3

3 is a great number! Today Asher is 3! 

Asher David,

Your name suits you to a t!

Asher meaning happy. You make Mommy so happy, not a day goes by when you don't make me smile and laugh out loud. I love how you gallop when you are happy as you make your way to where ever you are headed. I love how you tell story after story and recount in great detail the events of the day or yesterday or 6 months ago. I love your big appetite and how hungry you always are (though you may need to plan on getting a job to pay for extra snacks as we do have a budget - you know). I love how you add "you know" to the end of half of your sentences you know. I love how smart you are - my clever little guy. I love your logic. You are a dangerous little dude as it is hard to say no to those sparkling eyes and dimpled cheeks when you ask in the sweetest voice for the things you desire (but sorry you can't have chocolate in your yogurt with out yogurt - nice try).

David meaning beloved and after your Pops and David of the Bible. You are so loved. Mommy and Daddy love you. Your brothers love you. Your Mimi, Pops, Graddad, Granny and all your Aunts and Uncles love you. Most of all you are loved by Jesus. You are brave and adventurous much like David in the Bible. You have a confidence that you can do things that no kid your age should be doing but you just go out and do it. It reminds me of how David knew and believed that God would defeat that mean 'ole giant Goliath and how he just went out there and fought the battle. I pray that you would grow and place your confidence in Jesus and that you would go out there and fight his battles, knowing the battle is already won!

Happy Birthday Asher!

Happy 1st Birthday Ezra!

Ezra Jordan,

Happy 1^st Birthday my sweet heart of my heart! I love you so much! You are my little tiny present from God.

Mommy and Daddy gave you a big name – a name we pray would draw you close to our God – Ezra Jordan.

Ezra after the Ezra in the Old Testament. Ezra was described as having “the hand of the LORD his God on him,” and one who “had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” My little Ezra my prayer is that you would have the hand of the LORD on you, that you would call the LORD your God, and that you would set your heart to study the Law of the LORD and to do it and teach it. Ezra is Hebrew for help. I pray that you would have the help of the LORD all your days and that in turn you would help others to know the LORD and know the help that is only found in Him.

Jordan after the Jordan River where so many miraculous things have happened, water stopped up so Israelites could cross on dry land, Naaman healed of leprosy and the Baptism of Jesus to name a few. Jordan is Hebrew for flowing down and we thought it fitting to name you “help flowing down” as a reminder to us all that our help comes flowing down from the LORD and we pray that it would continue to flow down into the lives of others.

I will also admit that during my drives to the midwife the last couple of months of pregnancy the song, The River by Jordan Feliz was always on the radio and at first I found it annoying but as I truly listened to the words I fell in love with the song. The song convinced me Jordan was the right name as it was firstly by Jordan and secondly and more importantly about The River – Jesus where our lives are changed.  So I will end my birthday blessing with the lyrics, though it’s better if you just listen to the song:

I know a place
Where we can go
To lay the troubles down eating your soul
I know a place
Where mercy flows
Take the stains make you whiter than snow

Like a tide it is rising up
Deep inside
A current that moves and makes you come alive
Living water
That brings the dead to life

We’re goin down to the river
Down to the river
Down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water
And rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
You will leave changed
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
Never the same

I’ve seen it move
In my own life
Took me from dusty roads into Paradise
All of my dirt
All of my shame
Drowned in the streams that have made me born again

Like a tide it is rising up
Deep inside
A current that moves and makes you come alive
Living water
That brings the dead to life

We’re goin down to the river
Down to the river
Down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water
And rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
You will leave changed
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
Never the same