God is so Good...

Remember that song from way long ago?
"God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me.
He cares for me, He cares for me, He cares for me, He's so good to me."

This is the song that has been running through my head the past couple of days. Since I found out I was going to have a baby, I have been praying, worrying and wondering what was going to happen in terms of my job and our financial situation. Since I used to commute an hour each way every day, I knew i had to quit my job in Kzoo if I had a baby. My first choice would be to stay home with the little one full time but that just can't happen right now. Over the past ten months I have been praying that somehow, somewhere God would open a door for me, in a place where I can use my gifts to serve others. In a place that I would like to work and be able to use my degree and experience and talent.

On Friday he did. I was offered a part time teaching position IN a Christian middle school IN Grand Rapids, part time. Can you believe that? The job literally fell out of the sky and into my lap.

And yet, I am conflicted. I just can't stand the thought of leaving the little one every morning.

But the words of the song keep going in my head, "He cares for me, He cares for me He cares for me, He's so good to me."

So today my jubilee post is one of thankfulness. I am so thankful for such wonderful moms who have already agreed to help care for sylvie a few days a week and I am so thankful that my (our) prayer was answered. God cares for us, and he cares for sylvie and he cares for me.

"God is so good, He's so good to me."

Happy Holiday Weekend

Well, not sure about anyone else, but I sure love an extra day at the start of the summer added to a weekend! Especially since "the bun" is quite a bit of work (and drains quite a bit of sleep, but I am not complaining.) It is so nice to have an extra set of hands around. And how about that weather!? So awesome. Here are a few pics to remember the first weekend of SUMMER '09! We got her bathed, dressed and calm. Then she blew out the whole outfit about 15 minutes before we wanted to head up north. I am learning lots of lessons over here..like never assume you will get somewhere on time!

Yeah! A rare picture of us... chilling out on Fremont Lake.
Do those shorts blend in with my legs! Oh yes, they do! I better make time to get out in the sun more often!

There were attempts, but no fish to be caught. However, there was much fun to be had posing with those fishing poles...

Auntie Becky and Auntie Andrea with little Sylvie on Hess Lake.

Sylvie's first boat ride=cashed out

Sporting her red, white and blue!

We bought flowers for the yard on Monday (can you believe we actually got something done we intended to do?) I had to give her a bottle in the Lowe's parking lot. The bottle was pretty cold so she gave us this typical face. "Ohhhhh so cold, mom!..But I'll eat it anyway cause I am a hungry hungry hippo!"

Our new look--lots of walks in this beautiful weather. She just snugs right up next to me and enjoys the ride:-)

Contentment?

The following pictures are of my child being very content. She is looking around, or sleeping contently even if you scream near her crib. Ahh, makes me feel relaxed just thinking about it.
Well, the "gas phase" has apparently set in. Little sweetie has quite the track record of constipation. She farts for about 4 days, then blows out her whole oufit in one big event. Let's just say the time leading up to the blowout (prior 24 hours) is not much fun over here. She is a fussy-wussy girl! Anyhow, today, in a moment of silence prior to the world's biggest, grossest blowout, I had a thought that stuck with me. I keep thinking to myself..."Why can't she just be content?!" And then I thought about my prayers lately...they are pretty much full of asks and not much full of thank you or thoughts for others. And it hit me...How annoying I must be to God when I only fuss, fuss, ask, ask ask....
Oh little Sylvie...you are teaching me so much already! I thank the Lord for you and all you bring to this house and my used to be sort of predictable life.

Rockstar Hair

The soaped up version of her hair..... Here it looks kind of curly. I could only wish! Both her dad and I have pin straight hair even though curly hair runs pretty thick in my family.

Although it is not my dream for my child to some day become a rock star, her hair may just lead her in that direction. This is my dear child's hair after a bath, sans my saliva or hair gel (we just grease our hands up on daddy's product-laden head, no big deal.) Yep, and if mullets come back again, we are in business over here! The back could use a trim right now. Rat tail, here we come! Just kidding. I won't let that happen...right Jen?

I have already bought her several barettes and they stay in her hair. She is so little, though, I feel weird putting them in. Like she is a doll or something.

Who will you be?

Our very first outing--to Grandpa and Grandma Kbelt's--last week Sunday.

Sylvia with Auntie Kaitlin, who she is named after (middle name)

This is the outfit daddy came home with after she was born. He was seduced by the cuteness of baby girl clothes. I think her dad has pretty good taste though..huh?

Hanging out with Opa (Grandpa Kbelt). Such a dear picture!

So many comments surrounding Sylvia--or any new baby for that matter--are about looks. For example: Who does the baby look like? What cute features s/he has! Oh my, where did all that hair come from?? S/he has a cone head! Awww...look at that beauty mark etc. etc.

One of the neat gifts we were given after Sylvia's birth was a little devotional filled with poems about welcoming a child. I read this one the other day and thought it was worth sharing. It is called "Just Like You." It is my prayer, and hope, that God will give us the strength to care more about who Sylvia will be, not what she looks like, even though we live in a world where looks--especially for little girls--are prized and deemed as so important.

"When people see your baby

for the first time

one of the questions they may ask is this:

Who does the baby look like?

Sometimes the question is hard to answer.

Other times the answer is easy:

The baby looks just like you!

More important, though,

than the question about looks is this one:

Who will the baby live like?

Who will be the example

that your baby will follow in years to come?

Who will teach your baby

what is good and right and true?

Will your baby someday grow up

to be

just

like

you?"

~Edwin D. Roels

"The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him." Proverbs 20:7