Marvelous.

Almost Easter {and where is that birth story!?}

Hi friends!

I am trying to come to terms with the fact that I spent many hours writing Wyndham's birth story and that blogger then decided to somehow spontaneously delete it. I couldn't believe my eyes, but I went to post the birth story for everyone and all that was there were the pictures-no text. :( This was particularly frustrating because I typed a lot of it with one hand while holding the baby with the other! Rest assured, I want Wynn's story told because it is important to me and I want to have it documented here for the selfish reason that I never want to forget one minute of that scary but truly awesome night. So I will not be defeated and I will write it. AGAIN. Thank you for your patience.

In the meantime, I thought I would repost the photos from my Easter brunch last year. I LOVE to decorate a table for a party and Easter brunch tops my list of favorite projects. I didn't think I would have the energy to do much this year for Easter but I am so overwhelmed by my love for my son right now and the concept of birth and new life that I want to throw a real party to celebrate the wonder of our most amazing Lord and the wonder of His Resurrection. Stay tuned to see what I come up with . . . For now, if you missed this last year, are photos from Easter brunch 2009.

God bless and Love,

Dear Wynn {The Birdhouse}

Dear Wynn,

I carried you in my heart for many years before I carried you inside my body, and now, in my arms.

While you were in my heart, sweet boy, I talked to Jesus often. I prayed that he would send you down from heaven so that you could be my darling babe. And so that I could be your mommy. How I craved you with my whole heart.

The Lord chose to not send you right away. I believe the angels were having too much fun with you in heaven. They weren't ready to give you up. I bet they cuddled you close and smelled your sweet warm skin and played with your fine hair. Did you rest in His holy arms? Were you there when my prayers reached His throne? How I wish you could talk while that memory is fresh and share heaven with me here and now.

While I waited and yearned for God to send you to daddy and me, God sent a different gift in the form of a lesson. The lesson of patience. And obedience. Mommy learned to wait on God and pray for His will, not my own. I wasn't always a good student. Sometimes I would pray to God for His will and cry tears wishing for my own. I bought things for you-clothes and once a cloth diaper. Daddy wasn't sure this was a good idea. "What if you never made your appearance?" He was afraid it would be even harder for mommy to have sweet baby things in the room that was waiting for you, here, in the New Old House.

Then one April morning, when it was cool and rainy and otherwise nondescript, God answered my prayer. For the second time in my life, I felt the presence of God speak inaudibly to me, telling me most clearly that I would give birth to a baby that coming March. Just like that, simple as His truth and complex as the holy spirit whispering to me as I stood in the bathroom on cold tile floor, ready to climb into the shower. Bare in more ways than one; unworthy me, present before a perfect Lord. There he revealed the gift of you. I stopped fretting and wondering when you would come. He told me. I believed. And therefore I knew.

Months past and summer came, hot and sunny. I waited on the Lord to fulfill His promise. I walked by faith, not by sight. I believed but I couldn't quite see you. You were always just a step ahead of me. Still, I waited on the Lord for big things. I believed the Lord for you, my son.

The first weekend in July, daddy went out of town. When he came home, he brought me a birdhouse in the shape of a chapel. That same day, I brought home a pregnancy test. It was probably the 50th pregnancy test that I took, watching for the first indication that you had begun your journey to us. I took that test and I knew the answer before the two lines slowly appeared like a glimpse into the future. I knew the test had to be positive that month if you were in fact to be born in March, as God had promised. Sure enough, the message of the Lord was suddenly tangible before me. And I rejoiced.

I walked downstairs and met daddy in the living room and turned on our wedding song, Fields of Gold. I held daddy close and we danced. I was trembling. No moment can ever replace that moment for me, that feeling of being bathed in a warm light of God's awesome blessing, when, toward the end of our song, I stood on my tippy toes and whispered in daddy's ear:

"I am pregnant."

I will never forget the look on daddy's face, as he was lit from within with the promise of you. I remember I was wearing a green sundress and that daddy picked me up and kissed me and twirled me around the living room. I remember I felt beautiful. I remember I felt beautiful because of you. Oh how we celebrated the joy of the Lord that evening! We basked in the blessing of you. Mommy will never forget.

Several days later daddy put the birdhouse in the backyard. It sat empty all winter long, and you grew bigger and stronger inside me. Several days before you were born, I looked out the kitchen window and found that a family of birds had made their nest in our birdhouse. Soon now baby birds will be born. And now you too are here. I will carry you outside this spring and show you the nest and listen to the sweet chirps of new life. I will tell you about the Lord as I know Him this side of heaven. I will teach you how too see the little things and thereby recognize His voice. It is the least I can do for you, my tiny miracle, my living reminder of the one true living God. The finest example of the endless bounds of His love.

All my love my darling boy, on this your 13th day of life,


Mommy

Our Master Bedroom on HGTV.com!

Taking a time-out from the baby cuteness to admit that I have been keeping a big secret!!

We were asked to submit photos to HGTV of our master bedroom to be included in an article on HGTV.com covering bedroom decorating ideas for any price-point. The article is now up on HGTV.com! and that means I can share the rest of the photos from our photo shoot here on the blog! I have been so excited to share these photos since they were shot last month! I don't think that I've shared photos of our bedroom before and it has become my favorite room in the house. It feels like a retreat, particularly now with Wynn in the house because it is where I sit and rock him with the windows open in the spring air. This room for me is so peaceful. It even includes my childhood favorite sheer white drapes.

Details: Bedding, rugs, drapes- Pottery Barn, all furniture- antiques including 1850s bed from Mr. M's side of the family which was a wedding gift to us; large white picture frames-Kohls; large dresser mirror-Lowes; lamps-Target; flooring is brazillian walnut-Lumber Liquidators

HGTV article: click here!

Namesake

I ordered these custom-made jammies from blog sponsor, Tiny Sprouts. They are, hands down, my favorite piece in Mr.Wynn's wardrobe. I am going to need a new pair for every size he grows into!


By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

Proverbs 24:3-4

At home in the new old house:

where my kitchen has never been cleaner because I have the most amazing mother who has been loving on us intensely this past week.

where a sleepy baby naps in the sunshine

And takes in this new life in God's beautiful world.

Where Grandpa bonds with his new fishin' buddy

Where there are a million and one kisses

and where a new mommy falls deeper in love everyday with the wonder that is her baby Wynn.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Matthew 6:33

P.S. Wynn's jaundice is MUCH better and we no longer have to keep him on the blanket or go in for follow-up blood draws-just plenty of sunshine and breast milk. My birth story is coming any day now and yes, photos of the nursery soon as well! :)

Sent

I originally shared this devotional when the blog was brand new and I had maybe one dozen visitors each day. It is one of my favorites and I think of it often, so I wanted to share it again. I pray that it speaks to you today.

Sent

by John Fischer

(photos by me, text emphasis mine, guest models: my wonderful nephews A & B)

Sometimes I act as if I'm just muddling through life.

I'm lucky if I make it through a day.

People ask me how I'm doing and I hear myself say -- "Oh, I'm hanging in there, just barely."

Then I remember Christ praying to the Father: "As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world," and I have to ask myself: Do I sound like someone who has been "sent?"

If I have been sent, then I am on a mission, and if I am on a mission, how can I just be muddling through life? Somehow I don't think muddling is in my mission statement.

I'm thinking of Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 where he says that he is always being lead in a public display and is manifesting, wherever he goes, something real about the nature of his faith in Christ, and it is always having an effect on people, and I realize God can accomplish this mission in spite of what is currently happening in my life.

Paul even makes this statement right after he has confessed his anxiety over plans not going as expected (verses 12-13). Even then, he could still say he was being lead on a mission. That means nothing can stop us because nothing can stop God's work in our lives.

It would be great today if when people ask how I am, I could say, even if it's just to myself, "I'm on a mission," because I am. I'm on a mission to love God today with all my heart, and let that love reflect in all I do. I'm on a mission to love those closest to me -- to be ruled by care and compassion. I'm on a mission to tell my story to anyone who wants to hear it. I'm on a mission to manifest the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ wherever I go. All this can happen regardless of the circumstances in my life. I don't get to muddle through anything.

How about you today?

Have you been sent?

(Look up!)

Then you aren't just hanging in there; you are on a mission.

Be aware of it today, and look for what God has for you, because you were sent.

And then there was Wynn

I am so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love toward Wynn, Mr. Marvelous and myself from all of you. THANK YOU!!! I am working on writing Wynn's birth story to share here-it is a doozy. Suffice it to say I did end up eating my words when I said here last week that I wasn't nervous about childbirth. I can't wait to share my story-Wynn's story. It is coming!

Here are some photos from Wynn's first days. We have been home from the hospital for 24 hours and are getting our footing with our new little treasure :)

Every time I look at him the words from my favorite song of all time-"Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley run through my head:

"AND EVERY BREATH WE DREW WAS HALLELUJAH."

Amen.

P.S. If you are thinking "gosh that baby looks yellow," it is because Wynn has jaundice :( I would love your prayers for him so that we can get him off the billi blanket he has to lay on all day long-attached to the wall :(

P.P.S. Please excuse typos, misspellings and the like as this is my absolute best at posting with one hand, nursing with the other, and blurred vision from VERY little sleep

P.P.S. He is worth it. Oh precious Jesus, how he is worth it. Thank, thank you, thank you Lord for my rare and beautiful treasure.