It's a Girl!

Here she is.  While she obliged and let the tech confidently determine her gender, she would not turn her head for a profile shot.  So, here's our little Halloween decoration:

Isn't she a beauty?!

Well, we can't really tell yet, but we are praising God that it appears she's been given all the expected parts and they are in working order.  Already she's a busy little baby inside.

Now, to spend the next five months wondering what she looks like, what her temperament will be, how the labor will go (for some really bizarre reason, I'm really looking forward to labor this time around), and what it will be like to augment our family by one.

Nine Years / Nueve Años / Neun Jahre

Nine years ago at 10:30am, a ceremony began that changed our lives forever.

We were a little younger,

a little thinner,

a little naive-er,

(which was just right, then.)

Now, nine years in,

we love each other a little more,

understand each other a little better,

and have a family that's a little bigger.

We've endured some trials,

but shared many more laughs.

We've changed for the better,

because we have each other,

and a God who will not let us stay the same.

Yes, world, this is my man!

He can eat big sandwiches.

I'll claim him in sickness and health,

joy and sorrow,

plenty and want,

till death does us part.

And I'm sure thankful he feels the same about me!

He is a patient man, folks, a patient man.

Happy Anniversary, dude.

Off to a Good Start!

The school year has begun!

First day photos - Brian had to get in on it, too.

My kind and generous parents-in-law let us set up

my old desk in their dining room.

Homeschooling: chapter 2

Tuesday morning Elizabeth begins first grade: in the dining room, on the couch, in the kitchen - depending upon the task at hand.

I love this.

My heart delights that I won't wave good-bye to her as she boards the school bus; she'll wake up, have breakfast with the family, get dressed, brush her teeth, and then we'll sit to begin the school year together.

How did we get here?

If you click on the "homeschooling" label in the list on the right, you can learn a little about how we got started. The short story is that I began thinking about homeschooling when E was about 2.5. I never, NEVER, NEVER imagined I'd homeschool; I was a public school teacher in my former life, for goodness sake! But as E entered an age where I could do crafts with her, teach her things, and read longer stories to her; my heart said, Hey, this is great! Maybe I should teach her at home!

Without a clue where to begin, I read "Homeschooling For Dummies," got a little overwhelmed at all of the different styles, and shelfed the book ... and the idea.

When she turned 5, we needed to make a decision about school.

I read a lot more that summer and we settled on homeschooling, mostly because in Cambridge Kindergarten was full day (8:30am - 2:30pm) and it didn't sit right with me. Funny how God works, huh? If they had offered half day, we probably never would have started homeschooling from Kindergarten.

Throughout last year I learned, as I went along, the beauty of the homeschooling lifestyle. And that's what it is. It's a lifestyle. My kids are with me all the time, and while I do plan lessons, there's an attitude that life is our classroom.

Why are we continuing?

We currently reside in my in-law's home, in the best school district in the state. People think we're nuts for homeschooling.

We don't.

Yes, of course my life would be easier if I sent E to school and I know the teachers do a great job! But we've gotten the taste for home education, and we won't be quitting any time soon. You can read some about that here. I love the fact that E is not only learning the 3 Rs, but has free time to play and explore, develop her relationship with B, listen to good literature while we cuddle, learn hymns, and pray for missionaries. And mostly, I love that I get to disciple her through this crazy little thing we call life.

Am I always so confident?

N - O, NO!!!

In fact, writing this post is reminding me of why we homeschool. And my soul is dancing.

The last few weeks I have been plagued with doubt about my ability to get organized or teach my kids anything useful at all! But the Lord has us on this unexpected journey, and we're going along for the ride.

Your journey may have you at home, working, kids in public, private, or charter schools. Please, please, please be assured that I don't think you're a bad parent if you're life doesn't look like ours. I DO NOT. Regardless of where we find ourselves, let's remember first and foremost to rest in the arms of our loving Father, and seek His guidance in prayer and the Word as we raise these precious ones He's given us to nurture and love!

Hooding!

Yesterday Colin received his doctoral hood from MIT. It was a lovely ceremony. The Chancellor and President had very nice opening words of welcome and greeting. They bestowed hoods on 428 new doctors. Then they had a reception out on the lawn. It was long, don't get me wrong, but it was delightful to see my husband get his hood.

To me, it doesn't really matter what school it is or even that it's a doctorate. I am just very proud of my husband: he bravely endured, when he wanted to quit; he humbled himself to get help, when it required admitting his weaknesses; he didn't abandon us, when he could have ignored us until the work was done. Pres. Hockfield commented that the fibers needed to complete a doctorate are courage, stamina, and passionate enthusiasm. I see and admire all of these in my husband. He is a good man. Primarily, I'm amazed at all God has accomplished during our time here! You can read more about God's work in us and on our behalf here.

I would be remiss if I didn't send a shout-out to Kate and Laken for caring for Brian while we were away. It made the event much more enjoyable. THANK YOU! And thanks to Kit, who was going to be with Brian, but got a flat tire on her way and was so sweetly apologetic. Thanks, Kit!

And now, the photos and video you've all been waiting for!

Waiting and waiting for things to commence.

(Get it, commence @ commencement?! ha ha ha!)

President Hockfield

Getting the hood!

(above is a video)

Dr. Cogswell and Dr. Ashe

These guys helped each other through grad school

by talking lots of baseball!

Family Fotos

The Scholar

Congratulations, Colin!

We're so proud of you!!

6

This little bundle got me started in a little thing called motherhood,

six years ago!

There are so many things I could say about our little girl, but at the moment I can neither get my thoughts together, nor do I have the words to express the depth of my emotion.

Elizabeth, let me simply say I am thankful God placed you in our family; I love you beyond anything you'll ever be able to imagine -

until you give birth to your first.

The Next-to-Last Big Day!

Colin has completed his final thesis defense. I am now married to a man who got his doctorate at MIT. Wow! I am so proud of him...and hope I can live up to being the wife of such a smart dude!

Today, he will read through the document and make any final changes before taking it to the printer. Friday (our daughter's sixth birthday) he'll hand everything in and RELAX for the first time in many years!

Now, Defense Day in photos: (Thankfully, Colin's parents remembered to bring a camera. Wife fail!)

getting set up

talking

sharing with friends

Elizabeth practicing for her future in teaching

the necessary signatures

the gene pool

Our friend Roberto defended yesterday too;

we looked after his daughter.

quick trip to the student center before dinner...

...at Bisuteki, the Japanese steak house.

Oh Yeah!!

Onion volcano!

virgin piña colada

Brian did a great job,

finding many ways to keep himself busy.

Thank you, parents-in-law, for coming and the great dinner! Thank you, friends and colleagues to Colin, who attended the defense! Thank you to all of you who prayed for Colin and were with him in spirit! We're grateful to all of you for your friendship and support.

Remember ... Don't Forget

Tonight I was reflecting (while brushing my teeth) on the journey that we've taken to get where we are. Though there have been many great times, it has not always been easy. I don't want to reveal too much about our lives in such a public venue, but I do want to say that the joy we feel in Colin reaching this milestone goes far beyond the normal happiness of completing a degree. We are thankful. We give God the praise for guiding and sustaining us through these years in Cambridge.

God was always telling the Israelites to remember, lest they forget WHO was really sovereign and guiding their steps.

In this post, I will remember.

1. God provided me with a job BEFORE we moved up here, and I had gotten the interview call when we were up here trying to find a place to live. What a "coincidence," huh?

2. God got us, after 7 months, to the congregation we needed to be in to grow spiritually during our graduate school years.

3. God blessed us (though at the time we freaked out!!!) with an unexpected pregnancy that got me out of my all-consuming job.

4. God provided for us monetarily in a bunch of crazy ways at very crucial times: a residential life position, a in-home babysitting job for a good friend's daughter, and an inheritance we did not know was coming.

5. God met us each in places of deep need and waywardness and gently drew us back to Himself, assuring us of His love and the truth of the gospel.

6. God has kept us together, though there were times that life's challenges could have driven us apart.

7. God used our family and friends in practical ways to help us and encourage us through the darker times.

8. God used the years I waited to have our second child to teach me about waiting, trusting, respecting my husband, and rejoicing with those who rejoice & mourning with those who mourn.

9. God got Colin into a research project one summer, because he needed funding, that has become the topic of his PhD and what he will continue to pursue as a post doc.

10. God has seen fit to take us back to Pittsburgh; honestly, I don't know if I really believe it yet!

I'm sure there is more. This list is overwhelmingly awesome. God be praised!

With this tucked into the recesses of my brain and the depths of my heart, I can only look forward with GREAT anticipation to what God will do with us next. What peace there is for the child of God, who knows his life is always under the gentle guidance of his loving Father.

Would you care to share some "stones of remembrance" from your life in the comments?

My Preliminary Graduate

For those who are keeping up, Colin had his preliminary defense this past week. This was a time when he defended his work before his thesis committee; they gave him the green light to graduate! In two weeks, he will present his final defense, which is open to the public. (Let me know if you want to come; his work is good and interesting and not so super esoteric that you'll be lost at the first word!) Between now and then, he needs to make minimal revisions to his already stellar thesis document. Then, on May 21, our daughter's 6th birthday, he will hand in his final draft and be done!!

Here's a shot of him coming up to our door after the prelim; we were looking down on him from our balcony.

Brian en vivo!

This post is ALL videos!!!

Look out, he might getcha!

He loves trains, but trains can be frustrating!

He's gotten really good with a spoon.

He's learning to pray at meals.

He jumps.

He can pretend sleep.

His dance moves can be beat!

(Well, maybe they can,

but not at our house.)

Seeing the older videos makes me want to bring back the shag. No haircuts for Brian for a while!

Haircut!

I decided - very spur of the moment so I didn't have a camera - to get Brian's hair cut after running some errands yesterday. This was not his first haircut, but it was his first in a salon. And only the finest for my boy: Supercuts! The haircut went pretty well, thanks to the dum-dum and the big mirror, but most thanks go to the dum-dum ... which was quite hair covered by the end. Ew.

BEFORE

AFTER

The Tooth!

The big gap!

The tiny tooth!

The lovely package!

The return note!

The great reward!

(For the curious, it's a $1 coin.)