Friday afternoon

Mend where there is brokenness

L to R, Megan, me, Sissy (Erin). Silver Dollar City. Sister's Weekend 2007.

My eldest sister, Megan, is only 15 months older than I. People used to think we were twins. Mommy dressed us alike when we were little. I liked that. Until she had me get poodle perms. Then I looked like a kid who'd gotten too courageous with the electrical outlets. Ahem, Mommy.

Anyway, we played house outside in a structure of stacked cinder blocks. Mud pies adorned with leaves were our specialty. Never mind Meg used to have me drink muddy water ("chocolate milk") garnished with molded bread bits.

She was my idol for the longest time, and she still is. Though a slight woman, she packs more bravery, resilience, courage, humility, and joy than anyone I've ever met. Ever.

As we've aged, we've realized there's some sort of secret language between us...I've gone to go to dial her but she is right there, calling me...

When I got the call that she was pregnant with her second baby, I was happy. Grateful. Too, some sadness that I couldn't be there to take care of her during the pregnancy since we live so far away from each other. I'm very protective of both sisters (middle child syndrome?). Have had to pray through that because I know it's not my job to protect them...only the Lord's and their husband's.

She delivered the devastating news Monday. I fell down to my knees on the sticky kitchen floor. My heart hung suspended in my chest, eyes going left, right, left, right. Where do I look? How do I listen? What is she saying? Tears, you must leave so I can be strong.

Over halfway through her pregnancy, they learned that the baby has a rare congenital heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries. You can read more about their situation here. Bottom line? They need a miracle.

photo credit

I have personally met and only cyberly met some of you. I appreciate your journeying with me. I appreciate that you believe in my writing and like my pictures. So now it only makes sense to ask you, my friends, to pray for the baby, my sister, and her family.

Oh that everything we experience would make complete sense. But it doesn't. Psalm 139:13-14 reads: "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." I've wondered if God was busy diverting a hurricane or distracted by some catastrophy when He was working on Baby Peter's heart. But that is thinking in human terms, and will only lead to more questions.

So I grasp this:

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1

This is a testing of our faith and I can already feel our family ties binding closer together.

So this is what it means to fight.

Park

All Iphone pics by Shawn

~

How's your week been? We've had a family situation going on so I haven't posted a lot. Will get the word out on that in the next couple of days; will need your prayers.

Sweetest dreams.

Story, 2 months

Here we are. Two months from when Story graced us with her beauty and perfection. People ask me how she is and I say, "hilarious." She truly is so much fun and just silly.

Story, in case you are going to be reading this when you are twelve (or in case I'm going to be reading this when you are off to college and I'm in the pit of despair), here's what you are like at this age:

Super strong...you hold your head up well, hold all your weight on your legs, and roll from tummy to back.
Love to eat...especially during the latter half of the day.
Go to bed around 10pm, nurse at 3am and 7am. So it only feels like one feeding. Thank you.
Still prefer to be held during awake time but are getting used to some independent time in your swing.
Notice patterns on our clothes and fixate on light fixtures.
Coo a little. You are quieter than Wilder was (except for your crying).
Smile more and more.
Take such wonderful, cuddly naps with Mommy.

I love you, StoryGirl. You are forever my light.

Bye bye blonde.

Our everydays

include things like:
Naps and
Donuts and
Anniversary flowers (from here) and
Messes and
Sensory boxes
and
Smiles and
Sunsets.

(All iPhone photos, the 1st one and last 2, are by Shawn)

What child is this?

In one of our rare conversations (always interruptions!) I told Shawn that there's an ice cream truck in the area that plays "What Child Is This" instead of the traditional ding-ding-da-ling (or whatever) kiddie song to alarm customers.

Quite baffling.

Until we met the toothless ice cream man himself and commented on his choice of jingles for the truck. He said it was either that or "Home on the Range" and he'd rather listen to the former all day.

...where seldom is HEEAaaarrrdddd, a discouraging word, and the skies...

Okay he has a point.
Obey the safety clown...clowns are creepy.
Felt kinda bad for the guy; that's not how I'd want to make a buck.
Bye bye ice cream man.
I get to live with some pretty gorgeous men, no?
And here is Story debuting her Nutcracker moves:
And look at these pretty lips I get to kiss all day!
She's a hoot.

7 years!

Happy Anniversary to my nerd.

circa 2004. cruddy 1st appt. halloween.

Ok, I'm a nerd, too.

circa 2004. halloween party at nursing home. i wore those flipflops during my wedding reception.
that's the real horror.

Shawn, seven years ago, we dove in, young and vulnerable, eyes wide shut.

We hit some potholes, as everyone does, but that makes what we have stronger.

You are:

hilarious
smart
creative
imaginative
patient
intuitive
doting daddy

These are things I love about you and I'll publicly profess it til the fat lady sings.

Tonight I loved sharing turkey melts and mac/cheese with you and watching Big Brother. :-)

Goodnights

Your kiss at night spellbinds me
But moreso it closes the day
Saying, that was mine
You are mine
And, this life is ours
As wax sealed upon a fibered envelope
The kiss is warm, final
An imprint of what we've got.

May I kindly have another.

~m.harris

Antonio B

Why, yes, Antonio. You may date me. But only because you begged.
In fact the pleading in public was quite embarrassing.

But I'll forgive you just this once.

Christmas in July

We spent the day at home so I had to think of something to do.

A gingerbread kit from Christmas that I hadn't opened yet?

Why, yes!

Of course Wilder was more interested in eating the candy, but he was still a wonderful helper. He didn't much care for the sound of the mixer, though (for the frosting).

His eyelashes should make Maybelline wither.
As he gets older it will be rewarding to share my love of baking (and dough) with him.
A fun morning!
Story sportin' her birthday suit; lots of rolls for Mommy to wash!
I think her eyes might not stay blue; they are pretty dark.