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and my burden, light.

18 Feb

This is not the first time I’ve come to the blog at the end of the day and found this verse on my mind: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Mt. 11:28-30

After two emotionally challenging days, I need to be reminded. Not just for my own sake, though. There is comfort in knowing that this verse applies for anyone who will embrace it–dear friends, family, and strangers alike.

Come to me. A perfectly simple invitation. Come. Bring yourself. Bring the junk from your day, the mess you’ve made or the mess you’re in. Bring the hurts and the triumphs, the hard stuff, the stuff you can’t handle on your own. Just come.

All you who are weary and burdened. This is an all inclusive gig. No one gets left out here. Are you exhausted of something? Are you weary from the everyday, the routine, the rhythm? Or maybe the non-ordinary, super hard stuff? Can’t get something or someone off your mind or heart? Feel a bent towards righting an injustice or helping a complete stranger? Then this means you.

And I will give you rest. “I will,” Christ promises. Perhaps not eight hours of solid sleep or a king-sized bed, but real, valuable rest. Your spirit will be refreshed. You won’t run out of steam and have to give up. His grace will be sufficient for you. You heart will be well again. You will always have what you need, when you need it.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. Christ will be careful with you. Pursuing Him and leaning on Him will make anything easier–if you’ll let it. He will teach you how to focus on what he has shown you, training you to become more and more like Himself in the process.

And you will find rest for your souls. No, really. This is so important it’s stated twice. No one gets to be the energizer bunny without sufficient rest. When you lean into God, He gives you strength for the next step. And then the next. And the next. You don’t have to know how things will turn out in the end, because God already has you covered. He has written and is writing your story as you sit at your computer/read your phone this very minute.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Pursuing me, following my promptings, resting in my promises for your life, and opening up your hand to me to release your troubles into my care–these are all ways to experience my peace. Ask me for what you need. Share your heartache. Pray over and over again. Praise me in advance for what you’re trusting I will do. Go confidently in the direction I lead you. Leave your burdens with me, at the cross.

I am so thankful tonight for these promises from God, and for friends and family who become the Body of Christ around us when we need to be loved, reassured, prayed for, hugged tightly and encouraged in just the right moment. Things don’t always feel ok, or fair, or comprehensible. And we don’t get to have all of the answers, as much as we may want them. But we do know this: when we are weary or burdened and we ask for help, God will give us rest.

may it be so,

mm

eats, smiles and reads.

12 Feb

Henry really knows how to start the day out on the right foot–with a healthy breakfast and a good book, of course!

And when my morning begins with this smiling face looking back at me, my day is usually off on the right foot, too :)

one lucky mama,

mm

rest.

11 Feb

Taking a little break from the blog this evening in the interest of a very long night’s sleep…

hope you all tuck in well tonight, too :)

mm

scout: an addendum.

7 Feb

So last night, Henry created his top ten list (with a little help) and made it public. Today, he was nearly devastated to realize that he’d neglected to include one very important and must have item–his pal, Scout. Scout joined us on Christmas morning, and his sing-songy, upbeat, familiar personality has become daily entertainment for the whole family. Not only does Scout plug into our computer to add new and dynamic numbers to his impressive repertoire, he also knows Henry’s NAME. This is big time. I wish you could see the look on Henry’s face every time Scout says, “Henry?!” with more of a question in his tone than an exclamation. We joke that Henry will forever introduce himself as “Henry?!” as he grows up, but it’s endearing and adorable and sweet nonetheless. HD can be busy with any other toy in the room, but when Scout gets going, all eyes are on him. We’ve memorized the songs and sing them around the house as if they’ve topped the charts. Best $20 some odd we spent this Christmas season.

Currently, Scout’s favorite animal is a cheetah. His favorite color is green, and his favorite food is “yogurt!” But of course that’s all subject to change. Scout will grow with Henry over the next 2+ years, which we think is pretty neat. And best of all, he’s a puppy. An adorable, green puppy with an irresistible personality and the cutest hiccups and puppy barks a stuffed animal could ever muster.

So there you have it. The top eleven list. Who has a top eleven list? Henry does. Because Scout really is something special. Trust us.

on hank’s behalf :),

mm

henry’s pickle face.

4 Feb

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Gosh, I love him! (And believe it or not, he absolutely loved the pickle:)

don’t know where he gets it from…the face or the love of pickles ;)

mm

friday night wind-down.

3 Feb

Very ready for a less than stressful weekend, we’re admiring outlandishly expensive kitchens and bathrooms from all over the world on HGTV. Nothing like transporting yourself to someone else’s over the top home halfway around the globe. These spaces are amazing! And ridiculous! I’d be lying if I didn’t say it all causes the wanderlust in me to get a little itchy. I don’t need a fancy kitchen, but I’d love to visit some of the locales where they exist. Vacation, anyone?

Jason just hand delivered dessert to the living room and I’m in full blown relaxation mode. Feels so good to just settle in…sleeping baby, sleeping dog, clean house, weekend awaiting. I am one thankful girl.

As a side note, HGTV makes up for the lack of good options on television–at any hour of the day. We don’t watch t.v. much at all anymore, but when we do, we can always count on a good episode of House Hunters, Million Dollar Rooms, and the like to entertain.

admiring a property in positano, italy, and dreaming,

mm

roar!

30 Jan

The kiddo was in rare form tonight, staying up two hours past his bedtime with no sign of wearing out until half an hour ago. When I finally lay him back down in his crib, he screamed his head off for about a minute and a half, then fell promptly asleep. Whew! As such, it’s been a different kind of evening here in the little blue house, and this mama is ready for bed. So as not to leave you without at least a little something for the day, I give you: Henry and his Dino hangin’ out in the nursery. The iPhone camera version. I hope you don’t mind!

hey, mom! check out my sweet ride.

i am henry, hear me roar! (like a dino)

danger? i laugh in the face of danger!

nice dino, dude.

gotta love the kid. i just can’t help it.

mm

throwback.

27 Jan

Just felt like I needed a little blast from the past after watching HD move all over the place tonight. He is getting so big, and his personality is growing right along with the rest of him! I remember these days, but not as well as I’d like to…he was still so scrunchy and sleepy and petite. Warms my mommy heart.

Such a peaceful little bug at ten days old. And peaceful, still.

oh, henry. you sure are something else. (in a good way:),

mm

photo love at the end of a long day.

23 Jan

Technically, they might not be the most amazing photos ever, but I do love grabbing pictures of the bug on my phone these days. It’s just so stinkin’ convenient…and he’s just so stinkin’ lovable. (I say this after a relatively rough afternoon/evening with the little man who, to my chagrin, is avoiding sleep (naps!) at all costs lately.) These snapshots remind me why it’s so important to roll with the punches of parenting, to walk away for a few minutes when I need a deep breath, and to step right back into loving this incredible little person the way he deserves. At almost-nine months old, I know he doesn’t really do things to spite me. He’s just gaining a little more independence and testing the waters (and ripping the bumpers off his crib while he should be sleeping, and…). You know, the stuff that makes you want to tear your hair out a little. But just a little.

So, no more bumpers for the kiddo after today, and unfortunately, a few more bumps on the head in exchange. I don’t think it will take long for him to realize that the bars can hurt a little, and it’s better than the alternative of ribbons ripped off the crib and in his hands while he’s alone. Cheeky little monkey, this one. The ribbons were tied on the outsides, and he still got ‘em off. Ah, well. I’ve ever so quietly removed my mama cap for the evening and am heading to bed to start fresh in the morning. In the meantime, the munchkin. Playin’ and drumin’ and being “SO big!” (with one arm, of course. Two would be asking a lot:)

sleep, here i come!

mm

weekend list.

20 Jan

Since I just ordered my 2012 planner yesterday (realized I can’t live without one after all, even with a smartphone lingering), I’m forgetting more than normal and feeling like I’ve maxed out storage capacity in the organizational compartments of my brain. As there’s a whole host of things I’d like to fit into the weekend, I thought I’d just plod through them here tonight. Then, I’m less likely to forget them, and besides, it’ll gear me up for a fun/busy/productive (maybe)/restful weekend. How can it be all of those things at once? Well, as things get checked off the list, there’s more room for rest. And as I prioritize resting (or relaxing here and there), I’ll be better fueled to find energy for the other things :)

It’s a grand plan. We have a (n almost) 9 month old. We’ll see how this goes:

1) Continue going to bed before midnight. If my fingers fly fast enough, I can make it!

2) Wake up, take care of Henry, enjoy breakfast, drink coffee, work out. (No expectations on the exact order in which all of this takes place.)

3) Vacuum and wash the floors. Snowy boots+driveway salt+Kruger+day-to-day routine=necessary. Plus, it’s too big a job during the week with the peanut in tow.

4) Start (um…) and finish thank you notes from Christmas. We’re not perfect around here. Nope. But we are thankful. Now just to let people know about that…

5) Read a few chapters in my book club book. I keep telling myself I’ll do this while nursing. Then, of course, the book would have to be on the right floor of the house when I decide such things. If I’m up, it’s downstairs, and vice versa. Two copies? The ability to remember everything when going up and down the stairs?

6) Relaxed time with the boys on Saturday night. We can make this happen. Already on the calendar :) Ok, well…on the agenda. The calendar, as I mentioned, is still in need of an update. It’ll happen.

7) On the subject of calendars, write down Henry’s milestone-ish moments in his calendar. Because there’s a whole lot that changes quickly at his age, and because I’m starting to forget what was when. I really don’t want to make it up. In fact, I refuse ;)

8) Something delicious (and perhaps new?) for dinner one of two nights. One of us has to make a grocery store run anyway–may as well pick up something interesting.

9) Church on Sunday morning. Love it. Need it. Gotta have it. Done.

10) Sunday afternoon family nap. We did this last weekend, and besides the whole gang waking up close to dinnertime, it was wonderfully uplifting. Problem solver: set an alarm.

11) Laundry. Perhaps. You know, as other things are taking place. Like playtime with H in his room or a half hour spent galavanting in the snow. Something delightful to get my mind off the laundry.

12) I dunno. Throw in a random something else that I’ve forgotten here, and that will inevitably come up. Mostly because I’m an even numbered person, and an 11 point list would leave me wide-eyed awake in bed tonight. 12 it is.

And that is all. Seem like a lot? Not enough? Just right? Only the weekend can tell. But if I don’t plan (or at least hope), the odds of any number of listed items making their way into the next two days become drastically reduced. Who knows. Maybe tomorrow we’ll scratch the whole thing and make snow forts all weekend. Maybe we’ll take a random adventure somewhere and ask the dog to handle the laundry. Regardless, I like having a list.

a little less cluttered for the exercise,

mm

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