time of rest

beniah & his beloved chair

No man ever laid on his death bed and looked up into the eyes of his friends and family and said, 'I'd wish I spent more time at the office.'

2009 was a wonderful, full year for our family. watching beniah grow into a little person who interacts with us in all his toddler glory and runs around until he collapses onto the floor from exhaustion. it was a full year at work, each of us working a number of jobs with both good days and bad. dave accomplished one of his goals by taking his girls volleyball team to state for the first time in school history. and we spent the year growing in friendships and having the opportunity to help revolution church grow. all these things are very life giving for us.

but because we are hoping to take a trip to korea this coming summer to see my mom and family we had to forego trips for thanksgiving and christmas. which actually turned out to be what we needed. our holiday season was quiet, relaxing, and low key. but when i realized that it would be a year and a half before we saw our niece again (the plan was christmas 2010) or that it would be at least 6 months before dave's parents would have seen beniah, my heart was heavy. i'm learning that kids change so much in the first couple years and i was longing to see that happen in my niece. so we planned a trip out to chicago for beniah and i to visit dave's family, without dave. i've had a number of reactions from people when they hear that i would be visiting dave's family without dave-but in all honesty i love these people and was willing to brave the flight alone with a squirmy toddler. and it has been worth it.

this break was exactly what i needed. i was beginning to grow impatient with some of my customers at starbucks, i was getting snappy with dave, and there were times i was not as loving with beniah as i could have been. being with family and being back in chicago has been life giving for me.

so, before i bore you too much more, here are some photo highlights:

mimi in paradise
kisses for ice cream

making a joyful..noise

sledding with poppo

helping uncle john play hearts

showing poppo how to sort shapes

making a snowbaby

miss lina loving all the toys at the children's museum

precious in pink

bathtime with mimi

"so when you pull this, it starts to play a song"