The Kids

Rooke wanted Gretchen to play with him in the living room . . .

"Are you finished with your snack yet?"

"Now are you finished?"

"NOW are you done?!"

I love the expression on Rooke's face.  

Gretchen's really into holding her baby sister.  

One Month

How is she already one month old????  I feel like I've known her forever and can't imagine our family without her.  She eats.  She sleeps.  She cries.  She cuddles.  

We love our little Bridgette.

At Home

Bridgette's birth came just before two weeks of spring break.  Without needing to get Rooke to preschool, and with the desire to slow down dramatically to give myself room for the 2-to-3 transition, we have been spending a lot more time at home.  It's been nice.  Here is some of what we've been doing . . . 

We read, and read, and read . . . one of my first outings with all three kids was to the library.

A thoughtful friend from church offered to come over one morning to hang out and help.  She brought some chocolate-making mold things, so she was an instant hit with the kids!

Read time on the top bunk - a special treat for Gretchen

We made oobleck!  Definitely something we'll do again.

Someone wasn't a fan of getting her hands messy at first.  

Bridgette tried out her play mat for the first time.

We made cheerio necklaces (thanks for the idea, Jess!)

Easter . . .

After dying eggs, the kids wanted to eat them!  Rooke was so curious to find out if the inside of his eggs were going to be colored also.  

These are the special few we saved after we stopped collecting and gave some away.  Fun, yes.  But completely impractical.  Maybe if we dyed eggs every week I could justify keeping the collection.

Little Bridgette took part in her own way.

Our neighborhood got together for a potluck lunch and egg hunt.  Rooke wasn't feeling well and opted to take a nap (a true sign that he was really sick!), but Gretchen got in on the fun and scored some good treats that she shared with her brother when he was feeling better.

We made "Easter cookies" on Saturday night and "sealed" the oven to wait until the next morning to open them.

The cookies were pretty much a total fail, but it was still a good way to talk about the Easter story again and the kids didn't mind eating their cookie with a spoon!

After church, we headed down to my parents' for the rest of the day.

It was raining, so we hid some eggs in the living room

We also celebrated KayeK's birthday, which was on the 9th!  Rooke was totally into being a part of her opening cards and presents.

Aubyn Kara {what's in a name, part 2}

Bridgette's middle name is Kara (pronounced like Sarah, but with a "K").  We chose this name primarily for two reasons.  First, Kara is my sister's middle name.  Aubyn is a woman I aspire to be like in many ways.  And I'm blessed to not only call her my sister, but my dear friend.  I'm hopeful that Bridgette and Gretchen will have as meaningful a sister relationship as I've shared with Aubyn.  And as I have, I hope Bridgette will also find encouragement to be more kind, gentle, loving, approachable, and genuine from knowing her Aunty Auby.  They have yet to meet, but distance hasn't kept Aubyn's influence from our family and I look forward to the day when Bridgette is old enough to understand the significance of sharing a name with Aubyn Kara.

The second reason for Kara is the meaning: joy.  While pregnant with Bridgette, I read a book that challenged me to deepen the practice of giving thanks in all circumstances.  I was moved by the idea that where thanksgiving is possible, joy is possible.  Little Bridgette Kara is a reminder to me that thanksgiving is always possible!  And we have much to be thankful for.

St. Brigid {what's in a name, part 1}

St. Brigid lived well over a thousand years ago in Ireland.  She responded to the preaching of St. Patrick, and her legacy, like Patrick, took the gospel of Christ to the continent of Europe.  The French call her Bridgette.  St. Brigid inspired the first name of our third child, Bridgette Kara.

I (Ryan) actually thought of using the name long before we thought of having children.  Probably more than eight years ago now.  St. Brigid was introduced to me through Thomas Cahill's book, How the Irish Saved Civilization.  He tells a bit of her story to illustrate how the Irish received the gospel and spread the gospel.  Here is an excerpt: 

Following her conversion, her father, an extremely wealthy man, was appalled to find his beautiful daughter giving away his stores to beggars.  Quite out of control, he threw Brigid into the back of his chariot, screaming: "It is neither out of kinds nor honor that I take you for a ride: I am going to sell you to the King of Leinster to grind his corn."  Arriving at the king's enclosure, the father "unbuckled his sword, leaving it in the chariot beside Brigid, so that-out of respect-he could approach the king unarmed."  No sooner had the father gone off than a leper appeared, begging Brigid for help.  Since the only thing handy was her father's sword, she gave it to him.  Meanwhile, the father was making his offer to the king, who must have smelled something fishy, and insisted on meeting the girl before accepting.  When king and father came out to the chariot, the father noticed immediately that his sword was missing and demanded to know where it was.  When Brigid told him, "he flew into a wild rage" and began to beat her.

"Stop," cried the king, and called Brigid to him.  "Why do you steal your father's property and give it away?"

"If I had power," answered  Brigid, "I would steal all your royal wealth, and give it to Christ's brothers and sisters."  The king quickly declined the father's kind offer because "your daughter is too good for me."  

I don't know if Brigid was right or wrong to steal from her father, but her willingness to take a beating for her convictions inspires.  Would that Bridgette live with such daring!

I also pushed for the name Charity-for obvious reasons, right?  St. Brigid is famous for her charity and hospitality.  Thomas Cahill reports this prayer associated with St. Brigid: 

I should like a great lake of finest ale (yes and amen!)

For the King of kings.

I should like a table of the choicest food 

For the family of heaven.  

Let the ale be made from the fruits of faith, 

And the food be forgiving love. 

I should welcome the poor to my feast, 

For they are God's children. 

I should welcome the sick for my feast, 

For thy are God's joy.  

Let the poor sit with Jesus at the highest place, 

And the sick dance with the angels.

God bless the poor, 

God bless the sick, 

And bless our human race. 

God bless our food, 

God bless our drink, 

All homes, O God, embrace! 

This prayer might seem unorthodox.  First, I wish I could give the Lord the lake of fine ale, for he proved he prefers the choicest wine when he converted the water.  Second, and most importantly, Brigid obviously loved those most unloved and disadvantaged in this world.  May it not be wishful thinking that our daughter's name would serve as a reminder of our calling in Christ to be charitable and hospitable to poor and sick, both spiritually and physically.  

Lastly, it was said of St. Brigid that she "did not take her mind or her attention from the Lord for the space of one hour at any time, but constantly mentioning Him and ever thinking of Him."  Yes, may the same be said of Bridgette!  If this is true, then beatings may be endured more easily and charity given more freely, and men will exalt the name of Christ because of Bridgette.  May it be so.  May it be so! Amen.

Oh Happy Day!

I started taking piano lessons when I was four.  I didn't stop until I graduated from OBU.  

Playing the piano is one thing in my life that never ceases to bring me joy.  After moving to England, we began the conversation about purchasing a piano.  

As in, one that I could own.  Have.  Forever.  

Meanwhile, a friend from church was preparing to move to Brazil indefinitely.  She thoughtfully asked if I would be willing to "babysit" her piano until we moved.

Seriously?!

Introducing the newest addition to our home (newer than Bridgette!) who will receive lots of love over the next two years from all the Paynes . . . and sometimes we will love and enjoy it all at the same time!

  

KayeK and Big Daddy

My parents spent last week with us, offering endless amounts of help with the kids and encouragement to an increasingly tired mommy!  

Thank you, Mom and Dad . . .

for trampoline picnics 

for baby snuggles, both peaceful and otherwise

for emptying the dishwasher

for changing diapers

for cleaning up potty-training mistakes

for reading books

for taking the "big kids" away overnight

for folding laundry

for letting me win at Ticket to Ride

for taking Bridgette on walks so I could play with the big kids

for washing windows

for cleaning up the kitchen every night

for protecting my naps

for playing race cars

for taking Rooke to and from school

for being super flexible and willing to do whatever was helpful at the time.

We love you!