Church is Good

I have had a lot on my mind lately.

Going to TX. Staying in TX longer. Will Chris finish his phd before coming down to TX to pick us up? Before starting work? Will our house sell? When? When will we go to find housing? If the house doesn't sell will the kids and I stay in IN? And do the single parenting thing again? For how long? If the house doesn't sell soon will we rent it? Leave it on the market empty?

I didn't realize what a burden all these thoughts running, constantly running, through my head were to me till today. Maybe because they have been with me so long, like an old but difficult friend. ("You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for you nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.") Or maybe they have finally just worn me down with the daily struggle to focus on the confidence I have felt for the last year that everything will work out (mostly a 'this too shall pass' kind of work out, not necessarily 'easy-peasy, pudding and pie' work out) and not the worry and doubt that surrounds the hows and whens.

I was in church with my dad and as so often is the case for me, the words of a song struck me, creating a yearning inside me that I hadn't realized was there.

In solemn faith of prayer
Cast upon me all thy care,

And my Spirit's grace shall be
Like a fountain unto thee.

Oh, how I wanted that fountain!!

Be obedient, I implore,
Prayerful, watchful, evermore,

And be constant unto me,
That thy Savior I may be.

Reverently and Meekly Now, hymn #185

I want it? Here's how I get it! Access to the Spirit and the Savior come when I put myself in the right places and provide the opportunities needed-like church or kneeling at my bedside.

So. Church is good.

Week Two in TX

These two cuties made the trek and visited us this weekend. My sister Elise and her baby, Max (famous for his social smile).
Or maybe his ability to 'bust a gut' with just a little entertainment!

We enjoyed a morning at the pool. Sage slept through most of it again.

The boys tried out some new sunglasses.

I am pretty much opposed to such things for my children-they tend to break them. But the sun is pretty intense and constant here.

The first time we went to the pool, Ian tried to walk with his hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun. He didn't fall into the pool but about half way across the patio area he stopped, turned his back to the sun, started crying and calling out 'mama' like I had abandoned him.

So far, so good with the glasses. But it has only been a few days:)

The boys mostly behaved through a trip to Walmart and earned a treat. Nice cookie, good cookie. Cookie won.

We took an early morning trip to the duck pond to feed the ducks.

We also saw some brave turtles,

Made some friends (with some pretty amazing ears!)

And unique flowers.
So it was a pretty good week and weekend.

The only real low note was when we definitively decided that Chris wasn't coming down till August 14th instead of July 31st.

Stay tuned. I'm sure there will be more to come!

BFFs

Or future sister-in-laws-I'll be thrilled with either!

Sage and Alice, born three weeks apart.

The Highlights and Lowlights

So time for some catch up.

Things I have learned, noticed, or enjoyed since leaving IN last Friday:

-Saw 3 vans just like mine on the drive down-about 3 less than I usually see while driving around my own town. Huh.

-Saw 1 license plate each for Nebraska, Florida, Arizona, and Minnesota on the way down.

-A suite with a door to the bedroom is worth every penny. (And no, not for hanky-panky reasons-Hello, infant who eat in the night!)

-Fell in love all over again. With the portable DVD player.

-Found out TX has new license plates.

-Wall-E is still not my favorite movie. Even after 3 more times in two days.

-TX is really hot.

-Noah is great at encouraging Ian to do some things, like swimming in the pool, that he might otherwise decline to do.

-Sage's hair seems to have taken on a slightly auburn cast.

-The Dallas Farmer's market lets you taste yummy food before you decide to buy something.

-My mama is a freakin' speed demon-twenty over the speed limit, not a problem! (All those years riding with my dad have apparently rubbed off.)

-Since losing some of her newborn hair on top it could be said that Sage needs a toupee to balance out her mullet hair in the back.

-Sage has found her smile and is just so darn CUTE!!

-Mom works for the 'ribbon lady' (owner of The Ribbon Spot, an online ribbon store) and it is totally cool to see all that amazing ribbon!

-Noah and Ian can keep each other up really, really late at night.


-Last night Sage ate at 9 pm, 2:30 am, and 7 am-only one more feeding to drop...

-Parents and nannies at the pool together seems like overkill to me but then, maybe you can never be to careful?


There may be more but I will keep you posted:)

Happy 4th of July

My Dream

You might remember me mentioning a dream I had back in March while I was pregnant.

It was after having this dream that I really started to think that I might be having a girl and that I might be ok with having a girl. I was still scared, mind you, but also a little excited by the idea.

So, here is my dream, for my own records. And maybe your curiosity?

In the manner of dreams, there was no real beginning or ending and I don't think there was really even a setting or background. It was simple and short.

I saw a little baby girl. She looked at me and I looked at her. It was just us at first. Then Noah, Ian and Chris were there around us. This baby and I had a short, telepathic conversation. She went around the circle and looked at each of us, calling us by name. Noah. Ian. Daddy. Mommy.

And then she looked at me and I looked at her. I waited patiently, but after a moment I mentally raised my eyebrow and inquired who she was.

"Sage" she told me.

And that was it. But I knew when I woke up, if it was a girl, what her name would be.

Blessing Sage

Today was Sage's blessing day.

It was the first time all year (1:00 church is probably the worst possible time for us) that we have taken both boys to sacrament meeting and skipped naps. It was not what I would call a raging success.

But Sage was beautiful and sweet.

And quiet for the first minute or so of her blessing. And then her pacifier fell out. Why didn't we think to assign someone to paci duty? The blessing ended soon after.

I didn't get to hear much of it because Noah was talking to me the whole time.

But Sage was beautiful and sweet.

PS Chris recorded it so I can listen to it whenever I want.

PPS Sage's stats since birth:

born (5/27): 7 lbs, 19 in
left hospital (5/29): 6 lbs 10 oz
first doctor's appt. (6/1): 6 lbs 7 oz
Weight check (6/7): 7 lbs 2oz
1 month check (6/28): 8 lbs 12 oz, 20 5/8 in (all in the 50%)