Disciplining a 3 year old?

I will admit that I have been abit frustrated the past few days in trying to discipline Jeremiah. He is a loving, smart, enthusiastic, energetic, curious little boy. All good traits to have and things that I love about him. He at times is also stubborn, selfish, and disobedient.

We have entered a new stage of parenting with him. When he disobeys it is in a quiet, nonchelant kind of way. A quiet "no" when he is asked to do something. Ignoring a request and simply quietly continuing something else. Sneaking out of the front door when I am not looking after he has been told he cannot go outside. Some days I am at my wits end wondering how to deal with his behavior.

A few weeks ago we instituted the phrase that we obey, "The first time and with a happy heart." And yesterday (a particularly frustrating day) we wrote down and posted our 4 house rules. Jeremiah does really well when the expectations are clear and communicated to him. And I have learned in all my years of social work that it is important to narrow your house rules down to the few that are priority.

So with those things in mind we created these 4 house rules. These rules also help me evaluate whether the behavior that is frustrating me is really defiant behavior or just Jeremiah being a boy. They also set clear expectations for Jeremiah. Now when he is disobedient we have a starting point for a conversation about why he is being disciplined- was his behavior loving to God? loving to others? was he staying safe? was he taking care of his things?

Of course, I am still having problems with the method of discipline. Although I have spanked a few times I am not really a spanker. I personally find it hard to tell my son not to hit others when I hit him.... Also, personally, I have found that I tend to spank out of frustration and anger, wanting a quick fix to the behavior. I don't think that is healthy or beneficial to the goal of discipline (which means to teach). So for those reasons I only spank in the severest of circumstances. Time out is sometimes effective, but a lot of times he actually thinks it is fun. So what to do? Any advice?

This is all very challenging to me on a personal level. I am learning a lot about the need for discipline and consistency in my own life. I am learning to ask God daily for wisdom. I am learning that I am easily frustrated and driven to anger and I need to rely on God for patience and gentleness. I am learning so much about the grace the I have been granted by my Savior!

Standing!

"I want to get out of here and play with brother on the floor."

"Look what I figured out how to do."

"This is fun!"

"You'd better watch out mama. Your life is about to get way more interesting."

Boys in a wagon

We pulled out the wagon yesterday evening while working in the yard. The boys had blast riding around and playing. I know that I will cherish these pictures always.

A nice day

We had a great day yesterday visiting with family up in Nashville. Grandma and Grandpa were down from Philly and so we decided to drive up for the day and hang out with them and my cousin Kelly's house. It was a perfect spring day! We enjoyed our first cookout of the summer and each others company.

One of the most special parts of the day for me was watching grandpa play with Jeremiah. They became good friends and watching Grandpa with Jeremiah brought back the cherished memories I have of playing with my Grandpa when I was a child. Jeremiah experienced being tickled by Grandpa (I think every single cousin in our family has memories of that!), singing with Grandpa, listening to Grandpa's jokes, and being read stories by Grandpa.
The other great part of the day was the drive to and from Nashville. The boys slept most of the way to and from and so Aaron and I had quiet time to just talk and enjoy being together. It was a special treat that we have not recently had in our hectic lives!

The boys with their Viss great grandparents

We tried really hard to get a picture of all the great grandkids with the grandparents. But it was hard. I think Carla or Aunt Evy may have finally gotten a good one. :-)

Grandpa plays with Nathaniel

Grandpa plays with Jeremiah.

Grandpa tickling Jeremiah while Sophia looks on.

Jeremiah and Grandpa spend about 45 minutes together outside just telling stories and singing songs. I loved being able to just glance out the kitchen widow and witness this scene.

Sophia loves books as much as Jeremiah does!

They both enjoyed snuggling with Grandpa on the couch while he read to them.

Jeremiah gives Sophia the present he picked out for her. An Elmo book.

We had him color the wrapping paper and he even wrote her name on it!

Sophia had a great inflatable toy filled with balls that was a hit with Jeremiah. I think he spent most of the day playing in there. I couldn't resist putting Nathaniel in there for a few minutes too.

Sleep...gaining it!

Ok, I guess you know how boring my life is when my blog updates focus around my baby's sleeping habits. Oh well, those of you who know me well know that my drug of choice is sleep!

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Last nights progress -

7:00pm - nursed, rocked, put in crib sleepy, cried for about 10 minutes before falling asleep

9:00pm - awake, nursed, put in crib sleepy, fell asleep without crying

2:30am - awake, nursed, put in crib sleepy, fell asleep without crying

6:00am - awake, nursed in bed, fell asleep (I let him sleep in our bed the last 2 hours in the morning mostly because I don't want him to wake up Jeremiah too early.)

8:00am - awake for the day

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I think this is great progress for one day and am so encouraged! We got a 5 1/2 hour stretch or sleep and only one bout of crying on only the second night! Eventually we will start to phase out some of the late or middle of the night feedings, but that is something else and for another time. Right now I am just happy that we are all starting to get some sleep.

Sleep...or the lack thereof...

Deciding to nip the whole waking-up-4-times-a-night-to-nurse-or-sleep-in-our-bed thing in the bud we moved Nathaniel's crib into our room so that we could let him cry himself to sleep without disturbing his brother. I'm not big on letting babies cry for hours and hours until they sleep. I figure that is not really teaching them how to sleep but merely leaving them to wear themselves out until they collapse. My general rule is that if my baby has cried in his crib for more than 30 minutes with me checking on him every 10 minutes then something else is up so I try something else. Another rule of thumb that I use is that if I try something consistently for 3 days and it is still not working then it is time to try something else.

We have seen though that Nathaniel is just being stubborn about not wanting to sleep in his crib. He fights sleeping in his crib but will willingly lay down next to me on our bed and drift off to sleep. He really is such a sociable little guy, he hates being left alone. (Another reason we put the crib in our room so that he could know we were still there even if he was crying.)

So we committed to 3 nights of putting Nathaniel in his bed drowsy but awake and letting him figure out how to put himself to sleep. We also agreed that we will put him back in his bed every time he wakes up at night. No more sleeping in our bed.

Last night went fairly well. He went easily to sleep at his normal bed time, woke briefly later in the evening but was easily settled again. Then at about midnight he woke up and would not go to sleep in his crib again. He cried on and off for the next 2 hours or so with me doing everything to help settle him. I rocked, I walked, I left him to cry, I sang lullabies, I rubbed his back while he lay on his tummy. I was determined to be strong, remembering the books that talk about not giving in, that it doesn't hurt them to cry, etc. etc. etc.

Finally at 2:30 a.m. I was beside myself. It was obvious this was not going to work. I decided to nurse him. Instead of nursing him in our bed (which I usually did, where he would fall asleep) I took him out to the living room and nursed him there. He stayed awake and ate with gusto. I was then able to bring him back to our room, rock him for a minute until he was sleepy again, and then calmly lay him in his crib where he slept until 8 a.m.

You can imagine how guilty I felt. I will never ignore my instincts and listen to the advice of those strict books again. It goes against every motherly cell in my body to let my child cry for extended periods of time. I don't care what the "experts" say, I don't like it and I won't do it anymore. I will continue to put him in his crib and gently teach him to sleep there.

Trust

In my continuing meditation on Proverbs 31 I have recently been thinking about the phrase in verse 11, "the heart of her husband trusts in her." What does it mean to trust? What does it mean to be trustworthy? Here is what the dictionary says in italics with my notes next to it:

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Trust:

1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc. of a person or thing

Do I have these qualities and display them in every day life so that Aaron can rely on me?

2. confident expectation of something; hope

Am I the kind of woman who instills hope and expectation in the heart of my husband?

3. confidence in the certainty of future payment for property or goods, credit

4. a person on whom or thing on which one relies

Am I reliable? How do I show I am reliable? Do I follow through on promises I make? Do I do the little things every day that build the foundation of Aaron's being able to rely on me no matter what?

5. the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted

Do I care for Aaron (his heart, life, emotions, and children) as a precious thing that has been entrusted to me? Do I see him as something to cherish, care for, and protect or do I begrudge the tasks I am given to care for him?

6. the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed

Being someone Aaron can trust is not just something nice I should do for him. It is a Biblical charge that I have been given. When I took my marriage vows before God I promised to care for him. Do I fulfill those vows on a daily basis?

7. charge, custody, or care

If Aaron truly trusts me then he should be able to put his heart in my care. Do I prove worthy of that in my daily actions?

8. something committed to or entrusted to one's care of safe keeping, as an office, duty, or the like; responsibility

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In his book As for Me and My House Walter Wangerin talks about dependability as the first task of marriage. Here are some quotes that I come back to time and time again.

* "Dependability is truthfulness in action - in your action. It regards your promises, whether spoken or unspoken, and your spouse's reasonable expectations, that you will in fact do what you pledge to do, that you will fulfill anticipations. Is secures, now, the future in deed." p. 124

* Dependability requires a careful work:

- to make your promises wisely, realistically, according to your true abilities, according to your spouses real needs;

- to remember the specific promises and your general marital duties in a hectic world;

- to make these promises a fixed priority in a world that will entice you persistently to other interests;

- and to accomplish all the little pledges ungrudgingly, gracefully. p. 124-125

* Do you see then that dependability is, first of all, a personal and spiritual labor? It is a struggle, in fact, against self-centeredness, against thinking you have the right to follow your own immediate moods, to satisfy your own feelings...Now your previous pledges must shape your activities, your schedules, your priorities, and your labor.

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So I have been working hard and more intentionally at being trustworthy and dependable. It is hard! It is hard to put my own selfishness aside and completely serve my husband. I confess that I do not do this well because I am a very very selfish person. But, I want my husband to trust in me and the only way to achieve that is to actually be trustworthy. It sounds silly but when I started this process I started small - I pledged to have dinner on the table for him every evening when he got home. It isn't always a fancy dinner, but it is there. I pledged to greet him with a cheerful and loving spirit when he returned home regardless of how tired, hormonal, or stressed out I was. Then I moved on to other things like having the house (especially our bedroom) in some sense of order when he gets home so it is a peaceful environment for him. These are small things and things that you are probably thinking, "Sarah, you should have been doing all that already." You are right, I should have.

Like Wangerin says this labor of dependability changes my schedule and day. I get up in the morning and over my first cup of coffee I sit and make a list of what needs to be accomplished that day so that my husband can depend on me.

The world would probably view this as old-fashioned, being a door mat, giving up my freedoms. But the world is wrong. Just like the Bible promises, my joy comes from serving my husband. I feel contentment and peace as I fulfill this charge that I have been given. And the reward - the growth in my relationship with my husband as he sees that his heart truly can trust in me.

Homemade = Yum!

The finished product

"I'm not so sure about this."

"This feels good on my sore gums."

"Yummy!"

His face says it all. The teething biscuits are a hit!

Nathaniel continues to be an unpredictable baby. He generally does not like to eat store bought baby food - preferring instead to try and swipe food off of our plates while we are eating. So I usually end up mashing or cubing some of whatever we are eating (assuming of course that it is soft enough and not a potential allergen). This works great and saves us lots of money! Of course we have to keep an eye on Nathaniel because he will try and eat anything he can get his hands on. I realized the other day that it is time to move on to something that he can chew on for longer. It is time for teething biscuits. The cost of teething biscuits in the store is completely outrageous so I decided to try and make some myself.

I found the recipe on a Homemade Baby Food making website that I love. I am pleased with the result. My two main criteria for making home made things are 1) is it easy? 2) does the recipe call for ingredients I already have in the pantry? and this recipe meets both of those. They do have some sugar in them which I am not crazy about, but they don't have any wheat so I figure it is a good trade off. I am trying to be careful about allergens. They cook up nice and hard and the website says they are good for freezing for those days when the teething is obviously uncomfortable.

The boys

The weater is warming and so we are getting to spend some time outside every day. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures of the cool dudes in their hats!

Couldn't help bragging

Another 2 post day.

I just couldn't help bragging on my boy Jeremiah. This morning we were making cards for various people. He had a blast stamping and coloring. But I think that I deserve to be proud when you see how he wrote his own name!!!!!!

So Uncle Ben, you will know this card is coming, but I just had to take a moment to proudly post.

Random Discoveries

1. Nathaniel likes to clap! He smiles his million-watt smile and claps along if you look at him and say "clap clap!"

2. Mr. Rogers Neighborhood is just a great show. Jeremiah started watching it this week and I love how Mr. Rogers is so engaging and polite.

3. Making our own bread in the bread machine is much tastier than store bought bread and saves us lots of money. I have been getting better at it but now my yeast is old so the bread is not rising quite right. My next experiment is going to be chocolate peanut butter bread. YUM!

4. Jeremiah has really started to develop his imagination. It is fun to watch him learn to enjoy make believe.

5. Keeping my house real estate showing clean is going to take superhuman effort. I have been "practicing" in little steps the past few weeks with things like making sure that there are never any dishes on the kitchen counter, the floors are always vacuumed, and the bathroom sink and toilet are wiped out every day. It is hard! I have no idea how my friend Amy does it with 3 little boys...

6. I have never considered having more than one bathroom in the house a necessity until having to share it with a newly potty trained 3 year old. He is completely potty trained but sometimes his aim is off, I have tripped over the little stool in front of the toilet more times then I care to count, and being 3 with a lot on his mind he often forgets to put the seat back down. Oh well. I love that we don't have to buy diapers for him so I can deal with the other stuff.

7. If I let my stress and circumstances make me dissatisfied, irritable and impatient then I miss the wonderful moments of joy and blessing that God has for me each day.

Mercy's Chosen Children

Many of you have been praying for Mercy's Chosen Children (MCC), the agency that I helped found and have been directing for the past 4 years or so. It was founded with the idea of helping Christian families open their homes to children in the state system in need of foster and adoptive homes. In the past 4 years I have seen God do amazing things. I have seen him heal children and use foster families to minister to biological families.

Since the end of last year MCC has been experiencing some financial difficulties. For many reasons MCC is now in danger of closing its doors. We have been working especially hard the last month or so to start some very serious fund raising and recruitment of new families. Tonight we are having a major fund raising event.

Please pray for MCC. There is a lot changing and much uncertainty. After this evening we will be having a number of meetings to see what the future of this agency is. Pray that God's will is clear to all of us who are trying to make responsible decisions. Pray that God will provide what we need for this important ministry to continue.

Pictures from Easter

Here are pictures from our beautiful Easter Sunday. We enjoyed a fun afternoon hanging out with all the Rapier family eating good food, hunting eggs, watching basketball, and generally enjoying each others company. I hope you enjoy. And for my more serious post keep scrolling down.

I love these two boys!

Jeremiah had been excitedly looking forward to this cake since he "helped" me make it yesterday.

Jeremiah has also spent the week eagerly anticipating his egg hunt.

Here he is ready to go!

Nathaniel enjoys an egg too.

Next year Jeremiah is going to have some competition. :-)

Jeremiah shows off his treasure! Yummy jelly beans!

The Power of the Cross!

This song had me in tears during worship this morning. What a beautiful thing to know that my sin is buried in Christs death and that one day I will be made completely new to stand before the throne of God because of His ressurection!

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The Power Of The Cross
"The Power of the Cross"Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day:

Christ on the road to Calvary.

Tried by sinful men,

Torn and beaten, then

Nailed to a cross of wood.

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CHORUS:This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath—

We stand forgiven at the cross.

-

Oh, to see the pain

Written on Your face,

Bearing the awesome weight of sin.

Ev'ry bitter thought,

Ev'ry evil deed

Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

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Now the daylight flees;

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life;

"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

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Oh, to see my name

Written in the wounds,

For through Your suffering I am free.

Death is crushed to death;

Life is mine to live,

Won through Your selfless love.

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FINAL CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Son of God—slain for us.

What a love! What a cost!

We stand forgiven at the cross.

This picture says it all...

7 month stats

Today turned into a 2 post day because Nathaniel had his well-child check today. Somehow this had slipped my mind and I thought that we were just going for shots. Turns out he needed the whole thing. Oh well. It was nice to get an updated weight and length, especially since I looked at him the other day and thought "He looks really tall to me." Turns out my mother's intuition was right, he has jumped up from the 50th to the 75th percentile in height in just 2 months!

So here are the stats:

Weight: 16lb 13 oz (51st percentile)

Length: 25 3/4 inches (75th percentile)

Our nurse practitioner is always so nice and was impressed with how well Nathaniel sits. I told her that it is his favorite thing to do and he will sit for up to an hour contentedly playing with toys. We also talked about how he doesn't really like to eat store bought baby food but will eat almost anything off of my plate. Yesterday we lowered the crib matrass because we have noticed him starting to try and pull up on things.

Going for a walk

We are enjoying the warming temperatures and the longer daylight hours.

Yesterday we took a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. I realized how far we had come to now have 2 boys sitting up in the stroller! Nathaniel loved sitting up and watching the scenery go by. He was a bit sleepy but seemed to just enjoy chilling and being pushed around. Jeremiah took his job as big brother very seriously and importantly pointed out things that he thought Nathaniel needed to know. "Look Mo-fan-nul, a birdie! Look Mo-fan-nul, some pretty flowers! Look Mo-fan-nul, a nice tree!" He also arrived home with a pocket full of treasures (rocks, leaves, and flower petals).

Yesterday had been a very stressful day for me and a nice walk in the fresh spring air enjoying the company of my two sons was just what I needed. It's the simple things!

Spills & Thrills

Things are getting exciting around here! Nathaniel has become an expert sitter and roller.

I have had to retrain my "I have a small child who will roll anywhere, grab anything, fall over at the slightest notice" eagle-eye.

Last week Nathaniel fell off our bed for the first time. When he first wakes up he usually lays calmly and plays sleepily for a little while before making noises that indicate I am to come and get him. On this particular morning I was sitting at the computer working and listening for him to wake up. All of the sudden I heard a loud "THUNK" which sends dread into the heart of any mom who has heard that sound before, followed by 10 seconds of silence in which I exercised my super-mom ability of traveling from one room to another in split seconds and without the aperant use of my legs, and then the surprised howling intense scream of a baby who feels wronged and can't quite figure out what has happened. Thankfully he quieted quickly and just seemed more confused than hurt.

Since this little man insists on sleeping in our bed he now gets surrounded with pillows.

Yesterday while sitting on the bedroom floor and playing happily Nathaniel tried to lunge after Jeremiah which of course caused him to loose his balance, fall over and somehow scrape the top of his head on the bottom of the bed rail. I am still not sure how this was even physcially possible. But it happened.

One afternoon the discovery of Jeremiah sharing the small parts of his fishing game with his brother led to a lesson in the sharing of only Nathaniel sized toys. Jeremiah is also learning that just because pushing your brother over when he is sitting (he falls so nicely) is fun for you does not mean it is also fun for your brother.

Then, this afternoon I discovered Nathaniel up on his knees (!) on our bed. Oh my.......

Rare Gems

Time, Sarah, me making a post to our blog. All rare gems.
Skip below for Sarah's thoughts of the day/week.
She truly is a rare gem, an amazing mother, wife, and friend.

I saw this video on Austin City Limits, thought it was great, and found it on youtube. Listen please ... to Chris Smithers sing, beautifully, about the passage of time.

You know if I were young again
I'd pay attention
to that little known dimension
the taste of endless time,
It's just like water
It runs right through our fingers
The flavor of it lingers
Like a rich red wine.

The rest of the song is just as amazing. The references to time and song are great.

Below the surface

The sun is shining this morning and the weather man has promised a week of nice spring weather. I can handle that.

I have realized that I seem to have a general sense of controlled panic being just contained beneath the surface of my emotions and day-to-day functioning. It is the kind of low level hum that is always in the background of my subconscious. I manage to keep it in check, and even deny its existence until I have a moment when I actually think of all the responsibilities I have and the things I have to do. Then the panic starts to bubble and rise and I find myself fighting down the feelings of being totally overwhelmed.

This consistent low rumble of panic makes me irritable, tired, angry, selfish, and defeated.

I am able to control some of the panic by compartmentalizing my life. I devote different times of the day to different responsibilities or tasks (morning - home & kids, nap time - MCC & returning phone calls, afternoon - home & kids, evening - MCC). This method doesn't always work perfectly and sometimes things fall through the cracks but in general it has been helpful.

The other side of the panic comes from things I can't control. Even though I am exhausted there are many nights when I lie in bed thinking about finances, what to do to keep MCC running, and selling the house.

Last week as I struggled with a nasty cold and watched more work pile up around me I wondered what God was doing. He has promised that he loves me and will provide all that I need but I have been having difficulty believing that as I let the waves of self pity and despair wash over me. On Sunday we sang a song that encouraged me and that helped me refocus on God's goodness to me. I realized as we sang that God has blessed me beyond what I can ask or imagine. Instead of being melancholy and grim I want to be a joyful reminder to others of God's goodness, love, and grace in my life!

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I Will Sing Of Your Great Love

I will sing of your great love

I will stand in wonder of

What you've done in this life

With my song testify

I will live and I'll die to declare

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Lord You are good and I will sing

Your mercy endures, it's everlasting

Lord You are good and I will sing a song of worship

Lord You are worthy to receive

Dominion and power, honor and majesty

Lord You are good and I will sing of your great love.

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I will sing of you mercy, I will sing of your love

I will sing of your tenderness and tell the wonders of

I will sing of your goodness, I will sing of your grace

I will sing of your holiness in melodies of praise.

So much to think about

There has been so much going on in our lives lately. Aside from the regular busyness of everyday life we have had a few extra things on our plate. We are all tired and seem to be constantly battling runny noses. There are some days that I feel completely overwhelmed. I am continually learning to trust God for everything that we need. Please pray for us in these areas as you feel led!

Moving?

We have decided to pursue the option of moving up to the Philadelphia area in the summer of 2009. My brother Will and his wife Mariana attend Rutgers law school in NJ and my other brother Ben and his wife Ramona are moving this June to that area to work and pursue an education. I also have other extended family that live in the Philadelphia suburbs. It has been 16 years since I have lived near any of my immediate (or extended) family and we just can't pass up the opportunity of living closer to my siblings for a little while!

So even though we have more than a year to move we are starting to do things like put our house up for sale and plan some scouting trips up to the area.

We are excited about the change but also sad to say a temporary goodbye to this area that holds so many dear memories and where we feel so loved by family and church friends.

Mercy's Chosen Children - What will happen?

Many of you know that a few years ago (I think about 6 now) I left my job with the state Family & Children Services (DFCS) to start Mercy's Chosen Children. MCC has been placing children from the state system in Christian foster and adoptive homes for about 4 years now. It has been so exciting to see God work in the lives of the children and families that we serve.

Now, due to a number of factors MCC is facing some huge financial difficulties. We currently have the funds only to operate until the end of this month (March). My staff have all been very enthusiastic and we are working hard to raise additional money and recruit more families to foster and/or adopt. We have given ourselves the deadline of giving it all that we have until the end of this month and then seeing what God has for us based on the response that we get.

We are planning a big Chili Cook Off Fundraiser on Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. If you live in my area and want to attend please call or email me! If you don't live in my area and want to donate funds - let me know!

Please pray that God will provide the funds that we need to keep operating if that is His will.

Schooling

Aaron is using every spare minute of his time to finish his final project and prepare for the oral examinations for his Masters of Education degree. I am learning just how selfish I am because I so much miss having my alone time that he used to give me by taking over the bath and bedtime routine for the kids. But I am doing my best to love and serve my husband during this time. We will be so glad when he graduates!

Quiet Sunday

Sunday was a restful and relaxing day for us after a very busy and tiring week. It was nice to come home after church and spend the afternoon together playing and resting. Here are some snaps of our day.

This is what I witness every morning. As soon as Jeremiah hears Nathaniel stirring (in our bed) he says, "Oh, let's go get Mo-fan-nul!" and goes running into our room. As soon as Nathaniel sees his brother's face he breaks into a huge grin and starts talking to Jeremiah, trying to touch him. It is the sweetest thing ever.

Jeremiah got finger paints from Uncle Caleb & Aunt Monica. He loves them. He has already learned about primary colors and I used the song that Aunt Linda taught us so long ago to teach him what primary colors create what secodary colors! Such a smart kid.

Jeremiah has started wanting to wrestle more with Nathaniel. Here he is laying on top of Nathaniel and "tickling" him. Nathaniel was laughing hysterically. He loves any kind of attention his brother will give him.

Still confessing...but completely forgiven

My pondering of Proverbs 31 as well as Travis' sermon series on the confession of sin have led to a lot of contemplation in my life in the past few weeks. I am finding so much refreshment in the knowledge that no matter how deep my failure and sin God's grace has already covered it!

We sang this hymn in church this past Sunday. It has become a favorite of mine.

Jesus I Come

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night

Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.

Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my sickness into Thy health,

Out of my want and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thyself,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

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Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,

Out of life's storms and into Thy calm.

Our of distress into jubilant psalm,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

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Out of unrest and arrogant pride,

Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.

Into Thy blessed will to abide,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Our of myself to dwell in Thy love,

Our of despair to raptures above.

Upward forever on wings like a dove,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

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Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.

Into the joy and light of Thy home,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the depths of ruin untold,

Into Thy peaceful, sheltering fold.

Ever Thy glorious face to behold,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Lots of new accomplishments

This is why they recalled the Bumbo seats to put the warning on them. :-)

Nathaniel figured out how to actually get water out of his sippy cup!

This past week has been full of new accomplishments in the lives of both of the boys. The most momentous being the fact that Jeremiah seems to have been completely potty trained in the span of just a few days. I am still afraid to get too excited but it really does seem that he has it all figured out. He even asked to go potty while we were in Bi-Lo the other day. Thank goodness Aaron was with us to take him. I am still not sure how it happened so easily, but I am not going to complain. This success has nothing to do with my skill as a mother but is a direct result of the intelligence of my son. And so we enter a new stage of growth and learning. And when I look at Jeremiah there I see some new maturity there that I can't quite put my finger on.

Nathaniel too has had a busy week in terms of his development. He now loves to sit up all by himself. He is very taken with his toys and will intently play with them manipulating them with his pudgy fingers and of course chewing on them. He has also figured out how to roll from his back to his stomach and so does multiple rolls now to get to where he wants to go. He is very motivated to crawl in order to get to his brother and take things from his brother. He has the desire to crawl but has not figured out the technique yet.

So life moves on and as I watch my boys develop and enjoy their latest accomplishments I am thankful for God's goodness to us.