Malia's new hairdo

So the other day I decided to go out and by Malia some hair barrettes. Although she doesn't have that much hair, she has just enough for me to put a little barrette in it! The best part about this is she loves it! She likes to touch her hair, but that also leads to playing with the barrette. She pulls it out of her hair and then tries to put it back in. She laughs really loud when I put it in my own hair. So for now we will keep attempting to keep the barrette in Malia's hair. Better that she gets use to it now so when she does have more hair I am able to put things in it! It's fun having a daughter!

On another note... I took this picture after she ate her lunch. She had macaroni and cheese and oh did she love it! She is definitely my girl! After all who doesn't like mac and cheese right?

Hanging with the Lucas Family

Since moving to Colorado Springs we have had the pleasure of seeing many of our friends who have come to visit us. This past weekend our close friends and former neighbors Matt, Dayna, and Myka Lucas came to visit us. It's been a little over a year since we last saw them, and Malia was only three weeks old at that time, and Myka was about 14 months.

This past Saturday we went to downtown Colorado Springs so the kids could play in Uncle Wilber's Fountain. At first both Malia and Myka decided that it was better to play with the water in the drain rather than brave the sprinklers. So they had fun splashing around in the little pool of water!

Eventually they both tired of the drain and moved to the fountain. The picture above is Matt, Myka, and Malia playing in the water. I was so excited to see Malia playing in the fountain because I have tried quite a few times this summer to play at the splash parks with her, but each time the splashing water scared her.

After getting closer to the water she finally decided she loved it! Above she is playing with her daddy in the fountain!

After playing in the water was over we went to eat at Poor Richards Cafe. When we were neighbors with the Lucas' we shared many meals together, so it was nice to be able to do it again but this time with both our daughters. We ate a yummy pizza... or as Myka calls it "peetzy."

It was such a fun day to spend together and I was reminded of how thankful I am that God has blessed our family with such great friends!

Why I love Colorado

I love Colorado for a number of reasons. I love the mountains, the fresh air, blue sky, and the many many outdoor activities that I can enjoy! It's been refreshing for both Chris and myself to begin hiking again this summer. We both love to hike, but when we lived in California we didn't get on the trails as much as we would have liked to. So now that we are in Colorado, and finished with school we have been able to once again find new trails to explore.

This past weekend we went hiking with our friend Bridget and her youngest daughter Amalia. We hiked Pulpit Rock, which is an easy hike that overlooks Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Mountain Range. It was definitely an easy hike for both Malia and Amalia because they got to ride along in their backpacks! Thanks

Chris for carrying her most of the way!

Malia loves to go on hikes because she loves to sit on mom or dad's shoulders and enjoy the scenery. If she rides with me she loves to tap me on the back of my head!

The pictures on the left from top to bottom: 1) View looking toward the south of Colorado Springs 2) Chris & Bridget with the girls in the backpacks 3) Pulpit Rock as we walked up to it from the backside 4) Chris and Malia climbing around on the rocks and 5) Malia with her water bottle after the hike!

This summer we have enjoyed getting to know Colorado Springs by foot. We have hiked a number of different places all with breathtaking views of the surrounding area. It has been fun to enjoy hiking with friends and getting out in God's beautiful creation.

In one month I begin working as a chaplain. I have had the privilege to stay home with Malia since her birth and enjoy being a stay home mom. I love the time I get to spend with my daughter and I hope that during this next month we will be able to hike more, bike more, and simply enjoy the time we get to spend together. Malia is growing so fast and changing every day, and she has the best grin when she accomplishes something new! I am looking forward to starting my work as a chaplain, but I will miss staying home with Malia. I cherish the moments we get to spend together, but I look forward to the many more wonderful moments God will give us.

13... almost 14 months

My friend Dayna recently posted an update on her daughter Myka. It gave me the great idea that I should also do an update on Malia since I haven't in a long while! Malia just celebrated her first birthday in May! It's been a joy to watch her grow over the past year (actually almost 14 months now!) She always knows how to bring a smile to my face and we love her so much!

Malia was born May 24, 2009 and weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz, and was 19 inches long. Eye color then was steel blue.

Today Malia is now: 18 lbs. 4.5 oz, and 29 and 3/4 inches tall. Her eyes are a greenish, brown with blue on the outer edges.

Malia loves to go on walks, hikes, and bike rides. She loves to help in the kitchen... she has her own drawer full of kitchen tools she can play with. She loves all animals, especially our cat Zola. She tries to pick her up frequently but can't quite manage yet. She loves bags, and shoes... definitely takes after her mom! Lately she loves to put on my shoes and walk around in them. Although she doesn't get very far. She attempts Chris' shoes too, but his are really big! Malia loves the water, although when it is cold it takes her a long time to warm up to it. She loves climbing up the stairs and recently has started to climb down too! Really she just likes to climb anything she can. She likes running barefoot in the backyard with daddy, and she loves dirt! Playing in dirt, eating dirt, and just sitting in dirt! Definitely a girl of nature!

Favorite foods... well we're still discovering those things! Lately she loves avocado, and cheese is always a favorite too! Peanut butter is high and rising on this list as well.

Favorite toys... again she loves to play with purses and bags. She loves balls, and she especially loves books. She will sit and read her books quietly in her corner while talking to herself. It's super cute!

Dislikes... There are a few things Malia really does not like. Riding in the car is one of those. Hopefully that will change when her car seat can face forward. She has a short tolerance for sitting in her car seat. She did try Zola's cat food once, and didn't like it either... thank goodness!

So that's the update on Malia! Thanks Dayna for giving me this great idea!

Packing on the pounds

For the past few months we have been trying to put some weight on Malia's little body. She is small for her age, but then again she is my daughter and I'm not a very big person myself. Malia is 13 months, 75th percentile for height, and not even on the weight chart for other girls her age. So we have had almost monthly appointments to check her weight. In all other aspects she's met all the criteria for girls her age.

Today I'm happy to say we had a break through and she's packed on some pounds! It does help that she has not been sick and has had a hearty appetite! She now weighs 18 lbs. 4.5 ounces, which puts her in the 3%-5% range for girls her age! Yay!! She's healthy and strong!

Malia has been exploring more things around her, becoming more verbal, and now climbs onto everything... or at least attempts to even if she can't get up. We take her back to the doctor in a month and a half for her 15 month check up, and we hope to see a little more weight on her by then! But we're glad to say she's happy, healthy, and having fun!

Simplicity of Summer

I am thankful everyday to be alive and able to enjoy my family, friends, and the goodness of nature that God has designed for me to enjoy! This summer has been a wonderful time of healing, rest, and pleasure.

It's been about nine months since our car accident and we have truly come a long way since then. In the past nine months we have healed from our broken bones, mended from our emotional trauma (although still mending), and given a new look on life. I am thankful for how far God has brought us and I can see that we have a wonderful future ahead of us. We have nothing to fear other than fear itself, and because of that I consider myself to be free. Although there are still moments where the fear creeps in, but I know God has protected us and has a purpose and a plan for our lives.

The past nine months have become more restful as time passes. In April we moved into our first home, closer to the mountains. Everyday I wake up to rabbits in my front yard, the occasional deer resting under our trees. It's so peaceful. I find myself more rested and feeling alive again. I often take Malia on walks in the neighborhood, and recently have begun hiking and biking again. I feel like my life has been restored and I am doing the things I love to do again.

The simple pleasures in life are becoming more noticeably abundant. This past weekend Chris, Malia, and I took a bike ride on the Santa Fe Trail. It was our first ride together as a family, and it was so enjoyable to be active together! Another activity I find pleasurable is taking pictures. I recently got a new camera which keeps me active in taking pictures. Although I'm still figuring out all it's functions, I love being able to capture life as I see it.

This picture is Malia (R) with her friends, Sophia (L), and Amalia (C). We went to the girls house when they had a lemonade and cookie stand, and Malia enjoyed playing and being fed popsicles on a rather hot day. We all had a wonderful time and I definitely enjoyed playing with the new camera!

This summer has been a blessings to us. God is good. We have loved getting more settled into our new home, exploring our surroundings, and enjoying the simplicity of summer.

Covenant

As I read from my devotion this morning the word that kept lingering in my mind was covenant. Covenant is not really a word that we use in our common everyday language, but instead we use a similar word, we use the word promise. What strikes me is that we live in a world that is quick to make promises that often are not kept. We use the word promise as if it means nothing.

This morning I was reading from Genesis 9:1-17, about God's covenant with Noah. God established His covenant with Noah promising never again to cut off all life and destroy the earth. God gave us a sign, a rainbow as a reminder of the covenant He made with Noah and all humanity. God's covenant never fails. Yes, terrible things happen in the world, but God has not destroyed us. God loves us enough that He chose to be in relationship with us. Sadly, not everyone has chosen to be in relationship with Him.

When I think about what it means for God to make a covenant with me, I'm saddened by the fact that as much as I try I will never be perfect and sometimes I fall away forgetting the relationship I have with Him and not seeking Him first. Yet, I also rejoice in the fact that God understands and knows my imperfections and still loves me unconditionally.

One covenant I made was with my Company of New Pastors. I entered a covenant to read the Scriptures and the Book of Confessions daily, and I admit I have read sporadically. Things come up my life gets busy, I forget or sometimes just put my readings aside. I pray that as I move forward I can not only be reminded of my covenant, but that I can act on it as well. When I read the Scriptures I feel my life is more full than when I don't. I pray that when things get busy I will remember to stop and meditate on the Word of God before I let things get too out of control.

This prayer is one my husband read to me once. It's the prayer of Lorica of St. Patrick. This has been a refreshing reminder to me of what it means to be in a covenant relationship with the Lord.

Lorica of St. Patrick

I bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity:

by invocation of the same the Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever by power of faith,

Christ's incarnation,

His baptism in the Jordan river,

His death on the Cross for my Salvation,

His bursting from the spiced tomb,

His riding up the heavenly way,

His coming at the day of doom I bind unto myself today!

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead:

His eye to watch,

His might to stay,

His ear to harken to my need:

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide,

His shield to ward;

The Word of God to give me speech,

His heavenly host to be my guard!

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, the strong name of the Trinity: by invocation of the same the Three in One and One in Three, of whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father,

Spirit, Word: praise to the Lord of my salvation -- salvation is of Christ the Lord!