One Year Ago

 

 

I can't believe you are 1 year old already.  Happy Birthday Theodore!

Yesterday and Today

 

Ishtar Gate

We studied the city of Babylon during early April. The Ishtar Gate was part of the city wall of Babylon and was decorated in glazed blue tiles (some of the earliest decorated tiles ever excavated!).  Images of dragons and bulls covered the blue walls.  I thought that the gate was beautiful and wanted to recreate it for our home, but we made some minor adjustments.

 Instead of tiles we used cardboard, construction paper and paints.

We also made lions and the angels from the Ark of the Covenant instead of Babylonian idols.

A fantastic project!  I really loved how it turned out!

6 Things I Love About Being a Pastor's Wife

(1) We live in a parsonage next to church.  It is a fantastic perk of my husband's job.  I love our parsonage.  I loved the last one too, even if it did smell a bit funny.

(2) We are able to spend a lot of time together because my husband works next door.  Despite his crazy evening meeting schedule we eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together everyday. My husband can look out the window of his study and see his children playing in the park. When we need him, he's usually just a few steps away.  How many can boast that luxury?

(3)  My family is loved and cared for in ways that other families in our congregation are not.  Some like to call this "fishbowl living".  I choose to look at it in a different light.  Everyone is watching us, true, but for the most part it is because they love us.

(4)  Three words.  Leftover altar flowers!  Boo-yah!  (and funeral flowers, and treats from Bible Class, and leftovers from church dinners, and Christmas presents, and ladies inviting my daughters over to sew and crochet, and....sometimes the perks are overwhelming!)

(5) Because I'm a pastor's wife I'm sorta required to be in church, participate, and serve others.  I am so thankful for that!  I am such a miserable sinner that if it were not required of me, I'm not sure that I would do any of these things, let alone all three.  Think of it!  The Lord blessed me with a vocation where I continually hear the Word of God and serve his people.  God knows the darkness of my heart and has given me just what I need.  I am blessed.

(6)  I'm a better person because of it.  Being a pastor's wife has forced me to grow, love, and care in ways I would never have. 

Theodore: 8 months

He's confidently sitting, rocking on his knees, getting ready to crawl, and eating all sorts of things from the table.  He was crying last night at dinner and immediately quieted down once we gave him little bits of our hamburgers to pick up and eat himself.

 His favorite toys are the big and noisy kind.  He loves the disposable wipes container and his big brother's trucks.  He likes to make loud "boy noises", grunts and squawks and raspberries.

His siblings love to get in his face.  He rarely minds, and rather enjoys all the attention.  Gus and Theo play a game now that I can easily see morphing into wrestling as they both get bigger.  It is fun watching them interact as brothers.

We think that Theo looks just like a mini-Chris.  Here is a picture of my husband around age 3.  Obviously a bit older than Theo at this point, but I can already see a strong resemblance.

Holy Week Recap

Palm Sunday was nice.  We were still recovering from a few germies the week before.  The kids played at church with their dad (do you like Gus' battle attire for air hockey?). Claire and I went out to run a few errands and find an her an Easter dress!  Mission: successful!

Christopher's 37th birthday was on Tuesday.  We postponed the celebration to Friday after the Tre Ore service.  It was a joyous time together.  We were all tired from a busy and stressful week,  there was a sad funeral Tuesday night, the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday night, Maundy Thursday service on Thursday night, and the three hour service on Friday afternoon.  Homemade sushi and this amazing Bacon Stout Chocolate Cheesecake went down easily!

Theo happily tags along with whatever we are doing.

Our town's annual egg hunt was on Saturday afternoon.  Isabel's found the silver egg!  So exciting! She received a special prize in her age group, a new tea set.

We came home and dyed our Easter eggs.  I have used this dye recipe for the past few years.

Some of us went to the Vigil on Saturday night, some of us stayed home.  We were up early on Sunday to attend the Sunrise Service and help with the Easter breakfast.

Isabel's Birthday