I've mentioned before how sweet it's been to have down time lately. It's not that there isn't stuff for us to do. We have more house projects than we know what to do with. It's that we are choosing to not do those things most of the time. It's a give-and-take, I realize, as that means I still have tomato red walls everywhere and mildewy caulk in my shower. But, today more than ever, I am reminded of the undeniable value of being with the ones you love.
Here are a few snapshots to prove it, from a picnic in our front yard a few weeks ago:
I was watching the Today Show this morning (yes, I watch some of "Today" on most mornings in front of my children. The truth comes out.) and was really struck by one segment. It was about a story you may have heard before; about two girls who were in a bad accident.... one died, and one was severely injured and in the ICU for weeks. Basically, the girls were mixed up and only after 5 weeks did their families learn the true fate of their respective daughters.
The story in itself is powerful. It is hard to even imagine myself in their shoes... experiencing such a roller-coaster of emotion, joy, and loss. What is remarkable, though, is that these two families have exhibited such true grace and mercy with each other, and an authentic, living-it-out kind of faith.
What I found most touching, though, is the way that Matt Lauer had been affected by these people. This morning's segment was called, "Today Looks Back", in which Matt picked the story that had touched him the most in recent years.
If you know the story, you can skip through the first 6 minutes to the interview. The powerful part, in my opinion, starts at about the 8th minute. Matt Lauer asks a question of the deceased girl's mother and can't help but tell her what an impact she has had on him. His voice breaks as he explains how her story broke his heart. Later he recalls how, in their first interview, he had noted her strength and she had responded by saying, "I am not strong, I am weak. God is strong."
Throughout this interview, it is clear that Matt saw something vividly different about these people and the way that they walked through this tragedy. He has told many people's stories and has seen countless lives affected by deep loss. But these families changed him. In a variety of ways, he asks why and how these people were able to find joy and peace. Their answer? God. It is one of the few stories on national news that I think reflects the true heart of Jesus...
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:1-3)
mommy, sorry for posting a blog without your permission, but i just really wanted to leave you a happy mother’s day treat. because you are like the coolest. seriously, you are the coolest my mom i know. my friend bobby at school, well his mom is nice, but you are way cooler.
to make you smile today, i wanted to thank you for some of the things you do for me. so i asked daddy to video me.
i love you so much, but sometimes i get distracted too. i really wanted to tell you how much i love you, but my mind kept wandering…
and of course, you know me, sometimes i just like to be really silly. so i figured it would make you happy on mother’s day if i played around too
It's only been 4 months since we moved to Greensboro, but it feels like forever. We knew it would be hard to leave, but I don't think I realized the hole that it would create in my life. We're really missing our Knoxville friends... the friends that we could meet at Long's on Saturday morning. Or the ones I could call to go on a morning walk. Or to keep Cooper during my doctor's appointment. Or to come over and watch TV on Thursday nights. Or to invite to our newest super-random party.
These are 3 of those friends (at a going-away party for us in December), who happened to all be pregnant within a month of me. We have all since given birth to baby girls, and one other dear friend is working towards bringing their baby boy (the same age) home from Taiwan! One of the hardest parts about moving is that Annabelle won't get to grow up with those friends.
For me personally, the loss of walking alongside of these girls is pretty huge as well.
Thankfully, I know that these friendships are not lost... only changed. Over Easter weekend, we had what will (I hope) be the first of many gatherings of our Knoxville friends. What a gift to see them all, especially the new little babies!
Sarah & Maggie (born 3/5), Staci & Hadley (born 2/26), Brooke & Blair (born 3/3), me & Annabelle (born 2/8)
The boys were just as eager to show off their little ones. There is just something about daddies and their babies, isn't there?
The four "older" kids had lots of fun too. Especially in their shades. These are some of Cooper's first friends!
Here they are: our best Knoxville friends (minus a few). We were blessed.
Gracious, lovable beauty. That is what Annabelle's name means. This week, while I struggled (struuuuggled) through Cooper's stomach virus, I found her name to be amazingly apt.
She stayed content as we shuffled her between sets of hands all day. She slept through Cooper's hysterical screaming in the middle of the night. She smiled while sitting by herself for the umpteenth time in a day. She was my saving grace.
I was reminded of this when I walked into the room yesterday and saw this:
I had plopped her down on the "Wiggle Worm mat" to help Cooper with something.
She had no one entertaining her, unless you count the hanging doodads.
Nevertheless, there she was- just laying there smiling.
Yeah, she's a keeper. My gracious, lovable beauty.
Cooper noticed my excitement, so he joined in the fun.
"You wike dis toy Annabehw? You wike dis toy?"
(in a high-pitched voice, mimicking his mother)
Then this. A kiss on the forehead. Be still my heart.
