According to Abe: Thirty and Growing

Me: (Tucking my boy into bed.)

Abe: "Momma, I like your birthday even though it doesn't have a party!" 

Me: "Thanks, baby. Me too."

Abe: Momma, how old are you again?" 

Me: "30." 

Abe: "And how old were you yesterday?" 

Me: "29." 

Abe: "Oh." 

(contemplative pause) 

Abe: "Momma can you stand up?" 

Me: "Sure darlin. But why?" 

Abe: "Because I wanna see you." 

(longer contemplative pause) 

Abe: "Momma?" 

Me: "Yes Abe?"

Abe: "Thirty sure looks taller!"

 

Our Gracie Girl, Five Months Old

This month found our girl jet setting to Denver for a weekend of girl time. This past Friday, my sis, grandma, Grace, and I headed north to visit my mom, as well as her side of the family.

We ate, we chatted, we shopped, we ate Rock Bottom mac'n'cheese and we stayed up waaayyyyy too late and got up waaayyyy too early. And my Dolly did just fabulous. With the exception of a little fussin' she mostly tolerated our need for Centerra and incessant stops, including a marathon trip to Home Goods.

The airport travel was almost effortless and our sweets slept through both the flights. Fifty five minutes ain't no thing, but it's still a bit hard to do airport security during naptimes. So needless to say I was relieved when she stayed crashed in the Moby and I got to enjoy my peanuts and Ginger Ale in peace. {As a side note, does anyone else drink Ginger Ale only when they fly?!}

As the highlight to the weekend, Grace finally got some one on one time with MY Grammy, her Great-Grammy, or GG. Words do no justice for how I felt getting to see these two get to know one another, so I'll just let the pictures do the talking...

Our girl also got to meet her third cousin, Deb, and catch up on on all things peacock ; ) {That's for YOU Deb!}

In other news, our girl is still being inundated with kisses, has rolls that would shame a Shar-Pei, fusses if everyone suddenly leaves the room, and insists on standing if you hold her. She's yet to try any solids and although she loves the bottle, she's not too fond of water. 

She can do the gut-sit, as in her belly allows her to remain semi-upright even thought the balance has yet to come, is rolling all over the place, pulls hair, earrings, or whatever she can get her mitts on {including momma's coffee a couple of times.}and has found a new interest with the Johnny Jumper-that is IF we can get her brothers out of it!

Her eyes speak volumes. They are blue, and green, and brown and I really have no idea where they will eventually land. They are bright and shiny and BIG as day. And they tell you exactly what she is thinking. We often say that they look like thy cloud up and rain when she's upset and they smile even before her lips part.

I think she looks like her daddy and her Uncle Shaan but she is needy like her momma and laughs like her brother A.B.. She loves attention and being held and she really loves when I fall back asleep after the 4:30 nursing session and she gets to camp out. And yes she is back to waking in the night. Oh but to see her on her side, mouth open, quietly snoring and sprawled out. No better way to wake up.

Her pink jammies have her scent and her eyelashes bat so prettily and that crease in her neck. OH THAT CREASE. She has become part of our family so seamlessly and we are just smitten with our girl. 

She's our Gracie-Girl and she's five months old.

Rest

Ten months have passed and I still shake my head in wonder that we live here. My morning stumble to the kitchen boasts views of Pinon's and Juniper's and sun rising east on a flat horizon. Mountains rise west and walks bring critters and nary a neighbor passes by. 

 On Saturday, we chop wood right out our back door. Boys call out and the echos carry. We laugh at the open and we wonder how in the world the Lord brought us to this place in the mountains that seemed last year to be just a vapor of a thought.

 We're still learning slowly how it is. Where post men don't go door to door and neighbors only raise a finger as your cars pass ways, where snow piles high, and smoke stacks rise from every roof, and where you never, ever, ever run a quick errand.

 And we talk about chickens and fruit trees and what the Lord just might bring with this house that sits by itself at the end our the street. I eye a small fig tree at the hardware store and he suggests we buy one a bit bigger. I agree but look longingly one last time at it's tiny branches laden with fruit. 

 It's all still a mystery to me. This land and this house and the wonderings of what's in store. Will we plant a fig tree here? Will we plant a bigger family here? What will the Lord bring about in just mere four more seasons? Four years? Ten?

My mind wanders fast and furious. I feel dizzy with outcomes but His truth drops an anchor hard.

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You. Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock " Isaiah 26:3-4

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

A friend reminds of His eye on the sparrow and how He watches over me. And those words that my mouth has repeated time and time again, wash over once more,

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Feet put down in promises, I begin again the dance of resting in His providence.

God is in control. And fig tree, family, or not, He will bring about our good and His glory.

Lord help me to rest in You.

According to Abe: God Talks

(A.B.): Momma, sometimes I hear God talking to me.

(Me): Well babe, we don't hear God talk anymore. When he talks to us it's through His word, the Bible.

(A.B.): Uh-huh! I do! Cause sometimes when I'm listening to a song but I'm not singing I can hear the words in my head.

 

Fall Things

September rolls in downright hot after August rains. 

Sunflowers bloom full and bring promise of the State Fair. 

Harvest Festivals boast the summer's vine ripe melons.

And Mud Swallows abandon their long guarded summer refuge.

Walls give way to make room for a crackling and popping stove.

And school supplies stack up high

Bread rises happily on the kitchen island.

And a bouquet of #2's is more welcome than a bouquet of roses. 

 Yes, my friends, I do believe fall is upon us. How is it popping up at your house?