Happy Birthday

Five months old today!
I'm so glad that you were born...
Hardly a Peanut anymore.
Grampa Charlie calls you "Little Man" and that's what you're already becoming.
I love watching you grow.

Looking Back

Last night I went to the memorial service of someone that I didn't know very well. He went to my church and was a part of the newly marrieds ministry. His name was Brian, and he died in his sleep last weekend at the age of 28.

His wife, his widow, was his high school sweetheart, and she wrote an exceptionally well-crafted statement, a sweet letter of hope and recollection, that was read aloud at the service... I spoke to her very briefly afterwards and was incredibly impressed with her poise and grace throughout it all. She hugged and accepted the condolances of a huge crowd of people after the service and she seemed so strong throughout all of it.

Brian was a man who loved the Lord, and so - appropriately - his memorial service was filled with hope, with worship, and with a clear presentation of the gospel. And despite not having any of my own stories to share, I was moved to tears during several of the testimonies. I left wishing that I had known him better and realizing the enormous ache that his untimely passing will leave in the hearts of so many.

Perhaps the hardest thing for me personally was the realization - once again - of how tenuous life really is. I go about my days and years so casually, it seemed to me as I walked home... What am I doing here? Last night was a sober reminder that God has specific number of days for me to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him with my life. How am I using them? Of all that fills my days, what is really important in the long run? It was really a lot to consider.

His wife said after the service that "support has no expiration date"... She's certainly aware of how hard the next season of her life will be and how she will need to lean on others. I pray that our church community would love her well in the months and years to come. And I pray that I would live my life fully, as Brian did, and that those who remember me would say that I pointed them always to Christ.

Discoveries and Looking Forward

Brooks has just noticed this week that he actually, that's right, has FEET. Wow! And those toes are just the perfect size to fit into his mouth!!! While I haven't actually caught him chewing on them yet, I know it's just a matter of time. I mean, the evidence is everywhere - Eyeing his feet hungrily, Reaching towards them with his mouth wide open, A sock lying innocently on his belly at the end of his nap. It really is funny...

He is also drooling up a storm!! I thought the spit up was constant ... I had no idea. Would someone please turn off the faucet in my baby's head?! It's amazing to me how much liquid can exit one small person. Isn't he going to get dehydrated or something? I'm sure this is just a normal start to the teething stage, but oh my goodness...

The three of us leave for Hilton Head, SC on Saturday and I'm so excited. It will be our first vacation as a little family of three, and I can't wait for the sun and the beach and the pool and the seafood. Unfortunately, Brooks is a little young to tag along on our bikes (a favorite HHI activity) but we'll enjoy everything else, especially the change of pace and the down-time ... It's an incredibly relaxing place for us - we stay at Eric's grandfather's house (Thanks, Grampa H). The last time we were in Hilton Head, our nephew HKW learned how to crawl... perhaps we'll actually catch Brooks trying to eat his feet while we're there.

Family Time

As in "family of origin" time... Brooks and I flew to Nashville for a few days in honor of my dad's birthday. He turns 78 tomorrow. Unfortunately, Eric had to hold down the fort in Chicago, and take a quick business trip today, so we missed sharing the trip with him.

But oh, what fun to show off all of Brooks' new tricks and hang out with my folks and "Aunt Sissy". It's been a great few days... Brooks is in the "golden age of babyhood" right now and I love seeing my parents' faces light up at the sight of their grandchild. Grandpa Charlie calls him "little man" or "big boy" and my mom's baby talk voice just about kills me. Sissy seems to attract spit up only when she's wearing work clothes that require dry cleaning. It's a riot!

Tonight, Brooks sat in his car seat on a chair pulled up to the supper table with us. So cute! As we finished up the meal (steak with blackberry clobber for dessert!), I looked around and thought, this is one of the last times we'll be able to enjoy this kind of leisurely dinner hour... In a few short months, Brooks will be crawling or eating baby food, and meal times will be very different than the relatively peaceful meal we enjoyed tonight. Look out!

This trip, Brooks has slept fairly well, but both nights so far, he's gotten up for a feeding in the wee small hours. After putting him down to sleep, I wandered out to the back porch and enjoyed my grandparents rocking chairs and savored the gentleness of the most relaxing spot on the planet. It was absolutely lovely!

Thank you, family, for a great visit. I love you and I love Nashville - to me, it will always be God's Country.