Worship through Art

Today at church they did the coolest thing! During each service, the artist who does most of the artwork in our church was set-up in the front with a huge, blank canvas. The picture below was taken with my cell phone during the music. He continued painting through the entire service, and was finished during the last song. None of these pictures do it justice. They are cell phone photos, plus the lighting wasn't good when I took them.

Here are some better photos on the website.














The ones below were the ones he painted during the other 3 services. (Sat night, and the 2 early services.) We, of course, go to the latest possible Sunday "morning" service... 11:00. After Austin's morning nap and before lunch & afternoon naps. They serve eggs & potatoes after service instead of donuts (LOVE it!) so we usually stay and eat because the boys almost always fall asleep on the way home!











I love this one (below)











But my favorite is the one done during our service. They all tied into the message... which was completely full of beautiful imagery... Those of heaven, the colors and light, and the chorus of "holy, holy, holy." He also talked about idols-- do we worship creation or the creator, because everyone worships something/one. Anyways, I love the face of this worshiping angel... filled with light, peace, fulfillment... it is absolutely beautiful in person.





Our church has artwork like this all over the place, I love it!

Soaking it all in!

This is such sweetness!

My sleeping baby:

and his quiet little smile when he gets a mommy kiss!

Awww!!!! I love life!!!!! lol

And here is a cell-phone-photo of Jake during a swim lesson. He is so cute!

This pic was taken last week after I was ignoring my boys for a few minutes while I was on the phone... I glanced over to see Austin (gasp!) standing up!!!!!! Here's how you know he's my 2nd & not my 1st: instead of running over there to protect him from falling, I instead ran and grabbed my camera! (P.S. he did fall, and luckily I was right there to 'ease' the fall a bit. he's learning quickly to stick his butt out and land on his bottom. he's now crusing & is the most happy when he's standing upright)

Here's some family time at the park, and (below) another development in Austin's amazing little life. His military scoot is progressing into a crawl! He's so strong, already trying to stand up without holding on to anything! I'm curious to see when he'll walk. It seems all of these (movement) milestones are coming up really quickly!!! While some of the others, like sleeping, ahem!, are taking a bit longer!

Below is a sweet brother picture, but Jake isn't pictured. You can see the interaction, though. So cute! These boys are so cute, I love watching them interact together. Jake likes to make Austin laugh. Austin likes to watch Jake's every move. We're teaching Jake about sharing and taking turns, and I have a feeling this will be a process that spans over the next many years!

P.S. I know the pic below looks shocking. I *know* because when I glanced over & saw him perched on the edge of the boat, I almost gasped! But then they explained that the bar of the railing was between his legs so he couldn't fall in, and Grandpa had his hand on him almost the whole time. I had to explain that so you don't think he was just balancing there!

So often I feel tired and sometimes I even feel bothered by the constant pulling of my pant legs when I'm trying to get my ever-important things done. I get trapped in a self-seeking spot where I feel like "me-time" is so important. And then I am brought back to my senses. These kids... they are precious. And I am absolutely honored & humbled by the opportunity to be their mommy every.day. I take such joy in this position, and have been seriously thinking about my highest (& most lofty!) goal, which is to teach these sweet children about God. And by the realization that they learn through watching how I live out my life, not necesarily by what I tell them. When I 'mother' them, when I discipline them (or withhold discipline and instead comfort them through it), am I reflecting God's grace? That is my goal! Do I maintain a positive outlook in life? Do I seek God first? These are thoughts that I want to keep in the forefront of my mind.

I once searched for parenting and discipline books, which was an overwhelming task in itself, and in the midst of piles of books, I felt these words in my heart: Just Love Them. Just Love Them! Those words soften my heart & bring clarity to my mind in times of frustration.

These are just some of the goings-on in the R household and my ramblings. I'm trying to soak in all of this. My baby's soft skin & baby rolls, the boys' laughter, Jake's little voice as he pronounces new words and strings together little sentences. I want to hold on to every second! The years go by so fast and I don't want to forget any of this or take it for granted. Ahh, my cup runneth over!

So enough mushy stuff.

Here's awarding some "good-mommy" points for taking the boys to the pediatrician for their well-checks. haha I went to my old Doctor, and it was soooo refreshing- he is so wonderful!!! So here are the updates:

Jake (25 months)

Wt: 25 lb, 8 in (20%)

Lgth: 35 1/2 in (75%)

Head: 49 cm (50-55%)

Austin (9 months)

Wt: 23 lb, 1 oz (90%)

Lgth: 30 1/2 in (97%)

Head: 45 1/2 in (65-70%)

Pictures of my boys!

This post is all about the pictures...


Productivity! (I had no choice!) Yesterday I finished the last-minute shopping I had to do. I spent the entire day out with the boys... we started out at CostCo, had lunch, dropped groceries off at home, straight to chiropracters, and then to WalMart... wooh! It was a full day!!! Today I also forced myself to be majorly productive, even after a *horrible* night lastnight! Jake wouldn't take his first nap, and I worked straight through his 2nd nap (or should I say wrapped... Almost all the gifts are wrapped! No bows yet though.) Housework is halfway there, just have to fold some laundry and mop tonight after Jake's asleep. And tomorrow morning, my LAST task... is to fix the Christmas tree! I haven't re-decorated it since it fell a few weeks ago, but it has to be ready for Christmas morning! Oh yeah, and I have lots of baking to do!!! I bought butter/milk/eggs in bulk in preparation, but I also bought some pre-made cookie dough because I know my life and, although I've been DYING to bake for the last 4 weeks, who knows if I'll actually be able to with these little guys! Cross your fingers that I get some me-time in the kitchen tomorrow (ahh, that would be wonderful!)


What are your Christmas traditions? We haven't gone to church since Austin was born. But we *HAVE* to go to a Christmas Eve service!!! Last year was my first year EVER missing the eve service, because Jake was 5-months-old and sound asleep, and we were tired & let it slide, but I was sad later! I am desperate to go to church- Austin has just been so difficult during his unconsolable times that we haven't been able to every time we try! But we're going to try on Monday. I *will* get there. Whether or not we'll be able to stay there is another story! But we're getting there.



Austin has been sooo smiley today! He turned 7-weeks old yesterday. His first smile was at 4 weeks, but he hasn't 'practiced' this new skill very often, and I haven't been able to get it on camera. Today he was babbling away and smiling lots, it was so cute! The pics above were the best I could get, though. That sweet smile comes so quick and then it's gone before my (slow) camera captures! These pics are of the aftermath of the cute wide-mouthed "laugh" smiles. He's so cute!

(This little Christmas outfit came in the mail today from a friend of mine from work. I HAD to put it on immediately and snap some pics. SO CUTE! He'll be wearing this Christmas morning)