Home Is Where The Heart Is

Well, on this dreary Fresno afternoon, while the babe naps naked in her crib (don't ask), I've run out of things to do. My mother and I have completed project after project over the past two plus weeks that she's been in our home. (For a more detailed, and humorous, I might add, account of our accomplishments, check out  mom's recent blog post.)

And. I. Am. Bored.

Our projects are complete. I've checked and rechecked (and yes, rechecked again) facebook, twitter, and pinterest. I've consumed my daily limit of cups of coffee (though it's pretty much guaranteed that I'll have yet another before this day actually comes to a close). I'm currently not reading a book that I'm just dying to finish. I guess I could shower.... but that might ruin the chance that I will exercise later today, and who has the time to shower twice in one day?..... Sooo I guess I could exercise.... but who really wants to do that???? I'm sure there's something I could be cleaning...... and I'll just leave it at that.

So here I am, lying in the middle of the sitting room (yes, the sitting room, we are that fancy), where, for the last thirty minutes, I have been browsing through all of our pictures that have been previously saved on our computer. And here is what I've discovered......

February 22, 2011.........

February 24, 2012...........

Amazing, isn't it?!? I think about my life just one year ago, and how much of a difference one year truly makes. Wow.

My family is leaving early in the morning, heading back to Tennessee. And I'm sad. I'm sad that the next time they see Eden, she will be a totally different little human being. Sure, we can skype, call, text, and send pictures and videos. But I know it's not the same. 

I'm so thankful that Eden has been blessed with four of the best grandparents she could ever have. And I'm thankful to her grandparents for their patience, understanding, love, and support, for allowing us to do the work that we believe God has called us to, even if it means that their first and only grandchild is 3,000 miles away. 

I'm also so incredibly thankful to the family we've been adopted into at the Woodward Park Church. Through you, Eden has an abundant amount of loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, and sisters. 

Though we are miles and miles away from "home," we have found yet another home, another family, in you.

The Times They Are A Changin.....

Hello blog, it's been awhile, my friend. I really have been dreading this moment, trying to reconnect with you. I think I've opened my blogger page at least fifteen different times, only to close it once again, defeated.  Creative writing has not been in the forefront of my mind as of late, rather, I've just been trying to make it from one day to the next.  Life has been pretty crazy the last few weeks, and I feel as if things are just now settling in to a slower, more comfortable flow. I say slowER and not slow because the latter just simply does not exist when you live the lives of a youth minister and his family.
Two weeks ago Andy, Eden, and I all travelled to Tennessee for the Freed-Hardeman Lectures. We spent some time in Memphis, Henderson, Acton, and Nashville. We saw many friends, family members, and fellow ministers. Our lives were greatly blessed by this cross country trip, and we are so thankful to the Woodward Park shepherds for allowing this to take place.
Immediately returning from our travels, we hopped right back in the saddle and prepared for my family to come for a three week stay. And so, more travels, more family, and more craziness has ensued. All of which I truly do love! ... so no complaints here (i promise, mom!)... just making excuses for my recent lack of interest in blogging.
I've realized that three weeks is like three months in baby years. Eden has changed significantly and has almost experienced more in the last few weeks than she has in her short little life.  She has had her first taste of solid foods (rice cereal and bananas), she had her first experience interacting with an animal (don't mistake her shocked face for dislike, she really did love your kisses, Woolum), she came down with a fourteen day stomach virus (yes, FOURTEEN DAYS, that's A LOT of diapers, my friend), she learned to roll from tummy to back and is now rolling ALL over the place (a scary thought for mama), she came down with her first cold (yay! more snot sucking!!!), she rode in her stroller facing outward (without the infant carrier), she took her first trip to San Francisco, she graduated to size 3 diapers, and she moved in to her 6 month clothing. All the while her little personality just keeps on growing and evolving. Whew. You know, all of these baby books advise you to be consistent and to keep some sort of a schedule for your infant's sake. Okay that doesn't really make much sense to me because if there's one thing I've learned is that with babies (or maybe it's just mine?) there is not much in the way of consistency. What the books SHOULD say is WARNING: you may think you know your child, but just wait a week, and he/she will be a completely different baby. Parents, you better be able to adapt well to change.
It's weird though, because even with all of the growing and all of the changes, I still feel like the baby I have today is the baby I've had all along. It's not until I see a baby younger than Eden that I realize that she was once a much smaller newborn (and that was just 5 months ago!). I desperately want to treasure each moment with Eden, to years from now remember her when she was young. But I can barely remember what it was like before she rolled over, and that was just last week! To you parents of grown children I know I must sound ridiculous. I mean, the child is only 5 months old. I know I don't really get it just yet. But it's like 5 months ago my life REALLY began, and it's been on warp speed ever since. And I'm scared. I don't want to miss a moment in this beautiful girl's life. I just want to stop time all together. Because I know that one day, she's going to be married, living across the country, with a baby of her own. And THAT is terrifying. (sorry mom).