Feeling Nostalgic

Marc and I are enjoying being kidless for a week. :) Caleb's Aunt Lindsay and Grandma Barbish are enjoying him in Indiana. I've really enjoyed spending time with Marc doing things like going out to dinner by ourselves...something we can't do without paying for a sitter now. :) I've actually stayed really busy this first part of the week but am looking forward to two more days of being able to rest and rejuvinate and do things that are harder to do with Caleb here, like making cards. :)

I sure love the little guy, though!! This week I've had time to look at old pictures and videos, and I can't believe how much he's grown. With the beginning of summer I thought, "This time last year...", and I find myself doing that now with fall. :) He is really becoming a little man...less like the little squirmy infant we first brought home. :) I barely remember him without teeth, and now he has a whole mouthful! I pray every day that I continue to see him for the blessing he is, even on days where I get weary with the mundane tasks of being a mom. I pray that I may see those mundane tasks through the eyes of the Lord and realize that those things have value to Him! Love this quote by Barb Cach, "If there is not great worth in the mundane, then the extraordinary becomes the standard, and you cannot sustain that."

Read this recently:

Psalm 17:13-15 (English Standard Version)

13Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14from men by your hand, O LORD,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure;
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

It really challenged me to continue to not have all my satisfaction be from my "portion in this life" but rather be satisfied "with His likeness." It's easy to put your whole life into your children and have a "child-centered" marriage and life. This week helped me to evaluate how I am doing in that area. :)

Since I said I was nostalgic, here are so photos. :) Enjoy!

So glad it's easy to forget the NICU, except when I go to visit people in the hospital and hear those darn alarms and beeps! :) God surely was watching over him during this time.

I loved his silly faces as a newborn. :)

This year I played in the golf tournament and had a BLAST! Last year Caleb sported this to support Daddy!

He still sleeps with his fingers in his mouth. :)

One of my favorite pictures of him last summer...still loves to smile for the camera!

As we get ready for football season, I remember this outfit for Caleb's first football game....yeah pumpkin hat!