Thanksgiving

                    

                    

Some day, I'd like to post a "Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving" blogpost.  I have a few tips and tricks up my sleeve, I think, to make things go more smoothly and make things more meaningful and pleasant. 

 But for today, I'll leave you with this singular bit of sound advice:

Don't forget to lay out clothes for the youngest of the bunch because if you don't, there is no telling what the photos will show when you finally have time to notice.  ;-) 

A Month Later

 I am the queen of making outdated blog posts!  

Despite grand plans to keep the 'ol blog up to date, time just keeps marching on and now I am deeeeeep in the midst of Christmas preparations.  

I still haven't sent out Christmas cards!   But I have made LOTS of Christmas cookies, incidentally.  

(Priorities.)

These are the rest of the photos I took of Naomi the week that she was born... over a month ago.

Clearly, they must be posted. 

And clearly, they must be posted SOON.  Naomi already looks so different!

I hope everyone's mid-December flurry is full of the best kind of chaos!

Now... I'm off to write Christmas cards.

Naomi the Delightful

 

On Sunday, Naomi was baptized.  She wore a vintage table runner I made into a dress when Corynn rejected the mini-prom-dress that was her own. :-)  She didn't cry or even squirm, just melted right into her baptism.  Corynn looked like she had stolen a baby from someone else because surely a nine pound baby had not exited THAT stomach.  Kemuel beamed.  FIVE great-grandparents were there to witness it.  Four (incredibly youthful!) grandparents too.  ;-)    And afterwards, the Laudermilchs and the Newmans, families joined together by love, came together to feast and toast our sweet Naomi.

This post, I realize, is way over the top.  I posted nearly every single picture I took at Naomi's baptism, it's true!  (And a few sweet little photoshoot pictures too)   I am sure this is incredibly boring for all of the scores and scores of blog readers that visit me here.  (Or maybe just you.)

But it is my blog and so I am going to do it!  Because I love so much (and never want to forget) watching the joy, excitement, pride and delight of Kemuel during Naomi's baptism.  Is it okay to call a grown man cute?  If he is your son or son-in-law? 

 Because I must.  

It was so cute.  And sweet.  And special to watch him on this special day.

Especially because I spent many long nights and days wondering if and praying for a day like this to happen.

For the work the Lord did in Kemuel's heart on the subject of infant baptism while he and Corynn were courting/dating.  For the receptive spirit and yearning that Kemuel showed as he and his pastor studied for himself what infant baptism means and what it does not.  For the faithfulness of God's promises to you and your children and your children's children.  For the precious gift of life that the Giver of All gave to Corynn and Kemuel in giving them Naomi.

Thank you, Lord.  

Three little words that can't seem to convey just how deeply I mean it.