Music

Sometimes we turn off the radio just to get the full effect of Owen's symphony.

Boxes

With new things come boxes... and with boxes come tons and tons of fun! Owen loved his car-seat box... primarily that he could "open" and "close" the flaps- such things are a great delight to him now :).

The "no" game

New Things

In the way of getting new and fun things we have had a big week. In actuality, we had a big week through Owen. Owen officially grew out of his infant seat. The weight limit goes up to 22 lbs and we are barely squeezing him in there. Since we drive on ice the majority of the time now we figured that safety was a big deal. We decided to get him the Britax Boulevard seat. It was a bit more expensive but it is one of the safest seats and the weight limit goes up to 65 lbs. (most others only go up to 40 lbs.) so in the long run we won't have to buy him another seat as soon (if at all). He seems to like it better than his infant seat and didn't fuss a bit.


Owen also finally got his big Christmas present from us. We ordered it from Toys R Us in time to get here for Christmas but it got lost in the mail. So, he is now a Radio Flyer boy. He loves being dragged around in his wagon around the house. When it stops snowing like crazy outside we are going to take him on a little walk. His favorite thing about it is the sound toys make when they get banged against the metal part.

We've been blessed to so far only have had to buy diapers 3-4 times for Owen. However, we have been thinking about switching to cotton diapers to save money and because we see how much we have to throw away. I started researching awhile ago but was overwhelmed and confused by all the options. After much research and talking to moms we ventured out and bought four bum genius 3.0 diapers to try them. They seem like they will be pretty great. They fit kids from 5-35 lbs. so we will only have to buy one kind for Owen and use them again if the Lord blesses us with more kids. They work just like a disposable diaper (no folding, velcro straps) but that you can wash. I'll keep you updated with how all that works out when we get them in the mail :).

James 3

America's Ugly Gospel

This is an amazing bit of truth from John Piper. Well worth your time... more so than "Charlie bit me".

Blast to the near-past

So... I was doing what I'm not supposed to do and looking around on facebook and found a few AMAZING pics that I didn't know were out there on Becky's profile... and I just had to share. Once upon a time Becky and Chris babysat Owen at their place and what that turned into was Owen's first video game experience. Yes, this is real footage. This is Chris "babysitting" Owen. This will go down in history.

Also, we had an ugly sweater contest with our church-plant team and yes, we look quite ugly. Enjoy. By the way, Matt won runner up and we won "ugliest family".

Snow-life

So, we've been busy that last few days! I haven't gotten to play in the snow yet so I was blessed to see it as more than a white, cold blanket. Saturday Matt and I went snow-shoeing and Melissa blessed us and watched Owen for a few hours so that we could. Sunday I went snowboarding with a lot of people from the team and Matt watched Owen for me.

Sunday night Eric gave a phenomenal sermon about the great success rate we have as we invest in our sanctification as opposed to investing in other things that carry quite a risk and are only temporal. I will try to see if I can upload sermons on this blog... it is a good one.

I got my haircut with Becky on Wednesday and she talked me into cutting it short again... so I did :).

Owen has for sure learned the meaning of "no" and sometimes moves away from the "no object" and sometimes smiles at me and touches it anyway. I think he's the cutest thing in the world. He's gotten very, very good at the scoot so I've uploaded a video to show it off.

Best video

This has to be my favorite video ever... excluding those of Owen of course.  

Still in Jackson

I made this blog awhile ago but didn't keep up on it.  It seems like moving (again), Christmas, and having company tied me up a bit.  I feel like things are actually starting to run smoothly so maybe I can give this another shot and keep up friends/family up on our lives.  We've been in Jackson five months now (it goes so fast) and are still loving it and so thankful that we are here.  The church plant is going well by God's grace and we are learning lots.  Owen just turned 7 months and has just gotten a new tooth, started sitting up (6.5 months) and crawling/scooting (a week ago).  He's looking more and more like a little boy and less like my little helpless bundle.  

My new favorite verse:

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (Hebrews 11: 24-26)

Compliments of my discipleship time with Leslie I am striving to think of this verse and the glories of heaven and the rewards there when I am tempted to sin.  It is well worth it to give up sin as I am tempted and to choose rather the heavenly reward.  Choosing to sin is like choosing a candy bar in the moment rather than a real estate investment in the future... however that works in your mind.  Haha it looks funny in writing.