Avery, Action!

We've compiled bits and pieces of video over Avery's life so far. 

Here's our little screamer throughout her third month.

And here she is in month 4, already a Bubblemaster.

Finally: Insta-roller!

A Big Mess

I came up stairs last week to this scene, one of my own doing of course. Sometimes our own messes overwhelm us!  I can ignore it for awhile, but eventually it's like a big bomb that explodes in my face. This mess was eventually cleaned up, but there are and will be others. And bigger than my living room laundry tornado!

I'm thankful that I don't have to keep cleaning myself up over and over. David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me." (Psalm 51:10)  I can definitely do some maintaining, but it's God's hand and presence in me that gets it done. 

In light of so many recent natural disasters, I can't help but be reminded that this world is a big mess too. All around us, the world is (and has been for a long time) groaning for God's Kingdom rule (Romans 8:22). It makes me want to spend a lot of time on my knees.

I feel comfort on behalf of the suffering around me that God knows their experience and is close with them. He has suffered and mourned through his son Jesus, who was sent as a man on earth, ridiculed, rejected, injured, and killed. But he rose! Our suffering, pain, and sorrow is not final. We've been promised a rescue. Thank you, God.

Jesus comforted us, "I spoke to you so that you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart, for I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). This world can sure seem scary, powerful, and overwhelming. But God is bigger, and I'm with him.

Le Boeuf

Here it is: the finished product. Boeuf Bourguignon a la Julia Child. I don't know how or why anyone would want to cook this way on a daily basis, but it was fun for an afternoon! I can't say this is the best meal that ever hit my tongue, but it was pretty good beef stew. Just so much preparation! Every individual part had to be prepared a certain way before it all came together (as opposed to crock-potting or slow cooking everything together at once, which is probably what I would have done). Yet the aroma was AMAZING! In fact it still strongly lingers in the house today.

In a way, this is totally symbolic of the offerings prepared by the Israelites before the Lord at the Tabernacle. I've been reading in Exodus and Leviticus about these. God required Israel to make daily, weekly, monthly, and annual sacrifices to atone for their sin, but also to fellowship with him. The various offerings (sin, guilt, burnt, grain, drink, and peace) seemed ridiculously complicated, specific, and monotonous to do with all the individual required steps. But in completion, they brought such a joyful, sweet aroma to the Lord. Most importantly, they provided the Israelites with a clean slate before him.

The offerings symbolized acknowledgment and clearing of sin, God's continual love and provision, restoration to one another, the joy of surrender, and fellowship and reconciliation to God. Worth every step! But I am sure glad that God offered his son Jesus to be the final sacrifice once and for all, so we don't have to go through all that anymore! A perfect sacrifice. (No Boeuf Bourguignon every day!) What a deal.

Today, we have the opportunity as Paul writes in Philippians 2 to offer our lives poured out before the Lord in service to him and others. Just like the wine in last night's dinner totally enriched the flavor of the beef, and the drink offering enhanced the aroma of the sacrifice before Israel's God, our lives offered as poured out wine before God enhances our relationship with him and those around us. Our freewill sacrifice still pleases him - a soothing aroma. We can worship God and fellowship with him every day!

Like the verse from one of my favorite hymns:

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Yes, please.

P.S. Speaking of beef, we're waiting to hear back from DU to see if Tim has been accepted into its religious studies Master's program for the Fall! Yikes!!

Butter and Other Fat Tuesday Reflections

Alright, it's time to take time to be more thoughtful. Instead of giving something up for Lent, I've decided to add something - a more intentional reflection on God's faithfulness to my daily routine. Yes, this means spending more time in his Word and devotions etc, but I'd also like to document the best highlights along the way. "Hello, blog!"

Hopefully this takes shape through a daily (?) post - sometimes simple, sometimes/likely lengthy and disorganized.  I apologize in advance, especially to anyone who's not much of a blog reader and will potentially feel waaaaay behind if you've only checked this blog on, say, a biweekly occasion at best. There will be no catching up for you for the next 40 days. So be freed from this pressure ahead of time!

Maybe, this is my way of engaging more in the world from home, and I admit I might be slightly inspired by Amy Adams and Meryl Streep (hence Julia Child's Beouf Bourguignon we're making for dinner tonight! By the way, how in the world did Julia (in Julia & Julia) not gain 40 pounds by cooking through Julia Child's cookbook in a year??), but hopefully by Easter I can look back and really, really see greater evidence of God's working in the lives of the Eyes.  Because He's always working, we just don't always take the best notice. As Julia would say, He is"the butter on my bread, the breath in my life."

 Join me if you like, or comment on the rich, creamy goodness of God in your own life:)

P.S. I had a delightful pre-Fat Tuesday dessert celebration last night that I'd urge anyone to try: Dark chocolate M&M's, crunched up graham crackers, half pistachio gelato, half Starbucks coffee ice cream, all in a nice, big bowl. Thank you, God. Anyone remember The Mix in Seattle's U District? In college we used to drive all the way from Tacoma and back just to go there before they closed at midnight. My favorite was raspberries and cookie dough mixed into sweet cream ice cream, in a waffle cone. Reminds me of Proverbs 4:18: "Taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." Amen.

OK, I'm off to find me some Beouf.  Sounds perfect for this blustery day.

The start of snow on the roof outside our window.

Sew Cute (haha)

I've decided to take advantage of my mom's amazing seamstress abilities and my free time to learn how to sew. At least mend. I'm super thankful I can show my mom something cute and baby and have her make it on the spot. Check out these shoes she adapted from another pattern:

Anyway she taught me step 1: how to use a sewing machine. My first project was to sew a new pattern on an old pair of baby overalls. I almost did it all myself: the bottom cuffs and front pocket are mostly my effort! Then she can fix what I mess up:)

still working on our ab muscles.

So, stay tuned for future projects. Hopefully this is the kind of thing I can make advancements with and start bringing in the big bucks! JK. It's just a fun hobby.

Speaking of cuteness, Avery's sporting a mohawk these days:

Jr. Hiker

We took Avery on another walk yesterday under the sunny (February) Colorado sky. Our hiker in training!

Chillin' back on the home front...

4 months!

Life is fun with a 4 month old! Avery's babbling away and loves the sound of her voice when she sucks in lots of air:) What a kook! She bounces her legs on our lap when she's standing, so we bought her a 4 month present of a Johnny Jump up. She doesn't quite know what to do with it yet, except to kind of slide around and suck on the edges. We'll get there.
We're also working on rolling, but not much progress there yet. She's got a lot to roll! This girl weighed in at 15 lbs 15.5 oz, or 91% for weight! She's 87% for head circumference and 60% for height. Lots of adorableness for us to enjoy. Thatta girl!

Our Valentine Weekend

This week has been full of adventure! Avery took mom, Becka and me to Breckenridge for some sunny mountain fun. We had lunch and explored some cute cute crafty stores, but we missed the ice sculptures we were in search of. It was beautiful up there!

Bathtime Saturday night was lots of fun:

Sumo baby!

Then Sunday was Avery's big dedication day. We had friends and family join us at the church where I grew up for her dedication. She wore the dress my mom made for me when I was dedicated! It was a special day. We will definitely need God's help to raise her in a way that honors Him, and we pray one day she'll make her own choice someday to follow Jesus!

She is a perfect blessing. We love our little Valentine!
(the final hat picture. What a pose!)

Snowy Colorado Goodness

Despite having to cancel a recent trip to the mountains this week due to bad weather and really really cold temperatures, we managed to have some fun around here. We took Avery out for her first snowshoeing adventure at a nearby State Park (thanks Isaacsons!). It was gorgeous! We'll definitely be back multiple times to check out many more trails through the rocky outcroppings.

Thanks to Tim's mom for knitting the family mountain hats!

And to think just a few days ago Tim and I went on a bike ride in 50 degree weather on a new trail we discovered basically in our backyard. 3 degrees today, 60 by the weekend! Gotta love it (or at least make the best out of it)!

New Tune by The Eyes!