Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Graduation

Tonight was our last night of the Mommy and Me Swim class, and Drew graduated as a Kipper, with a certificate and all! It has been a really fun experience that allowed Drew and I to bond in the water each week, and gave him more confidence than he already had (though this is a little scary!) We plan to do it again in the Spring, when Drew is about 15 months old. He was the youngest in his class, but made great progress over the seven weeks that we participated. He learned to float using devices, such as a noodle-he knows how to hang on, and I can actually let go of him! He also learned to jump off of the side into my (or any adult's) arms, from a sitting position, and to float on his back with me only supporting his elbows. As he gets older, the goals will be for him to float on his back, completely on his own,  to dog-paddle, and to eventually swim under water. One of the exercises for tonight was to actually drop him off of the diving board, with the swim instructor in the water to make sure his head didn't go under. Unfortunately, this was not to his favor! He let us know, afterward, just how mad he was, and clawed my skin, afraid that we were going to do it again. However, this is part of letting them see what it would feel like to fall from a greater height, and he did forgive us...eventually. About fifteen minutes later he went right back to his regular swim exercises, laughing and smiling all the while. He even hugged the instructor, which was good since she was feeling QUITE guilty! Here are the pics of Drew with his certificate (smirking), and a few random ones before and after he had his shower.






Wednesday, October 14, 2009

These are some of the pics from our trip to Bear Creek Farms. It's a really rustic, quaint place to visit, with horses and antiques, a lodge with a Build-a-Bear workshop, an indoor water park, and a (way too incredible) buffett. It also has paddle boats, but, of course, it was a little cold for that! We had a great time, and got to see my grandparents, which is always a treat. Drew loved the donkey, and I think he might have jumped in there with it if we'd have let him. He clung to Jordan much of the time, covering him in kisses, which Jordan gratefully accepted. I decided to get back in touch with my inner child, and go down one of the really cold water slides several times, however, Jason was a weenie and kept trying to sneak into the sauna room and get warm instead of joining me on the slides:) We got to feed the horses, though one of them sent us running when it tried to break through the fence! It was a fun place that I'd like to visit again, maybe in warmer weather!







                           





Friday, October 2, 2009

"In My Arms"

Artist: "Plumb"                   

Your baby blues, so full of wonder
your curly cues, your contagious smile
and as I watch, you start to grow up
all I can do...is hold you tight

Knowing...clouds will rage in
storms will race in
but you will be safe...
in my arms
Rains will pour down
waves will crash around
but you will be safe...in my arms


Story books, full of fairy tales
of kings and queens,
and the bluest skies

My heart is torn
just in knowing
you'll someday see
the truth from lies

Knowing...clouds will rage in
storms will race in
but you will be safe... in my arms
Rains will pour down
waves will crash around
but you will be safe...in my arms

Castles, they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
You are never all alone
cause I will always...always love you.

Every time I hear that song, I think of Drew, and tearfully realize what he will have to go through...people who will reject him, friends who might abandon him, physical pain, people he will lose. It's too much to think about, really, but it reminds me of the conversation with my dad: "Dad, people have asked me why God even created us, when He knew we would go through so much pain. Or they want to know how He can let certain things happen. I feel that way, too, so its hard to answer them. Even though I know that pain is part of the world we live in, some things are just so bad." His response to me was, "Jenny, I asked my teacher that same thing, one time, in preaching school. Your Poppy Don asked me why God would even create us, when He knew what we would go through, and I wasn't sure how to answer, so I asked one of my teachers. My teacher's answer was, "Because He wanted children."

How amazingly simple that is. I knew Drew would suffer, but I still wanted him. This is the way God feels about us, though we don't deserve it. He loves us like we love our children, only much more than that. Sometimes I really struggle with wondering why certain things happen, and I probably always will struggle with that, til I die. It's one of my secret sins, only not so secret, now. I just have to remind myself- that's why we are given a gift to look forward to, (heaven) and God does love us, no matter if we can see his reasoning or not. Pain is part of our world...thank goodness this is not all we have to look forward to!!! We have so much in Him. Our real safety is in His arms, and in knowing His promise.