Fixing Fences

For several reasons:

- Max needing Mom so much

- Jones technically "too heavy" for mom to lift for a couple weeks

- emotional change of a younger brother

- warmer weather

...Jones has become a Daddy's boy of late. He's been a little needy, sometimes all he wants is held. It's hard to accommodate him all the time but it has been nice to spend so much time with someone that just wants to hang out with me.

The other day it was nice out so we fixed the fence. It went pretty much as expected:

Dad fixed the fence.

Jones handed Dad the screws for fixing.

Jones dumps roughly 86 screws all over the ground.

Dad laughs his head off.

Kids are funny and I'll take the hangout time while he still thinks Dad is cool.

Jeremy

Stop and Smell the Shadows

It's amazing to me how I'm almost 30 and it always feels like I don't know how I got where I am. I have to think really hard about the past week, month, year, and decade just to remember pivotal, and trivial, times of life that I've been through.

I'm a "man of the moment", I love living fully in whatever I'm doing at the time. At times I'm so consumed by my immediate moments, I don't plan for the next. Ask my sometimes annoyed wife, she'll tell ya. 

Maybe I should clarify. Being a man of the moment is what I love and when I feel really alive. I can still get there but it's much harder now with my lifestyle/environment seemingly pushing me towards routine, robotic living.

Sleep. Eat. Work. Eat. Change Diapers.....Repeat.

Which leads me to the whole point of this blog, I've found what rips me out of this robotic routine. What re-focuses a distracted brain from the repetitive nature of life and points me towards "The Moments" that make life special.

Kids. My kids. Other people's kids. Kids with developing minds. Kids that stop and live in The Moment because they don't have a choice, they are entranced by what they've discovered. Kids that are searching for another Moment, pivotal or trivial they don't care. It's still new and still amazing.  

I got to see my son discover his shadow the other day, and it was amazing to me. Again, he reminded old Dad: 

Slow Down. Live in Moments. Discover New Ones.

Jeremy

The Jones Rock

For his 1-year birthday we were brainstorming things to get Jones...we wanted it to be something special, something he could always have. The problem being how do you make a gift special that they'll never remember opening?!?

Finally we landed on the Jones Rock.

In the spirit of fulfilling our parental duty in becoming a future problem for our kids, we decided only something heavy and cumbersome would do for a gift, so we bought him a rock.

The Jones Rock.

We also like that it was something strong, a stable piece. Soft but bold colors at the same time. Something  for Jones that will endure, even longer than his parents. Something to sit on, stand on, and shout from. A reminder of us, and our love...

Happy Birthday Bubby. We love you, Dad & Mom.

Welcome Baby Stieglitz!!

Max Lyndan

8lbs. 8oz.

21.5" long

Welcomed by Dad, Mom, & big brother Jones...

Bubby

Probably because I'm his mother.. I couldn't help but think bubby looked darling today in his little overalls..

and a few of riding on the "horsey" aka "dadada"

No Longer A Slave to Fear.. I am a child of GOD

I was just telling Jeremy over the weekend that I sure could use some new music on my playlist.. it's been a really long time since I updated my worship list. I love songs that provoke my heart to worship and touch me deep in my soul. One way I really connect to the Lord is through music- something in my nature and probably many peoples. 

I also have been studying Psalm 27 some this week and the Psalm and this song "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel seem to be working in my heart and mind a lot. 

It always takes me a few times listening to actually "hear" the lyrics to a song.. but here is a link to it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k

                                                                           Psalm 27: 1-5

1: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me; my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock."

The whole Psalm is awesome. But as I consider the concept of being a slave to fear- I can really see how easily ensnared in that lie I get. After Jones I had a lot of irrational anxiety and fear... And the enemy loves to attack me with feelings of depression and over-whelmedness.. So heading into another birth experience all I've been able to do is pray and hope that this time is different. Psalms and songs like this remind me who I am- no longer a slave to fear and dread of: depression, loss, sin, anxiety, selfishness, exhaustion, the world, or ANYTHING that sets itself up against the truth of who God says I am- I AM a CHILD OF GOD. Vs 5:"For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock". 

                                                 "No Longer Slaves"

You unravel me, with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance, from my enemies
Till all my fears are gone
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God

From my mothers womb
You have chosen me
Love has called my name
I’ve been born again, into your family
Your blood flows through my veins

You split the sea
So I could walk right through it
All my fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me
So I could stand and sing
I am child of God

1st Easter Egg Hunt

Well.. there's always next year.. he finally did get excited to find 1 egg.. oh well. . He's too little for chocolate anyways; )

A Little Stieglitz Boy

What does a young Stieglitz Boy do? He tries to figure out how things work in this world..
Jones has been very,  very interested in figuring out just how this vaporizer works this week. .. which reminds me so much of his pappa and grandpa Lynn.

My "Not Going Into Labor Day"

Today has been a great day.
I went to bed super early last night- exhausted after working my hours for the week Monday-Wednesday.. The good news being that I have Thursday-Sunday off. Good sleep is one of the more difficult parts of the last month or 2 of pregnancy for me. I battle really terrible heartburn- triggered by coffee, eating too late, eating too much, etc. So anyways.. I slept awesome (which means I only got up 3-4 times to pee but slept hard in between ; )
I woke up before Jones and just laid there enjoying the moment. I felt so good (also kind of rare at this stage). I decided to not even think about/make a plan for "if I go into labor today"- no thoughts of who I'd call, what if Jeremy is driving truck an hour away and misses it, taking every twinge as a possible "pre-labor" sign, etc.
Since I couldn't find any eggs I decided today would be a good day for Bob Evans.. But instead of taking my 17 month old into a restaurant myself- we did curbside pickup- I stayed in sweat pants and Jones in jammies. I thoroughly enjoyed my western omelet and Jones loved his pancake and eggs I shared with him.
After breakfast I bundled Jones up and we went outside. Jones LOVES being outside. He runs and plays, picks up sticks and explores our backyard. (Which probably seems really big compared to our living room.) He honestly smiles really big pretty much the whole time- today being about 45 minutes. While he was playing I tackled the outside windows on the back side of our house- something I've been wanting to do- but am always either too exhausted to do or working- I'm going to enjoy that when I'm inside with a new baby.
We came inside (Jones was terribly sad=needed a nap) and my dear friend Jane S. asked if she could stop by and bring me a Starbucks, talk and pray together. We have a really, really special friendship that God has used to really encourage me. I'm really thankful for her. So Jane came and brought some flowers, a fun drink, and great encouragement. I felt so blessed.
Then my sister Tianna (Jeremy's sister actually but they've become like sisters to me so forget the in law part)... asked if she could come over and make me lunch. So after Jane left, Tianna came and made amazing chicken taco soup:) Then Mom Stieglitz also stopped in to chat and have some lunch- she also graciously volunteered that her and Tianna would be happy to clean out my fridge for me ; ) I accepted without hesitation. Jones was beyond excited to have his aunty and grandma here to play and kept doing his "happy feet" dance and impressing them with all of his best tricks.
I was also able to catch up on laundry, wash the inside windows, talk to my mom and brother Luke today. Sweep my floors (well I'm actually hoping to get to that), make supper and eat it with Jeremy and Jones (also a little rare as I work evenings or am usually not feeling inspired to cook or we're out to eat with people we love lately.)
Tonight we're hoping to go for a walk, and then maybe just relax.
It's been a great day. I should have a "I'm not going into labor day" tomorrow too I think.