A Christmas of firsts

This year Rowan and I both spent our first Christmas ever at the beach. Rowan because it was both his first Christmas and his first time at the beach, and me because, well I've never been cool enough to be at the beach on Christmas. 

 At first he wasn't so sure about this sand thing.

But he got over it quickly enough.

He studied it

And tried to clean it, which is one of his favorite past times...picking things up and putting them behind him to clear a path. He had his work cut out for him with the sand, but he worked pretty diligently at it for awhile.

He definitely loved the water.

It turns out the only time he doesn't mind sitting in a wet diaper is if it's filled with salt water.

I apologize for the unedited nature of this clip, but that's just how I'm feeling today. :) No music this time, just Ro Ro and the sand.

Christmas #1 down, Christmas #2 still to come!

Scripture that has been on my heart like whoa

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion. Greetings.

Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.

If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting. For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways.

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass. It's flower falls and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial. For when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own deisre. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived my beloved brothers, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Know this my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, and goes away, and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no  hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world."


God's words are so much better than mine.

The Road Less Traveled

On our first New Year's Eve together, John and I were cruising the streets of the French quarter dressed to the nines, watching our friends duck in and out of clubs, and waiting for the Riverboat fireworks display and the fleur-de-lis to drop. Fast forward two years and one baby later; I am writing a blogpost at 10 pm on New Year's Eve while the sweet sound of gunfire and online gamers serenade me in the background (thank you Modern Warfare 3). The funny thing is, aside from hating stupid video games that suck the life from my very soul, I don't really mind this Rowan-ized New Year's Eve. Something in me feels a little rebellious at the thought of going to bed before midnight. Will the new year still come if I'm not awake to ring it in? This departure from the majority makes me feel just cool enough not to feel like a total doop (I think I just made this word up, but it seems to fit). Plus, John and I figured out our own way to celebrate the end of another very eventful year.

Two words -- Sherlock Holmes. Eight more words -- most expensive movie theater experience of my life. We knew we were in trouble when we were greeted at theater #4 with a cheerful, "Are you ready to be seated?" and "Would you like a menu?" I was very confused as those two phrases fit nowhere into my movie-going paradigm. Clearly we had stumbled onto one of those fabled dinner-and-a-movie theaters. You know, the ones with the fancy shmancy leather seats and waiters who are at your beck and call the entirety of the film. Needless to say, this threw us off a bit, but what the heck -- it's New Year's Eve and we were planning on having lunch after the movie anyway (yes, going to a movie before noon greatly enhances babysitter availability -- we just get cooler and cooler). One grilled chicken salad, a flatbread pizza, soft drink, and small popcorn later we had racked up a $50 dollar tab. What?! Add this to our $20 matinee tickets and $15 parking fee and I was leaving with a stomach ache. The best part was when we realized we had just paid $85 to do what we always do -- sit on our comfy couch, eat dinner and watch a movie. Not cool, New Orleans, not cool. We did however manage to find a deliciously free dessert option when I discovered some left over Christmas candies in our car. We felt a little better after that.

Yes, this year I believe we are taking the road less traveled. Matinee movie, blogging and Modern Warfare 3. (Side note: John would like it to be known that he is NOT playing the afore mentioned video game alone. And I quote, "Can you at least say that I'm playing with someone." It's better if you can imagine it being said with a slight whine.) :)

I may not be conscious when you arrive, 2012, but I'm excited to hang out with you for the next year. Happy New Year!

Mama, I'm comin home!

For the past 6 weeks, my hard-working hubby has had his nose to the grindstone 7 days a week, 12-13 hours a day. Needless to say, we briefly forgot what each other looked like, and I think Rowan forgot that John actually lived with us.

Now, that is all coming to an end. In exactly one and one half more days, the aforementioned breadwinner will return from his life of drudgery and rotating equipment (which somehow he actually enjoys) and will join the world of the living. Friday we're leaving for a much-needed stint in the good, ole midwest -- the Land of Lincoln to be precise. That's right, for the first time in three years, I will actually be seeing the Cookson family on Thanksgiving (eeee!).

Personally, I'm looking forward to some real-live cold weather, trees that have actually changed color (even though the leaves will be well past gone by now), watching the Macy's parade with my mom - we do this every year while we're making Thanksgiving lunch/dinner (you know those two meals are one giant food coma blur), and sharing some new fall recipes I've been trying; more to come on that later.

Equally exciting is the prospect of a potential baby-less date night...maybe even a....dare I speak it....a movie IN THE THEATER?! And of course, there is nothing more exciting than getting to spend some quality time with our very-missed family. We love you guys and we'll see you SOON! (eeee!)

I'd love to hear about our friends' Thanksgiving plans! Anybody else traveling this year??

Ahhh yes....

What I have learned today (again):

1. This world is temporary. God and the souls of men are not.

2. Remaining faithful during trials is a way to love God.

3. God does not tempt.

4. Temptation comes from the innate desires of our flesh.

5. This means that our flesh will naturally lead us to death (kind of depressing if you think about it - but exhilarating when you pair it with the hope promised in Jesus).

6. Every good thing comes from God.

7. God never changes.

Where I learned these things (again):

James 1:9-18

What I'm wondering:

1. How do you stop an innate desire from morphing into sin? Through submitting it to the Spirit? Daily dying to the flesh? Spiritual breathing?

2. What is it in us that is so prone to (ultimate) self-destruction?

What I want to know more about:

"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." (1:18)

God's Word has found me again today :) Thank you Lord. 

A Lion Cub's First Halloween

So, I know this is a little late, but since none of our Halloween pictures turned out, I've spent what few snippets of free time I've had over the past couple of days putting together a short video of Rowan's first Halloween. Yes, he was the cutest lion ever; yes, we kept him up just the teensiest bit past his bed time; and yes, John and I have already eaten the majority of his candy (Rowan doesn't mind, trust me - no teeth). All in all, the stroll around our neighborhood was quite a success! On a non-baby-related note, my highlight was definitely getting to meet our neighbors who currently possess the much-coveted tangerine tree in our neighborhood - it's orange and beautiful, and it grows in their front yard. Rowan and I stop and stare at it like tourists every time we pass by. One day.....

I'm sure you won't enjoy these little clips of our lion cub QUITE as much as we do (since we are the chiefs of the pride and all) but I hope they make you smile today! Happy Belated Halloween!

This is what I love :)

So, I think like the last five posts have been about decorating our home and being crafty (or rather, not being crafty in my case). However, the most satisfying and worthwhile aspect of my life has nothing to do with working on our home at all; although I'm finding I enjoy that much more than I thought I would! So, I thought I would share the MOST rewarding and, at times, the most frustrating area of my life (aside from Rowan and John) -- college ministry.

John and I started volunteering with Cru here in New Orleans about two years ago and we love it. Cru is an interdenominational Christian org. that focuses on reaching college students - or at least the branch WE work with focuses on reaching college students. God used this organization in such a huge way in our lives when we were in college, and there's no way we wanted to miss the opportunity to be used in the same way in the lives of others. It's hard work, and it feels like we're bumbling our way through a lot of it, but God is faithful, and He is good (that means He's been working in spite of us). :)

Here's a snippet from our latest prayer letter:

Our fall retreat this year was probably my favorite to date. Here’s why. It wasn’t because of the inspiring words of our speaker -- Stuart Dodds, the regional director for Athletes in Action; it wasn’t because of the original worship music played by our very own staff members and volunteers; it wasn’t even because of the peaceful get away that naturally accompanies a fall retreat. This was my favorite retreat by far because of the way that I saw God move.

With John unable to attend because of work, I was on my own with Rowan for the weekend. Now, I love my son, but an entire weekend of having him to myself, in a strange place, keeping strange hours, and desiring in the midst of that to be spending time building into students - well it was a challenge to say the least. However, what I did find was that in the midst of a sleepless night, or while having to escort a noisy 7-month-old out of a night-time meeting, the Lord burdened my heart to pray. And pray I did - for the retreat, for our students, for Stuart, for relationships to be made, and so on.  And not surprisingly, the Lord met me in such a real way during those times. He settled my frustrated heart and gave me joy in what I WAS able to do. The BEST part, though, is that he still provided some of the most uplifting and encouraging conversations that I’ve ever had with our staff and students. 

I had the opportunity to pick Stuart’s wife’s brain about how to balance being a full-time mother and wanting to do full-time ministry. I took a long walk with a sophomore from Tulane who openly shared her life with me and is now coming to our house for discipleship on a weekly basis (John is discipling her boyfriend too!). The Lord even used Rowan to start conversations with students who I normally wouldn’t have had the opportunity to talk to (who doesn’t love a baby?). 

All of this to say that while I felt frustrated with what I seemed unable to do, the Lord reminded me that He is able to accomplish infinitely more than I could ever hope. As my role on the team seems to be in constant baby-induced flux, the Lord has been gracious in providing awesome opportunities to feel purposeful and encouraged in how He is using us. Thank you so much for your prayers and support! I’m so blessed to be able to share this season of our lives with you!