lately

summer is finally here.  and i am LOVING it.  leaving windows open, walking outside without shoes, sitting on the front porch watching the sun go down...
every year when summer comes, i marvel that i ever made it through winter.  how do we survive being kept indoors for soooooooo long?
Here are a few things that have kept us busy the past couple months:
(ps - leave me a comment... you're not allowed to read this unless you do!)

• birthday parties
• picnics
• baby showers
• Hershey Zoo and Chocolate World
• fixing up a dresser for Eden's overflowing wardrobe ... A $20 craigslist find - woohoo!

BEFORE

AFTER

• gardening - this year we're going to have tomatoes in abundance!  also cucumbers, sweet onions, chives, strawberries, and sweet peas

   LOVE this girl

• Cracker Barrel stop on the way to the Outer Banks... such a great weekend with dear friends!

• First time at the beach!

• Packing... Seriously this girl has more clothes than Jake and I combined (all hand-me-downs, thank you Lord)

 

• Reading in the clothes hamper

• Watching the Memorial Day parade from our porch :)

 

Finally finished the butterflies above the crib and i LOVE it!  thank you pinterest :)

• we have been going on some serious 2 mile walks.  every day.  included in our route is a major hill, which, in my opinion, classifies as a small mountain.  Eden loves it. I love it when we reach the top :)

lately I've been practicing a grateful heart.
its really not a hard accomplishment, once you start acknowledging all the good things God has done in your life.
He has really taken care of us these past few years, blessing us abundantly,
providing all our needs, patiently walking us through the times of uncertainty and drought.
its in these fruitful seasons when you wonder why you ever doubted the goodness of God.
but I don't want to have faith only when we've reached the promised land.
I want to have faith for the entire journey there.
and I'm finding that faith comes easier when we choose to remember everything He's already done in our hearts, in our lives.
what can we do but thank Him?
He makes everything beautiful in its time.

...look at the birds of the air,

they do not sow, 

or reap,

or store away in barns,

yet our Heavenly Father feeds them.

are you not much more valuable 

than they?

the answer is yes, you are SO much more valuable.
He is attentive to His children.
are you attentive to Him?

meaning of 'Eden'

Jake and I took the naming process very seriously.  To me, a person's name is prophetic.  Haven't you ever noticed that people tend to become what they're called?  God often changed the name of a person right before (or after) they had a divine experience with Him.  Its as if He was saying, This name no longer suits you, for I have called you to greater things.     

When we found out we were pregnant, Jake and I really thought we were going to have a boy.  We were so sure.  We had a first and middle name picked out right away and, (did I already say this?) we just KNEW we were having a boy.  Then at 20 weeks we found out it was a girl!  So we were back to the drawing board for names.  Jake liked 'Eden' from the beginning.  I, however, was not so sure.  I just wasn't convinced that it was feminine enough.  I loved the meaning of the name: God's delight.  And in the end, that is what won me over.  Well, that and God's voice :)  I accepted it in faith, believing that Eden would give meaning to the name rather than the other way around.

 Now that she's a bit older and mobile and verbal, her personality is really apparent and I cannot believe how perfectly the name fits her.  This child exudes delight.

I have come to dread grocery trips with her because I am just short of bombarded by well-meaning admirers.  (I know, I know, they do it to you too... just let me tell my story.)  Last Monday we braved Wal-Mart and I heard a couple behind me laughing and whispering and I figured they were talking about Eden but I ignored it (I would get nothing done if I didn't).  I grabbed some things from the shelf and the laughter grew louder until I finally looked at Eden and realized she was leaning way out of the cart so she could see around me, smiling and waving at the couple behind me.  Thank you, Eden.  I spent the next 5 minutes fielding questions about this adorable little cherub.  "Her name is Eden... She's 14 months... No, I was not this out-going as a child...  Yes, she's a ham... She gets it from her father... Yes, I know, the 2's will be interesting..." 

Although it does get overwhelming at times, I understand.  I spend hours of my day just watching her play and discover.  She rarely has an off day, and if she does, its because she's sick or teething.  Otherwise, she's smiling and squealing and giving hugs and kisses.  She sleeps 12 hours a night and takes a great 2-3 hour afternoon nap.  When she gets into things that she shouldn't, we tell her "no" and she displays a sheepish smile and scampers away to a more appropriate toy.  My job as a mother is really not that difficult.  And I don't say this to make other parents feel bad...  Trust me.  I take no credit.  God knit her together and just made me her mom. 

One thing I've learned: God is SO attentive to us!  He knows and cares [deeply] about something so ordinary as naming a baby.  Praying long and hard about the decision was the best thing we could have done.