Eliya Love

Eliya was born November 12, 2006. 

My first child.

What a wonder and joy she has been these last four years!

She is inquisitive, energetic, smart and funny.

She is obedient and outgoing.

I can't imagine life without her.

She is a blessing.

Thank you Jesus for this child.

May I honor You and Scott in raising this precious daughter of God.

Happy Birthday Eliya



October 2010

Here are a few pictures from our fun at Jaemor Farms today. Might try to go back one more time before their fall season is over. Kids had a ton of fun.

Yay for fun in the sun!

We finally made it to Tugalo State Park.  I've been wanting to take the kids since it's been warm out and haven't been able to for one reason or another.  Today was the day though and they loved it.  Well worth a $5 parking pass for the day (although Wednesday's are free so I might try that next time).  They have a great beach area and several picnic areas AND a great playground.  I only wish we had made it there a little earlier, by the time we got cleaned up and home it was 3pm and well past bed time.  No trouble going down for naps though...and I'm on my way there now too.

**by the way, that is Hannah with Simeon in the picture.  She is one of our favorite friends to play with.  Eliya and Simeon adore her and it is so great to have her help, she doesn't mind changing poopy diapers at all! :)

Eliya

Eliya really is a BIG 3 & 1/2 year old.  She is so smart, witty and helpful.  She has a little sass in her too and a strong will that needs more direction.  When she wants to be, she is very motherly to Simeon.  If he cries (if she is not the cause) she runs to his side to hug him or ask him what happened and if he is ok. 

She reminds me that I said I needed gas or to go to the bank.  If I tell her we are going somewhere and we go a different direction, she always notices and asks why I took the wrong turn.  She is slightly obsessed with Spanish and often asks how to say different words.  She doesn't reproduce much but she thinks it's a fun game to ask about words.  She loves to draw and wants to read really bad, but says "I don't know how to yet". 

She has enough understanding of death and God to make profound statements at times.  My Aunt, her Tia, passed away a few weeks ago unexpectedly, Eliya's first response was "cool, she's in heaven" and I told her we were sad because we couldn't see her anymore.  She said, "that's ok, we'll see her again when we die".  Yes, when we die or when Jesus returns, whichever happens first.  She also told me that maybe Tia was singing and playing the guitar in heaven, and Daddy is playing the drums...and Jesus is playing the horn.  Who knows, she might be speaking with accuracy?!

I love how with her tender heart she believes we will see Daddy soon.  I know that a lifetime isn't soon, but child-like perspective is so much closer to reality.  The Bible says life is a vapor and Jesus said I'm returning soon.  I learn a lot from Eliya and I pray that when she's learning from me (all the time) that I accurately demonstrate the ways of the Kingdom and of faith. 

I am so challenged by her directly and indirectly.  I pray for Eliya to have a fiery hunger to run hard after the Lord and to know the love of the Father in an unusually deep and intimate way.  That she would have passion and compassion for people.  I ask the Lord to use her to bring many to Jesus. 

Such an incredible responsibility to be a parent.  I am increasingly realizing that my time with my children is so limited.  I have dreams and desires for who they will become and I know that these are the years that their hearts are impressionable.  They are learning about who God is, not by what I tell them as much as how I demonstrate Him.  I am desperate for His help and I want to honor Him in how I raise these that He has given me.  

after eating blueberries

worship song was on that sings of raising your hands and lifting your voice to Jesus

Simeon

I want to use this page of the "journal" to blog about the kids.  This is for family who might not live near, it's also for me since I seem to forget details.  I can't lose the internet :) and I want to remember these little things about their lives. 

Simeon is SUCH a boy.  In the span of just one week recently, he got his finger stuck under a garage door, ran face first into a stone fireplace, and closed his hand in the hinge side of a door.  Yes, the same boy who put my shirt over his head and ran through the house for the "blind" thrill, until his second stop met his head with the coffee table.  Sticks, dirt and rocks are all irresistable.  He is so sweet much of the time.  He also already likes to irritate his sister intentionally.  If he gets upset from getting hurt or getting in trouble, he wants his sister to comfort him; and she does. 

Life is FAST PACED with these two.  Simeon is getting so big and my heart aches with wanting him to stay little and a baby, but simultaneously being ready to be able to have conversations with him.  My prayer over he and Eliya aren't terribly different, but for Simeon, I ask God to capture his heart at a very young age.  I pray that his spirit and faith would be like his sense of adventure in "running blindly".  I pray that as he gets "big", that he would belive more fully in the things he cannot see and would trust the wisdom of God more than the world and the whisper of the Spirit more than any other influence.  Daily, this is what I ask for Simeon's life. 

Here are a few pictures of his adventures.

Simeon's goose after running into fireplace

Simeon is TWO YEARS OLD!

My little one is now two years old.  It's unbelievable in many ways.  He has 3 teeth coming in at one time and was a little testy early in the day, but come party time he was all fun.  Simeon woke me up this morning by crawling in the bed with me to snuggle.  He still likes to play with my hair when he's sleepy and he loves it when I hum to him.  His vocabulary is increasing, but only I understand most of it unless the context is really clear.  Eliya speaks for him a good amount and of course he wants to do / say anything she does / says.  They really are great little buddies and there is nothing sweeter than seeing their voluntary affection for one another.  Eliya fell down today and he ran to her and gave her a hug. Children are such a blessing from the Lord!

Enjoy a few pictures from his big day!

Gulf Shores

There are many things churning in my mind these days. The kind that have to brew long enough to come out the best strength (coffee analogy ;). I've almost been home for a week, and really want to at least get some pictures of the vacation time up. Simeon was insanely clingy and ended up having an ear infection by the time I got home. He slept great while we were gone, probably partly because of not feeling well. He was great at the beach though, completely content. He did chip his tooth a little diving in the pool. He really has no fear and would give me a..."you'd better be ready to catch me" look, whether or not I really was. Eliya did great and loved playing with her cousins. I'm still hearing about Papi's antics. Raisins become bugs and plain oatmeal porridge when Papi's in charge (video soon to follow). I also keep hearing from Eliya about the big fish that Papi cut with a knife. :)

Here are just a few pictures. My sister in law was much better about capturing some of these great moments. I am using some of her pictures here.

Love vacation, but I also love that I long for home when I'm gone for too long. I am so thankful for the difficult and wonderful places that I am in...the refiner's fire. I love the churning and yearning of the Spirit in me. I'm still processing, praying and leaning into what God is doing in me concerning the last post. I love learning, growing and dying... only to repeat!

Gulf Shores 2009