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Well, a quick pull up to speed...We live in Buchanan, Michigan and I work as a full time pediatrician in nearby Niles, Michigan. (We're just north of South Bend, IN.) I'm loving my job and of course, now, my 2 sons! Eric and I welcomed Oscar Finnin into the world on July 27, 2011. He weighed 9lbs 4ounces and has been a blessing from the start. He is proving himself different from his brother, but is such a good baby as well! Find pictures of his first few days here. Eric is continuing to be an amazing full time father to our boys and has been finding all kinds of other things to keep him busy like woodworking. Eric was recently given the opportunity to purchase his grandfather's woodworking shop (all the tools anyway), and of course, he took it. He has been busy sorting through box after box of mysterious and useful items! My parents retired from the Methodist church in July and moved 2 blocks away and we definitely wouldn't know what to do without them! They have been such a blessing in helping us out with the kids.
So now that that part is done...I've been thinking about sharing more personal thoughts on this page. It seems like now with two kids, the Lord is showing me so many things that I feel like I want to share and as a mother, just some things I want to remember.
So to start off, here's two quotes from Clifford today:
Clifford, while finishing up in the bathroom after going potty...: Mom, God just always takes care of us. And loves us. What does he do with us when he's done loving us? (I replied, "Loves us some more!")
Clifford, while holding his little brother Oscar and pointing at his face: Oscar, I like your eyes, I like your nose, I like your mouth, I like your ears, I like your hands, I like your legs. I like your everything. I like your energy, and your muscles, and the whole world!
I feel like God gives kids this perfect balance between obnoxiousness and beautiful pure love so that we don't go totally crazy. Clifford is really pushing boundaries these days (and SO stubborn!) and yet then he comes out with these gems and I reminded just how precious his little life is, to me and to God.
Clifford has been asking why a lot lately (I thought that stage came when they were 4 or 5?!) and of course there's the joke about how we'll never say, "Because I said so!" but of course we all do. I was thinking tonight about if anyone in the bible asks God why, and I think the only example I came up with was Job. They certainly don't say it directly, but in a way Job asks God why, and God pretty much says, "Because I said so!" When I think of that and then think of my own reasoning behind my demands on Clifford, I know that it's because I want good things for him and he's not able to understand why certain things are bad for him, so I have to just respond with a simplicity that leaves him questioning. I think God probably feels the same, without me trying to presume too much. I think often God has great and wonderful plans for us that we just wouldn't understand, and so sometimes He calls us to do things, just because.
Along those lines, I also feel like God is showing me how his punishments are not what He really wants for me, but the only means He has to help me to gain all the blessings he has for me. I hate to punish Clifford, even when he makes me angry, but I know that for him to stay safe and have life and happiness and love, he needs to learn certain things, and he can only learn them through consistent punishments. Now, I'm not throwing grace out the window, but there are times when I think God gives us natural consequences as those consistent "time outs." It's reassuring to me to know how much it hurts me to punish the kids that I love, and how much more must it hurt my Father in heaven. I wish Clifford could just be good and obedient so we could enjoy each day to the fullest without whining and time-outs, and I feel that God wants my days to be like that too!
I'm so thankful for the blessing of being a parent. I know that it is truly a blessing and I'm thanking God for it each day! Hopefully I'll have more lessons learned to share soon!
I'm really working on praying more for the people in my life these days, so feel free to let me know if there's something specific I can be keeping in mind. If not, just know that if you're reading this, you're likely on my list and being lifted up!
Charlotte |
Uncut from the archives, videos of Clifford from a few days old, until about Oscar's current age. Most are very short. 
