Baby Bean and Holding On

We've been waiting a long time for the littlest Bean to arrive...

9 months, to be exact!

Hooray!  Welcome, Michael Joseph!

Child of God, already washed in the waters!

So tiny, so delicate!

Precious little one.

The swirled metal on the elevator ride downstairs.  

A fitting visual for my emotions.  Sigh.  

More swirls.  The hospital chapel allowed a moment of pause after my visit with Michael and Nicole - I may have found a new way to experience a labyrinth, too:  raised paint on plexi-glass.  The paint was just high enough to keep my finger on track, letting me pray without having to concentrate so hard.  I need to figure out how to make one soon.

The swirling continued in my classroom this week, too, with kids tackling new technology projects.  I stand in awe at their creativity and ability to take what I give them in skeletal form and watch them breathe life and dimension into it!

And where better to lose your first tooth than in music class?

When Family Worship fell on Reformation Day, 

well, streamers simply had to be made.
I'm still brushing glitter off of EVERYTHING.
No, really.  Everything.

One congregant wondered if it was an impromptu reunion of
The Village People or just our darling Cherub Choir in costume!

And look who is home from the hospital already?!

Cuddled up close.

Those eyes.  Watching over her new little brother...

...and sending lots of video chats to Brenda!

And wearing her Preschool Halloween mask with joy!
(Look who is still wearing her Big Sister bracelet with such pride!)

Halloween in an elementary school is scary enough
without the children bringing their music teacher a spare eyeball!  
Sheesh! 

Princesses abound...

...and fairies fly about.

Even scarier...body parts in waiting rooms!
Anyone for some liver!?  What the what?!

Fearfully AND wonderfully,
Fearfully AND wonderfully.

Lots of prayers, one step at a time.

Church folks found this photo in a basement at my home church and gave it to my parents (who sent it to me).  The date said March 1981, so I was a little over 2 years old, and it looks like a typical, church potluck!

The brick has finally arrived and been placed!  There is a memorial garden at Hope Reformed Church in Sheboygan, and we wanted to give thanks for our family!

Every dinner at Chick-Fil-A is better with a deck of cards!

Please remind me to just give the children candy and games
next year and just skip the Carnival.  PLEASE.

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Trying.  

I was really hoping for an outdoor fire drill on a cold day.

And a giant, inflatable Hamster ball to keep rolling past 

my classroom windows, filled with children.

And shards of broken glass in my sink. 

That day TOTALLY rocked.  

What a beautiful, autumnal twist on this verse.

More doors.  More paths.  More hallways.  Ugh.

 Curds make things better. 

Cheese makes everything better.

Bless you, Sarah, for bringing some home!

 Just your typical parachuters...OVER MY SCHOOL!

What the what?!

If I'm going to be drinking a ton of water,

then it's going to be PRETTY water, 

thank you very much. 

 I think the flu is awesome.

NOT.

"...but I try to be as independent as I can.  I'm a positive person, 

and I just trust in the Lord and keep going."  

Sage advice from my grandmother.   Amen

 The littlest Bean and I.  Eyes open...

 ...and closed.

Holding on, indeed.