Happy 4 Months, Silas Joel!

Our little baby Si-Si is already 4 months! Wow, time surely does fly. (That's not cliche or anything!) He rolled over from back to tummy for his first time yesterday. Good job, Mr!

We love you so much, Silas. You are such a delight to our family. I'm sorry that your brothers love you so much and so roughly, but you'll never have to doubt that they do indeed love you. They adore you, as do Papa and I!

Wedding Weekend

Last Saturday my sister-in-law, Kim, got married. Our drive down to the Bay was not very fun. Silas screamed most of the time and slept a little. We thought we were in a hurry, though, so there wasn't much time to stop and soothe him.

When we got there we were informed that picture time had changed to two hours later then was first planned. So, we drove over to Peet's for some coffee and a little walk around Whole Foods. We headed back to the hotel to get ready and watch a olympics. I think Silas likes them.



When we got to the wedding location Silas got to meet Eric's twin brother, Scott, and his wife, Caroline. Who happen to be adopting a baby in a little over a month. How alike do you think they look? They definitely look like brothers, but some people cannot even tell them apart.



Silas did SO GOOD and slept through the entire wedding. But, of course, woke up to take pictures. He hung out for some of the reception, but slept for most of it. Eric and I did some hysterical dancing, which was my personal favorite part. I could not believe Eric did that! Too funny! The wedding went without a hitch (at least that I saw) and we have a new brother-in-law. Congratulations Dave and Kim Barry!



On the way home we stopped in the adorable downtown of Danville. We got more coffee and went into some of the cutest shops. I got a shirt and sunglasses. Yay! The drive back was much more chill. (I feel really cool saying "chill"), because we were able to stop (Panera for lunch on the way there and back!) whenever Silas needed it. Much more chill. Ha!

More pictures here.

"You either eat to live or live to eat."

When I heard that quote several years back I knew that I was a "live to eat" type of person. I like food and I like eating. I love reading foodie blogs and seeing pictures of what people are eating. I'm always meaning to do it myself, but then forget. Today I remembered! (after I'd already taken a few bites...whoops)

Lately I've been loving black beans. They are so delicious! And, healthy! This is a pretty typical meal for me and I eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Can't beat that! The boys just had scrambled eggs and avocado. As Samuel says, "avocado is green stuff!"



Ingredients:
Whole wheat pita from Trader Joe's
Organic scrambled eggs- one of Eric's pool customers gives us 2 dozen organic eggs every week
Sauteed squash from the farmer's market
Avocado from the farmer's market
Black beans, salsa, and sour cream from Trader Joe's

Super easy and de-lish!!

What's even more delicious? A baby burrito!!!

Loving People

I'm learning the balance between loving people and trusting God.

As you all know, I'm a leader in my church. Me, and two other ladies, are over all of the women of the church. It's our "job" to love on them, minister to them, hang out, and be moms and friends to them. I love it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I know that God created me to minister to women and marriages and families. To help them grow in relationship with God and with each other. To help them find healing for past wounds and have victory in every area of their life.

Loving people comes naturally for me. God created me to love deeply and passionately. I love the girls in my cell group and in my church so much. I would do anything for them. Everyday I lay my life down for them and I have no regrets about it. I'm doing what I was made to do.

When these ladies have success in their lives I cheer for them and laugh with them. I love seeing them receive ministry and healing from God.

Obviously, life isn't only about success and victory. Life is full of pain and struggles. In the same way that I love these women through their hard times I, also, love them through rough and difficult times. Lately I have been having a hard time with this. Seeing people I love struggling is so hard. I know I can't dp anything about it (except pray!), but watch and be there to love them.

I'm learning to trust God with all of these situations. To fight in prayer and then leave them at the cross.

God spoke this word to me. I have been tending to all of the other vineyards (people), but " my own vineyard I have neglected." (Song of Solomon 1:6) I have been ministering and ministering and ministering, but right now I really need the Lord to minister to me. I need Him to love on me and give me His strength to love people with His love. My love does nothing. His love conquerors all.

The Flame of Love

Every relationship, at the beginning, is so fun, exciting, and passionate. When Eric and I first started dating we spent almost everyday together. It was during the summer, so we would bike ride around town and in the park, go swimming, hiking, out to eat. He would bring me flowers and buy me dresses and write me songs. I would buy him little gifts that made me think of him or write him love notes. It wasn't really what we were doing, it was just that we were doing it together.

Of course, love and our relationship progressed. We got engaged. We got married. We had a baby. We had two more. Our relationship has changed and grown in so many ways.

One thing that we've fought, and are continuing to fight, it to keep the "flame of romantic love" alive. Most marriages are challenged with the same thing. Spending every second together, cuddling, making dinner together turns into paying bills, making dinner while he holds the babies, waking up in the middle of the night, and taking care of our children first. All of the passion grows in to comfort and friendship, which is good. The danger is for it to turn into monotony and a "roommate" relationship.

Most people would tell you that this is normal. Yes, it is. But, that doesn't mean that it has to be. Is it possible to keep romance and passion alive for 5 years? For 10? Forever? I say it is, but not without hard work. To have romance continue through the years you must be intentional. It isn't something that's accidental or just happens. Cesar Castellanos says, it takes, "words, attitudes, and attention to small details." It isn't necessarily the big celebrations or gifts, but just connecting at every possible time. Things like touching as you walk past each other, saying I love you, texting, or holding hands.

I don't want to wake up one day, 10 years from now, and realize that I'm not in love any more. I don't want to be bored in my marriage. I don't want to wish that I could go back to the time of passion, or even worse, try to find it again with someone else. I choose to be passionately in love with my husband everyday, for the rest of our lives.

If you've found yourself getting monotonous in your marriage I'll give you a little assignment that I gave my disciples. Everyday this week do something above and beyond. Do something to make your spouse feel special, that maybe you wouldn't normally do. Some of the ideas they had was to leave a note in his lunch, have sex, text "I love you." The opportunities are endless...it's the effort that counts!

**What do YOU do to keep romance alive in your marriage?