Weekend in Salina

LAST weekend we went to Salina to visit Andrea and Brenden (A & B). It was our third road trip with Wilder, and he was an excellent sport! Andrea cooked for us, as she so effortlessly and expertly does, and we enjoyed it!! (Belgian waffles, chicken salad croissants, cinnamon rolls, tacos, milk shakes, brownies...) Shawn's parents even came for a few hours on Saturday, and Andrea introduced them to the Wii! With all the extra help for Wilder, Andrea and I even had time to work on cards (me) and scrapbooks (Ang).

Thanks, A & B, for an awesome weekend...

B, next time we'll come when you have the weekend off!

Hard at "work"

Wilder LOVES his grandparents!

B topped his waffle with peanut butter and chocolate syrup!

Wild waiting patiently for us to finish eating.

Wild modeling his custom-made onesie from Liz/Derek

Growing baby boy--75th % for weight, and 40th for height

Auntie Andrea's a natural!

Shawn working his mad Wii skills

Harold's turn to bowl

Wilder bathing in Andrea's kitchen sink

So sweet!

BBQ

WE'RE always thrilled when Shawn's parents jet over to Wichita to see little Wilder and hang out with us. They're the best! They let us BBQ for them this Sunday. Wilder slept for most of their visit then woke up for their last little bit of time at the house. I was glad, so that they could see how alert he is and hear some of his coos.

The Grill Master.

Harold's unamused by Marley's imposition.

Sweet child of ours!

Hanging out with Daddy.

Family photo: attempt #1

Family photo: attempt #2

Family photo, final: that'll do!

Mommy's baby boy weighs 12 lbs 3 oz!

We think his eyes might remain blue! We'll see!

Cookie Party!

(double-click this image to see it larger)

Shawn's work, SHS, gave Wilder a cookie party/baby shower this week (they got the cookie idea from Wilder's hospital photo, which you can see on the invitation above). We had a delightful smorgas board of cookies to choose from, plus, Wilder's friend, Grey, was there! Wilder received the Brown Bear, Brown Bear book, some diapers to keep his tush dry, and a gift card to Target for some cuddly winter clothes. Wilder had fun sleeping through the party then waking up once everyone left. Then he provided lively entertainment to the clean-up crew by spitting up and sneaking a wafer into his pocket!

(he's changed ALOT, huh? and there's the wafer in his pocket)

(Shawn, Wilder, Grey, Derek)

Pumpkin Muffins

IF you're in the mood for pumpkin (with the Fall season here, I definitely was), but don't want to make bread or a pie, try these muffins! I made them this weekend; they're a nice treat!

1 1/3 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter

2 eggs

2 c. flour

4 t. baking powder

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

1 c. canned pumpkin

4 T. milk

Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and beat well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In another mixing bowl combine pumpkin and milk. Add flower mixture and pumpkin mixture alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Makes about two dozen muffins.

ENJOY!

Wild with his mouth open..and bath time!

SHAWN'S coworkers joke that they've seen lots of pictures of him with his mouth open (guess he's just found lots to smile wide about). Well, looks like Wilder is following suit! 

Also, I am loving these bath time pictures; Wild is such a good sport. Sometimes I "play" and take my time on his baths. He definitely gets clean and smells so yummy afterward!

oopsie--a little cross-eyed :)

would like to point out that he has 1 1/2 dimples, folks! 

(oh, and he's in a bib because I got tired of changing his clothes every time he spit up...)

~

Nighty-night!

Wishing you a good nighty-night with peaceful dreams!
(did we mention that Wilder's legs are filling out?
Of course the angle "dramatizes" them a tad in these photos!
Looks like he might be a soccer champ!)

~

Breaking Heart

WE were a little slow in getting Wilder to church for the first time, for many reasons: my slow recovery, wedding out of town, family in town, sleepless nights, etc. So it was really encouraging to go for the first time. When one is in survival mode, making efforts to get through the days that blend into nights, not having time to shower some days, it is hard to remember to seek the Lord's hand on your heart in those moments. What I'm saying is that, although my prayer life has increased (lots of "Help me, Lord's!"), I was feeling a little distant from my Creator, aching for communion with him. Aching for time in his love letter (the Word!). And while it doesn't take a church building to accomplish such communion, it was special to be in his house with other believers. There's a song we sang--not sure the title, or many of the lyrics--that struck a cord. This phrase: "break my heart for what breaks yours."

Um. HELLO???!???!?!? Can anyone say, "really, seriously, you want my heart to be broken for what breaks yours?" I don't think it's strong enough for that. I don't know if I'm ready to experience the sorrow you feel when someone chooses to end their life--to experience the wrenching in your heart when you see a child go hungry-- to be reminded of your anger and grief over MY own sin. 

The overwhelmingness of this desire, this REQUEST, to be broken is settling in. The magnitude of it is unfathomable. And I know, I remember full well, those times I've been burdened, broken, desperate for people and situations in my life (I can even detect the times when someone has been burdened for ME; to those of you who've been obedient to stand in the gap, thank you!). I've ached for loved ones to know the freedom I know. I've been desperate for the Holy Spirit to intervene in a situation and reveal his truth. I've longed for a friend to see all that she has to offer this dying world if only she'll let go. I've been angry that soldiers must leave their families for battle. I've been frustrated to be tangled in the web of my own sin, and in my bondage tethered to the lies Satan jabbed into my heart (he is so relentless; I hate him!).

Yet in those moments, those desperate, raw, crying moments, I've never been closer to Jesus.

Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours. Give me courage, strength, stamina, guidance as you allow me to experience some of your heartbreak. This is my plea, and while my carnality wants to pray for something less, something easier, my heart is begging to be broken.

7 Weeks (just a day early)

above: Wilder getting ready for his first day at church!