But can I confess? I'm not feeling the joy most days. Instead I'm tired. I snap at the kids. I attempt to satisfy myself with distraction. Yet I feel more depleted. Cognitively I know joy is with Jesus but it seems so hard to get into that joy. See the problem is I start to think I have to do something to get the joy. If I read the Bible more, If I prayed more, If I listened to praise and worship more, If I did more, If I stopped snapping at the boys, if I stopped sinning then I could enter into Jesus' presence and I could have that joy.

The only problem is I can't. But that's the point of Jesus right? He can do what we can't.Hang with me. We've been watching the Batman trilogy and in The Dark Knight the Joker has demanded Batman take off his mask and this conversation follows:

"Bruce Wayne: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?  

Alfred Pennyworth: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice."

This is like Jesus. He made the right choice when we can't. Not only did he live a perfect life and fulfill all righteousness he also endured the wrath of God and took our punishment. The Jesus Storybook Bible (have I mentioned I love this Bible?) describes the crucifixion this way:

“The full force of the storm of God’s fierce anger at sin was coming down. On his own Son. Instead of his people. It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy his children whose hearts were filled with sin.”

Thank God I don't have to do anything. Jesus has done it all. Jesus endured the cross so we wouldn't have to. And that is the good news we celebrate on Easter. And it means I can have joy because the sin in my heart has been destroyed and I can enter into the presence of God. This is a promise for me and I will cling to it. I want joy. I want Jesus. I will have ups and downs. I will struggle. I may not feel the joy but it is there and I have it because Jesus is the joy and I have Jesus.

Sorry for being all over the place. I never said I was great at writing. Or explaining what I'm thinking so others can understand...

Also it is extremely difficult to type with one hand...back to chicken pecking because the baby wants to be held...can you believe I made it through high school without being able to type? But then again my best friend typed up my papers for me and edited them...and judging by all the bad grammar you are sure to find you can tell she is no longer doing that for me...

Celebrations!

We had quite the weekend of celebrations - a very full weekend it was - it left me quite tired out.

We started off by attending the Easter Party our community put on. The party started at 9 am and though we attempted to arrive at 9 it was about 9:20 before we got there (it seems that having three children and getting them all dressed and in the car is more difficult 2). Not to worry the egg hunt was scheduled for 9:30 so we were there in plenty of time!

While waiting for the egg hunt:

Asher slept.

Jude and Shiloh rode on the Thomas the Train train. Unfortunately all my pics of them on the train are terrible. Can't see them because they are all shadowed...

At 9:30 the egg hunt for 1-2 year olds began on the playground. After the 1-2 year olds were done there was a hunt for the 3-5 year olds. 

Shiloh picking up the eggs. At first he was confused but he caught on pretty quickly and started gathering up those eggs.

Determined to get those eggs! 

Jude waiting for his turn.

Look at him go!

 Shiloh posing as a model on the playground.

Because there were so many kids in the 3-5 year old group the organizers decided to put more eggs out and have an all ages free for all in order to allow the 3-5's to get more eggs. 

After hunting eggs, playing on the playground and chatting with friends we loaded up the car and went home for lunch. Then it was nap time for the boys. After nap time we got dressed again (the boys don't really wear clothes when they are at home...) and went to Granny's house for a family Easter Celebration and Birthday gathering for Charity.

We hunted eggs. Including the "big" kids! And we got cash in the eggs! I think my Granny, I mean the Easter Bunny Rocks! We read the Easter story to the kids from the Jesus Story Book Bible and I almost cried while reading it. Really if you don't have this bible go buy it. Then we ate fajitas - yummy! After dinner we sang happy birthday to Charity and ate a delicious ice cream cake that Rachel made - OMG sooooooo good!!!!!!!!

Jude and Haylyn hunting eggs. Look at that block. Well done Jude. Look don't judge me in an egg hunt it is every man or woman for themselves and Haylyn had Jeremy coaching her on - which if you know Jeremy I need not say anymore.

Granny and Shiloh hunting!

Grandad pointing them out for Jude. 

Failed attempt at a brother picture. Granny bought these cute shirts for the boys that say "I'm the Big Brother," "I'm the middle brother" and "I'm the little brother." Neither Jude or Shiloh would hold Asher and Shiloh started crying because he wanted to open his eggs.

Candy from the basket.

Surveying the eggs.

Happy Birthday Aunt Charity. 

Bluebonnets and Blue Bell!

Yesterday we ventured out as a family of 5! 

It's a tight squeeze but we got all 3 carseats in! Kids loaded up and only 40 minutes behind our goal for leaving.

We got to Brenham and after nursing Asher we got out and snapped some pictures. It was cold, the kids were whiny and not super cooperative but after an hour the results were several good pictures!

We stopped at Subway for some sandwiches and then we drove to the Blue Bell Creamery. We met up with my friend Jennifer and her two littles Rebecca and Jonah.

Jude and Rebecca riding the cow.

Family picture.

Shiloh riding the cow. Look at that happy smile!

Jennifer and Jonah.

Shiloh with his Blue Bell hat.

Jennifer, Rebecca and Jonah.

Blue Bell truck. We almost missed our tour because of this picture...

Shiloh enjoying his ice cream after the tour.

Jude enjoying his ice cream.

How cute is this baby?

Mommy and Asher.