Faces

Wesley has the most endearing little thing he does. He loves to hold faces. It typically looks like this... While holding him out in front being face to face, he reaches out his hands and just gently holds each of your cheeks and then proceeds to lean in to be forehead to forehead. When he does this, it is nothing short of pure elation of emotion to feel so endeared to this little one. He will even continue to look around and bounce on your lap while he just holds your face. Almost as if holding onto you keeps him centered and steady and brings him pure joy.

He's always been a people person, from the very beginning. He just senses your presence. If he is ever left in a room by himself, even just for a minute he will begin to fuss (and he's not a fussy baby). Then as soon you reenter, he stops, makes eye contact and smiles.

Sometimes it's a little more particular. Like when I'm trying to clean the kitchen, I put his bouncey seat on my kitchen counter -- he loves to be near, and I have a toddler who isn't always "nice" to the little one -- and he just watches me clean. But sometimes he still won't be happy until I make eye contact with him. As soon as I do he giggles with laughter and bounces himself happy. So, I've learned how to load the dishwasher without even looking :)

One time when my mind got a minute to think and take things in, I began to ponder this precious "hands on" baby. See, he takes it a step even further. When I nurse my babies I like to hold their hand and snuggle them in tight. Well, Wesley won't let me hold his hand every time, actually most of the time. He will wiggle it free until he can stretch it out straight towards the sky and waves it around in search for - you guessed it - my face. He's not even looking. He just continues to nurse, dozzing in and out of sleep, all the while gently feeling the different features of my face: chin, nose, cheeks, lips, and even as far as my hair and playing with that a bit. If I try to grab his hand and hold it he quickly (and firmly) pulls it free to find my face again. So, I let go of the battle, he wins. And what a sweet victory it is.

As I pondered this, my thoughts turned toward my God. Am I like Wesley? Do I search earnestly and fervantly, "throwing off everything that hinders" me from getting to my Heavely Father as Hebrews 12:1 says. Or do I look for God's hand -- what He will do for me -- more than His FACE -- who He is? And as I take things in, do I check my point of center to be sure it is Him? O how much I want to know Him and be like my Wesley ... to hold onto His face and always be sure I am close enough to reach it, or at least see it as "His face shone like the son" (Matthew 17:2). And if I can't see Him and need Him near then let me fall on my face to bid Him come.

"See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones,

for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see

the face of my Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 18:10

And let this one bring you hope, or maybe like it did me, just blow you away...

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then

face to face;

now I know in part, but then I will know fully

just as I also have been fully known."

1 Corinthians 13:12

I challenge you to do a word search in your Bible of the word "face" ... it was so neat for me to do.

Here's the precious little face that inspired it all~~

The Great Return...

Every time I have opened the internet on my home computer, this special site comes up. You're looking at it, my blog. I took a minute and scanned it the other day and realized that I had recorded precious thoughts about my life as a newlywed, as a Christ follower and as a new mother. I had pieced the words together I had in my heart for my Beloveds. And frankly, I just feel like I need to begin again. There is something about writing things down (or typing them up) that just helps me process life a little more. Whether it's journaling, typing blogs or even dialoguing with friends that just takes life to the next step for me. I'm ready to process life a little more than I am. If not just for my sake, for ...

Wesley's sake!

Yes, since I have last written, Artie and I had another child. Our little surprise/bundle of joy ... Wesley. He is a completely recessive child by receiving ALL of Artie and I's recessive genes. 1. Blue eyes! (I remember when I was a little girl I used to day dream about having a blue eyed child and just thought it would be impossible.) 2. Blonde hair! He is platnum blonde which currently looks and feels like fresh peach fuzz. :) 3. Fair skinned. I confess, I will have NO earthly idea how to care for skin like this. Truett and I are about as olive toned as they come. And finally, 4. Completely Unplanned, Unexpected, and Unpredictable, and the current pivotal point of his mothers Undoing. In a good way. God brought this precious child into my life to a.) give me a very special gift/blessing and b.) to make me more like Jesus. Becoming a mother is nothing short of a slow learning process of dying to self. It is most "like" the Christian walk we are called to. I have been prodded and pruned in the short 2 yrs I have been a mother. (Yes, Truett will be 2 next month!!) I am grateful for the gift of motherhood and the "shrinking pains" or the opportunities to be less selfish that it brings (thanks to a dear friend who put words -- "shrinking pains" -- to the incredible moments I've had).

Wesley is a delight! Such a happy baby. He barely fusses. He doesn't like to miss anything and likes to be in the center of everything with everyone else. He is such a people person, already, it just amazes me. And he is my motivation for "A Great Return" to blogging. I want to put my heart on paper (or screen) for the things I feel about watching him grow like I did for Truett in the early months. So, I hope to give a glimpse of how my boys are growing, how Artie and I are becoming, and how much my God is ever present and working in my life. To Him be the glory and praise for these little ones He has given me to raise...