Soooo, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Happy June! Our days have been a bit full. In the last 3 weeks, we moved houses, celebrated my 28th birthday, began attending church again (in an outside venue), Anna began teething and I weaned off pumping (hello, hormones).

A new home

One day we were daydreaming and sketching up a house plan to someday build, and a few days later we were visiting one built near family land. The day before we came to see it, we prayed, talked, even fasted, seeking the Lord and thinking wisely about the possibility of buying the house.

A few hours after we came to see it, we made an offer. A few hours later and some back and forth with another buyer, we were under contract! The entire time, John and I kept checking in with each other, and we both felt a contentment and peace with the number we had decided on. We have this running standard when it comes to big spending: if it stops us from being as generous as we want to be, and as God calls us to be, it’s too expensive.

A few weeks later, in two days our wonderful friends and family helped us move. We’ve seen more wildlife in two weeks here than in the 5 years in our other neighborhood: turtles, deer, all kinds of birds, rabbits and our neighbor’s donkey (who we named George).

A birthday

John asked me at the end of the day if I had a good birthday. After a few beats, I said Yes, but it was a different kind of good.

As you grow up, your birthday is the day you splurge, the day you get out of chores, the day you choose to do whatever you want to do, the day you get to eat the food you want, the day you have fun with friends. It’s a day all about you, and that’s fun and celebratory, right? Yes.

This was my first birthday as a mom. And while I had a great day — celebrated, loved, deeply thankful for the goodness of God in my life — it was a shared joy. Shared because I couldn’t simply lay on the couch all day with a chocolate chip cookie and a good book. I played, fed and cared for our daughter, fielding her need for diaper changes or a fresh toy or nap, enjoying her laughter. I was tempted to think, man, it’s my birthday, I wish I could do whatever I want. But in the same breath I knew what I wanted to be doing was loving John and Anna.

Pretty cool.

Two bottom teeth

She has two bottom teeth coming in! (Which calls for celebration and endurance.) I find myself asking God for extra grace, for her and us, and for wisdom in how best to care for her in the coming months.

Things working for us: a freezer teething toy, teething wafers, a cold washcloth, anything hard to chew on and a little Tylenol when needed.

Reads, listens and watches of late

Bridgetown Daily Podcast, Gentle and Lowly, Courageous Parenting, The Office, Ravi Zacharias’ Memorial Service, (A)Typical Woman