Jon Loran's Birthday Interview

In hopes of continuing this interview every year, I'm posting my birthday interview with Jon Loran at 3 years old. He has so many wonderful qualities. He is a joy to be around, has never met a stranger, wants to know everything going on around him, gets extremely excited about anything you are excited about and anything with the adjective "special" in front of it, and so darn cute (but I'm not biased)! He is so quick and eager to learn anything and everything we are ready to share with him. He is a typical (now) 3 year old in terms of wanting things his own way, independence, and learning how to share with friends ;), but being our first born, we are learning to do the best we can to teach him and walk WITH him through life's journey. Seeing the world through his eyes is making us see our Father and Creator with new eyes as well, and for that and all of the above, we are eternally grateful! We love our 3 year old!

What’s your favorite color? Green

What’s your favorite toy? Truck

What’s your favorite fruit?  Hmm, salad?

What’s your favorite TV show? Lion King, The Wiggles, Mickey’s Clubhouse

What’s your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Sandwich

What’s your favorite outfit? Cowboy (?? He’s never dressed like this before! Ha!)

What’s your favorite game? Puzzles

What’s your favorite snack? Fruit

What’s your favorite animal? Horse

What’s your favorite song? Twinkle, Twinkle

What’s your favorite book? Bunny (?) (I promise, we do read lots of books!)

Who’s your best friend? Madeleine

What’s your favorite cereal? Special K

What’s your favorite thing to do outside? Slide

What’s your favorite drink? Milk & Water

What’s your favorite holiday? Halloween (he had NO idea!)

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My paci and my blankies (Oh please may this interview a year from now NOT have the same answer!)

What’s your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cereal

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chicken

What do you want to be when you grow up? A wife--oops! (He learned this summer about husbands and wives after talking to Jason about our wedding picture. He was told he could have a wife when he grew up, but this information has gotten slightly mixed up! J)

Evelyn's Vintage Fashion Show

Back while I was pregnant with Evelyn, my dear mother sent me a few precious outfits that were worn by myself and my one and only sibling, Delta. It was so special to look at those clothes knowing Evelyn would be the first little girl in our family to wear them since those 30+ years ago! This was the picture I took of them when I received them and vowed to be sure to have Evelyn wear them even if for a fashion photo opp such as this!

I even had packed her hospital bag with one of those precious dresses. This picture was taken at 4 days old when we were leaving the hospital. She was wearing the dress Aunt Delta wore home from the hospital (I think I have that right). 

Now, the rest of the pictures I took tonight, just shy of 10 weeks old. My beautiful little chubby chin girl was almost too big already for some of these outfits (much like her mother was at BIRTH). She also will definitely be too big to actually wear them out when it is warm enough. So, on with the "fashion show" to preserve these precious heirlooms. I also should add I think she liked the fashion show and kept cooing with me when I dressed her. (Delta, I wonder if she'll eventually play fashion show like we did outside under the swing set.)

Sweet, white bubble with pink smocking at the top. 

                          

 

Wrap, tummy shirt with embroidered rattle.  

        

 

Yellow wrap around shirt. 

        

 Pale pink smocked bishop dress. 

      

 

I know this seems so silly, but it is such a blessing to be able to share the smallest memories with a daughter. Thank you, Mom, for handing down these precious pieces of clothing. I love that I can preserve them this way as well and that Evelyn can have these beautiful pieces from both her Mommy and her dear Aunt Delta. I love my family!

Sleepless in Knoxville

I completely expected a lack of sleep having a new baby. However, what I did not expect was having my 2 year old who has been sleeping through the night for a long time (aside from occasional bad nights with sickness) to begin having bad nights. The night I went to the hospital to be monitored and receive extra fluids before delivering Evelyn was the night Jon Loran began waking up...screaming! Not once, not twice, but sometimes 5-6 times a night! It is so pitiful. At first, I wanted to discipline him when I was home from the hospital and he kicked and screamed at me when I went in there. His eyes were open, he was looking at me, but he was not fully awake. Then, I learned about "night terrors". They are brought on with stress and other factors. So, mommy going away to have a baby and having other people come stay with us, and when mommy used to tuck me in and now it is daddy, all have added to his stress.
Now, 7 weeks later, he is still waking up frequently, but it is getting to be less terrorizing and more just habitual but with some fear. We've learned that putting him in our bed is the best answer if we want sleep. Dear Evelyn is learning to sleep for slightly longer stretches at night (4 hours or so), but poor Jon Loran is only going 2 hrs or so if in his own bed. Jason and I have resolved to be a comfort to him through this awful stage and always start him in his bed, but if it is a bad night, we bring him into ours. I always have striven for independent sleepers, but there is something precious about your little one snuggling up next to you. Don't get me wrong, I love my space in my bed and want it back soon. But, there is some sweetness to this harsh sleepless stage.
This blog is dedicated to blessings amidst trials or whatever life circumstances. So...my question has been, "What is God doing in our lives in this trial?" Answer? I don't know yet. We are not promised to know exactly everything He is up to. But, we do know that Romans 8:28 says "All things work together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose." So, it is for my good. It certainly has revealed some middle-of-the-night characteristics about myself I don't particularly love that often, when a lack of sleep takes over carries into my day.
So, maybe Lesson 1 is that I cannot parent on my own strength! I am learning to prayerfully go about my days (and nights) and ask the Lord for His help. Parenting is NOT easy and I knew it as a working mom, and now know it even more as I spend 24/7 with my babies. I am blessed with these babies and blessed with a husband who teams up with me on these crazy nights. But, if we rely on our own strength to be great parents and have great responses to these trials, we are sunk and our kids will reap that harvest (or lack thereof) unfortunately. So, may "His power be made perfect in our weaknesses".

Blessing #1: Evelyn's cozy naptime :). 

Blessing #2: Jon Loran waking up cheerfully from a good nap!

Lord Jesus, bring sweet peace to this home, especially to precious Jon Loran's nights.

We are ONE BODY

 (1 Corinthians 12:21-26 ESV)

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

I have always loved the scriptures that center on the Body of Christ. Knowing that it is not good for man to be alone, and that God has ordained ways for us to have companions by marriage and family, but also relationships in His Church, has always brought me comfort. Throughout my life, I have had the blessed privilege of experiencing service and love from other friends and family who are obediently and joyfully suffering or rejoicing with me. This last month has been no different. I owe many, many thanks to people I am privileged to call friends in the ways they have served our family after Evelyn’s birth with a meal provided for every night. On top of that, they have visited and wanted to help in any way with Jon Loran and my own adjustment to being a mother of 2. The phone calls, visits, help with moving furniture for Evelyn’s room to be set up, and meals have been a testimony of their commitment to serving the Body.

Then, when the gallbladder pain and episodes began, once again, Jason and I both have been humbled by their service. This isn’t just 1 or 2 people. I am learning what a community God has given us here in Knoxville over the last 4 years and what a comfort it is to have these relationships. We are RICH in the Body! One dear friend from church, after finding out about my need to have surgery, went to the grocery store and bought staples of the BRAT diet for my post-surgery needs. How thoughtful! Another amazing friend kept my newborn the day of my surgery on top of caring for her own 3 babes. My own mother drove up from Montgomery to stay with us and care for my family in my absence. I bet she didn’t expect she’d be up in the middle of the night doing newborn feedings again in her life, but she is doing it with joy. On top of these precious gifts, I just had a visit from one of our priests at the Anglican church we attend who came to pray for and bless me and our family during this time.

Bottom line is I am humbled by the way our Lord is wrapping his arms around me through these people in our lives. I pray that I always remember the ways He is providing for us even when times are difficult. The prayers, hugs, food, visits, and random acts of kindness are such obvious ways our Good Shepherd is caring for us. The Body of Christ is a gift. I have need of every one of you and you have need of me. We are one Body! What a beautiful picture of heaven!
Many thanks to those of you who are praying for us and serving us. May our God bless you the way he has used you to bless me! 

A Blessed Baptism

Sunday was our daughter's baptism. Although it seemed like the long-awaited naming of our child was center stage, what I took away from such a special sacrament was that she was named before God and His Church for the first time. It was incredibly special to take part in vowing to do OUR best to guide our daughter in walking with the Lord and teaching her His ways. The church all joins in this vow and that, to me, makes a world of difference now that our firstborn is 2 and I know I can use all of the help I can get! There is so much to a baptism that is incredibly significant that I cannot even grasp, but I am forever grateful for such a special day for our Evelyn Claire. Here are a few special moments captured by a sweet friend:

Presenting Evelyn Claire for baptism

Squirmy JL who was only concerned about the fact that there was a cake in the foyer to eat after the baptism!       

JOY and PEACE

Sweet Evelyn slept through it all.

Nana and Mimi

Finally eating his cake!

Our attempt at a family of 4 picture. 

My mentor, my hero, my mom!

Evelyn Claire Bintz
Baptized January 27, 2013

Peace

As I spend my last precious hours in my hospital stay after having our second child, I thought of what most of us would call the final moments of "peace" and quiet before entering the world of a family of four and a half at home. Peace. I have heard this word so often through church and holidays and even in the news. It is so often thought to be paired with quiet and nothing else going on around us. But, I know it doesn't have to be. What is the peace God speaks of, "My peace I give to you"? John 14:25-27 says, "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." God's peace is not the peace the world speaks of. As I reflect, not as a Bible scholar in any way, I believe that the peace I am experiencing here with my newborn daughter is not because of the quiet, but because of God's gifts. He has given us Himself along with so many other lesser blessings. I know that God has given her to me along with my precious 2 year old son waiting at home. I know that I can have this peace at home despite the frequent need there will be to protect this newborn from an excited toddler and the disciplinary issues that must be addressed with him, the chores that will need to be completed, the healing that still needs to continue on my body after having this baby, etc. Peace will be found in knowing God has given me these blessings and when I embrace them as such, I will know His peace. Most likely, that peace will not come in quiet moments. In fact, I do not want to have to wait for quiet moments to have it since there will not be many. I will need it constantly. My prayer now, as I sit in the quiet, is that I will see His peace amidst the chaos and to-do's. I am entering a new job: Mommy of 2 and Housewife. I am thrilled to welcome this new chapter, but wanting to use this blessing in a way pleasing to the Lord. So, I pray for His peace to be welcomed into our home in the joys and trials that we face.

In other peace-filled reflection, has anyone ever told you how special these days in the hospital are with your newborn? Yes you are in recovery and having some discomfort, but to have so much one-on-one time getting to know your newborn and she getting-to-know you is such an amazing time. I want to always remember the feeling of her eyes briefly staying open long enough to make sure it is that same face looking into hers--her mommy. I want to always remember the feeling of snuggling with a newborn while it snows outside (the first snowfall of our winter). I want to remember the coos and the soft cries as she gets used to the outside world. Life is amazing. Creation is amazing. Our God has created a life and it is unique and on loan to our family. May we care for her in a way that is pleasing to Him.