It's a Boy!

Well, we've known this for quite some time - the pendulum test doesn't fail! But it's now confirmed, we are being blessed with a son sometime in late Fall. It really hit home when Scott brought home some baby essentials yesterday - little blue onesies, hats, mittens, even warm fuzzy socks for the winter. My nesting instinct kicked right in, as I marveled at the precious child that would be filling these articles of clothing. His name is a secret until the big day, but he is named after a great preacher, so we wonder if he will become one himself. He and Claire will have big shoes to fill with their names!
Claire, meanwhile, is becoming quite a genteel little lady. She says "hi" and "bye" with all her might, often repeatedly until we reply with equal vigor. She says "thank you" throughout the day, and says "Jesus" anytime she sees a crucifix. Her favorite book is Mommy's Bible that has a zipper around it, though I have to remind her that it does not need any drawings to accompany the words!
We are at quite a junction, as we wait to hear on Scott's job placements in the Fall, and wait on the Lord for direction for our next home. Will we buy or continue to rent? That is the big question, but God is leading us one step at a time. We now know where He wants us to be, but since the median house price there is $700,000, He's got to show us the next step, too!

Blessings to all who read these words!

The Month of Mary & First Words

What a month it has been! In just one week, we have celebrated Jessica's graduation, Claire turning 2 and Scott's graduation. We were blessed by the visits of Jessica's parents from France and Scott's father from Kansas. We tried to capture as much as possible in pictures so that we would not forget, but there is one thing that pictures cannot capture - Claire's first words. She was waiting to turn 2 to really start speaking, and now words are coming so fast, it's exciting! A few of them are: car, which she excitedly says when she sees our car; stuck; skype; cup; gator (on our visit to the National Aquarium); duck (not ducky like Mommy says); and of course very pronounced "hiiii" and "byyyye." I know these are the types of things we forget, so I want to be sure to get them on "paper," and I hope to be as diligent for our future children. How exciting it is when they grow up to see these little bits of memories about them written down or on film. And she also points to pictures of herself and says "Claire" in such a cute, baby voice.
More in a minute!

Let's Pray

It's been many months since Claire began to lift her hands up in worship when music comes on. Last week, she emulated us in another unexpected way. We were attending Saturday evening Mass at the community, and as Jessica was kneeling, Claire stood next to her and knelt, too! She tried to get comfortable, which was difficult with her clunky shoes on, but she did it nonetheless, for most of the time that we knelt. And she remained very serious and somber the whole time. We both smiled at each other. What a delight she is! It's quite incredible that she does not speak, does not understand too much, but she loves to emulate us in other ways, especially in prayer and in housework! It is not our doing, but God's gift!