Steaming mugs and thoughts

I would like to be writing this post with a steaming mug of coffee.

Though, Bronwen might wake up when I grind the coffee beans.

I'll risk it. She is a good sleeper-inner these days (like her dad!).

.... five or so minutes pass....

Alright, the French press is standing tall with some lovely decaf.. and some silky soy milk vanilla creamer. Brian is a purist when it comes to coffee and drinks his black.. as does my lovely Swedish friend (do you still Lisa?) but I prefer varying amounts of sugar and milk or cream, depending on my mood and what is available. And if there is flavoured cream/milk... I do quite enjoy it.

I haven't talked about it much, because I feel somehow that it will backfire on me, but dare I quietly say that, right now (because I know this can change quickly), Bronwen is an excellent sleeper, and she even sleeps through the night!! There, I whispered it to you, because I am kind of proud of our little lady! We put her in her crib awake, when it's time for bed, but I guess she has somehow decided that it is a nice place to be and stays there contentedly until about 6 30 am. The fact that she has found her thumb is immensely helpful in all of this, I feel. Most of the time when I go to feed her in the mornings she is voraciously sucking her thumb with her eyes closed. It has crossed my mind that we will be wheedling and pleading with her to give it up in about 4 years, but that's okay. Here and now, it is wonderful for, as they say in baby circles, 'self-soothing'.

I read an interesting blog post the other day: you can find it here. I don't know the writer personally but it is one of the blogs that I read in my blog reading roster. It is honest and real and it really made me think. I know that I only have one baby, the author has three. But it really inspired me to take the time.

Right now, it is easier. Bronwen isn't as fussy as she was before, I have some quiet moments in the morning, and I feel more energized because we're both sleeping better at night. But this will all change again, I'm sure. Especially if the good Lord does bless us with more children (not in the near future... don't get any ideas! haha).

But I really do need wisdom. And guidance. We have this little girl, she has been given to us by God, but really is His all along. (we are having Bronwen dedicated on Sunday, but more on that later). What a monumental task parenthood is. And I have been realizing that we as parents, that I as a mother cannot teach Bronwen to love God and follow Him if I am not setting that example myself, and living it out every day. Even if she is too young to understand any of this yet. I do believe that she can sense it when I am feeling content and at peace. And maybe Bronwen can even sense that God is near... I hope that she can feel His love through our love to her as parents.

How do people really do this, anyway? How do you sit around a table with your children in 20 years and think, 'they turned out pretty well!'. Why do some people's children just seem to be so... good... well adjusted... all that. And other people seem to have 'all the problems in the book' with their kids, even though they are 'perfectly nice people' themselves. I say all this in quotes, because it is really all about perspective, and who is to really say if people turn out alright, if they are 'good' or 'bad' or even, gasp, the black sheep of the family..

It all comes down to God again, doesn't it? And the T-word... trust. We put our children into His hands... and He walks beside us. Through it all.

i love this picture. i love these two. our little Newfoundlander had her first walk down by the boats last Sunday.