Introducing...

Baby Nora...

Our new little 3 month old friend

who spends Tuesdays and Thursdays at our house. We look forward to our "Nora Days" as we are more quiet, low-key, at-home and cuddly!

Cammie and I have adjusted to having a baby in the house (again) with all her bottles, pacifiers, burp clothes, bouncy seats, diapers!

My days have to look a little more ordered and my rear must be in gear early in the morning to be prepared for longer days with 4 girls!

National Peach Cobbler Day

On Tuesday I heard on the radio that it was National Peach Cobbler Day.

I literally did a Uturn and drove straight to the store to get canned peaches (CA peaches are not as good as GA peaches, even in the summer!) And despite our crazy full day I made time to bake a peach cobbler. Of course no one really like it but me. And I ate almost the whole thing. But it took me back to my roots. Wednesday night church dinners. College BBQs. Summers at the lake. Yum. I thought of my family friend, Mr. Bob who indulges in pound cake for breakfast. I reasoned that he would tell me to eat cobbler for brfast. And I did:)

Is that so?

Well, this morning, we were moving slow.

Daddy gets up before the sun on the sabbath.

But the girls and I move more like snails.

Once we finally mastered the waffle maker and sat down to read from the gospel of John, one of my bright, honest daughters asked a question.

"Momma, do you read the Bible everyday?"

To that I responded, "I would like to."

Then another wonderfully honest child of mine said, "Daddy does! Daddy reads the bible everyday. He reads it like a good book."

Oh, my heart was so glad that these girls have their Daddy.

But it made me realize that the adage is true.

So much of what our kids learn from us is caught, not taught.

So with that I found a bible reading plan with bookmarks.

I hope to not only be a good example to my girls, but to have my heart changed.

Happy Easter!

We are still celebrating Easter around here.

Lots of bunnies, eggs, candy and baskets.

But more than that...we are just starting to celebrate the Easter season.

It took us all of lent to get over ourselves and what we were giving up to remember again the deep love of God through Jesus.

I have loved watching Caroline this Easter as she prepared to take communion.

She is my very thoughtful, planned child.

She really wanted to wait and take her first communion meal on Easter Sunday and make it very meaningful.

So we have been talking about her relationship with Jesus.

She has memorized the Apostles Creed and knows what she believes about God.

When I asked her what Jesus means to her, she looked at me blankly....

Like...Momma?

What kind of question is that?

Jesus loves me.

And I love him.

Period.

Isn't the childlike faith of an eight year old

what we all long for?

That all out pursuit....run...sprint towards the loving arms of Jesus.

We gave Caroline a Bible that belonged to my Mom (with her name on it).

She said, "Look how much she underlined in the middle part of the Bible, she must have really loved reading Psalms!"

Here is a bracelet that Grandma Gigi started for her.

It takes a city to raise a child

I have parenting on my brain.

I have been reading up on the topic as Bart and I are hosting a parenting discussion at church on Saturday.

I just listened to a REALLY encouraging seminar on how it takes a city to raise a child by Tim Keller.

http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=26

Being a parent has been one of the most humbling things I have done in my life.

Hard to believe we have been doing this for almost 9 years.

There are parenting moments when you want to quit. But tonight I had a redemptive moment with my sweet Clair. She was having a hard time listening and obeying. So she lost her privileges and was very angry. When it was time for bed, we were all thanking God for our day. But Clair refused. After we tucked everyone in, I leaned over her bed and rubbed her back. I asked her why she didn't want to pray. She said she was she was too upset.

I said: "Do you know that God loves you no matter what? Just like Mommy and Daddy love you so much?"

Clair: Yes.

Me: "Did you know you could tell God when you are angry or sad or happy?"

Clair: "But what do I say?"

Me:"Baby, you can tell God anything. Sometimes I just said, 'God help me'"

Clair: "Really?"

Me: "Yes, sweetheart, God loves you so much."

Her anger just melted with tears.

Then she said: "Momma, can flip over my pillow? It is wet with tears and snot.":)

Heavenly Day

We did it.

The Garretts were spontaneous!

We had just gotten back in town from our church retreat.

Unpacked. Washed. Showered. Unloaded. Went to church.

When we realized that the girls didn't have school on Monday...

We decided we really wanted to see the snow.

So we did it.

We repacked. Reloaded. Pieced together snow clothes. Borrowed sleds.

And drove towards the snow!

Ahh....we love California.

In one weekend we could be rolling up our jeans to play in the Pacific Ocean.

And a few days later...we could be rolling in the snow of Tahoe!

We had a blast.

Making snowmen, eating snow, squealing as we flew down the hills.

Sweet memories were made.

No photos....just captured in our minds and hearts.

happy birthday EVE Gigi

I have known Bart's Mom (aka Gigi) since the fall of 1994.

Over the 16 years I have been blessed to know her and call her Mom.

I celebrate her this week as she celebrates her birthday.

You know how I told you that my mom was the birthday queen...well I think Judy Garrett might be her match:)

Ever year we make her a calendar full of photos from the year.

She is easy to please!

This year we honor Mom and thank God for her example of love, grace, creativity, service, generosity and hard work.

We love you, Gigi!