Pictures

Hmm, haven't posted any pictures in a while. Haven't been great at taking them, either, but I think I can find a few. In honor of the twins' five month birthday, let's say.

Grr, blurry, I know. Someday I would like to learn how to really use
the nice camera we bought. I do not know how to get two babies in
focus together. Obviously.

(Lack of photography skills apparent again.) But aren't these the most
awesome shirts? I love geeky humor.

I love love love the following series of pictures. Jude was in the swing a few weeks ago and we realized he was making one crazy face after another. Perhaps he saw himself in the mirror on the other side of the little butterfly?

Austin's first day of Pre-K4. Yes, we still plan to
homeschool, but we decided that this year, with
 the twins severely limiting how much we get out
and do stuff, it would be best for him to go to school.
He loves it so we're quite happy with our decision.

And finally, a video Zach put together (on his iPad, nifty!) from the sports class Austin took this summer through our local parks and rec department. I love it. Classic little boy stuff.

On My Side

"The God of the universe is on your side!"

Gina, a friend from church (and mother of five, including twins) spoke those words to me a month or two ago and they have been bouncing around in my head ever since. This parenting twins thing continues to be hard hard hard. I could go on at length about the latest challenges we're facing here, the sleeplessness, etc, but I'll spare you the details. There's always going to be a challenge (haven't noticed my big kids becoming suddenly easy to parent) but good news: The God of the universe is on my side.

Ponder that for a minute. Unworthy as I am, as prone as I am to make selfish decisions, react to the kids in impatience, fail to pray as I ought...God is still on my side. The unimaginably powerful God who created the entire universe cares personally for me. And He did not give us twins so He could sit on the sidelines and laugh at our failures. He gave us twins because it was His good and perfect plan for our family. To bring Him glory. To make us more dependent on Him. To sanctify us. And I have to believe that He is actively helping us through each and every hard moment. Easy to forget sometimes, at 3am when we're listening to a baby or two cry again, but then Gina's words come back to me. God is on our side.

Many mornings following hard nights I have gotten up and sought and found comfort in the psalms. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) "How blessed is he whose help is the god of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God," (Psalm 146:5) "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." (Psalm 27:13) I have been on the brink of despair over and over these past few weeks but I am ever thankful that God will not let me go.