Austin's First Letter

Parenting is just amazing. One day your child doesn't have a clue how to acomplish a certain skill. The next day, he just whips it out. We've worked on tracing, connecting dots, etc to learn how to write letters. Austin wasn't really interested and had a lot of difficulty in tracing/connecting. Then out of the clear blue, without us even working on it he just wrote an A! And then another, and another, and another, and another....It was so fun!

What joy it is to see these little developments. The look of pride in his eyes that he'd learned a new skill was amazing. Being able to celebrate him was life giving. These little guys just rock my world. What an honor I have to spend every moment with them :)

Little Things - Guest Blogger - Aaron

Somehow this post disapeared - so I'm reposting it. Aaron wrote this in mid-May.


Yesterday afternoon at work, I reached into my bag and found a small, 1.5 square inch piece of blank paper and smiled. Austin, my eldest son who will turn three on Monday, had placed it in my bag that morning saying, “Daddy, be sure to take this with you to work.” I pulled out the piece of paper and sketched a stegosaurus on one side (because that was one of Austin’s favorite sights at the Natural History Museum earlier in the week) and wrote “I love you Austin!” on the other.

That evening at dinner, I gave him the little note and told him I loved him. As he took the note and marveled at the dinosaur, his little face just lit up and he softly said, “Thank you, Daddy. I love you.” I’ve never seen him so touched. In fact, I didn’t even know a 2-year old could react this way. He was practically frozen in a mixed state of joy and gratitude. During the next few minutes as he carefully handled the note and examined it, he probably said he loved me another five times and thanked me at least twenty times, all the while maintaining a glowing, but maturely calm expression and tone. This was not the exuberance of a child getting his first bicycle or the surprise of someone getting an unexpected gift. Little Austin was the embodiment of sincerity. It was one crystal clear moment in which I knew he loved me and he knew I loved him – you could see it in his sweet face and his bright blue eyes. Both Joyce and I were amazed by his response and we just basked in the moment. Joyce commented to me, “That must have just made your day, your week, your year!” Most definitely. In what has been a year of highlights, this struck my heart like none other. Thank the Lord of grace, peace and love.

Aaron Pierce

He's a People Person

This little guy is just a people person. I was so stuck by this at the playground the other day. Watching from a far, I realized that Jonathan, at only 1 year old, managed to engage kids that were likely 4 and 5. I walked over to see what he was doing. One of the little boys said to his friends in a surprised tone "He's giving us sand!!!" Jonathan had decided to contribute to their project by taking sand from the sand box and giving it to the kids. Here's a couple shots.

 

It's been such a joy to watch him engage with people. He knows no strangers. If you catch his eye, you get a big "Hiiiiiiii" with the biggest smile ever. I've seen stern men light up at my little guy. I love this boy and all his personality!

Potty Awareness - are we really here again?

I am struggling to decide what to post. Events, special memories made, transitions, struggles, reasons to celebrate...Today, I'm just going to post about normal life!

Jonathan's showing signs of potty training readiness. Really? I'm pretty sure last June we had just begun our first round of attempted potty training with Austin. Are we really at this point again?!?! Yes, yes, we are - our kids are 14 months apart. Why would I expect any different?

So tonight after we've put the kids to bed we hear them talking and laughing in their room. Not unusual. They like to enjoy one another a bit before they fall asleep. A friend once told me that sharing a room is where brothers become friends - so we allow it :) At one point I thought I heard Jonathan say "potty", but I didn't think much of it. A few minutes later Austin says loudly, "Maaaammaaa, Jonathan pooped in his bed." WHAT?!?!?! I snapped my head to look at Aaron - dear in the headlights look (he doesn't handle poop very well - especially when it's not where it's supposed to be!!!).

Sure enough, Jonathan had successfully taken off his pants, then proceeded to take off his diaper, then did his business on his sheets. I know the order because the diaper was good as new! Oh boy!

Since we're on the subject, I'll share one more story along the same lines. It's questionable if this one's blog appropriate, but I'm certain it will make you laugh - so here goes! I thought I caught a stench of "#2" coming from Jonathan. So I asked, "Jonathan did you go popo?" No answer. He just looked at me as if he was pondering the question. So I reworded it (innocently), "Jonathan, what's in your pants". This time he responded, "Ummmm" (looked away as if he's thinking). Then clear as day complete with a gesture pointing to the area,  "peeeniiis". I should have known better!
Hope you're chuckling! It's never a dull moment around here :)

Precious Wednesdays

I've written a couple blogs about our crazy bus rides to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). As the weather turned warmer, we've been able to take a different commute. We take a quick train ride south and then walk across central park for the rest of the commute. It's been a precious time for the boys and I. Even having a 30 lb kid on my back and another one in the stroller, I always walk through the park with a smile on my face. I love Central Park. The boys love Central Park. We love that it has been part of our weekly routine!

This Wednesday was the last time we get to do this. BSF is over so we won't have an official reason to take this commute weekly. I am sure we will still come to the park, but not with the same regularity. This was very difficult for me as BSF ending, we had to say goodbye to the boys teachers. This marked the beginning of goodbyes. The reality of leaving NYC is beginning to set in. My heart is heavy as this has been such an incredible adventure that I am sure we will cherish greatly in the years to come!

As spring came to NYC, these were the flowers that welcomed us into the park!

Here's a close up! My favorite rose is the fire on ice rose. I was surprised to see tulips can also be "fire on ice!"

Bethesda Terrace as the sun comes up on it. Early in the morning it's quiet and peaceful.

I love the bridges in Central Park. The boys love the dogs! This picture captured both!

Conservatory Water. Beautiful as the sun shined over the water!

"Birdies"- as the boys called them- warming in the sun and drinking water.

Who would have thought you could feed birds crumbs!!

Can you see the difference in the time? Bethesda Terrace is a hot spot during normal hours!

The boys favorite thing in life Central Park - HORSES!

On our commute home, we always sit on the carriage route, eat our lunch and marvel at the horses!

They are far away, but you can see the bright pink bushes. Spring time amazed me in NYC - so prett! And off to the right is a set of rocks - my oh my- how those boys loved climbing them!

Daniel Webster Statue - have no idea who he is. Jonathan says it's Jesus - as with any other statue he sees!

John Lenon Memorial. People are always gathered taking photos here. I often get sweet smiles from tourists as they see one of the boys in the stroller and then realize there's another one on my back!

Here we are! Exploring Central Park and Living it up in NYC

Tender Words from My Austin

My favorite time in the day is right before nap and right before bed where I get to snuggle my two tots. Austin still asks to be snuggled before we lay him down. He surrenders his weight into our arms. I adore that. Jonathan allows his body to go limp as he lays on us and typically holds us on the shoulder or neck. What precious precious moments those are. I too often allow them to routinely pass without pausing to realize my boys won't always want to snuggle with me. This season is short.
Tonight I was stopped dead in my tracks. As I snuggled Austin and rocked him for a couple minutes, he looked up at me and cautiously said, "You're a beautiful mom." I was caught off guard. Did he really just saw what I think he said? I had to hear it again. "What buddy?" He smiled shyly then repeated, "You're a beautiful mom." The moment was absolutely captivating! My little man who's not quite three spoke the most tender compliment into his momma's heart. How can such a young life speak so much life into this 31 year old woman. My little Austin thinks I'm a beautiful mom. Hundreds of people could have spoken those words to me. The impact wouldn't have come close to hearing them sheepishly coming out of Austin's lips as his eyes smiled at me. With four simple words my cup, that was running on empty from the exhaustion of the day, was full again.
In these moments I wish I could freeze time. Since I can't - I'll write them down!

SUPER Sundays!

Trinity Grace Church, our home church here in NYC is split up into Missional Communities. These are separated according to neighborhood with purpose of having a smaller group to connect with as well as a place where people can reach out to the community in which they live. It's exactly what Aaron and I were looking for in moving to the city. I've written about MoHa (Morning Side Heights/Harlem) before. We've found great friends here and it's provided a great ways for us to serve our neighbors too. Today we kicked off the Spring session of Super Sundays. It was an amazing time :)

I had the privilege of having an awesome conversation with one of the guardians. I learned today that she is a Christian.  I was able to see God's fingerprints all over bringing this family to Super Sundays. I was able to hear the stories of her kids. They came from such darkness and brokenness. I literally had to control myself so I didn't loose it! Throughout the whole time of talking with her I could see God's Spirit moving.  This guardian was sharing with me how she wanted to bring the kids to church. She said the only thing that could bring healing to their hearts was Jesus! AMEN! The Lord brought our children's minister, Brandy, up at just the right time. Brandy was able to share with her about our children's program. They came to church today! This was a direct answer in how we as a missional community have been asking God to move. We aren't just playing kick ball and feeding hungry mouths. We are tilling soil to plant the good seed for the GOSPEL in these tender hearts. He's entrusted us with these precious lives.

Perhaps what blessed me the most this morning is seeing how God used unity in MoHa to minister to larger community. Let me explain. As a mom of running toddlers, it's sometimes hard for me to be able to focus on conversation - especially conversations with any depth. The reality is that at any moment a little man may come running to me asking to go potty making me have to quickly leave a conversation. Or another little man may run straight for the gate not caring if anyone is watching! Today, God tended to all of the needs of my family through MoHa. Each time I looked up from this powerful conversation, I was able to see a member of MoHa loving on my kids. I was gifted with the freedom to fully engage with this woman who is so selflessly giving of her life to break generational powers of oppression. Thank you MoHa for tending to my family in order that God would allow me to be an ear to another family in need. It was incredible!

On a complete side note, there was this amazing butterfly that hoovered over the park space we were in throughout the morning. It would randomly land on different people. It landed on me two or three times. It was so cool to see this thing fluttering about giving "butterfly kisses" to those at Super Sunday.