Saturdays without Daddy

Last Saturday, John and some other guys from FSM and AMS all went to this thing in St. Louis involving new, really cool software. Since Saturday is "not a work day" it was pretty disappointing all around for us, so instead we had "really cool mommy and boys day." We started with a breakfast at IHOP (pancakes, not prayer!) Then we came home and played games, pillow fights, and lunch/rest time. After all that we went to our friend Elise's birthday party where we had punch and cupcakes and played with all our favorite friends. Finally, after the party we came home and our other friends Emily, Faith, and Haven (whose daddy was with ours coincidentally) ate pizza on the living room floor and watched "Cars." What a day of really cool mommy and boy fun! Oh the lives we live. . . .

Just thinking. . .

A dear friend of mine up here in KC is close to having her third child. Benjamin was about this age when I started itching to get pregnant with Samuel. We had a prayer/baby shower for her at the house today and I was struck by several things in my heart. First, and most importantly, I have no itch. To get pregnant that is. It's interesting the way the human heart works, and after my experiences, my growing heart for adoption, and a difficult past year, I am amazingly content in the place the Lord has me. But secondly, we were talking about fears/experiences that we have and how they relate to our children's birth stories. I realized that though I struggle with fear sometimes, I am realizing that the Lord has so graciously given me experiences in life that overwhelm the fears with the truth of the Lord. I know, for example, without a shadow of a doubt that both of my children belong to the Lord. Not in the obligatory-he-made-them kind of way. But a deep down, for real, he saved and healed them before they could cry because he has a purpose for them. Amidst all the suffering and tears that came from those times, I am so grateful to have learned. He has given me a testimony of His goodness that so outweighs the fears, it's all I can focus on. I am in a place of looking for the ways he has rewarded those who seek him, and I see my testimonies as rewards. Many people struggle with the same fears for decades, because they either never happen or it did happen and they couldn't find the Lord in the midst of it. If you have a story, tell it. The Lord longs to hear us share the work of his heart in our lives with those around us. It will forever unite my heart to His. And I can't wait to hear yours. . .

"I will praise you O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders." Psalm 9:1

Samuel's little personality

So, here we are eating dinner casually and we look over and Samuel is having a ball with his green beans. It's amazing to me to see this little one coming into himself a bit. Really developing, all by himself, funny little traits that define him as different from others. Tonight he was excited to not only eat his dinner, but also be using a spoon/fork to do it! What fun!

Fun at the Harrigan House

Okay, so I know. Benjamin has HUGE hands and you're not really supposed to let your 18mos old son eat shaving cream. It will prepare him for all the fights to come (props to Sarah, Greg, and Keith!). Nonetheless, I thought my little ones were quite cute and I thought you might enjoy them too. Sometimes we need a reminder. This week has been nothing short of interesting, but at times all the way crazy and as a mother, we begin to lose track of what's important. (not their cuteness, that is) I have a little one who has found his will (quite strong about quite silly things) and an older one who has forgotten all he ever learned about obeying his parents, following directions, and simple kindness in his demands. Sometimes, I'm not at all sure what I am doing in my mothering, and I am reminded so clearly of our Father in heaven. He is looking on us as His own children. One's whose will is quite strong about quite silly things, and ones who often adamantly "forget" what it means to listen to and obey the heart of the Father (willingly I might point out). I was also reminded that He is truly the Father of my children. He made them the way he did, he is shaping them in their few years thus far. He is faithful to meet them and me as we seek to find him. Be with us Lord, in this simple house, doing this simple thing every day, continuing to look to you.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. . . . Many, o Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you plan for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40: 1, 5

Fun in Fayetteville!

What we love to do at NaeNae and Papa's house. . . .



I am sure that it's really the dogs making that glass so dirty. . . .
Thank you NaeNae and Papa for being so loving and gracious- you are teaching my children the heart of the Father everytime they see you. Thank you

The Tree Incident

We are up and running again, thanks to the techno savvy husband (either that or he's just luckier than me!).



So, here we are, living in the land of boyhood again. Benjamin was climbing a tree at preschool last week (on the way out) and he took his first tumble out of a tree. The tree didn't seem to have or to have caused any major damage, but the bush that he landed on didn't fare so well. Neither did our beloved Canada shirt! It has been one of our favorites (thanks Steinke family!) but now has a gaping hole in the back. I'll let Benjamin tell you the rest of the story. . . .

Techno savy. . . . . or crazy!!!!

Okay, so historically John and I haven't been all that behind in the world of technology but sadly that seems to be changing. We use the desktop that we got when I graduated from college (almost 8 years ago and we know how computers are), John's laptop battery lasts a whopping 5 minutes before having to be plugged- thus defeating the entire purpose of the LAPtop, neither of us have joined the so-called "wonderful and exciting" world of Facebook (much to my sister's dismay!), AND to top it all off, I have been wanting to post some exciting pics of my family from this past weekend and the card reader for the camera card won't work and some child lost the USB adapter thingy. Does it get any more crazy making?

Our friends the Rupps!

Just a shout out to an amazing testimony of the grace of the Lord. It may seem small to those of you who don't understand the workings of a sensitive child, but the story that Kayla has to offer about how the Father cares for our children is beautiful. I always knew that she was an amazing writer, but this is wonderful! Read on my friends. . .

The men in my house. . .

(if you can't hear, Samuel is saying cheese instead of jumping!)
Okay, so today I went to work-out (yes, me) and then to the prayer room. Thanks to our dear friend Andrew, I got to do it all alone! You all know the depth of my love for sweet Samuel, but my guess is that unless you have had one like him, you wouldn't understand the importance of leaving him with someone that HE loves. You see, with my eldest, even if he didn't like the situation at first, he adjusted fairly quickly and enjoyed h imself eventually. Samuel however, most times will not adjust himself quite as quickly and sometimes is still upset when I come back for him. To break a mother's heart. . . this is what I lament over. I want to help him grow into this, help him overcome it, and yet, to leave him is pain on my heart and his. Nonetheless, as I came home this morning, I found him running down the hall (he didn't even stop to say hello to me) and into the living room. The boys had set up a lovely assortment of pillows for just this purpose.

On a side note, I have started reading "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge. A friend of mine up here, mentioned that as I am married to one and am raising two men, it would be a good read. Well, a chapter in and I am convinced. Not that girls are all weak and shallow and should play tea parties in pretty dresses, or that men are looking wanting to be strong and dominating and shoot things. But I am convinced that in the formation of man and woman things were made differently. And that my boys have a innate desire to explore, conquer, and believe they are a part of something bigger than themselves-- even if it's just a pile of pillows these days. I pray they will know that they are a part of a much bigger picture and the God who made them in His image, also made them to be ready to love deeply an d fight mightily for it. Thank you Jesus!


(Wow, that's a big smile!)

The garden? Again??

Okay, so Katrina and I had a feebled attempt at a garden this year. Due to outside circumstances, we couldn't get the garden in until early June. It wouldn't have been devastating had there not been ant number of animals eating everything in sight. At some point we totally lost hope (and lost the battle) and just gave it over to the deer and the groundhog (or something similar). Today however, the troops were revived! Neither of us had ever planted a fall garden, so we thought, before we try anything too dramatic next summer, we better have one last go at it and see how the enemy fares. We have heard on various occassions that both marigolds and human hair will repel deer. So we have planted lettuce and spinach in the midst of a lovely array of flowers and will round up some hair soon enough. We'll see and maybe come next spring, we'll have have a battle plan that's more successful than this years!
p.s. Though this attempt is in the middle of the other garden, if you look closely to the left you can actually see that the deer even ate the LEAVES on the squash and zucchini! AHHHH! :)