Today's Sabbath

It has been a while since I last blogged. I've been a bit pre-occupied lately with a couple of other things that kept me from it. But even my pre-occupations have not kept me from recognizing that one week from today, Shane will be done with his seminary schoolwork. Every test will be taken, every paper and project turned in. Each book will be closed and the assignments on each syllabus checked off. We don't remember how it feels, this not having one of us in school. But we are looking forward to it. I anticipate one week from today being a Sabbath for Shane in the truest sense of the word. Six more days...and on the seventh he will rest.

We celebrated Thanksgiving here with friends again this year. Last year was the same. With finals coming the week right after the Thanksgiving holiday, it is too busy of a time to travel. So we relaxed with friends, ate a feast, and played with our boys. Julie put up similar pictures, too, showing us having gone from this...

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To this...

...in just 12 months.

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Silas and I stayed home from church this morning. He has a runny nose and cough so we thought it best to keep him away from the nursery. We had a nice, quiet morning. We worshipped by watching our church's live video stream online. Silas clapped after every song and seemed to enjoy the sermon as a new addition to snack time. I was thoroughly challenged and refreshed by Dr. Moore's thoughts on the Gospel and missions.

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We then put out my favorite of our nativity sets. We talked about how Jesus was born in a barn (Silas appropriately added moo-ing and neigh-ing when I set out the animals). I told him how the angels came and sang, sending the shepherds to see the Christ-child. Then we talked about how later on, the wise men followed a bright star (we looked at the star on top of the tree) because they believed the Messiah had come and they wanted to see him. Silas asked "what's that?" pointing to the gifts the wise men held. I explained them, as well as each part again and again as he asked. I kept praying for him to "get it" someday. This is the most wonderful of gifts: the Son of God became one of us...

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The past few years I have placed one ornament right at my eye level in the front of the tree. It is a bright red ball that says "He came to be one of us." At each naptime and bedtime this weekend I've sang to Silas the words of a song that resonate deep within. "Immanuel...His Name is called Immanuel...God with us..." It is one of the most precious promises I cling to. He is with us.

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Our tree is a virtual melting pot of cultures. My mother gives us ornaments each year from countries where they visit and work, my mother-in-law gives us a new one each year, and we get other ones randomly, too, just like everybody else. From the Philippines to Laos and Cambodia. From Illinois to "Somebody in Texas loves you". From Missouri to Germany, every ornament is a memory and a reminder that we are loved by our families.

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Silas has done great with the decorations so far. I set out several new Christmas toys for him to play with. And all the ornaments in his reach are non-breakable. He is loving all the new shiny things to carry around.

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Well, I know this post was fairly wordy, but who knows when I'll be up for blogging again?

Sunday Night Conversation

Happy Saturday

We haven't really been up to much activity this week. But this sweet guy was just begging to say "hi"!
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And he wanted you to know that he has discovered the inside of his toybox...

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There's never a dull moment around here with Silas in the house!

Happenings this Week

Last weekend we went to visit our good friends the Sirotaks. We had such fun being with them and Silas loved playing with their girls. On Saturday evening the kids all dressed up and went trick-or-treating through the neighborhood. Here's Silas with Brooke and Maggie, two sweet little princesses...

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By Sunday these three were having a blast together. Silas was following the girls all over the main floor of the house, acting like he had a clue as to what they were playing. At one point I heard Maggie whisper to him, "We need to try to not let the grown-ups see us!" And he just laughed and ran after her...

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Then they all discovered Silas' bag of toys we brought for the car. I left for just a minute and returned to find them all wrapped up in stories...

A long time ago I wrote that we would love to live close to the Sirotaks. Right now we live just far enough away that we still don't get to see each other very much. So we were thankful for this weekend to get to be together. We enjoy them so much! And their girls are adorable!

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Today Silas and I celebrated Jonah's first birthday with his family and friends. It is such fun to see the boys growing and changing. Just a year ago Silas and I went to visit them in the hospital. Silas was very interested in the gifts, especially this one that we brought...

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Poor Silas and Everett were way ready for naptime by the end of the party. Can you tell?

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Late this afternoon Shane needed to make a visit to the library on the seminary campus so Silas and I went to play at the park. Lots of dog owners bring their puppies to this park, which thrills Silas. He spent most of his time torn between following dogs, swinging, and digging in the dirt...

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He would then place his found treasures on a swing...

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And swing them!

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After a quick stop at Babies R Us to try to come up with Christmas ideas, we met Shane at Chick-fil-A for dinner. I said to Silas, "Did you tell Daddy that you got to swing at the park?" And he then proceeded to sign "swing"! I've only practiced that sign with him a few times. We were both so surprised that he knew it without either of us doing it first.

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With all the big events last week, this week has felt a bit quieter and slower, which is always a nice change of pace. Only 5 weeks left till graduation so I know Shane is looking forward to more of his own days that are quieter and slower. I couldn't be prouder of him for how he is balancing school, work, and family these days. It will all be over soon...

Two Toddlers = Lots to Remember

Our friend Everett came to spend the day with us...

All the things I want to remember from today...

. Silas looking at Everett and saying, "What's that?". Then trying to say Everett's name. It came out "Ebett".

. Everett asking for Itsy Bitsy Spider. So glad his mom told me what that sign meant!

. Silas trying to touch Everett's ears and nose.

. Both boys laughing together when they saw the Baby Einstein caterpillar.

. At lunch: one bite of yogurt for Silas...switch cup and spoon...one bite of yogurt for Everett...switch again...

. The most glorious nap of all time: both boys slept from noon till 3:30. They fell asleep and woke within minutes of each other.

. Seeing glimmers of the boys sharing toys.

. Walking through the neighborhood with a boy in each hand. They never once tried to let go.

. Everett staring at Silas as my outdoorsy boy made a pile of wood chips then proceeded to knock it all down the front of himself. Everett looked at me like, "You really let him do that?"

. Silas trying to get in my lap as I held Everett on the deck in the backyard.

. Shane saving the day and helping get everyone set for dinner when the I'm hungry and it's really almost 7:00 because of the time change why aren't you feeding me meltdowns started.

. Everett being so happy to see his mommy when she got to our house. Then us girls having a nice quiet dinner while the boys played and Shane started reading for class.

. Silas being completely worn out from the day. I'm hoping it helps him push through till later in the morning so we can get back into our normal routine post-time change.