On to School...

There are several things I love about this picture. First, they're on the school bus together. The school bus that Kathryn got for her first birthday. Jonathan's first birthday is less than a month away, and Kathryn's third is a month from tomorrow, so this is a full-circle kind of image to me. I love how Kathryn has my watch on and is using my keys to "drive" the bus. I noticed this only after the picture was taken and uploaded. It's funny to me that she likes the real stuff. I love how tan his legs look next to hers, when they both get equal amounts of sunscreen and usually stay in the shade anyway. I love how right here she is leaning way forward, since she has finally learned that Jonathan's first love is hair. I love how, for a minute, they were both happy on the bus together because she didn't lean back and squish him (and get her hair pulled) until later.

The Fall of Man

Jonathan investigates his need for a Savior...

New Places, New Faces...

Lately, I've been brainstorming ways to try to meet neighbors. This is not only because we've lived here a year and have only met a handful of neighbors, but because, in typical Law fashion, we're moving again (gasp!). Only a mile away, mind you, but still -- a new opportunity to meet, love, and serve new people, and I'm determined to do it right this time! We've started by redirecting our evening walks to the new neighborhood in effort to begin our presence there.

Here are some things I've learned over the past year...

-Stay-at-home moms are scarce, but friendly when you do run into them. You're more likely to be running into nannys though, at the park in the daytime.
-People don't really hang out outside anymore. It's rare to see people sitting on a porch, for instance.
-Playgrounds are somewhat popular in the evening, but when we're usually leaving around 7 to get our kids in the tub and into bed, most people are talking about going home for dinner. So it seems we're the old people who eat and go to bed early.
-Evangelical churches in our county are pretty empty, but the Unitarian Church's parking lot is full every Sunday. This explains the wide eyes I sometimes get when people find out I'm a baptist pastor's wife.

With those things in mind, I'm looking for input. How can I reach out to my neighbors? Any suggestions? I'm willing to look odd for the sake of the gospel, but I'd like to seem more friendly than odd.

Jesus Did Not Come to be Served

Yesterday, K-A-T-H-R-Y-N and I got to listen to another of Mike's sermons, this one on Mark 10:32-52, Jesus Did Not Come to Be Served. You can, of course, hear the past ones or see a list of the upcoming ones at our church's temporary site. You can also get info on stuff like service times. If you're ever in the ghetto-thug town we call Arlington, we' love to have you drop on in. Just be prepared to see dudes in brown flip-flops.

A Chant

If you can hear the letters amidst the squeaky shoes (thanks, Mike and Paula! You shouldn't have...really...), you'll notice that Kathryn has learned an important life skill: how to spell her name. She's not Catherine, Katherine, Katharine, etc...but K-A-T-H-R-Y-N!!

Got Milk?

The kids and I had lunch with Aunt Pammie and Aunt Faithie today. Kathryn enjoyed sharing a way-too-big milkshake with Pam. I was hoping all that sugar would make her crash into a lengthy afternoon nap, but instead she just keeps talking about it.

Faithie's phone pic...cuteness!

Sous Chef

Because every mom needs a night off of cooking every now and then...


P.S. Look at those tan legs! Who would have thought one of our babies would have tanning capabilities??

Why Do You Call Me Good?

Mike continued his series yesterday with Mark 10:13-31, Why Do You Call Me Good? I assume you're all caught up by now, but you can hear the most recent sermons and see a list of future ones at our church's temporary website.

As an aside, Kathryn wore 4 ponytails yesterday. A regular party on her head! I have a friend who has 4 daughters, and I got to thinking...their mom has to spend this much time for each girl to have only one ponytail. It would take 16 pretties to pull off a stunt like this on all of her girls!

So, since we only have one daughter, I decided I'd better take lots of pictures of the 4-pony doo. Who knows how long it'll last!

Whisk and All

Faith, of course I took a picture of Jonathan on the way to the library. What kind of mom do you think I am?


P.S. Yes, this is in Arlington, "where the sidewalks are bricked, and the streets are curbed."

You Know Your Parents Might Be Considering Homeschooling if...

You're this excited to find out it's Library Day.

Singing in the Rain

I love my job. I get to stay home and take care of the two cutest kids I know. I get to answer the 2-year-old's (many) questions and teach her about Jesus at the same time. It's great.

Still, I must confess that my job is hard for an introvert at times. When Kathryn was a baby, Mike and I didn't feel the need to "go out" on too many dates. Still, we had nice upstairs neighbors who we did a babysitting swap with, usually after Kathryn was in bed. I remember telling my friend that Mike and I had just as much fun when we were all at home -- we could still have good conversations with one another, play Backgammon (which I usually win), and the like. She said that once Kathryn started to talk, I might perceive the need to get out a little more obviously. Now that Kathryn talks (and listens, mind you), I see what she meant. There are not many things we can say around here without being questioned about them, and there are not many minutes in the day that go by without her talking to me. Don't get me wrong, I love it when she talks to me. My mind just gets a little tired at times.

When I was in college, I used to take showers to get away from roommates, even the roommates I liked. It was an easy way to get time alone, absolutely alone. They probably found it strange that I took a second shower some days, especially since I wasn't the going-to-the-gym type, but I didn't care. While I can't just get in the shower in the middle of the afternoon anymore, I have been known to stay in there too long...to "linger" as Mike says. While lingering is off limits, I have been trying to regain the shower time I do have for good lately, by listening to scripture set to music while I'm in there. Kathryn thinks this is funny, and reminds me to turn the music on when I announce that I'm going to take a shower. She likes to have the music on during her baths now. It's been great to hear her sing along as she learns God's word, and I've enjoyed taking (slightly, non-lingering) longer showers guilt-free...how can I feel guilty if I'm memorizing scripture?

Mark 10-1-12

Yesterday Mike preached on Mark 10:1-12, He Created Them Male and Female, his first sermon on divorce.

And even though I only posted once since the last sermon post, what would a Monday be without the rest of the series?

Introducing Jesus (Mark 1:1-13)
Jesus is King (Mark 1:14-20)
The Authority of Jesus (Mark 1:21-2:12)
Jesus and Conflict (Mark 2:13-3:6)
Who's Jesus to You? (Mark 3:7-35)
Jesus Teaches about the Kingdom (Mark 4:1-34)
Jesus is Lord (Mark 4:35-5:43)
Jesus and the Valley (Mark 6:1-29)
The Compassion of Jesus (Mark 6:30-56)
Jesus and Reality (Mark 7:1-23)
Claiming Jesus (Mark 7:24-37)
Jesus the Shepherd (Mark 8:1-21)
Seeing Jesus (Mark 8:22-9:13)
If You Can? (Mark 9:14-50)

Pondering Jonathan

What gives? I had a baby a year ago, almost. Almost a year ago!! Last year around this time people were telling me how big I was getting and asking when I was due. I had outgrown many of my maternity clothes even though my due date was weeks away. It doesn't seem like that long ago.

So how come all of a sudden he can stand, say words we can understand, and be old enough that we have to take away his pacifier? And be this pensive?

If You Can?

Grace Baptist Church of Arlington constituted yesterday, and we are excited! Join us in praying that Grace Baptist Church of Arlington would clearly and faithfully proclaim the Gospel in Northern VA, and that the Lord would be pleased to bear much fruit from it!

Mike preached another sermon from Mark yesterday, this time from Mark 9:14-50, If You Can?

The rest of the series...
Introducing Jesus (Mark 1:1-13)
Jesus is King (Mark 1:14-20)
The Authority of Jesus (Mark 1:21-2:12)
Jesus and Conflict (Mark 2:13-3:6)
Who's Jesus to You? (Mark 3:7-35)
Jesus Teaches about the Kingdom (Mark 4:1-34)
Jesus is Lord (Mark 4:35-5:43)
Jesus and the Valley (Mark 6:1-29)
The Compassion of Jesus (Mark 6:30-56)
Jesus and Reality (Mark 7:1-23)
Claiming Jesus (Mark 7:24-37)
Jesus the Shepherd (Mark 8:1-21)
Seeing Jesus (Mark 8:22-9:13)

Fetching and Throwing

Our boy loves balls! A typical conversation with him sounds a lot like, "Ball, ball, ball. Dada. Ball, ball. Mama. Dada, Dada. Ball, ball, ball."

Here he is, fetching and throwing his first love...

Call to Me...

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know," Jeremiah 33:3. Kathryn sings this and other Bible verses, and my heart is glad. How good it is to be reminded of truth from God's word...from my 2-year-old!

We've been listening to Seeds Family Worship lately, which I highly recommend, whether or not you have kids. I'm terrible at memorizing scripture, but these songs make it easy. Happy memorizing!