Father-Son Photo Shoot

Some time ago we were out enjoying the rainy April weather...

Charlie's first bow-staff lesson. I may be prejudice, but it looks like he's got skills to me!

Mother's Day

Sundays in my parents' house were structured, special, full and important. Though each week must have been different the pattern of morning worship, hospitality, meal preparation and enjoyment, choir practice and evening worship is so ingrained in me that any deviation, though I have been away from this pattern for years, still leaves me feeling loss. They were rich days of learning, conviction, joy, friendship, fellowship, remembering and renewing, feasting, and singing.

I am happy to admit for those skeptics out there that Sundays were not perfect days. I remember Sundays of great sorrow, of discord within our family and within the Church, of awkward meals and loneliness. But I believe that the way Dad and Mom "set aside" the Lord's Day and made it holy worked in a beautiful way.

As Charlie and I have built our home and set patterns for our life we have incorporated much of this pattern into our Sabbaths. But our lives are not the same as my parents. Charlie often works on Sundays or so much during the week that we, introverted as we are, need Sunday afternoons for ourselves. Sickness happens and plans fall through and before I know it a month has gone by (or more!) since we have enjoyed a Sunday full of connecting with the people of God.

Why am I writing about this? Well, this passed Sunday came at the end of a long, full week. It also happened to be Mother's Day and we had made plans to spend it with my brothers and sisters-in-law. Our plans fell through and instead Charlie, little Charlie and I enjoyed an afternoon meal on our patio in idyllic weather...

...yet I was disappointed. "Why?" Charlie asked. I don't blame him AT ALL for feeling a little hurt by my reaction. We were, after all, together with the whole afternoon ahead of us to enjoy each other. Wasn't that enough for me? I didn't have an answer for him, and so I have been thinking about it. What on earth is wrong with spending a gorgeous afternoon eating, watching our son enjoy being alive and talking with my husband? The answer is nothing! And yet I yearn for Sundays full of the life of the Church. Her people are my people, and what better time to invest in them than on the day given to us to remember who we are in Christ--a body made of many parts!

So, I recognize this longing in my soul and where it is coming from, and I know that it is good. I also know that God ordained the Sabbath for us, for our spiritual, physical and emotional health. I will not legalistically cling to a pattern, good though it is, and spoil the gifts the Lord gives me when the pattern is broken. I can look back on Mother's Day without guilt or sorrow and thank God for the wonderful day He gave us as a family. Then I can look forward to future Sabbaths with joy and anticipation of the blessings that wait in store for us.

Now tell me you don't wish you had been with us on our patio last Sunday!

After the dirt, ketchup, lemonade, and who knows what else, we thought it prudent to give the little guy a quick wash before his nap.
He didn't seem to mind.

First Hair Cut

It had to be done.
His locks were starting to fall into his eyes and they were anything but even.
We figured the clippers were the best way to get an even cut, though I confess I had to adjust when he emerged a little boy.

I was surprised how cooperative and cheerful he was during the whole procedure; even with a little hair in the eyes...

Dad turned out to be a pro.
I guess all those years of paying attention during his monthly hair cuts paid off.

For those of you who are grossed out by hair not on the head, look away now.
For the rest of you who want to see how much came off him, see below...

Impressive, huh?

A New Habit

This is a view I see very often these days. I know, I know, it's dangerous to let him do it in the first place let alone run off to get the camera while he's perched up there.
But really! How could I resist?

This next picture I'm including to give a bit of a before and after effect. Charlie has officially entered the walking/running world, and the baby chub is falling off him like nobody's business!

Back to the point...

He will often stand up here for 15-20 minutes at a time just looking around. (In fact, he's doing it right now. Don't worry, I'm not far off!)

It's not everyday he sees someone on the front porch!

The neighbors get a kick out of it and he encourages all interaction. This smile was for the benefit of the lady across the street.

But mainly he's very serious about his observations.

Spring Scenes

I bless my husband and all the work he put into our backyard on days like today!
We have a beautiful patio that, as it turns out, is an excellent play-pen with its own source of amusements, educational opportunities and health. It's also one of the few places I can release my conscience long enough to pick up a book and enjoy watching Charlie play.

Megan and I do our best to get the boys out on walks as frequently as possible. This happened to include a picnic.

Just really like this one a lot...

Keeping on keeping on

Last night and this morning I came across some convicting and practical wisdom in a couple books I've been reading. Though it is nothing new, nothing I haven't heard from my own mother, seeing the words on a page and having the luxury of reading and rereading them stirred my heart and exposed to me my habits and motives for what they really are.

"As you deal with your children, deal with yourself always and first. This is what it looks like and feels like to walk with God, as a mother...our children sin against us, annoy us, and mess up our stuff. We want to hold it against them, complain about them (if only to ourselves), and feel put upon by their sin. We have a much harder time accepting that every failure from them is a wonderful opportunity for repentance and growth and not an opportunity for us to exact penance.

It is no abstract thing--the state of your heart is the state of your home. You cannot harbor resentment secretly toward your children and expect their hearts to be submissive and tender. You cannot be greedy with your time and expect them to share their toys. And perhaps most importantly, you cannot resist your opportunities to be corrected by God and expect them to receive correction from you." --Rachel Jankovic (Loving the Little Years)

"He said not, 'Thou shalt not be troubled, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be distressed,' but He said, 'Thou shalt not be overcome.' It is God's will that we take heed these words, that we may be ever mighty in faithful trust to weal and woe." --Lady Julian of Norwich (from Madeleine L'Engle's Two-Part Invention)

Hannah and Ebenezer

Today is the second anniversary of the birth and death of our niece and nephew, Hannah and Ebenezer Moon. It's a gray day, but the flowers are out and things are turning green all around. The incongruity is still so heavy in my heart...death in spring?
Come quickly, Lord! Make it right.

Spring is Here!...dirty toes and all!

Wrapping Up Winter

As with most things in my life this winter, The Innate has suffered from my hibernation tendencies - probably more accurately described as a lack of motivation and general disgruntledness. But as Charlie changes daily I know I have a special obligation to keep his distant family connected with each new stage and development.

So, here are a few final pictures from this winter.

Grammy bought him a Flexible Flyer for his birthday! It was a hit...in the living room. I'm afraid we'll have to wait till next year to really enjoy it in the snow.

Every week Charlie has a friend over to play.

And on Daddy's day off, Mama takes one too!

This February, just shy of his 88th birthday, my husband's grandpa passed away. Though we will miss him, we had many reasons to rejoice with thanksgiving. His passing was peaceful at the end, and he is now experiencing life as we can only imagine. His memorial service was beautiful - a good representation of his hope and a happy remembrance of his life.

In this picture: Pop Pop (wearing his favorite T-shirt - "Family is like a fruitcake: Mostly sweet with a few nuts") and great grandson, Jude Packard


For the occasion little Charlie dressed up in his birthday suit (no pun intended) from Grandma and Grandpa. Despite the pasta sauce on his vest, he looked like a serious participant.

And so the winter has passed with a succession of the profound and superficial.
All important to us.

Memories from Minnesota

The Star of the Show

Judah got a lot of attention...wanted or otherwise.

During this trip Charlie seemed to come into his own as an eater.
Finger food is now the name of the game!

Since their bath together at the cabin was fun for everyone and a great photo-opportunity we thought we'd try it again...

Oh well.

Uncle Josh was a hit! Charlie seems to have a special place in his heart for men.
I'm sure he was also missing his daddy.

What fun it was to be three moms with three babies!

This became a common sight around the house:

...and this:

Charlie's First Birthday

Charlie turned one on February 20th. To celebrate Bryonie and Josh treated us to Ruben sandwiches and cup-cakes from Yum, a local Jewish deli/bakery.
It lived up to its name!

His enthusiasm grew as soon as he got that tasty stuff in his mouth.
Our son is what you might call a Good Eater.

We were also able to skype with mom. First time I'd done that successfully.
Thanks, Josh.

This may be the first time Charlie showed interest in a book. The fire truck, car, tractor and train sounds had nothing to do with it, I'm sure!

Love this one...

Love this one too...

Playing with his birthday gift from Grandma and Grandpa...still working on the excitement factor to gift-opening.

I'll finish up with some cousin favorites: