Heaven.

"This is a gift of God: to experience the sacred amidst the commonplace - to taste heaven in our daily bread, a new heaven and a new earth in a mouthful of wine, joy in the ache of our muscles or the sweat of our brows." - Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God

I think I experienced a taste of heaven this weekend. It all started with a brilliant idea to get away for our anniversary. Kevan planned the weekend - the only thing I planned was to have a really great time. Even at that, I think I underestimated what my husband had in mind.

We headed out to LA Saturday afternoon to catch Wicked on stage later that night. First, we checked into one of the historic hotels downtown and headed out to our dinner reservation. Dinner, it turns out, rivaled the show for the evening's highlight. Melograno's is a quaint, sophisticated little Italian restaurant on Sunset Blvd. that just so happens to serve amazingly delicious food. Not a bad way to start the weekend. We spent the next 3 hours laughing and wide-eyed, completely caught up in the magic of Wicked. If you get a chance to see this show, it is worth going. Fun, witty, clever... it had me entranced from the curtain call.

After planning the perfect evening for us, I was pretty darn happy with my husband. But it just got better.

Kevan has heard me mention more than once lately that I've been craving some "me" time. I've never been one to really want to spend a lot of time by myself but, since becoming a mom and getting precious little time truly alone, I have recognized my need for time to just be. So, Kevan came up with a list of fun things we could do together for our anniversary. And then he asked himself "What would Bethany really, really want?" And he signed me up for a day at the spa. God bless him, I thought I would last 4 hours. Maybe six... and then I was sure to go out of my mind with loneliness. TWELVE hours later, I called my husband to come pick me up, refreshed, renewed, and completely in love with him for giving me this precious gift. And, during those 12 hours, I am convinced that I at least glimpsed a small piece of Heaven. Everything surrounding me was pleasing to the senses - the temperature was perfect, the smells soothing, even the voices around me were calm and reassuring. I spent the entire day getting pampered, reading an amazing book, sleeping, curling up in comfy chairs, soaking in a bubble bath, thinking, praying, sipping cool water... resting. And, of all the choices, the book I dove into that day is called The Rest of God. It gives fresh perspective to the importance - really the commandment - of rest. It calls our bluff on our "busyness" and sheds light on all the seemingly critical tasks that consume our day... and rob our souls. The quote above is from this book, a reminder to sanctify our time - to be committed, purposeful, intentional about how we spend each day. And, while that may sound like a regimented and carefully-planned life, it is actually a call toward the opposite. It is a reminder that life - the important stuff in life - is not usually found on the calendar. It is in the interruptions, the spontaneity, and the simplicity. Our plans, our calendars, our to-do lists are often the culprits that distract us from noticing the greatness of God - the beauty in the world around us, the sweet sound of our children's laughter, the opportunity to encourage someone in need of a listening ear. We can't become "un-busy", but we can be purposeful about resting in the midst of our busyness. So I learned that, when I stop and am still - when I really rest in God - He is able to do much more through me than I could ever do on my own.

Thank you, babe, for giving me this perfect and wonderful weekend. I love how hard you worked to allow me to have that day at the spa... and how you make me feel like I'm worth every bit of it. Everyone at the spa kept commenting on what a wonderful husband I must have - and they have no idea how right they are. Happy Anniversary!!

Faces

Oh, the sweet faces they make. A few shots of our little ones experiencing life lately...

Super Dad

Kevan and his two babies at the park today

I was looking forward to today for a while, because I couldn't wait to honor Kevan for what an AWESOME dad he is. Even though I hope I tell him all the time, it is fun to have a special day set aside just to acknowledge how much we love and appreciate him. I thought long and hard about what to get him, and vacillated between something he really wants or something sentimental. I went the sentimental route, knowing that Kevan would love it, and I sure wasn't disappointed. So, let's have his response to his gift top the chart of things I love about my amazing husband (and what makes him such a fantastically great father):

1.) When he received a (what some men would consider) dopey t-shirt with a picture of his kids for Father's Day, he said "This is awesome...can I wear it to church?!" and acted like he couldn't have loved anything more (and I sort of believe him). Don't tell anyone, but he's sweet like that.

2.) Last weekend, after he'd worked in the yard all day and was dripping in sweat and mud, he came in to find his In-N-Out burger waiting for him and his son standing there holding a toy that needed new batteries. What did he do before showering, before getting a drink, and before taking a bite of that long-awaited burger? He went out to the garage, found a screwdriver and new batteries, and got that toy working again for his little guy. And he did it with excitement and love for Ezekiel. I'm telling you right now, I would have gone for the burger. He's a better person than I am.

3.) When he is home from work and our kids get up from their nap, he wants to be the one to go get them. And he sings special little songs to them to help them wake up (they each have their own).

4.) When Ezekiel was a baby, we used to fight over who got to pick him up from the nursery at church (now we each get one!). Kevan can hardly wait to go get them when the service let's out - and it's because they are so darn excited to see him!

5.) When he works graveyards and gets home at 6:30 a.m., he will check with me to see if I've had a hard night with the kids. If so, he'll offer to stay up and get them up while I get some extra sleep. I know, I am spoiled.

6.) There is nothing - and I really mean nothing - else that Kevan would rather do than be with his kids and his wife. Wow, that is so humbling and awesome and honoring. I love how much he genuinely loves to be with his family. Pastor Mike talked this morning about how men are called to "dwell" with their families - to spend time with them in the home and take the time to really know and understand their wives. This is such a strength for Kevan, and I really believe he honors the Lord with how he honors the family God has given him. We pray that this will remain true in our home, as it only can by God's grace in our lives.

7.) I love how Kevan is not just the father of my kids, but truly a partner in parenting. I don't have to ask him to cut up food, or change a diaper, or even to discipline when necessary. He just sees the need and does it. Not as a martyr, but because he wants to play an active role in the lives of our kids (ok, sometimes we ro-sham-bo over the diapers).

So, today was a perfect day celebrating the man my kids are lucky enough to call "da-da." We slept in late (Ezekiel slept until 10 a.m. due to a busy day at LegoLand yesterday!), had a beautiful service at church, went to a quiet and peaceful park for lunch, and then all came home and took a nap. The kids were in great moods and well rested and it was just a great day. I know it sounds too good to be true (and, trust me, these days are rare and beautiful!) but for some reason everything just fell into place perfectly today. And we enjoyed it so much. We ended the day with pizza and pies and family over at my parent's house. Ahhh... much to be thankful for.

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads in our lives!

We could not get Ezekiel to part with that darn bottle (due to him just waking up), but it's still a cute picture anyway!

Lots of love (so cute how E wants to hold Bekah's hand all the time)

The kids also had to tell the world how great their dad is with their t-shirts

We love you Kevan!!

His and Hers!

We finally have completed the transformation of our nursery! It has gone from being an "all-boy" vintage sports room to adding some fun girly-girl stuff for baby sister.

The room was all painted and ready to go before Bekah Jane was born, but I have been a real chicken about the final component: Moving Ezekiel into a big-boy bed so Bekah can have the crib. About two weeks ago we finally recognized that our baby girl was probably going to stop growing if we didn't move her out of that tiny bassinet (you know, like those fish that only grow as big as their environment). Which meant it was time for Ezekiel to give up the crib. Now, I realize that he is pretty young for this, so I am going to say that it is going remarkably well... considering. For the past 10 nights or so, he has been re-learning how to sleep. It is amazing what a little transition can do to a kid. He went from never getting up at night (and I can say that with very little exaggeration... this kid has slept soundly all night long since he was a tiny baby), to getting up every few hours in this new bed. I actually started to dread the pitter-patter of little feet. Slowly but surely (and with a lot of sleepless nights, nurturing, and threats) he started to get the hang of it and he has now slept all night long 3 nights in a row. Hooray!

And last weekend we picked up Bekah's new crib bedding (another great find on Craigslist!) and got her all set up. It is soooo cute, if I might say so myself. Their little room has really come together so adorably. Perfect for a little boy and a little girl to share. Our next mission: Getting them both to sleep in there together (without waking each other up!). Wish us luck!

BEFORE... Ezekiel's room when he had it all to himself:

This is the wall where eventually Bekah's crib goes (you can see we were picking out paint colors)

And now, for his big-boy bed...

Isn't that the cutest, tiniest thing you have ever seen?!

And here is Bekah Jane's "wall":

The white frame on the right has a piece of wall paper from my bedroom when I was little.

The saying on the wall comes from my grandpa Norris. When he prays for our family, he always asks the Lord to "guide, bless, direct, and protect" us. I can't tell you how many times I've heard him pray that over dinner and I just loved this sentiment over my daughter's crib.

This little ladder is full of sentimental things, too. A handmade hankie from Kevan's great-grandma, a little table runner folded at the bottom stitched by my grandma, a blanket knitted by my mom... and my sister's little baby shoe.

Bekah seems to love her pretty new crib!

Baby Love

I am really enjoying watching my two babies play with each other and become friends. They are so incredibly sweet together, I just want to bottle it up and save it until they are teenagers! Ezekiel wants to do everything with her that daddy does with him - he tickles her tummy, "sings" her songs, and tries to hold her hand. Here are a few pictures from their time together yesterday:


Kisses for you, baby!

My two sleepyheads

Washing sister's hair (she looks like she loves that, huh?)

"It's okay, baby"

Hanging out in Bekah's new crib!

(And, yes, I do dress my children, but I guess they still end up in their diapers a lot!)

The many faces of Bekah Jane

How did she get so cute?! I can hardly stand it. She is the happiest little one I've ever been around, and I just can't believe that she belongs to me. I just love, love, love this baby girl... thank you God for this blessing!

Farm Boy

Thursday afternoon we headed over to the Fullerton farmer's market... one of my favorite things to do in our cute little city. This time, my excitement was less focused on the yummy produce and redirected toward one simple thing: pony rides. Our son is crazy about horses right now, due to endless trips to the arena at my parents' house. I knew he would be so excited to ride one of those ponies at the market, and I couldn't wait to take him. Well, we sure weren't dissapointed! Ezekiel started saying "neigh" the minute he spotted those miniture little horses and asked over and over if he could "touch it" (which sounds a lot like "ta ta"). He was so adorable riding around in a little circle looking like a real cowboy! After the horse, he got to touch all the animals in the petting zoo (he kept saying "moo" to the poor baby goat) and then got to pick out his orange balloon (which we still have, by the way, and he plays with for a good portion of the day!). It was a GREAT time at the farmer's market!






What a handsome cowboy

Our little helper

Ezekiel has been asking to "help" with dinner lately. I've been letting him stand on a chair and stir, grate cheese, pour ingredients, etc... he loves it! It could be my imagination, but he also seems to eat more when he helps prepare the meal!







Giving daddy a hand with his job, too...

Mama's Day

First, I just have to say that these super hot days sure make for some beautiful mornings! I started my day sitting outside to work for a bit while Ezekiel slept and Bekah Jane hung out in her exersaucer. It feels like vacation out here! Love it.

On to Mother's Day... I know this is a bit belated, but there is too much good stuff to skip. The best part about Mother's Day was that we had Rebekah Jane dedicated at church. It was a sweet time and I love knowing that our church stands with us in support and prayer as we raise our daughter to love the Lord.

After church we went to my mom's and surprised her with a picnic lunch in the yard. Beautiful weather, delicious food, and so fun to just hang outside and eat. We all loved it (Even the boys, I think. At first, they couldn't seem to understand why we would pass up a perfectly good table for a piece of grass).

Alice and Abby (and their cute matching dresses!)

See, aren't the boys having such a fun time?

Every year, I run up against the same challenge on Mother's Day. I can never seem to find the right card or gift for my mom, because nothing is ever special enough to truly reflect how I feel about her. Growing up, my mom was serious about two things: training us kids to live like Jesus, and making sure we knew how much she loved us. She would hug us until our "love tanks" were full, surprise me at school by taking me out to lunch, plan special trips for just me and her, and stay up late to talk about my night when I got home from hanging out with friends. As an adult, she is now one of my best friends and continues to be the most selfless, patient, and wise mom (and grandma!). So... I always want to get her the most awesome present because, if anyone deserves it, she certainly does. But since they don't sell sunshine in a bottle and because I can't afford to get her a new horse, I usually have to settle for just sharing my heart with her in a card. And, for some reason, she doesn't seem to mind.

One other GREAT thing about Mother's Day is that my sister gave us moms (me, mom, and Alice) a super wonderful present. She set up her massage table in the backyard next to a lovely fountain and treated each of us to a massage. (I bet Annette and Melissa are really wishing they could have been there!). It was sooo relaxing to be outside, listening to the water, and being completely pampered. Thank you, Beckah!! (See why I named my daughter after her?!)

One other funny thing: For some reason, Ezekiel ended up in just his diaper most of the day. At one point, he really wanted to wear his tie so he spent the rest of the day running around in his tie and a diaper.