Something to Think About

This post might be a bit helter-skelter, but I was just thinking this morning on how I love to see the gospel and Jesus in unexpected places.

One would not think that he would be surprised to see Jesus in the Old Testament - after all, it is the Bible; but until about 10 years ago, that was me. Since then, I have slowly grown to love seeing the picture of the gospel - or "types of Christ" in the Old Testament. Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery and through the wilderness to the Promised Land: Hello. Sound familiar? Boaz as Naomi and Ruth's (or was it just Naomi's?) Kinsmen Redeemer? Beautiful. I love things like that.

I also love seeing illustrations of the gospel or pictures of man's struggle with his own depravity in literature. Sadly, I have yet to read The Hobbit & Tolkien's trilogy - I should work on that this summer - so, I won't really comment on the delicious food for thought you can find there. But there are some other unexpected places where what you read might cause you to scratch your head when you stumble on tales with underlying meanings. I'm pretty sure that the only people who read my blog are other moms that I went to college with; and I would venture to say that most of you aren't fans of J.K. Rowling's wildly popular series involving a nice little wizard by the name of Harry. But herein lies (or hides) a pretty big fan. I'm not the type that will sport a Hogwarts robe and wand while waiting in line, nor did I go to Meijer at midnight on the release of the 7th and final book last summer and stay up all night reading it (but I'm married to someone who did). However, I do love those books and I am sad that I will read no more new tales of Harry, Ron and Hermoine! Ron is my favorite character: there's just something that I love about those faithful best friends (like Same Wise in LOTR). It's been a year since I've read the books, so I can't point to very specific examples of what seem to be allusions to the gospel. But there is definitely something to say about the need for one to save everyone and that savior being found exclusively in a young teenager. I can't compare Harry Potter to men of faith that are in the Bible - let alone compare him to Christ; and I am NOT saying that HP is like Christ in his deity or purity and holiness. Harry Potter, like Frodo Baggins, is on the good side fighting against evil to save his people; and sometimes evil nearly gets him, and that is very unlike Christ (Christ wrestled with evil, but evil did not come close to getting him). I am only saying that there is a picture there of salvation that I love to see. Hey, in this world, more and more people are rejecting the mere notion that we as humans have a problem, let alone NEED someone to save us. **

More fresh in my mind is some pretty cool Biblical themes and pictures of the gospel that can be seen in the movie Prince Caspian. Not long into the movie, the kings and queens of Narnia are debating how they are going to face the Telmarines. The High King Peter insists that they must invade the Telmarine's castle, and they are all uncertain as to what to do. Lucy is troubled and asks Peter why they can't just wait for Aslan, and Peter - clearly annoyed - says they have waited long enough. Fast forward to the moment when Peter has ordered his army to retreat from the Telmarine's fortress while several of his men are trapped behind the gate and slaughtered. You see his look of anguish as his eyes smart with tears because of the price that was paid because he did what was right in his own eyes and didn't wait for Aslan.

One other underlying message that I enjoyed was when Prince Caspian and later Peter are tempted by evil in the form of the White Witch. First Prince Caspian nearly released her from her captivity in a wall of ice, and then even Peter, when he came to intervene nearly fell to the same fate. With his sword held high, Peter began to waver as he stood face to face with the White Witch. "You can't do it alone," she said to him. No Peter could not defeat the Telmarines alone. But it was not the White Witch who he needed. As Edmund came from the other side of the wall of ice and shattered it, doing what Peter had become unable to do, the fierce and powerful face of Aslan was carved in the stone behind him.

Well, as I have a suspicion that this post is too long for most to care to read, I'll stop. But it's too rare that I write something that makes me think. I know pictures of the boys are more enjoyable and interesting, but it's going for the old brain to spin a little.

**To those that think the Harry Potter series is morally wrong, I would ask if you read them. Maybe you don't want to, and that's totally fine, although I think it's rather shaky to have a strong opinion on something that you're not knowledgeable about. I find the books easy to read, extremely funny, and presenting stories when good clearly prevails over evil. I've also heard some object to the tendency for Harry to disregard the rules, like sneaking out of bed at night and breaking rules in order to defeat Voldemort. Well, if you're going to go with that line of reasoning, then I have a bone to pick with the Little Rascals. And they weren't even out of line for the sake of good in the world.

Maria Sue Chapman

I'm sure you've heard of the horrible tragedy that Steven Curtis Chapman and his family are experiencing right now. His youngest daughter - five years young - died on Wednesday. If you haven't heard what happened, read this.

Here is a sweet video that I got from this blog - set up in memory of Maria.

On Chris' 28th Birthday

After months of an awkward friendship - the type where one's emotions are bound to become vulnerable and the friendship will either become a lifetime of "I do's" or will dissolve completely, they finally stepped forward with mutual affection. It didn't take long for them to know they would walk their life's journey's together. He had all kinds of ideas and aspirations, and faith and commitment that would take him - and her if she chose to follow - far from where they stood then. She was nervous and uncertain of her willingness to go the distance that he had in mind. She was a home-body, a mama's girl. She got homesick the night before leaving home. Her mom challenged her, "But, aren't you willing to go?" So, she went. How could she not? He was her very best friend. He was kind, calm, smart. He could make her laugh so easily. And he challenged her love and devotion for Christ without saying words. It was just the way he was. Marriage was a small adjustment for them, because they were young and had barely lived as adults on their own. They enjoyed many new experiences together and made a good bit of mistakes together too. "Live and learn," they would say. Though in the beginning their opposing strengths and weaknesses attracted them, time proved to them that they were more similar than different - sometimes strengthening them, other times revealing magnified weakness. The mechanics and natural progression of life sometimes had a way of clouding the things she valued most in him. All of the sudden, he didn't seem so calm; she forgot how smart he was; and she found herself rolling her eyes more than laughing. Sometimes she even resented his commitment to go the distance, though she would never put it in those words; she was tired of making what she thought were sacrifices and thought she deserved better. How thankful she would be when she emerged from her self-consumed fog. She was thankful it didn't take crisis or fear to open her eyes once again to the character she prized so much in her husband. There was more nit and grit in their every day life than tulips and Hawaiin music, but at the end of the day - some so long they felt like a week - they would chat like friends, converse honestly and seriously like long-time partners and laugh simultaneously at the same thing. When she turned out the light, she knew she could never chose any other path but to go along with him - even to the farthest distance. Then she would smile and mock herself for thinking, even for a second, that she had been the one with the choice all along. And she gave thanks and honor to God for his providence and blessing on her.

First Borns

I remember hanging out with David & Jenecia and Jonny & Christine when we were all newly married. We would talk about how hopefully one day our kids would all play together when we managed to get together, and the boys would all wrestle. So, since David & Neesh have been in the area these last few months (and we are loving living two miles from Jonny & Christine), we've all gotten together a few times. I think our boys were even kind of wrestling once! (Though I'm not exactly sure.) Several weeks ago, we all met up at Gurney Mills, and I took this picture. I wish it weren't blurry, but it's still cute.

The first born sons of Chris Bruno (aka Bruno Sherf), Jonny Cummings and David (Dan) Griffiths: Luke Bruno, Isaac Cummings and Solomon Griffiths

Happy Mother's Day - Beware: Motherload of Pictures!!!

My First Mothers Day: Luke was about 10 months old.

My Fourth Mother's Day: May 11, 2008
Luke is 3 years/10months and Simon is 5 months old


Simon loves his brother. Luke can always make him smile.

Luke's shenanigans crack Si up too.
Luke bought me a card that had pictures for him to color. He is well on the way to writing his name. (See the top of the card.) He can write each letter, but doesn't quite understand that they have to be in order. :)


Simon is really starting to love playing in the Exersaucer. He was chillin' out this morning while we all got ready.


This morning we had a baby dedication at our church and Simon was dedicated! It was so special. Here he is with our pastor. (Sorry this shot is grainy. A friend took some other pictures with her better camera, so maybe you'll see those soon.)


My great friend Lea and her sweet daughter Cecily. Isn't she a dollbaby? (Our families ate lunch at Qdoba together. It was so fun! It wasn't crowded at all and we stayed for 2 hours!)


Me with my baby at Qdoba.

Family picture!

Luke and Claira's first date. Chaperoned, of course. (We parentals were at the next table.)


My boys tonight before bedtime.

I posted all three shots because I wanted you to see how incredible easy it is to get a smile out of Simon. He is one of the happiest babies ever!


And the third smile was the biggest!

Beautiful blue eyes - and though you can't really see them here, he has amazing eyelashes! (Sometimes he still scratches himself crazy with his fingernails though. See his scratchy forehead?)

A rare photo shoot with the brothers. Luke's usually too busy to sit and hold his brother. Si soaks up any attention Luke will give him.

So cuddly!

Simon always has kisses for mama. :)

The Boys on Easter Sunday

Yay! I finally found our camera cord and could upload this pictures for family to see my growing boys. As you can see, Simon is doing most of the growing around here. :)

Simon usually doesn't look terrified when Luke gets close. Simon LOVES attention from Luke.

Simon doesn't look too thrilled with his Easter Basket. He did get socks and nasal spray. Poor guy.

Luke was looking forward to his chocolate bunny. I used to think hollow chocolate bunnies were a rip-off. Now I know they are for mom's who somewhat try to limit their child's sugar-intake on Easter.

To My Dad on His Birthday!

  Dear Dad:

Happy Birthday!

I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am for you as my dad. I never lack for words to say on your birthday or Father's Day because the truth is that you have always been a caring, godly, kind, generous and loving dad. When I grew old enough, I noticed that you were careful to come home by suppertime so we could eat together and you could play with your kids. Sometimes you went back to the office after Matthew and April were in bed, but you were always home with us in the evening. Now that I am married, I especially notice what a helpful husband to mom you have been. I'm thankful to have a helpful husband too. :) I'm thankful for the way you made people and your church a priority in your life; you didn't let yourself get so consumed with Northland that those things didn't matter to you. You are wise and humble, never assuming you deserve things others don't, and never allowing us to think we deserved anything above others either. You enforced other authorities in our lives, and though we knew that you cared for, trusted and loved us, you helped us to respect that authority too and didn't bail us out of conflicts. Now that I have my own two boys, I have different reasons to be thankful for you. You have rocked my babies in the middle of the night, played with my son, and still want to sit down to watch a comedy with me at the end of the day. You answer my calls - even when you're in meetings, and you call me to check how we're doing when we're going through a rough patch. For all of these things and many more, I praise God for you, Dad. I love you.

Winter Blues, Among Other Things

Can I see a show of hands from those who are absolutely ready to kiss winter goodbye? I am so tired of this awful cold! We are dying to play outside and feel some warm spring breezes. I'm afraid it's going to be a while. : (

We've had some good days and some BAD days lately. On Tuesday, I managed to take the boys to the mall, and Luke got some major energy out at the play area. He ran non-stop for over an hour. It felt wonderful to see him get that energy out! Simon slept in his car seat the entire time we were gone. He has not been so compliant since then. We've had a few days of lots of crying, no naps and trouble eating. Anyone who nurses knows that it's not so "natural" and takes work and learning on both the mommy and baby's part. I thought we were over the hard part, but at almost 12 weeks, Simon is having "issues" again. Anyone else have nursing woes this late into the game? I don't feel like delving into the details right here in the post, but it's discouraging and frustrating. I'm holding out for the better days that I KNOW will be ahead - maybe even tomorrow! Simon is generally an easier baby than Luke was, but he has been slower in adapting a routine/schedule than Luke was. That's mainly hard on my need-to-know personality. I am trying to just relax, make my anxieties a matter of prayer and trust God for all my needs during these first months. I love my boys, and I hope to have another child one day, but the first six months aren't all that fun! They are just not my favorite time. I know that sounds horrible, but it's the truth; and I think it's a safe bet that I'm not the only mom who feels that way. All this talk reminds me of this post - back in my blogging infancy. I have felt many of those same feelings this time around too.