Holy Week!

I love Easter- one of the best holidays of the year in thinking about the Death & Resurrection of Christ!  With a new babe in tow and it being so early this year, I feel a little unorganized with doing meaningful things with my family!  I have a lot of ideas of what I would like to do- but I may have to lay them aside this year.  One of the things I am so thankful for is sweet friends from different seasons of my life who are so intentional with their families in doing activities that point us to Christ and how neat that we can share ideas with one another.  We have been doing our Resurrection Eggs and hiding them each night and talking about the little symbol of Christ's death that is inside.  We also have been doing a similar thing with putting different symbols throughout the OT on a mountain that is mounted on our fridge as events throughout the OT leading up to the death of Christ!  This weekend I am may see if we can make Easter cookies as well- but with my family coming out for Easter- it may get a little crazy.  I would love to make a lamb cake for Easter morning but I don't see that happening this year.  I am also desperately trying during this busy and tiring few weeks to keep my mind focused on the cross!  I love reading John Piper's 50 Reasons Why Christ Died Book!  It is so encouraging and easy to read in short segments while I nurse Lydia in the morning.  One of my most favorite songs this year that has lifted my heart and affections for the Risen Christ is Keith & Kristyn Getty's "Christ is Risen.  He is Risen Indeed."  I am looking forward to this weekend and the rest of this week contemplating the amazing work of Christ on the cross for our redemption!

These are pictures of last Saturday at our church's Easter egg hunt.  Jeremiah was our little hunter. 

Ok this is me doing an Easter egg toss and yes it is a raw egg- yuck!

No nap Tuesday...

Well, my little ones have been waging war on naptime.  For the past 3 of the 4 days- Jeremiah has refused to nap.  It seems his ever comforting blankie after wash time has not been as comforting anymore.  And therefore no nap.  Meanwhile little Lydia seems to be more alert and fussy during the only rest time of the day- nap time.  Last week, we waged war on Jeremiah's eating time at dinner as the kid has been so picky and would literally not eat his soup two days in a row. If anyone has tips on picky eaters or getting kids to eat vegetables.  Tonight we may try my friend Amy Samad's spinach muffins. 

5 Weeks Today...

Little Lydie is 5 weeks today...

His Grace is Sufficient...

This week, I have entered a new realm- I have hit the stage of exhaustion.  It is the combination of Jeremiah having a cold and being extra fussy, me having a cold this week, Lydia having a growth spurt and eating more and me literally laying awake at night at times so tired and yet unable to sleep.  I remember with Jeremiah having times where I could not go to sleep and was so discouraged by it as you are so tired.  Yesterday, I pleaded with Michael to come home and work on his sermon during naptime so I could be guaranteed that I could rest- feeling like I could not make it through the day with my active toddler & little newborn.  So I could use lots of prayer this week that the Lord would continue to give me grace and strength.  Michael is preparing to preach on Sunday for the first time at our church, ECC and I am wondering if this is Satan attacking our family this week with lots of demands on us. 
As I laid on the couch this afternoon, the Lord brought to my mind Paul-
2 Corinthians 12:8-10- Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  
I think this season of weakenss and tiredness I pray is bringing about a greater dependence on the LOrd as I can't do this myself- I need His strength and grace!  We would greatly appreciate the Body of Christ's prayers as well!

I have my days that I just want to cry too.  :) 

Taking It Slow...

 Little Lydia is one month old already- hard to believe!  She has been doing so great at sleeping- even most nights just waking up once to eat but now this week I have hit new challenges.  Jeremiah and I both have colds and that on top of sleep deprivation, even causing some of it for me has caused me to be very tired.  I am praying for God's grace even with handling Jeremiah as I feel like some days my patience runs thin but I am trying to think of God's patience with me in so many ways and praying for God's strength.

Jeremiah lately has been claiming everything that is given to Lydia as "Myo's" his own.  We are trying to teach him to share and that everything is not his.  Meanwhile, last night, we had quite a battle with him over eating his dinner as the kid many times refuses to eat the "main course" that we put on his plate- oh what a picky eater!  Michael has also been leading a few tours to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Museum Center.  It has been a really neat exhibit to come to Cincinnati.

Just Like Dadda...

Reading World Magazine while eating breakfast...  Hmmm, that is the life!

Learning to Love!

 So how is Jeremiah doing as a big brother?  Well, most days he is doing ok and really I think deep down loves his little sister but this week we are hitting some rough waters.  This week is my first "official" week on my own and it has been challenging.  Jeremiah had a fever this weekend and began the week a very whiny, needy little boy.  Yesterday, after a whiny morning, he laid in his crib for 2 1/2 hours and would not sleep just whined.  As I laid on the couch trying to rest- I was struggling with anger as I was craving sleep and quiet much more than I was desiring for the Lord to grant me patience and perseverance and love at that moment.  I have to remember in these season when I can barely pull myself out of bed at 2 or 3am- that sleep is not what I desire or value the most- it is a privilege not a right for many mommies in these young years.  Jeremiah is clinging to the things that are his- he wants "His" changing table if I change Lydia on it- though he hates to be changed.  He claims her toys as his own.  And I think lately when I am nursing her- he is secretly trying to win my attention and telling me through his whiny voice- drop the baby and play with me.  So I think we are both learning to love- Jeremiah learning to love a baby that has invaded his little me- centered home and I am learning to love a whiny boy who has not looked too pretty lately and praying for God's grace and patience along the way and too trying to extend grace to us both as well realizing this a tiring time and a transition time for our whole family. 

Jeremiah's 2nd Birthday Celebration

Last weekend, though it was a month late, we celebrated Jeremiah's 2nd birthday!  My parents and my sister were here to celebrate with the Lyons' family.  We had one of Jeremiah's favorite meals- pizza & we got him a Cars Cake from Sams- he still loves the Tow Mater truck and Lightning McQueen truck and car they put on the cake!  Jeremiah loved his pizza and the cake as well!

Visit from my Family!

 Last weekend we had a visit from my dad and sister!  It was fun to spend the weekend together!  Dad & Mom took Jeremiah to the Children's Museum last Saturday and we celebrated J's birthday!  Rachel and I got to spend some sister time together and we took lots of naps and ate some good food- it was a fun low key time together. 

Visitors for Lydia

 My family left on Monday and we are settling into a routine of life with two- though it has been nice to have Cheryl's help this week and we are thankful she took off a whole week of work to help us out!  I have to admit- seeing my parents leave on Monday was rough.  Jeremiah and I were both in tears as they drove off in the morning.  It didn't help that I had had a rough night with Lydia the night before and all the post postpartum hormones on top of that.  But today is a new day and we are thankful the Lord is giving much grace in these new days!  Here are a few visitors Lydia has had over these last 2 1/2 weeks.

Phil & Sarah came to visit us in the hospital and lots of Hebrew Union friends!

Michael, Lydia, his Mom & Gigi- Grandma Renner who Lydia is named after!

Jeremiah is doing pretty well with her- he wants to pick her up off the floor a lot! 

Faithful Sarah Brown came to see us in the hospital after working an all night shift!

My mom loved coming to visit and was a great help with both kids!

Aunt Beka drove down from Columbus to see us as well!