Advent in the bathroom

We have just about finished our downstairs bathroom and I couldn't be happier. When we bought the house Eric said the pink had to go and the curtains had to become full-length. As with most home projects, four years later and we finally get it done. We both knew that we wanted a change but in the grand-scheme of everything it was a functioning bathroom and so it did not take priority. When I finally decided to focus my attention on this project I spent a lot of time on a color-scheme (not many options when you are painting over pink) a design plan and what to do for more storage. All of these decisions and shopping trips took a good four to five months, again, not a big surprise with a home project. Then in just about a week, the paint was up, the curtains were hung, the cabinet arrived and the decorations were added and we have a new bathroom that I love! I finally figured out how all those HGTV shows make it happen in a day or two - all the time and hard work is in the preparation.

This transformation happened during the season of advent. I couldn't help but notice how that was a very fitting time for these changes. Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas, the time when we reflect on our lives and prepare to welcome Christ to our world. Although the preparations are necessary, that is not what brings about joy. Joy is found in the completion of a project, the satisfaction in a job well done. So I find myself reminded to take time to let God prepare me so I am ready for a job well done.

Before:

After:

New Shoes

I recently went out with Alexander to get him some "back to school" sneakers (AKA - running fast shoes). At the beginning of the summer he was wearing a size 7 so we naturally tried on a size 8. They were a bit of a struggle to get on, as most new shoes are, but once they were on seem alright. Until I asked him to walk around a bit and he said they did not feel very good. I checked the toes and indeed it was a bit tight. I found a pair of size 9's and those not only slipped on much better but fit him much better. He went home excited about new shoes and I went home with teary eyes about my boy growing so fast he skipped a shoe size! It is always the little milestones that get me. When we got home he wanted to try them out while playing baseball so I had to snap a quick picture of yet another fun day.

Then as I was having my nice mommy moment he reminded me that he still is a little boy as I looked over and saw him "galloping" away...

Avocado

Good Day for Sport Mode

Summer Sabbath

In years past I have had a summer tradition, the day after school ends I sit down and write my "10 week top 10" list - the 10 things I want to do over the 10 week school break. This list usually includes a home project, some books to read, maybe a travel location and so on. Some years I get all 10 done, recent summers, not as many. As this past school year was coming to a close I began to think about what items I wanted on my top 10, what books had I heard about that I wanted to read, would the pink bathroom finally be transformed, so many options! Then I read the brief article "Keeping Sabbath" by Ryan Chambers Johnson in the June Covenant Companion. In the article Johnson talks about the practice of Sabbath keeping and how it is an important act of faith that has gone by the wayside. He says how this practice is even more important now as our lives get busier and daily tasks and routines demand our time. My first reaction was that it sounded great, a few hours every week to just be still in the presence of God, who wouldn't want that!?! The line that seemed to stick with me was, "God wants us to trust him with the demands of our life...give a portion of the day without an agenda or a to-do list and instead, ask God to use the day as he sees fit."
As a teacher, I use the summer break to do all the things I don't get time to do during the school year due to the time demands of my job. However I decided to use this summer as my Sabbath. I did not create a top 10 list this year, instead I have tried to take advantage of new opportunities that God places before me. When family is in RI I have taken the time to go be with them, when I run into my dad at Target I go shopping with him, I have taken the kids to the library and even ice cream in the middle of the day because Alexander thinks it is a good idea. It has been a struggle for me to not have a big list to cross items off this year. However, books are still being read (see sidebar at left) there is some progress on the bathroom project and I am learning more about myself and my beautiful children than I ever thought this time would provide. God is indeed good.

Couldn't Help It

Seeing as how I just posted about how Alexander is growing up so fast and wanting to do things all by himself I should not be surprised by what happened last week. We were finishing breakfast and he told me he had to go potty. After a few minutes of not hearing anything I asked him if he was alright and he replied "I'm just finishing". I think he is talking about going to the potty, I was wrong. When he does not return a few minutes later I go into the bathroom to see that what he needed to "finish" was looking at the pictures of the cars on the back of the newspaper. I couldn't help but capture the moment on film...

All By Me-Self

We have a three year old in the house and he couldn't be happier. He likes talking about all of the things that he can do now that he is three - jump off the bottom step of the stairs, climb up into his chair by himself, buckle the top of his car seat and of course, add the chocolate chips to the pancake mix on Sunday mornings. It is wonderful to see him explore and assert his independence...most of the time. I must admit that I have my days of remembering - bringing him home from the hospital, watching him roll back and forth on the floor because he refused to crawl and the joy on his face when he figured out how to put his shoes on by himself for the first time. It is wonderful to see life through the eyes of a child, it is good for my spirit and keeps me grounded. I am so proud of the little man that he is but deep inside I want him to stay this way a little bit longer. Good thing I have a whole year before we hit four.

Happy Birthday Alexander!