9.30.2010
MeeMaw and Pop
9.21.2010
guess who?
D. will be thirty (3-0) tomorrow! Kind of exciting, isn't it?
I am so grateful for this man every single day. I love him!
9.19.2010
his promises are true
This song has been so powerful for me recently. It is such a beautiful meditation on marriage, but it it also reminds us that
"we bear the light of the son of man /
So there’s nothing left to fear /
So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands /
Till the shadows disappear /
Cause he promised not to leave us /
And his promises are true"
I promise this three minutes is worth your time.
"we bear the light of the son of man /
So there’s nothing left to fear /
So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands /
Till the shadows disappear /
Cause he promised not to leave us /
And his promises are true"
I promise this three minutes is worth your time.
9.14.2010
on holiness
D. and I are both graduates of Asbury College, now called Asbury University, in Wilmore, Kentucky. (everyone who reads this blog knows that, I think.)
In Hughes Auditorium, on Asbury's campus, the words "Holiness Unto the Lord" are inscribed above the pipe organ. I tried to paste a picture here, but I live seven hours away, and I was afraid I was stealing someone else's copyright.
As a college freshman, I really had no idea what this phrase meant. "Holiness Unto the Lord." Hmmm... that sounds great. Inspirational. Intimidating. Yes.
I had the chance, as all Asbury students do, to take a class on Christian Theology. Mine was with Dr. Miller. He's the best, in my opinion. Our textbook for this class was entitled Grace, Faith & Holiness: A Wesleyan Systematic Theology. What I remember from that class is that a lot of other people fell asleep while I mostly stayed awake because (a) I loved Dr. Miller's lectures (b) I am a dork, and (c) I drank a diet coke every day right before the class. The other thing I remember is that we talked about the concept of holiness, and that I began to understand why the words "Holiness Unto the Lord" were inscribed in such a prominent place in Hughes. My friends whose parents and grandparents went to Asbury probably already knew or had at least some kind of understanding, but this was new to me.
John Wesley, theologian, founder of Methodism, and most importantly, follower of Jesus, talked a lot about holiness. He said that all followers of Christ are called to live holy lives. Here is a quotation from one of his sermons:
And being taught of Him who was meek as well as lowly in heart, we shall then be enabled to "walk with all meekness;" being taught of Him who teacheth as never man taught, to be meek as well as lowly in heart. This implies not only a power over anger, but over all violent and turbulent passions. It implies the having all our passions in due proportion; none of them either too strong or too weak; but all duly balanced with each other; all subordinate to reason; and reason directed by the Spirit of God. (1872)
I remember struggling with this idea as a college student. I am called to be holy, but this feels impossible. Unreachable. I cannot do this, so maybe I should just not go to chapel during Holiness Conference and take a nap. But I remember that one day during Dr. Miller's class on Christian theology we talked about how being holy doesn't meant that one doesn't sin. It means that a person responds with grief when he or she sins and asks for forgiveness. It means that this person is ready and willing to reconcile with the one he or she sinned against. Okay. Maybe I can do that.
These days, this teaching means a lot to me. When I look back at that quotation and see that Wesley mentions a "power over anger" and "having all our passions in due proportion," I am convicted. A certain three-year-old has the ability to make me very, very angry. Sometimes I do not speak to him in love. Sometimes I yell. Sometimes I lose my temper. A certain toddler is getting to the age where he begins to test his mother and push her buttons. He refuses to lie still for a diaper changing resulting in poop. Everywhere. This frustrates me. Exhaustion only serves to multiply these feelings.
Tonight, at bedtime, I apologized to both of my children for the times today when I responded in anger. Ezra can't talk much, but he hugged me close. Isaiah said, "Thanks, mom. I love you." Then he gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I am so grateful for this teaching about the importance of reconciliation that stuck with me from those long lectures on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. I pray that I can live a holy life, even if that means that I am willing to apologize when I wrong the ones I love.
In Hughes Auditorium, on Asbury's campus, the words "Holiness Unto the Lord" are inscribed above the pipe organ. I tried to paste a picture here, but I live seven hours away, and I was afraid I was stealing someone else's copyright.
As a college freshman, I really had no idea what this phrase meant. "Holiness Unto the Lord." Hmmm... that sounds great. Inspirational. Intimidating. Yes.
I had the chance, as all Asbury students do, to take a class on Christian Theology. Mine was with Dr. Miller. He's the best, in my opinion. Our textbook for this class was entitled Grace, Faith & Holiness: A Wesleyan Systematic Theology. What I remember from that class is that a lot of other people fell asleep while I mostly stayed awake because (a) I loved Dr. Miller's lectures (b) I am a dork, and (c) I drank a diet coke every day right before the class. The other thing I remember is that we talked about the concept of holiness, and that I began to understand why the words "Holiness Unto the Lord" were inscribed in such a prominent place in Hughes. My friends whose parents and grandparents went to Asbury probably already knew or had at least some kind of understanding, but this was new to me.
John Wesley, theologian, founder of Methodism, and most importantly, follower of Jesus, talked a lot about holiness. He said that all followers of Christ are called to live holy lives. Here is a quotation from one of his sermons:
And being taught of Him who was meek as well as lowly in heart, we shall then be enabled to "walk with all meekness;" being taught of Him who teacheth as never man taught, to be meek as well as lowly in heart. This implies not only a power over anger, but over all violent and turbulent passions. It implies the having all our passions in due proportion; none of them either too strong or too weak; but all duly balanced with each other; all subordinate to reason; and reason directed by the Spirit of God. (1872)
I remember struggling with this idea as a college student. I am called to be holy, but this feels impossible. Unreachable. I cannot do this, so maybe I should just not go to chapel during Holiness Conference and take a nap. But I remember that one day during Dr. Miller's class on Christian theology we talked about how being holy doesn't meant that one doesn't sin. It means that a person responds with grief when he or she sins and asks for forgiveness. It means that this person is ready and willing to reconcile with the one he or she sinned against. Okay. Maybe I can do that.
These days, this teaching means a lot to me. When I look back at that quotation and see that Wesley mentions a "power over anger" and "having all our passions in due proportion," I am convicted. A certain three-year-old has the ability to make me very, very angry. Sometimes I do not speak to him in love. Sometimes I yell. Sometimes I lose my temper. A certain toddler is getting to the age where he begins to test his mother and push her buttons. He refuses to lie still for a diaper changing resulting in poop. Everywhere. This frustrates me. Exhaustion only serves to multiply these feelings.
Tonight, at bedtime, I apologized to both of my children for the times today when I responded in anger. Ezra can't talk much, but he hugged me close. Isaiah said, "Thanks, mom. I love you." Then he gave me a kiss on the cheek.
I am so grateful for this teaching about the importance of reconciliation that stuck with me from those long lectures on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. I pray that I can live a holy life, even if that means that I am willing to apologize when I wrong the ones I love.
9.12.2010
on being a TV Nazi
It's true. I am a TV Nazi.
I always told myself I wouldn't be... mainly because I did not want to be like my own mom and dad.
In my house growing up, we always had only one TV. (shocking!) There were no TV's in kids' bedrooms, there was no cable, and my parents carefully selected the shows and movies we watched. They were always suitable for the entire family.
Yes, I grew up on PBS. I found This Old House and Wild America to be very entertaining as a child. This was pretty much all we were allowed to watch. Well, we did watch Little House on the Prairie sometimes too. I am learning that it is pretty much inevitable that I will be a lot like my parents, and the truth is that they really are amazing people, so I don't mind being like them.
As D. and I have talked and thought about the habits we have in our home on a day-to-day basis, we have thought about some of the following things:
We want to teach our kids to live into God's story. This story is living, alive, and active. Watching TV can be a passive activity. It doesn't engage our minds and our creativity in the same way that having conversations, reading books, playing outside, making crafts together, and really just living together do.
Having the TV on can be a way to avoid relationships rather than to practice living into healthy and intimate relationships. When the TV is on, there is always background noise, there is always something else or someone else entering into our lives at home. Whatever is on TV has a way of dominating the conversation and dictating what goes on in the room.
Relationships are more valuable than tasks. Sometimes when I have a lot of tasks or chores to get done around the house, it would be so much easier to turn on the TV so the boys would not try to "help" me sweep the floor or clean the kitchen. Or so that they would not argue as they play together, causing me to have to intervene. But the work of parenting is about much more than keeping a house clean or keeping kids fed--it is about cultivating healthy and intimate relationships with our children. This work is valuable whether we have something tangible to show for it at the end of the day or not.
There are other habits and practices that can invade our lives and have the same impact as watching TV--the internet and the mobile phone, for example. We don't have it all figured out, and we make a lot of mistakes, but we are doing our best to be intentional as we practice living into God's story.
I always told myself I wouldn't be... mainly because I did not want to be like my own mom and dad.
In my house growing up, we always had only one TV. (shocking!) There were no TV's in kids' bedrooms, there was no cable, and my parents carefully selected the shows and movies we watched. They were always suitable for the entire family.
Yes, I grew up on PBS. I found This Old House and Wild America to be very entertaining as a child. This was pretty much all we were allowed to watch. Well, we did watch Little House on the Prairie sometimes too. I am learning that it is pretty much inevitable that I will be a lot like my parents, and the truth is that they really are amazing people, so I don't mind being like them.
As D. and I have talked and thought about the habits we have in our home on a day-to-day basis, we have thought about some of the following things:
We want to teach our kids to live into God's story. This story is living, alive, and active. Watching TV can be a passive activity. It doesn't engage our minds and our creativity in the same way that having conversations, reading books, playing outside, making crafts together, and really just living together do.
 |
| a boy engaging in active play |
Relationships are more valuable than tasks. Sometimes when I have a lot of tasks or chores to get done around the house, it would be so much easier to turn on the TV so the boys would not try to "help" me sweep the floor or clean the kitchen. Or so that they would not argue as they play together, causing me to have to intervene. But the work of parenting is about much more than keeping a house clean or keeping kids fed--it is about cultivating healthy and intimate relationships with our children. This work is valuable whether we have something tangible to show for it at the end of the day or not.
 |
| laying by the open window and feeling the cool breeze first thing in the morning |
9.10.2010
a conversation
A few nights ago, Isaiah and I were reading together from The Jesus Storybook Bible. (Yes, I've written about it before, and yes, I will write about it again.)
On this night we read the story of the Prodigal Son together. This was our first time to read this story together as we are mainly focused on the stories of David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale and Jesus dying on the cross. (He wants to read about Jesus dying on the cross all the time. This is a bit puzzling to me.)
The story of the Prodigal Son is very important to me. One reason for this is because Henri Nouwen's book, The Return of the Prodigal, had such a significant impact on me.
So after reading the story, I look over at Isaiah and I say something like this: "Isaiah, I want you to know that no matter what, I will always love you. You can always know that I will be waiting for you to come home to me and that I will run when I see you coming."
Isaiah looks at me very seriously, and says something like this: "Ba ma da ka da ka!" (Gibberish.) He then cracks up laughing.
So I try again, with the same result the second time.
Hmmm.... I'm sure it's all sinking in. At least I hope so.
On this night we read the story of the Prodigal Son together. This was our first time to read this story together as we are mainly focused on the stories of David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale and Jesus dying on the cross. (He wants to read about Jesus dying on the cross all the time. This is a bit puzzling to me.)
The story of the Prodigal Son is very important to me. One reason for this is because Henri Nouwen's book, The Return of the Prodigal, had such a significant impact on me.
So after reading the story, I look over at Isaiah and I say something like this: "Isaiah, I want you to know that no matter what, I will always love you. You can always know that I will be waiting for you to come home to me and that I will run when I see you coming."
Isaiah looks at me very seriously, and says something like this: "Ba ma da ka da ka!" (Gibberish.) He then cracks up laughing.
So I try again, with the same result the second time.
Hmmm.... I'm sure it's all sinking in. At least I hope so.
9.08.2010
9.07.2010
Tractor, tractor
tractor
Originally uploaded by correna79
We traveled to Virginia this weekend to visit D.'s family. We had a wonderful time! (Including a movie date for D. and I.) There were lots of tractors, dogs, farms, and farm animals involved. Check my flickr for photos (link to the right) and I'll share more soon.
9.01.2010
right now we are loving
What we are enjoying right now:
Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies by Andrew Peterson
Isaiah's favorite song is "Tractor Tractor" and Ezra can even ask for it by name.
My favorite song is "You Can Always Come Home"
"I love you today / and I'll love you tomorrow / I love you as deep as the sea / I'll love you in joy / and I'll love you in sorrow / You can always come home to me"
Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies by Andrew Peterson
Isaiah's favorite song is "Tractor Tractor" and Ezra can even ask for it by name.
My favorite song is "You Can Always Come Home"
"I love you today / and I'll love you tomorrow / I love you as deep as the sea / I'll love you in joy / and I'll love you in sorrow / You can always come home to me"
I have been singing this song to Isaiah and Ezra at night before bedtime. I want so much for them to know that they are deeply loved. I want them to know that no matter what, I will always love them and have a place for them in my heart and in my home.
Isaiah is pretty much crazy about any book written by Richard Scarry. Unfortunately, these books are very, very long, so D. and I are maybe not quite as crazy about them. They are about a city called "Busytown" and I have been thinking about why Isaiah loves them so much. These books take a minute to pause and allow children to think about all of the seemingly mundane activities that take place around us. The guy who drives the backhoe is the hero of this book. So we own this book, but we have been going to the library and checking out all the Richard Scarry books they have in rotation.
Harry the Dirty Dog. But when Isaiah says it, it's pronounced "Dawg." This book was first published in 1956, and I love the illustrations and the language. But it is funny. It is funny both to me and to Isaiah, and that is why it's awesome.
Skippyjon Jones. This is a whole series of books, and I think the author is a genius. These are so funny and imaginative. Our library has a bunch of these that also have a CD in the back, and Isaiah loves to play the CD and turn the pages and look at the pictures. Ezra tries to follow along too. Skippyjon is a Siamese Cat who thinks he is a Chihuahua, and he just happens to speak with a Spanish accent. This is why the CD's are so great, because Uncle Miles is not here all the time to read with his amazing voices.
These are mainly about Isaiah, but right now Ezra still loves dogs, balls, and he has added trains to his passions. When we hear the train from our backyard he gets very excited and shouts "train! choo choo!" He also loves to read, and he brings us book after book.
If you're getting this via google reader, click through and look at the header I made last night! I'm excited about it, so act impressed.
8.31.2010
"Oh, no!" said the boy.
Isaiah has been talking in "book" language a lot lately.
Sometimes he narrates his own life: "'I'm hungry,' said Isaiah."
But he also enjoys narrating his play/imaginary world: "'Oh, no!' said the boy."
Sometimes I have to speak in book language to get him to hear me: "'It's time for your quiet time. Please go upstairs,' said the mama."
This boy of mine is getting to be so grown up, and I am loving him more every day. Lately, when I look at him I see a boy and not a baby or a toddler any more. Sometimes I feel sad about this, but sometimes I feel how our relationship is growing and it makes me so happy. We talk about things a lot--we really talk. I see his gentle spirit and compassionate heart. I laugh at his jokes. I hear him process his experiences at school (when I am not there) and I realize that he can and should grow without me there all the time. I am so proud of my boy and so grateful for him.
Oh, and just so you know, Ezra said "Read, please" for the first time today. So these two boys are taking after their book-obsessed parents. (Yes, when we moved, I think I estimated that we own between 400 and 500 books. That's a lot of books.)
Sometimes he narrates his own life: "'I'm hungry,' said Isaiah."
But he also enjoys narrating his play/imaginary world: "'Oh, no!' said the boy."
Sometimes I have to speak in book language to get him to hear me: "'It's time for your quiet time. Please go upstairs,' said the mama."
Oh, and just so you know, Ezra said "Read, please" for the first time today. So these two boys are taking after their book-obsessed parents. (Yes, when we moved, I think I estimated that we own between 400 and 500 books. That's a lot of books.)
8.30.2010
Donuts with Dad
1000000333
Originally uploaded by corrie_merricks
Today was "donuts with dad" at Isaiah's school.
How cute is this picture?
Sorry about the quality of the photo--It is a picture of a picture!
Happy Birthday!
Happy, happy birthday to my mom, Isaiah and Ezra's Mema. We are so grateful for you and we are so glad you were born!
8.27.2010
Seasons
Most of the time, Isaiah wants it to be his birthday TODAY. Or whenever we are going to someone else's birthday party.
In fact, on July Fourth, I told him that it was America's birthday. "NO. MY birthday," he said. "Well, tomorrow is your half birthday," I replied. So guess what we did on July the fifth? We baked cupcakes to celebrate a certain person's half birthday. Because if it's a birthday, obviously you have cake.
But lately, he has been able to tell people when they ask that his birthday is January 5th. (I know! He's brilliant, isn't he?)
And lately we've been talking about the holidays. See, in September, it will be Daddy's birthday, then next comes Halloween. After that will be Thanksgiving, and then it will be Christmas. After Christmas comes Isaiah's birthday! (I'm sure there was a time in your life when you measured the passage of time in the same way, right?) Sometimes he gets them mixed up, but he's been practicing. And sometimes, when I look at him I realize that this little boy of mine will be four on his next birthday. FOUR. Someone please tell me how that is possible.
Just in case you're in need of some inspiration, this is what is inspiring me for Halloween planning. You can't wait, can you? Neither can Isaiah.
In fact, on July Fourth, I told him that it was America's birthday. "NO. MY birthday," he said. "Well, tomorrow is your half birthday," I replied. So guess what we did on July the fifth? We baked cupcakes to celebrate a certain person's half birthday. Because if it's a birthday, obviously you have cake.
But lately, he has been able to tell people when they ask that his birthday is January 5th. (I know! He's brilliant, isn't he?)
And lately we've been talking about the holidays. See, in September, it will be Daddy's birthday, then next comes Halloween. After that will be Thanksgiving, and then it will be Christmas. After Christmas comes Isaiah's birthday! (I'm sure there was a time in your life when you measured the passage of time in the same way, right?) Sometimes he gets them mixed up, but he's been practicing. And sometimes, when I look at him I realize that this little boy of mine will be four on his next birthday. FOUR. Someone please tell me how that is possible.
Just in case you're in need of some inspiration, this is what is inspiring me for Halloween planning. You can't wait, can you? Neither can Isaiah.
8.25.2010
Toddler Backpack
Toddler Backpack
Originally uploaded by correna79
Since the boys were going to "school" this year, I had the idea that making them backpacks might help ease the transition a little bit. So I found this PDF pattern online and then I couldn't help but make it! I added front and side pockets to both backpacks, and I used elastic for the side pockets for sippy cups. The orange backpack is Isaiah's, and I made the pockets a little too short for a cup, but they do hold small toys. Click on the picture, and you can see Ezra's backpack as well.
I used a Japanese Cotton twill as the fabric. You can find it here. I am crazy about Japanese prints, and this is a little bit heavier than quilting weight cotton. It's not too heavy, though! I used fusible interfacing to strengthen the cotton. I do wish the backpacks were a little more sturdy, but overall, I love them and the boys do too!
This project was just the right mixture of fun and challenging for me. The hardest part was sewing the whole thing together and catching the piping, panels and pockets and making it all look good!
8.23.2010
Facebook Break
So I have a problem. I am trying to write my dissertation, but I have a full-blown internet addiction. I sit and take notes on a book... then I wander over to facebook to see what my friends are doing. Then I take a few more notes. Then I look at facebook again.
I have enjoyed my relationship with facebook. I have loved connecting with old and new friends. But I find myself in a new city trying to build new friendships, and I think facebook and I need to take a break.
As of today I have deactivated my account. Don't worry. I can reactivate when I'm ready. In the meantime, comment here. Or email me.
Read this article on this very topic by the amazing Miriam Slagle if you are so inclined.
I have enjoyed my relationship with facebook. I have loved connecting with old and new friends. But I find myself in a new city trying to build new friendships, and I think facebook and I need to take a break.
As of today I have deactivated my account. Don't worry. I can reactivate when I'm ready. In the meantime, comment here. Or email me.
Read this article on this very topic by the amazing Miriam Slagle if you are so inclined.
First Day of School
First Day of School
Originally uploaded by correna79
This post is late, but first I lost the cord that connects my camera to my computer, and then I had some trouble with the photo uploader on blogger. I think I've got it all figured out now!
The boys started preschool and Mother's Morning Out two weeks ago. They are both having so.much.fun. Especially Isaiah. He comes home every day telling me all the things they learned and talked about. He is going from 9 am to noon, Monday through Friday. The first day he walked right in, the second and third day he cried, and now he asks "do I get to go to school today?" every day.
Ezra has a little bit of a harder time with MMO--he cries every day when I leave, but when I go to pick him up he seems to have had so much fun as well!
I am trying to use my time while they're in school to write my dissertation, but so far all I have is a short outline of Chapter 1. I must get to writing!
8.09.2010
Wee Wonderfuls
Christmas is coming! And I am so excited about sewing up some presents from this amazing book. I've already got one started. It's girly and it's for my niece. Yeah, it's August and I'm sewing Christmas presents. I'm hoping it will work out better than last year, when I got bronchitis and my sweet mom sewed all the presents for me. Oh, man. I was sick.
I am just hoping that I can hold onto the presents until Christmas, because that is how awesome they are going to be! I really do love sewing for the people I love. Somehow, the rhythms and the movements of sewing make me pray. I think about the person I'm sewing for and I pray for them. It is also really satisfying work for a person whose work involves either cleaning up after little people over and over again or writing an ominously huge document that could be revised and improved upon for the rest of my life.
So I'll post pictures! Because my niece doesn't read my blog. She's only five.
I am just hoping that I can hold onto the presents until Christmas, because that is how awesome they are going to be! I really do love sewing for the people I love. Somehow, the rhythms and the movements of sewing make me pray. I think about the person I'm sewing for and I pray for them. It is also really satisfying work for a person whose work involves either cleaning up after little people over and over again or writing an ominously huge document that could be revised and improved upon for the rest of my life.
So I'll post pictures! Because my niece doesn't read my blog. She's only five.
8.05.2010
Isaiah's Name Tag
Last night we went to an ice cream party at a local church. This is Isaiah's name tag from the party. D. helped him a little with the S, but he did the rest! How amazing is this?
8.04.2010
Ezra-Boy
This week Ezra has started emphatically saying "no" or nodding yes when asked a question! It is pretty hilarious. He used his first phrase yesterday: "Snack, please!" (Which sounded like "nack nees"). He also called himself by his own name for the first time this morning.
I have a feeling we'll be having conversations by Christmas.
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