Joy

Today is a very exciting and joyful day in our household!  Great friends of ours delivered their first baby early this morning, a little boy named Jackson.  These friends are very precious and live life with us.  They have, for the past five years, loved and cared for our children almost as if they were their own.  The birth of this child is truly like an addition to our own family.  We are so excited!  Even Noah is walking around saying, "SO citing!" (translation: so exciting).  The little ones already love him to pieces - all 7pounds 4 ounces of him.  I pray that our shared life continues, and that we are able to care for Jackson and be as helpful to and supportive of his mom and dad as they've been to us.
Also today, I received an email containing a link to a blog post from another great friend.  As if the birth of a new baby boy isn't enough to cause a mom to reflect on the birth of her own children and the time that has passed oh so quickly since,  this blog post http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/07/what-you-need-when-you-embark-on-motherhood/, contributed to the reflection on time passed.  Time that will just never stand still.  We make a conscious effort in our family to not run a rat race and compared to many our life is very slow paced.  Even still, the children grow and change so quickly.  This post served as a beautiful reminder that each day IS the destination, that our slow life can be slower still, and that days lived intentionally will help us to reap the greatest harvest and make the most of the time we have with our children before they enter adulthood.  I have only read small bits of the A Holy Experience blog, but all that I have read has been wonderfully written and Christ centered and it's highly recommended by my greatly trusted friend, Beth.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.  Psalm 127:3-5

...And if the birth of a new little one weren't enough to make for a joy-filled day, today is my and Dan's eleventh anniversary!  ;)