Birthday pics and videos!

Steven was our photographer/videographer for the birthday parties of Baden and Corinne and got some really cute stuff...as well as the first rights to posting them on their blog!

Happy Birthday, Corinne!

Corinne, you are a sheer delight and gift to our family. Our hearts are just bursting with thanksgiving for the wonder of you! Your life is a goodness only God could have planned. We celebrate you today, June 25.





As we did a year ago, we pray that your life would be filled with desire for the Lord:





How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Psalm 84:1-2,10

Will: Too cute not to post (...a couple of times)

(I hijacked some of these pictures from their more complete stories on Keri and Steven's blog! Sorry. Kind of. Not.)

With all the wonderful hoopla for Corinne and Baden's birthdays this week, I'm going to give a little tribute to my sweet middle child. Will, you fill my heart with joy. I am so glad God organized for a surprise like you in our lives!

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5

Badenisms

Baden (still confused why he can't marry Corinne): Who's Corinne going to marry?

Mom: I don't know. But God knows! And I hope it's a man who REALLY loves God, and who takes good care of his family and loves them.

Baden: And who doesn't worship IDOLS!

Mom: Right.

***

Mom: I need to cut your hair, so you can pick out a DVD. We can start a long one, but we're not going to finish it today.

Baden: Because a long DVD will fry our brains?!

Mom: (Laughing too hard to answer.)

The latest little familia update

I can't believe I finally have time to blog! This is great.

It's been even more overwhelming than the normal overwhelming lately, but I am so not complaining. God's given too much grace. Here's where everyone's at...

First, please check out the way-too-cute pics and videos of the kids on my sister and her husband's blog.

Corinne, awarded biggest change, is crawling! She loves being mobile--so much happier!--and motors around pretty well. And, with her big first birthday next week, may actually be popping out her first tooth--on top. She'll have some of both of our families here in town for the big day.

Will is using more and more big people words, asking if he can go "hang out" with the neighborhood kids, or saying "That's so cool!" or "I'm not sure about that." It makes me laugh. He is by far our biggest cuddler.

Baden will be the big four next week! Wow. I got a postcard in the mail about pre-kindergarten immunizations and about had a heart attack. This parenting thing flies. Because of his Grandpa John's time in England, frequent flier miles allowed Baden and John to go to Houston for a week (then Baden on his own for half a week) to visit the now-stateside grandparents. The kid was so excited he could have flown there himself! They're going to the beach, to an aquarium (perfect for my sea-enthralled son), NASA, a children's theater presentation of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a planetarium...I'm sure home will look pretty boring! I am thrilled for this dad-son-grandparent trip.

John (and myself, by association) have been super-busy helping out with FamilyLife's New Staff Preview guests, and then John headed up the Peacemaker training last week at FamilyLife, which kept him at the office till nine or ten. Community group also fills in a few gaps on our schedule. It is fun to be worn out by doing the good works God has for us, though, and we feel like our cup is overflowing. John will thoroughly enjoy the week in Houston, I bet.