It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The artic blast has visited the Portland area and boy was it cold! Jadon didn't seem to mind though cause we had to drag him kicking back into the house.

The school's have been closed for the last three days, so I am enjoying some help with the boys - I am actually completing tasks! We have traveled around Portland with chains on the car because of all the hills, the roads being iced over, and the lack of snow removal equipment by the counties here. And because the artic blast visited us twice, Jadon and mom went out to build a snowman.

Purify me with hyssop,
and I shall be clean;
Wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:7

Jonah was a Prophet

Ian is almost 7 weeks old and mom, Jadon, and Ian are finally falling into a do-able schedule and enjoying time together. Ian has finally determined his schedule for feedings and Jadon has found something that holds his attention during that time. I went through special toys, books, cars, motorcycles.... the only thing that seems to consistently work is a Veggie Tales video of the story of Jonah. Will had purchased it on a wim, in exchange for some clothing that I had previously purchased at a second hand store. When I sit down to nurse, Jadon points at the TV and says "Jonah pleeze" and then sits down next to me & Ian.

Tonsils anyone?

Now, I thought I knew the story of Jonah. I mean he is the prophet that God told to go to Nineveh and when he decided to go the other way, he ended up in the belly of a big fish for 3 days and nights, right? Well, yeah, that is the general story. What I didn't realize until watching the Veggie Tales version over and over and over and over.... again, is that Jonah didn't get it. Our God is a God of compassion and mercy and loves bringing people to himself. He uses backwards and broken people like myself and Jonah to deliver that message of mercy to others. When the Ninevites believed and repented (partly because Jonah was in a big fish and lived!) Jonah was mad! He did not feel that the Ninevites deserved God's compassion and mercy, which is why he did not want to deliver God's word to the Ninevites. And I must confess, I have been there. I have been angry and resentful when certain individuals in my life found the Lord and received His grace - in my book, they definitely did not deserve it, and hey, I wasn't going to show it to them, so why should God!

Christmas Tree Shopping

Very humbling to be watching a "children's" video and learn God's truths. Jonah is a story of God showing compassion and mercy to people that were not chosen as his own. The lessons for me have been to:

1. Show compassion and mercy to everyone
2. Do not put God in a box and tell Him what I will and will not allow

It's interesting, because I wonder what is sinking into Jadon's heart and mind as he watches it. But, understanding and wisdom will come in due time. Will and I are fostering familiarity and knowledge of where to find truth, that way when he has questions, he knows where to find the answers.

Who do you know who you feel does not deserve God's compassion and mercy? Is that who God has been placing on your heart to deliver the message of the Christmas to? The angels announced Jesus birth to the shepherds by saying "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord..."Luke 2:10 - 11.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Arigato Narumi Yada

My Grandmother's great niece sent a present. It is this really cool truck with a tank that has a whale shark in it (you know it is cool when dad wants to open the box). It is from the Aquarium in Osaka that we had visited with them while we were in Japan in 1997. Jadon really likes his new truck. He can point to truck and whale at the same time! Narumi, if you see this blog, please leave a comment so that I can contact you.

Thank you

Happy Thanksgiving

From our celebration to yours

Day 27: What's in a name?

Definitely not in the one week time limit, but just a little bit before Thanksgiving. I guess I wasn't kidding after all. But we finally discerned our little one's name.

Ian Cooper Bower

Day 10: Baby Boy Bower

Wow! 4 days of just being Mommy! Just Jadon, Dad, Mom & Baby Boy Bower. Yes, we are still waiting on God to reveal a name to us, but we feel we are making progress, so I predict by Thanksgiving we should have something. (Just Kidding - Will's deadline was 1 week!)

Jadon is learning to be the big brother and how to appropriately love his baby brother at this delicate stage! His favorite thing is to make sure that his baby brother has his pacifier at all times. Of course, only after it has been taste tested by his big brother! We are learning how to teach and foster gentleness from Jadon towards his little brother. A steep learning curve, but we are getting there. Jadon is also learning to be more consistent in telling mommy & daddy when he needs a diaper change. Of course it tends to coincide with every diaper change that baby brother gets, but only once or twice has Jadon been dry and still wanted his diaper changed! We are praying that this will translate into good potty training soon!

Jadon is using a spoon relatively well now and gaining good control of his language, he actually repeated "I love you" to me today! When we are out and about he points and names all the exciting buses, planes, trucks, dogs, motorcycles... I'm sure I am forgetting some. Of course he has great control of his muscular ability - running, jumping, climbing, hanging, even somersaults! He is one constant jet stream of motion! He has a lot of books that he enjoys looking through, but the only one he calls by name is his Bible. His Bible has lots of pictures of animals in it that he really gets excited about. There is the naming of the animals in the Garden of Eden, Noahs Ark, the horse's in pharaohs army, Daniel in the Lions Den, Jesus on a donkey, and many more. Mom even created a song about the animals on Noah's Ark to the tune of "Ol McDonald had a Farm" and every time Jadon wants to hear it he sings "EE II OO".

Dad is back to work and I am enjoying and savoring every exhausting moment with my two little ones!

Day 6: Baby Boy Bower

The first few hours of this day were spent in the Pediatric ER at Emanuel Hospital. Mom and Dad were very concerned with a new paroxysmal crying pattern that appeared to be in response to pain as we were all trying to get some sleep. Baby Boy went home in the morning and we followed up with his pediatrician later this same morning. The blessing out of the lack of sleep and another night of needle pokes, is that Baby Boy's blood work is all within normal limits and he does not have to take any more antibiotics! He continues to feed well and hopefully his stool will be less runny without the antibiotics on board! Praise God that it is Day Light Savings tonight!

And some wonder why we have not had the mental energy to settle on a name......