Berry Delicious

Summer is the time for warm berry-pickin' and mouth poppin' treats. Our favorite book for the season is Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. I keep coming back to McCloskey, he's on the list of my favorite authors/illustrators and this book is one of his best. 

Join little Sal on a blueberry picking adventure. She does what all little kids do best while picking, stuffs her mouth rather than the bucket. Look familiar?

"Over on the other side of the hill, Little Sal ate all of the berries she could reach from where she was sitting, then she started out to find her mother." This is the part where Noah starts grinning.

 

Sweet!

Little Evie on her berry picking ventures. No bears though!

Berry picking with friends = fun+strawberry jam. Perfect equation. Thanks Rebecca and Emily!

Jam for the winter, yum :)

Other Side of Exhaustion

I think I have walked around feeling tired since the day I had a child. Who knew these little creatures didn't arrive ready to sleep through the night? I was lambasted by the constant demands of parenting. 

It wasn't just nights with many interruptions, it was the constant responsibility for a caring for a little person's physical needs, cultivating their spiritual life, and feeding their voracious minds. 

Usually this care is my delight. I like interacting with each one as I get them dressed and do their hair (although some days neither of those things happen). We love nothing more than dramatic readings around the supper table. Flash cards give me an opportunity to joke around with Sophie and connect.

Kids soak it all up. The problem enters when I feel completely dry, worn-out, with not one more ounce in me that can be squeezed out.

Many moms and dads can relate. Exhaustion existed for me pre-Calvin but it was taken to a whole new level once Calvin arrived. The constant care every day and every night made us physically exhausted. Stress was always intertwined with every activity and nearly every thought.

I've struggled with God many a time over exhaustion. Begged for a night's sleep. Prayed for strength to go through another day of all the medical and care issues while struggling to keep the rest of the brood out of complete chaos and insurrection! 

Maybe you're exhausted. Chronic illness and pain can constantly rob you of sleep, leaving you to drag through the days. Young kids are wonderful but their care can be exhausting. Maybe you're a caregiver to someone else. 

My hands are tied most every day with Calvin. It frustrates me. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired :). I have a lot of ideas and goals but no time or energy to accomplish any of them. I want to take my other kids places, I want to home school, I want to take older ladies out for lunch. The list is endless. And so is my pity party at times. 

Whatever you situation is, I want to recommend a resource that has completely changed how I view exhaustion, I'm Exhausted by David Powlison. It is published by CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) and is part of a larger series. It can be purchased here. It's not a self help book, rather it fixes your eyes on the Lord and His purposes for everything in a believer's life, even exhaustion.

It's just a short little booklet but one of the most valuable resources I've come across for this issue. Plus, who can read a massive volume when they're exhausted? In the next few days I'll post a bit from this resource, it has changed my perspective so much that I want to share it with you, in hopes it will help some of you. 

In the meantime here is Calvin with his haircut, side view for ya. No he's not sleeping, his eyes always close because of low muscle tone. I wish he was sleeping by this time of night! But he is awfully cute, eh?

 Ok, maybe not so cute anymore...

 And now, for fun, Evie's recent drawings.

Is this us? So flattering. I love kid's first renditions of people.

He Is Lovely

I am finding this book to be a little treasure trove of comfort, The Loveliness of Christ, by Samuel Rutherford. Rutherford was born in 1600 and spent his life preaching, especially about the beauty of Christ. 

It is said about him: 

He has time to visit, for he rises at three in the morning, and at that early hour meets

his God in prayer and meditation, and has space for study besides. He takes occasional

days for catechising. He never fails to be found at the sick-beds of his people. Men

said of him, ‘He is always praying, always preaching, always visiting the sick, always

catechising, always writing  and studying.’ He was known  to  fall  asleep  at night  talking

of Christ, and even to speak of Him during his sleep. Indeed, himself speaks of his

dreams being of Christ.

This is one of my favorites from The Loveliness of Christ:

Christ all the season of the year, is dropping sweetness;

if I had vessels I might fill them,

but my riven, holey, and running-out dish, 

even when I am at the well, can bring little away.

Nothing but glory will make tight and fast

our leaking and rifty vessels...

How little of the sea can a child carry in his hand?

As little do I take away of my great sea, 

my boundless and running over Lord Jesus. 

You can get your copy here.

Christians Get Depressed Too

Darryl has flown for browner pastures today. That's right. He's off to Cambodia with our friends Jeremiah and Sarah keeping him company. Strangely the panic of flying solo for a few weeks hasn't set in. Perhaps that's due to the many folks who've offered to help. Phew, thanks for the breathing room guys.

On another note, things are happening at a rapid pace around here. This week Dr. Murry is leading a conference on Depression.

The conference is this week Friday and Saturday. March 4-5. Check out the details here.,.

For all of you out-of-towners (most of the readers of this blog) you can order his book, Christians Get Depressed Too. It's a short primer on depression that addresses the causes of depression, the cures of depression, and includes a special note to caregivers. You can order it here.  It's an excellent practical start to approach your own depression or to understand another's. Dr. Murry is one of the most compassionate and able biblical counselors I've met.

It's a Moose!

May I recommend?

I love vintage illustrations. It is one of the reasons we (I) love "Honk the Moose". But the story is equally nostalgic and dear. Join two little hunters bragging about shooting a moose. Then watch them meet a moose! The pictures will keep you turning through the pages again and again. 

Lovely!

Good Finds

You're still here? After all my dreariness?

Sorry about that. These days I'm like a yo-yo in the hands of my two-year-old. Here, there, and everywhere... unpredictable and erratic, you get the idea.

And right now, I'm here. I've climbed out of the shopping cart and have my feet back on the ground in Sanityville. We're all down and out with cough and colds and whatever else is keeping us up at all hours. Here's one of the sick bunnies.

If you find any sleep, could you send it our way? Thanks. Today we're all hunkered down into our cozy house watching huge snow flakes pile up outside and making our way through our piles of books inside.

We are loving the good finds from the library this week. Mmmm...call me crazy but I have to share some favorites. I may be more into the kid's books than the kids themselves but I found the colors and graphics in this book beautiful. I love the mix of modern and vintage. Here's a sneak peak of C is for Caboose designed by Gillingham.

I've spent a good part of the day dreaming this is my sisters and me taking lunch on the Canadian Pacific train. Escapism? Maybe. But seriously, why can't we wear hats like that now?

And then, this little gem, Adele and Simon by McClintock.

It's a sweet little whimsical story about a responsible older sister touting her little brother all over Paris. The really fun part is finding Simon's missing items in all sorts of famous places in the city.

Can you spot the famous artists joining the hunt for Simon's crayons?

If you have little ones, check these out. If you don't have little ones, check these out. Now I'm off to do some strumming with a little girl who just turned seven! Can you guess what Grandma and Grandpa gave her for her birthday? As soon as we can play Mary Had a Little Lamb we'll be sure to post a video for your listening ;). Oh, and Oma and Opa sent her a recorder...HELP! Where can I hide that thing?