Just checking if the wheels still turn...

It's been a long while for me, and this was only about 30 minutes of work which many would say is harldy enough revising, but I was just feeling a little inspired I suppose.

My grateful debt
Suddenly beside myself
I find myself outside myself.
For he sits and he grins and I know I can’t win.
I have discovered the whole of me
And it expands with his mystery.

As he grows I know that I can’t keep his soul,
But I have not mine without him.
I’ve somehow been rendered helpless.
When a moment without him I’m restless,
And he rules each breath and each whim.

I cannot desire more joy and more life
And would give mine to him if that were the price
As I ponder his childhood’s short place in my arms
I am indebted to God for his place in my heart.
-Shalie Chapman

Happy Birthday!

Josh has now hit his "late 20's!" - we had a little party on his birthday-day at home before we went out, where he got some paintball gear as his gift, which Kyler was VERY interested in. Then on Sunday we had a get-together at Josh's parent's house to celebrate Josh's birthday, Jack's birthday, and Hannah's birthday. Towards the bottom is a pic of Jack who loaded one corner of his cake wih all the candles(I won't say how many;)), I wish I had a pic of it lit up, because it turned into one huge flame!

Snowy Yelling

This was a week or two ago, when we got like a foot of snow in a matter of 5 hours and Kyler had to go inspect the yard and driveway(he LOVES to trample through the snow in his big boots). Josh was outside with him and I was standing at the window with it cracked a little bit, and Kyler is telling me all about the snow! Sorry the video is so short and so dark!

THE BRIDGE BUILDER

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim--
That sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when he reached the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting strength in building here.
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old grey head.
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."
-Will Allen Dromgoole

Baby Leah

Kyler's cousin baby Leah Lynn Chapman was born into Jake and Jenn's family last week. She was 6lbs10oz and 19" long. Isaac and Kyler were very cute at the hospital with her, Isaac was already protective of his little sister, and both boys were giving her kisses(when they weren't playing with the balloons and chasing each other around). Congrats!

Random pics...

Alright, well I have just some random pictures of what we've been up to so far in 2009...

Here are pics of a taggies-type blanket and block that I made for Kyler's newborn cousin Leah(Jake and Jenn's new baby), below that is Kyler playing one of his new favorite games - his version of hide-and-seek that is more like hide-and-"stuck" - he loves to get himself stuck in the most difficult places and cry for us to get him out. You'd think he was starving for attention or something. Then just a cute pic of Kyler eating a banana like a big-boy.

Okay, let's see... a pic of Kyler and mommy napping in the recliner - I just LOVE cuddling with him, and a picture of a Valentines Day doorhanging that I made - without a pattern!, and the headboard Josh built for our bed(it's since been painted black and attached to our bed, I need to take a new pic).