Day #2 Arriving at the beach
Spring became thicker and thicker around us as we travelled south.  

Vacation 2011 day 1

Vacation day #1 staying at Aunt Kim and Uncle Bob's house in Chattanooga on our way down south.  We left the snow this morning to afternoon forsythia and trees flowering around us and I breath the spring green smells. We arrived in the early afternoon.  Their house is so lovely and relaxed.  We felt at home right away, as always.  The kids were drawn out to the sprawling yard where they were sheperded by Oreo the dog.

We had a yummy home cooked meal and a good night's sleep on the boy's beds who are away to college just now.  In the morning I woke early and stole some quiet time away on the porch with scripture and my book. 

 I counted my blessings along with Ann Voscamp's book, only I never use numbers :) Thank you God for Kristie and Bob and thier easy going hospitality.  Thank you for a beautiful yard to run in as we rest from the car ride today.

Then I join my daughter who is climbing the big magnolia tree. 

 I climb up and look down at her.  "Mommy I'm climbing  a tree just like I dreamed I did!" she says from the branch 1ft off the ground.

I look down at her and hug the sweet tree.  It has the same personality as my husband I think.  He is  a strong, safe, welcoming congenial, southern man.  If you've ever climbed a Magnolia you undersand what I mean.  She picks wildflowers to leave with a thank you note for Aunt Kim

and Jonathan chases the dog around the yard.

and  I think spring at my feet now and by the evening we'll be breathing salty beach air. 

the story of the day Jonathan was born

I get a little sentimental every year about this time.  In my mind I am rocking my days old little boy.  The story of how he came into the world;
I was really pregnant and at church up front with Ted, both of us being prayed for by Minnie Coleman, a visiting minister.  "I pray that their would be no Fear!" she said and I started laughing, and so did Ted.  I really needed that no fear prayer!  A song plays in the background;
"The more I seek you,The more I find youThe more I find you, the more I love youI wanna sit at your feetDrink from the cup in your hand.Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beatThis love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming" Kari Jobe

We went home and I took a long nap.  I had a vivid dream that I was back up at the front of the church this time being prayed for by all the ladies there as they lovingly encircled me.  Suddenly I said "5, 6, 5, 6, 88!, 99!, 88!, 99!".  What a funny dream I thought when I woke up.  Numbers are not really my thing, why would I dream about saying them.  An older friend called then and I asked him what he thought it could mean.


He said,  "4 deals with God's creative works or Earth Creation,  four is always used when referring to God's creation. 5 deals with grace and redemption - God's grace or life that's moved by the spirit.  8 means one who abounds in strength.   eight is also used in reference to fertility. It has also been used when referring to the Resurrection or new beginnings.  9 deals with judgment or the finality of things. It describes the perfect movement of God."  "And what about double numbers, like 88, 99?" I asked, "That means it is going to take place soon" He said.  About then I felt a contraction.  So the numbers moved from creation and grace to strength and new life that would be coming soon.   


Contractions came off and on through the night as I slept or tried to sleep in between.  At 4 am we called our friend Beth and had her come and stay with Dorathea (and at 7 take her to her friend Waide's house)  as we went to the hospital.  At the hospital I had some early back labor and my midwife sent me home after a few hours.  I struggled at home as the labor came on strong and finally went back to the hospital about 11:00am.  


At the hospital I meditated and listened to meditation cd for two hours and then when focusing became difficult I prayed and felt like god was saying to do whatever I needed to do to enjoy this miracle that was about to happen.  I new I was tired and at a turning point painwise.  I decided got an epidural.  As the pain subsided I had two duolas helping me, my husband encouraging me right in front of me and a great midwife and nurse all working together, what a great team. I felt very well taken care of!  


Pushing was easy and Jonathan was born into the world as I laughed at a joke the midwife told.  As I held my beautiful healthy boy in my arms I asked Ted what name he thought was right.  James?  "No, his name is Jonathan" Ted said.  "How do you know?' I asked.  "I heard God tell me just now"   Jonathan seemed just right for him.  And I had had more than one person tell me he would be filled with the spirit like John the Baptist.  Jonathan means "God gives" in Hebrew.

The nausea that plagued me for 9 months was gone, and the difficult time I had had at work (another long story) had melted into peace at home.  I held my little boy those first few days and the words echoed in my mind :

"The more I seek you,The more I find youThe more I find you, the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feetDrink from the cup in your hand.Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beatThis love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming"

As his breath rose and fell in the circle of my arms, I could feel bigger arms holding me as I in turn rose and fell against His chest.  Their had been nothing to fear, only my grace turning into my strength and this new life, the life of a child who is also a seeker.

Magic Markers

Dorathea received a package one day in the mail from my mother. We opened it and found, along with new clothes and toys, there was a set of magic markers. She immediately asked for some blank paper on which to use her new markers.

Then, I noticed that she was not actually marking on the paper, but repeatedly waving the marker over the page. With a frustrated look she tried it again. Then she put the cap back on that marker, took out another one, and again waived that one over the page. The frustrated look returned.

Unable to contain my mounting curiosity, I asked, "Dorathea, what are you doing?" She replied, "These markers aren't magic! They're just regular markers! [loud sigh]"

Knock Knock

I was deep in an intellectually stimulating conversation with Dorathea (4) and Jonathan (18m) at the dinner table, just the 3 of us, one evening. Dorathea had been launching knock-knock jokes at me, when suddenly she decided to launch one at her little brother. "Jonathan! - Knock, knock?" Having the restricted vocabulary of a 1-and-a-half-year-old, he replied, "Boo, beh." Without the slightest hesitation, Dorathea continues, "Interrupting cow." Jonathan [?]asked, "dah doo la dah mah da...." - "MOOOOOOO!" Dorathea interjected, and erupted into little-girl hysterics. Jonathan smiled and squealed loudly.

I think I laughed harder than they did.

Treasure in jars of clay

"For God who made the light shine in the darkness let his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all-surpasing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:6+7  -our study verse today
She made this playdough "Jar of clay"  for the light of Christ to shine in. "Do you know where God puts his treasure Dorathea?".  "On the pirate ship with the map?"

Counting my blessings and you are most of them

1.  That my son has the vigor and health to cry loudly (right now)
2. 2 children that love each other
3. A reading husband
4. A sweet shelter from the storm
5. An abundance of fresh food to feed my family (and bunnies)
6. Homemade Apple pie
7. Little girls who giggle whenever they are in the water.

13. Sweeping my daughter through the river water as she clings to me

14. visit alone to my small town library
15. Sharing blackberry cobbler with D at the Hillsville country store
16. Remembering we were hear a year after our marriage, a year after Dorathea, now a year after Jonathan.18.  holding onto my favorite little girl hand as we hike
19. little chubby boy who rushes at his mommy head first to get a hug
20. Daddy who loves to carry his children on his back Clean and Asleep babies home from the lake

31.  Many Girlfriends by the lakewater
32. Babies gathered around us in the sand
33. "Mom, I had so much fun today!"
34.  Chorus of Chinese ladies giggling and talking with a talkative Dorathea
37.  Child's pose with Dorathea
38.  Sit ups a baby on my feet and on in the air
40. Father-Daughter Tennis
41. Little boy who stands at the door and says bye bye when you put his shoes on
42. Dorathea tickling Jonathan with bear paws of her bear costume,
43. Boys with a lion costume on who wag their tails as they hug you 
45. Cute bear and lion on the couch laughing