My Sleeping Beauties!

Ah the summer life! We must need to go back to school if this is all we have to do!

Does this diaper make me look fat?

Here are some recent pictures and a video of our, umm, "healthy" baby girl! (When our friends who haven't seen her in a while take a look at her, they call her "healthy" but we know they mean "fat".

Here is a video of Meredith in here "Baby Einstein Jumper". I tried to get here while she was talking, but of course once the camera came out all she wanted to do was stare!

She sleeps!

Meredith has slept through the night four nights in a row, usually for about 8-10 hours each time! The picture below is one that we took on our way to Iowa last week. When we travel, she sleeps the whole time (like her Mommy).

Life here on Lilac Lane

Just last week I sat in the rocking chair in Meredith's bedroom and stared out the window thinking, "God has blessed me with a healthy family, a nice home, a good job, enough money to pay the bills, etc. I am so content. I am so happy."

BAAM! God heard me last week and decided to flip things upside down. Turmoil with the family in South Dakota, sleepless nights worrying, stressful job because school starts next week, a house we want for sale in the perfect location for the perfect price, the price of Meredith's babysitter goes up and she hasn't even been there yet, finding out there's no pay increase for us when we get our masters degrees this year, not enough time in the day to get everything done, eight dollars in the checking account, the car is in the shop for the third time this year... and the list goes on.

What to do? Dad just reminded me that life can easily go well; but, it is how you handle the times when you do have trials and stresses that will allow you to obtain eternal life. My boss just asked me an hour ago to lead a faculty devotion next week on these verses from the book of Hebrews:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entagles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

My summary of these verses:
The Christian life is pictured as a long-distance race. Don't drop out of the race when things get tough, but refer to examples of those individuals in the Bible who stood strong. Concentrate on Jesus, who ran his race and suffered more than we will ever have to suffer--a great encouragement for us when we are weary and tempted to become discouraged by the trials of life.

A few verses later, it states "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

Endure hardship as discipline! I can hear my husband a few years from now "disciplining" Meredith in this manner when she has to endure some kind of hardship: "Suck it up princess. That's life."

No relation to Elvis

In her "Einstein"

Meredith has graduated to her "Baby Einstein" activity center. We usually put her in it a few times a day for 10 minute intervals. She is starting to use her legs more and can sit in it now unsupported by pillows or blankets. She loves staring at the sun--and drooling while she does it!

Meredith & Wesley!

Last night our friends Matt and Amanda came over for supper. They brought their new son, Wesley. Wesley was born the same day as Meredith. The two are very comparable in size and weight at this point. Here's some fun pics of them.

Can you tell that Meredith just woke up? She usually has that "deer-in-the-headlights" look when she wakes up.

They're not as intrigued with eachother as they probably will be someday.

Notice that the babes are happier with their mommies!