Happy Reformation Day!

Today is Reformation Day! On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of a church in Germany. His Theses criticized the Catholic Church and the Pope and made way for the Protestant Reformation.


Back in high school, before I was even a Christian, I had to make a video about the Reformation for my social studies class. (Jan, do you remember that?) I still have the video and it is hilarious. My friend, Kim, played Martin Luther. Clad in a maroon bathrobe, she nailed a piece of paper on the door of my fence and stomped away. Another classmate, who may have actually been Buddhist, played Erasmus. The video ended with my cat, Annabelle, in the lion's den.

Today is also Halloween. George and I are still unsure about whether we'll let Reese dress up in the future and go trick-or-treating. We will be dressing up tonight in foil to get a free burrito at Chipotle, but that has nothing to do with Halloween and everything to do with the greatness of Chipotle.

When my grandfather was a teenager he got shot in the head on Halloween and carried the bullet there for the rest of his life. So if you do go out tonight, be safe!

I'm Addicted!

I must admit that I've become a bit of a blog addict lately. I subscribed to all of my favorite blogs on Google Reader, so I'm notified when all of the blogs I follow are updated. One of Reader's features is a recommendation of other blogs. So now in addition to reading all of our friend's blogs, I'm reading design blogs, political blogs, and blogs about people I've never met. (Like John Piper's son and daughter-in-law.)

Today I ran across a blog that I just had to share. This blog made me cry tears of sadness and just a bit later made me laugh so hard I cried again. It's the blog of Angie Smith, the wife of Todd Smith of the Christian group Selah. Incidentally, I've heard of the group, but I've never actually heard the group. Maybe I'll check them out.

If you want to see what made me cry tears of sadness, check out the story about their baby, Audrey Caroline. If you want to laugh to the point of crying, you MUST read The Sticks and the Panties and the follow-up, Exhibit A (and B).

Also, if there is a blog you think I should add to my list, let me know!

6 Month Birthday

My little peanut is 6 months old today! I can't believe it. The past 6 months have been the most challenging, yet most rewarding days of my life. I am so thankful God has blessed us with such a beautiful, happy little boy. I can hear Reese giggling at his daddy in the other room right now. I pray the Lord grants us many more giggle-filled days together.

These are some of Reese's favorites at 6 months:

• Rolling from back to tummy, and then from tummy to back. Repeat 20 times.
• Sleeping on his side
• Playing in his exersaucer
• Laughing at his silly daddy
• Napping with and petting Jenny (the cat)
  
• "Flying" in the air
  
• Running his tongue over his 2 teeth
• Chewing on taggy, paci, and his feet
  

Reese visited the doctor today for his well check-up. Here are his current stats:

Weight - 16 pounds 6 ounces (50th percentile)
Height - 26 3/4 inches (75th percentile - up from the 25th!)

The doctor was amazed at how attentive Reese was during his check-up. He kept smiling at her and trying to catch her eye. She said he has the softest baby skin and is actually a little ahead of schedule developmentally. She said since Reese is rolling and scooting so much, he should be crawling in the very near future. Yikes!

I've been debating whether to start solids now or to wait. The doctor confirmed what I've read - that solids at this age are just for experimentation, and that mommy milk is still the best thing for Reese. We'll probably wait a few more weeks before beginning the messy mayhem of solids.

Here are a few pictures of Reese showing how much he's grown and changed during the past 6 months.

First walk - 4 weeks

Last week

First doctor visit - 4 days old

Today

Like Father, Like Son

Shortly after marrying George, I learned about all of the crazy things he does in his sleep. He sleepwalks - a lot. I mean talking, jumping out of bed, walking around, yelling, and as he did just this week, moving his arms like he's swimming.

It got really bad after we brought Reese home from the hospital. George would get up 3-4 times a night searching for Reese in a panic. I hope Reese doesn't take after George in this one particular area, but he's already done some funny things while sleeping. Here's what he did while napping the other day.

That's the edge of the bed, people!
He started out in the middle.

The Thorn

Life has been crazy and difficult the past few months. Though I believe the Christian life is more often than not a life of suffering, I've still found myself wondering why God has ordained for me so many difficulties all at once. George often reminds me this is an opportunity for my faith to increase. He's also quick to add, "God's faithfulness to you in the past is both a model and a promise of His faithfulness to you in the future, though He's too creative to do the same thing the same way twice."

John Piper put together the 5 R's of suffering, which I found highly encouraging:

1) Repentance

Suffering is a call for us and others to turn from treasuring anything on earth above God.

Luke 13:4-5 - Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

2) Reliance

Suffering is a call to trust God not the life-sustaining props of the world.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 - For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

3) Righteousness

Suffering is the discipline of our loving heavenly Father so that we come to share his holiness.

Hebrews 12:6, 10-11 - The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.... He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

4) Reward

Suffering is working for us a great reward in heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousand-fold.

2 Corinthians 4:17 - This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Matthew 5:11-12 - Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

5) Reminder

Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be God’s condemnation but his purification.

Philippians 3:10 - ...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.

Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Martha Snell Nicholson is a Christian poet who knew a great deal about suffering. Nicholson suffered from 4 incurable diseases and was bed ridden for over 3 decades. I've been thinking about her poem, The Thorn, for a few weeks now. If you are experiencing some sort of suffering, I hope it comforts you as it did me.

The Thorn

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne

And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.

I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart

I cried, "But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.

This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me."

He said, "My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee."

I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,

As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,

He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

Howdy, folks!

We ventured out to the State Fair of Texas today. George and I have been to the fair each year since we started dating in 1999, so we couldn't wait to take Reese to meet Big Tex. It turned out to be a fabulous day. We met Grandpa & Grandma Deines there, Reese behaved perfectly, the sun shone all day, and we were able to avoid all the tempting yet unhealthy fried foods.

What's back there?

Hey, you're not Rudy.

Grandma & Grandpa show Reese the train going
around Big Tex.

We couldn't pass the elephant
(or woolly mammoth? gomphotherium?)
without taking a pic.

Fall at the Dallas Arboretum

Reese and I recently visited the Dallas Arboretum with some other ladies from church. September 20 - November 2 is The Great Pumpkin Festival and there were thousands of pumpkins and gourds throughout the Arboretum. I felt so blessed to look down at Reese's smiling face as we strolled around the beautiful gardens. Even though he had just cut 2 teeth, he was a perfect baby. It was definitely a more relaxing day than the last time I visited and had to chase after my class of fourth graders. We hope to visit again soon!

My dad says Reese looks like Charlie Brown!

Sage and Reese

Happy baby, happy mommy