Cousins!!!

This past week my sister Katey has been visiting with her two boys Jay (age 6) and Curtis (one week short of 3). Needless to say, it has been a very busy, full, loud week!

Like all of us who didn’t grow up always near their cousins, it took the five of them a little bit of time to warm up with each other and know how they each fit into their slot. But they are just young kids so there is very little pretense among them. Jay asserts himself as the eldest, Emry giggles with delight as each of the boys try to make her laugh, Beto pops right into the middle of anyone and everyone, Curtis sometimes tries to usurp his older brother but is usually easy going and Ethan can either happily tag along or loudly disagree with whoever is talking to him because…well, Ethan does that with everyone.

Looking back over the past five days, I’m not sure if we were trying to wear the kids out or trying to wear us out. From Easter festivities, to Nerf gun fights, to playgrounds, to the zoo, to the Children’s Museum…I am exhausted! And more than ready for some routine days. But it has been fun. The five cousins get along real well and have lots of fun together. 

On top of that, this past weekend was the first time in nearly five years when all of us sisters have been together. With so much going on, the six of us didn’t have a lot of time to talk, or laugh, or poke fun at one another; but we took the opportunities we had. And I think my parents were really glad to see us all together again.

 Perhaps one day we’ll get a nice picture of all of them, but I doubt it!

Ethan, Curtis, Emry, Jay and Beto

 Grandpa and Emry having fun at the Children’s Museum.

 Grandpa and Ethan taking a rest at the Children’s Museum.

Emry has discovered her sport – she’s quite good and even calls it “football”.

Ethan, at least, looks like a pro.

Jay and Emry in the really awesome sport’s tree house at the Children’s Museum.

 At the zoo.

And the sisters – Melissa, Grace, Sally (back), Jenny, Abby and Katey.

 …with the kids!

Easter

Easter may be the holiday that invokes more memories than any other. As a little girl in Tennessee, one Easter meant a long weekend with all my aunts, uncles and cousins at my grandmother’s timeshare (and my first time in a Jacuzzi). Other Easters meant Easter dinner after church at Grandma’s where we hunted Easter eggs, my grandmother dressed as the Easter bunny. Our first Easter in New Hampshire was white, which was wondrous although I shivered in my new, spring Easter dress. I can still recall to mind many of my new Easter dresses. Dad got each of us girls an orchid corsage each year. And, until this year, we took the kids up to the West End Overlook in Pittsburgh after church to look at the City and take pictures. But the one memory I thought of often this past weekend was Grandma Ogilvie dressed as the Easter bunny…

I think, because, it would be the first year all five grandkids were at my parents’ for an Easter egg hunt. And I couldn’t help but wonder if Mom would dress up like the Easter bunny. She didn’t. She said that costume had not been at my grandmother’s when they were cleaning it out, although they had paused to wonder where it might have gone. Instead, my dad, sister Sally and Ed went out into the chilly, windy Saturday morning to hide the eggs the kids happily discovered and quickly took back inside because even they were cold! Later, they all decorated Easter eggs (and themselves). Back at home after naps, my kids decorated even more eggs. We had to since Emry clearly remembered the whipped cream decorating from last year and kept reminding me about it!

Thankfully, Easter Sunday dawned bright and beautiful. We found a park to take pictures in before church, celebrated Christ’s resurrection with our church family, enjoyed Easter dinner and lots of outdoor fun at my parents after church, took naps and had a small Easter egg hunt in our own backyard before dinner. A good weekend of celebrating.

He is risen indeed!

 The cousins – ready to hunt eggs!

Jay and Emry – the neat decorators.

Curtis and Ethan – the messy decorators!

Decorating eggs with cool whip – nothing tastes better.

More Easter egg hunting!

Dressed to celebrate!

Good Friday

This morning as I was telling Emry what our day would hold, I told her we would be going to church this evening after dinner. It wouldn’t be like when we go on Sundays. There wouldn’t be Sunday School, or donuts, and we would sit downstairs instead of the balcony. But this evening would be a very special service.

“Why, Mama?” she asked.

“Because it’s Good Friday,” I replied. “The day we…”

And I paused.

I was ready to say, “The day we celebrate Christ’s death on the cross,” but a fleeting thought crossed my mind that celebratemight not be the right word. I certainly didn’t want Emry to think that we ought to celebratedeath, especially a death as gruesome as one on a cross. But, then, what was the right word? No. Celebratewas right. And so I used it, “Today we are celebrating when Jesus died on the cross. Because He loved us. And saved us. And we should celebrate.”

This thought has remained with me much of the day and was reiterated tonight when one of our pastors used the same word and repeated what I had already told Emry that morning. Yes, the death of Christ on the cross was horrific. More sickening than we could possibly imagine. But He did it willingly. Because He loved His people. He saved His people. He gave everything for His people. So, yes, we celebrate.

After all, the story doesn’t end there. On Sunday, He rose again and conquered death. And one day, He will return! If anything, celebratemight actually fall a little short of the joy this should give us each and every day.

Worldly Magnificence

Yesterday Notre Dame burned. Shock rippled through the world, the world watching pictures and videos as the spire collapsed into the building. Some people cried. Others stood in utter shock. Everyone vowed to rebuild. 

That night the passage in my Scripture reading was Luke 13:

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

I don’t discount that the fact that Notre Dame has stood for over 700 years is amazing. But not so amazing that we should stand in shock when a portion of it is burned. Yes, it’s a beautiful example of Gothic architecture. Yes, it has survived wars. Yes, it is a Catholic church. But that doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. And when a part of it crumbles, we should not be surprised. Because, at the end of the day, it is just a building. And despite the billions of dollars now being tossed at it to rebuild, it will always be a part of this crumbling, sin-cursed world. And while it may not be April 15, 2019; one day it will not be there.

This passage reminded me of another during Christ’s ministry on earth when His disciples were trying to point out to Him the glorious architecture of the Temple in Jerusalem: 

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:1-2)

Today, that glorious Temple is gone. Every stone was thrown down by the Roman Empire in 70 AD, leaving the Jewish people without a building in which to worship. Although another Temple was rebuilt, an earthquake destroyed it in 363 and no further attempts have ever been made. Perhaps an even greater irony? Today on that site stands an Islamic shrine. 

Christ knew the future of that building. The fact that it was glorious did not matter to Him. The fact that the Jewish nation centered its worship on that building did not matter to Him. For it was just a building. As He told the Samaritan woman in John 4, “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jerusalem, worship the Father.”

Notre Dame still stands. With all money people are throwing at it, it will never be more glorious. But it remains just a building. A beautiful, historical, architectural triumph of a building, certainly, but it, too, will one day cease to exist. A day when the saints of God will worship in the very presence of our Savior in the new heaven and the new earth.

Now that will be truly glorious.

The Birthday Girl!

Turning four years old is sooo exciting! At least that is what Emry kept telling me. On her actual birthday, Grandma took her to the pool at the Y and then out for ice cream (during nap time – so no nap!). She had her “party” on Saturday – pizza, blueberry cake, grandparents, aunts and cousin Beto. All day leading up to the big celebration, she kept saying, “Mama, I am so excited!” So, we kept her busy all day grocery shopping, playing at the park and finally a movie (since an actual rest time was simply not going to happen). Then everyone arrived, she ate, she played, she opened her presents…and she wore herself completely out…until the evening ended in tears. Being four is exciting – and exhausting!

 The birthday girl has help opening her presents.

And help blowing out her candles!

The birthday girl – decked out in her birthday tutu (from Aunt Katey) and Koosh ball flip-flops (from Aunt Abby). Can you tell she’s the only niece?!?!?

To Emry

Little girl,

Today you are four years old! And you are so delighted…although you are also very much like your Mama for with this milestone now accomplished, you are already talking about when you turn five!

This past year has been an exciting one. So many people warned me that “three is the new two” but I’m not sure that is entirely true. While you have certainly thrown up many challenges, I’m sure you will find more now that you are four. For some days you are a little drama queen, a little bully, defiant, stubborn and a living reminder that not only are you a sinner, but so am I. A little sinner I pray will one day know a powerful Savior.

But in the midst of all that, the age of three brought growth, and fun, and change. I feel you left the toddler moments behind and sprang into simply a little girl who loves “sparky” clothes, the color pink, Minnie Mouse, princess Legos, dancing, puzzles and games. I love watching your imagination grow. I love watching you learn how games are played or different things work. I love how you have even become a bit adventurous, throwing some of your careful calculating away as you climb the “spider web” at the park or learn to ride your new bike.

What amazes me most is your determination. One day, you simply set your mind to something and you do it. Like the first morning you dressed yourself. Now you get dressed every morning, which is sooo nice! (If only you could also brush your own hair!) Or you decided to clean the bathroom sink without even being asked because it’s on your chore list. Or when you do so well at your schoolwork, actually ignoring the fact that you cannot write every letter perfectly (even though you want to and often throw a fit when you don’t).

I also love the way you explain everything. (Well, sometimes I don’t when you’re in trouble and you’re trying to explain that away…) But watching you teach Ethan his colors, or explain to him the days of the week or how to play a game is very fun. Perhaps one day you will be a teacher, although you’re so very detailed at your explanations you might be better off as a college professor.

You have grown like a weed these past few months, much to my surprise! You love to run, you love to play with other kids, and you love to go to Sunday School (where you learned all about the bronze snake on the pole, which was your favorite game to play for weeks). You gobble down fruits and vegetables, love to be going just about anywhere (like your Papa) and even though you can pick fights and he can get on your nerves, you do love your little brother and watch out for him. 

I am very excited, little girl, that you are now four years old. I think it is going to be a fun year. But among all the things you will explore, and dare, and challenge, and learn; I pray you will learn more and more about Jesus. About how He loves you, and watches over you, and what sort of little girl He most wants you to be. Because no matter what this next year holds, He will remain the same.

I do love you!

Mama

The Third Wheel

At some point in our life, I am sure we have all been “the third wheel” – a common term in our vernacular. And one Wikipedia may even have right: “Someone who is superfluous”. Ouch.

My son is a third wheel. He doesn’t know it. And even if he did, I’m not sure he would really care. To him, it just is what it is. So, he dashes off to find his own thing to do…and comes back later to join in again.

I don’t mean this in reference to our family. I’m talking about the little trio of Emry, Ethan and their cousin Beto (who falls about right in the middle of them as he is a week shy of being exactly a year younger than Emry). Emry and Beto get along like two peas in a pod. Which is sometimes an odd couple. Emry is very black-and-white, exact and cautious. Beto is all over the place, lives half his life in the midst of his imagination and doesn’t know what cautious is because he’s simply not focused enough to think anything through. In those ways, he is actually more like Ethan. Which is, perhaps, why he finds a better playmate in Emry than in Ethan. A kind of “opposites attract” thing.

But watching the three of them is often hilarious. Beto spent most of today with us, which meant until the three of them went outside first to paint and then to cover themselves in mud and chalk, Emry and Beto played some imaginary game in Emry’s room while Ethan was soon kicked off the island and spent his time happily under my feet in the kitchen. He wasn’t at all put out with the idea that he was a third wheel and extremely superfluous to his sister and cousin. Quite the opposite, in fact. With Emry occupied by Beto, he had me all to himself and chatted up a storm as I went about my work. 

Of course, one day he may notice that he’s the third wheel and fight back. But I rather doubt it. For one, the dynamics among the cousins will change as they grow. And two, he already knows how to give as good as he gets. He’s a younger brother. Not only has he figured out exactly which buttons to push to rile Emry, he’s also got Beto’s number. And he pushes with a twinkle in his little blue eyes.

I am curious to discover, though, over Easter when my sister Katey is here with her boys what he’ll be like as a “fifth wheel”. Because that is what he will be. It’s been nearly two years since all five of them have been together, so it will be different. But Ethan is the youngest and he simply tends to be the one who is forever left on the sidelines observing – unnoticed by the others who have no idea how observant this little guy actually is. Watching…and waiting…

Yeah…it’s going to be an interesting Easter…

Happy 3^rd Birthday, Beto!

 My nephew – the birthday boy