this mama feels...

thank-full!  what a lovely day on sunday!

• delicious raspberry coffee cake, fresh coffee and a chance to sleep in, all provided lovingly by my honey.  he even got out of bed with the kids at 6...bless him!  
• a fantastic family bike ride along our neighborhood "pathways."  they close down a circuit along the neighborhood streets, allowing bikes to ride freely and enjoy special activities hosted at the area parks.  such a fun fun time!  and, we could not have had better weather.

• we ended the day with burgers on the grill, smores over a fire, and beers with friends.  thanks for celebrating with us mclarry's. 

thank-full indeed!

asher dasher

now, for the asher man.  a dasher he is - in energy level, in dashing good looks, in his transition from one thing to the next.  always dashing.  love that boy of ours!!

 just couldn't resist this last one of my two boys.  they have good times together!!

goosey girl

just thought i would upload some of the adorable pictures casey took of the kids at easter using our friend's GREAT camera.  geesh, what a nice camera can produce!  first up, lucy goose.  she is so undeterred about things, like watering herself in her easter dress.  i love it!

THE conversation with asher

asher (while looking out the kitchen window): mommy, does God and Jesus live inside of our house?

me: yea, they do. and, even more than that, they live inside of us. when jesus died on the cross, he died to save us from our sins. you know how we are kind of dark and ugly inside? well, when we believe that jesus died on the cross and ask him to help us make good choices, Jesus' spirit comes to live in our hearts and our souls and our minds, and he helps us make good choices.

asher: well, i believe.

me: what do you believe asher?

asher: i believe that jesus died on the cross for me and lives inside of me.

me: and that he can help you make good choices?

asher (still looking out the window): yea, i believe that.

me (crying into the rice and beans i am making for dinner): that makes me so happy, buddy. i am so glad you believe that.

so, just like that. the faith of a little child showing up in my kitchen. oh jesus, grab the heart of my little guy. may the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart praise you, LORD! may we model how to do that!

amen. let it be!

and, GO!

oh sweet lucy goose! there are so many things i love about you. i love the way you crawl into a room, instantly waving and saying "hiiiiii." i love your need for nearness - how you exhibit that by crawling into our laps EVERY time we sit on the floor, or the way you reach up, hands clasping, asking for a snuggle. and, i love the way you set your mind to something, and then do it.

like today. you decide to start walking, just like that. you took a step. and then you took three. then six. and off you went. we are so proud of you, goosey girl. what a delight you are to have in our family.

progress

it's true, lucy has not been a fast mover. she much prefers words. words like:
hi
bye
bubbles (bubu)
ball (ba)
night night (ni ni)
no (although it is not my favorite when she says it, man, is it funny. it seems like it takes her whole face to make it happen.)
mama
dada
brother (baba)
duck (du)
please (pleeeee)
eat (eeee)
rock-a-bye (baba ba)
uh ooohhh
peeeeeeek

her little voice is just so sweet, i cannot wait for sentences to pour from her lips (of which i am sure they will).

well yesterday, we made progress. all of a sudden, this is what we witnessed:



big girl, lucy!!

lucille

yesterday, you turned 1. i woke up yesterday remembering a year ago, the beautiful way you entered the world, remembering just how thrilled we were to welcome you into our family and our lives.