Fun with our friend Anna Grace

Well, we have made the trek and are spending the weekend in beautiful Shreveport, LA. What fun! We love it here because our friends the Chaney's are here, and every time we get together, Benjamin and Anna Grace have all the fun. Of course Zeke and Samuel are coming into their fun, but haven't yet made it to the levels of their older siblings. We got here last night, just in time to have some wonderful Jack Chaney burgers. And this morning arrived with a concert by Miss Patty Cake, an Easter egg hunt, lunch and play at Chick-Fil-A, a birthday party at a gymnastic place, followed by cake and ice cream, and finally fun times at home. I'm not sure it gets any better when you're three. Thank you Lord for fun times with the Chaneys.

By the way, we (both families) got sick again before getting together, but as we speak, all are well and happy. The Lord is good and he is the healer. Thank you!

We are mobile!

Well, for better or worse, we are a house full of people who walk to two feet. As we have been saying for almost a week, he just had to figure out that it was quicker. Yesterday when I was at the bank, he walked from a table to me and I think all the sudden it clicked that he didn't have to sit down and stand back up again. It was easier to just stay up. Isn't Benjamin the best big brother? He loves to help Samuel walk and rejoices just as loudly when he does it. Thank you Lord for these two you have given us for the time. May we parent them in your wisdom and your love.

Happy Birthday Samuel!

Well, though the day is actually tomorrow, we had a fantastic birthday party this past weekend. It was the first day since last fall that it was warm enough to be outside for extended times. What fun! We had lunch on the back porch, all the kids played, we had cake, opened a few presents, and then blew bubbles. What more could one want?

Thank you Lord for this precious life. You brought him forth and you have predestined him for great things. We only hope to be a part of what you are already doing!

P.S. Thanks NaeNae for the great pictures!

GiGi comes for a visit!

We went to Arkansas last weekend and brought my grandmother home with us! GiGi, as we call her now, came to stay for a week, and we laughed, played, shopped, made curtains, cooked, cleaned, and generally had a wonderful time. Nonetheless, here was the highlight (besides Samuel's birthday, which will be coming up soon for you to see). Enjoy! And thank you Lord for families-- :)

To eat or not to eat. . .

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems the breastfeeding adventure is over for the Harrigan family. Tonight, after a few tears, Samuel had his last experience. As sad as Iam, I can rest assured that he is getting everything he needs from the food he is eating. He's not getting any nutrition from me, as I tend to quit making very much milk by now. Samuel lasted longer than his brother, but either way, it was time. As I was sitting in his room, holding him in the rocking chair, admittedly crying for times lostm my heart began to pray. I was ever so grateful for the Lord's direction and plans over our lives. I was moved by his protection and his healing touch on Samuel. I was touched by the simple fact that he loves Samuel even more that I ever could. The he made him and formed him, and that the Lord will always take better care of him that I can. I don't know how that works, but since I trust the heart of the Father, I can trust my child to him. Thank you Lord for your goodness, even when it doesn't seem obvious. You held my/your child in your hands and you healed him. Thank you-

Gardening anyone?

Well, tonight is the night. I sat down with our neighbor Katrina (the gardener) and ordered and planned the spring and summer gardens. What fun! Though it is still very cold it was exciting to talk about it. We ordered all kinds of fun stuff, blueberries and raspberries, beans and squash, and pumpkins and corn. I am ready to plant! Mind you, we haven't even tilled the yard yet, nor have we run a water line up there. Either way, we are ready to go. We hope to see you all! I have also gotten to thinking about how the world will be after Jesus comes back. It says in the Word that the earth will be completely restored and we will eat foods that have not been touched by the curse. What will that taste like? When Jesus created food (untouched by the curse) and fed the five thousand, it says they were "satisfied." What did it taste like? Well, my garden will be fun, but nothing like Jesus'. I can't wait!

My worship leader. . .

So, I am sure that you have heard the mother's version of Benjamin's name. Well, in case I haven't told you, way back when, before we even wanted to get pregnant, I was doing a bible study in Deuteronomy 33. The Lord spoke very clearly that "my first chidl would be named Benjamin, because he would know my love." Well, when we did get pregnant, I told John about this and, fortunately he trusted me enough to have very little say in our son's name. Nonetheless, the longer I am around worshippers I am convinced that true worshippers know the heart of the Father. If not, they have nothing to sing about. For we can know all kinds of other things about the Lord, but if we don't know his heart then we don't know him. All that to say, when Benjamin sings, my heart melts. When he plays drums, I can hear his rhythm (though still learning). And when I saw this the John filmed, my heart when straight to the word of the Lord.

"About Benjamin he (Moses) said, "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."" Deut. 33:12

This one's for you Anna Grace. . .and all your songs. :)

What fun can a young one have?

In the last several days, I have found Samuel having all the fun in the world. One would think that I am nearing negligence in my parenting skills, but I can assure you there was never any danger involved! :) Oh well, I was once concerned that the second child would not get photographed as often as the first, this has also proved an unnecessary fear. Sweet Samuel is just as archived as his older brother, and possibly more, since he seems to get into more. In the first picture, he is feeding the dog Hope some lunch, this was at my mom and dad's house. In the second, he has found Benjamin's little valentine stamper that he got at school and proceeded to suck all the ink from it. In the third one he has found a sucker from the previously mentioned preschool valentine party, and paper and all, is loving it! In the bottom one, he was about finished with dinner, getting nearly upset and running his fingers through his hair (daddy helped a little with the final look). What fun we are having in the Harrigan home on the cold winter days! -- Oh spring, where are you???

Well, here's to knowing more. . . .

I have been in bible study fellowship for quite a few years now. I started going with my dear friends in Fayetteville, MeMe and Blair. We had a joyous time "singing" the hymns and learning the Word together. To listen to an annointed speaker weekly will definitely change your life. For me, that first year of BSF, learning the life of Moses, was monumental. It was the first study that I had ever done where I had been motivated to do my weekly work at home, so that I could participate in the conversation on Tuesday nights. For those of you who aren't familiar, you can't talk at BSF unless you have done your work. Well, I will move all kinds of mountains to keep the right to talk. I sure don't like to stay quiet. Nonetheless, the Lord spoke to me over and over that year. When we moved to Kentucky, I met my near and dear friend, Candace at BSF. Though our husbands were at Asbury, left to their own means we are convinced that they never would have met! Our teaching leader wasn't nearly as exciting and motivating as the first one I had heard, I was connected enough to work my way through 2 more years. Then we had to take a break to deal with a new baby and a crazy working mommy. After moving here to KC, I quickly realized that BSF had become a lifeline of sorts, a way to meet other women, an indepth study in the word, and a vessel through which the Lord would speak in my life. I never would have expected it! All that to say, it snowed last night (again) and we didn't get to go this morning. The old ladies who are just as committed as I have become wouldn't miss it either, and we don't want everyone driving in the snow. What's even more difficult is explaining to Benjamin why we can't go. If mommy and daddy are safe in the snow, isn't everyone else? Oh well, Matthew can wait until next week, though I'm not sure I can.

Matthew 13:12-- "Whoever has will be given more and he will have an abundance,"

Lord, give me more of your heart, more understanding into what it is you want to tell the world! Give me devine opportunities to share it!

My wonderful husband-

I have a wonderful husband, and I am ever grateful for his wonderful ability to fix just about anything that we own, from the toy that the children are crying over, to the drawer thingy under the kitchen sink. You see, everytime I opened the drawer thingy, it falls all the way open and inevitably that sos pad hits my youngest directly on the forehead. SO, the time came. After longer than expected, this is what he came up with. Though you can't tell, it is attached with two pieces of bent metal that had been swiped from another project. The thing is, I give my husband such a hard time for taking so long to fix it, and yet I am so grateful that he did. I think it's totally amazing how evident it becomes to me that the Lord paired John and I together in a very particular and special way. We didn't get it at first, but He knows. He is faithful and true, and we can rest securely in His arms, if only we could remember it more often. Thank you dear husband for reminding me of the Father's heart. . . . and for fixing the under-the-sink drawer thingy. :)

p.s. The pictures are for you Daniel Rupp, I thought you would appreciate them the most!