The Week Heaven Partied

July 25, 2014 / amylynw / Leave a comment

Our three youngest children have been missing their oldest siblings something fierce. Nadine & Elijah are both at different camps and we haven’t seen them in almost a week. Before this, everyone was involved in day-camp and Vacation Bible School. It was a crazy week, full to the brim of excitement, while at the same time draining to my energy levels and gas tank. It was worth every second, though, especially because of what happened.

Elsie was attending kiddie camp and had come home with some homework. We sat on the front porch together and got into a discussion about being born again. She asked the same question Nicodemus asked Jesus in John chapter 3: “How can I be born again?” She understood it in a new way and wanted to be saved from her sin. It was her decision, and she prayed on her own to receive Jesus. That night the angels had a party.

The following week, the three oldest kids had their day camp at the same location. On Wednesday morning at breakfast, Jack said to me, “Mom, I have something to tell you.” I asked him what it was, and he said, “Yesterday at camp I became a Christian.” He grinned. It was just like Jack, to process it himself for an entire day before telling us. And the angels had a party on Tuesday.

That night, we were having family devotions. Nadine said, “Today at camp I became a Christian.” Elijah kind of rolled his eyes and said, “Again?” She replied, “No, I don’t think I was a Christian before. And I don’t remember becoming a Christian.” I reassured her what a wonderful decision that was. Sometimes it’s hard to know for sure if you believe because your parents do, or because you do. Now she knows it’s her own, personal decision. And the angels partied on Wednesday.

Thursday was the last day they were going to day-camp. Elijah was in a stormy mood and everything and everyone was wrong. I picked them up from camp that afternoon and the storm continued. Eventually I had to send him to his room because the cloudiness and moodiness was getting out of hand. When it was time to sit down for supper, he came downstairs. He wanted to talk to me in the living room. We sat on the couch and with tears rolling out of his eyes he told me, “Mom, I just became a Christian in my room.” I could hear the party going on in Heaven on Thursday.

Now we pray for sweet Betty to come to know Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior. She has four little evangelists and their parents aching for her heart to be captured by His love.

What a week. Revival has hit the Weldons. When the big kids come home from camp, we are going to follow Heaven’s lead and have a big party!

Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power known. -Psalm 106:8
“Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” -Isaiah 45:22
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” -Acts 16:31

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. -3 John 1:4

From Kayaks to Clark Kent

June 17, 2014June 17, 2014 / amylynw / Leave a comment

It is most definitely time for a photo dump. Halfway through June, and so much has happened! We went to Marsh Creek during Memorial Day weekend and had a fabulous time! The weather was gorgeous, and Betty was so cute in the canoe. Elijah experienced solo kayaking for the first time.

There have been moments of frustration and moments of sweetness. We still have Toby, who loves to go on walks with his little vest and leash on his back.
The Weldons recently had a family reunion/anniversary party and there was a fabulous glam cam there. We took full advantage of the fun:
And just because I love it:

The kids and I recently went on a field trip to Harrisburg. What a beautiful building and fascinating history! The photo of the bookshelf is of a treat I found on it one day: superglue, super-glued to the wood. On Father’s Day all Matthew wanted to do was have a workout in the park, so he and a friend met there and did just that. Elsie and Betty continue to be “twins” every day, and it’s hard to keep their two “twin” outfits clean… but on the days they are dirty, they seem to figure out another way to manage the job of looking as much like the other as possible.
The small photo of the girls sleeping is a tiny glimpse of what has been filling my weeks. We have rearranged five rooms of the house to accommodate an office for Matthew. As his business grows, so do the papers and the need for a spot to do his at-home work. Happy Father’s Day to him! I will post pictures o the finished product soon. As an exclamation point to our week, Jack got glasses! We are excited to see if they help with the challenge that school has been for him this year. We may not have Mary Poppins living here, but Clark Kent is in the house.

A Day to Recharge

June 6, 2014June 6, 2014 / amylynw / Leave a comment

Celebrating life, love, and marriage. God blessed us with a whole lot of delight today.

A Bug Tie, Three Tissues, and the Truth

May 13, 2014May 13, 2014 / amylynw / 1 Comment

This morning I texted my friend the following: I was up til after 3am because my bug tie has an ingrown toenail! Wow. I have never experienced pain like that before… A few seconds later she wrote back: What!? What’s a bug tie? Worse than childbirth? I laughed and laughed. Silly auto-correct. I meant to say “big toe”. A few days ago my big toe started to hurt a little bit. Soon it escalated into a big pain. So big it became a bug tie. Believe me, you never want to experience a bug tie. They’re the worst.

Besides all the excitement of soaking my feet (sounds so fancy, I know), life marches on. I’m tired. I bent over at least a thousand times this weekend alone. I can’t remember if I shaved both armpits or just one side this morning. I can’t remember if I even took a shower. I know I forgot to eat lunch. Every time I went to the bathroom today someone needed me. I keep forgetting to buy toilet paper. We have three squares left and only a few tissues left in this entire house. I think my kids ate ice-cream for lunch. I never made my bed. I forgot to dry the laundry. I remembered how I forgot to put something important in the mail. I know I’m not alone. This is for all you tired women and mamas out there.

When life feels like it’s marching over you like a herd of elephants bent on crushing you to your core, He sees. When the last ounce of energy was used up tucking that last baby in and another one asks for a drink of water, He sees. When you sit on the bathroom floor and scrub the mysterious brown streaks off the wall, that you would like to believe are from muddy shoes, He sees. When you feel like a laundromat, conductor, referee, dictionary, and Cinderella, all in the same moment, He sees. When your words seem to fly back into your face like a boomerang, He sees. When you sneak into that one secret spot and hug the three tissues left to your name, He sees.

Motherhood isn’t about getting a gold star because you did everything right. It isn’t about being noticed or praised or looking good. It’s about loving and loving some more, and when you don’t think you can, you love even more. It’s a no-pay job with eternal dividends. It’s exhausting and frightening and rewarding and exhilarating. No two days are alike, which is why we’re so flexible and resilient and oftentimes reduced to a puddle of tears, clinging to the edge of our sanity alongside that tissue. We’re tired, I know. But please, don’t grow weary of doing good. God’s Word says in the right time we will reap a harvest if we don’t lose heart. If we don’t loosen our grip on the courage it takes to keep on keeping on. It’s a process, this growing weary. It usually begins when we think we got this mama thing under our belt and need a little humbling. But mostly we become weary when we take our eyes off Jesus, who is the only One capable of infusing our war-weary bodies with supernatural strength and stamina. Giving up is a choice. The enemy wants you to give up, give in, and crumple under the load. Jesus wants you to keep your eyes focused on Him, not your surroundings, and let Him sustain you.

As women, I think we tend to fall into two big traps. The “I’m-not-good-enough” trap and the “I’m-not-as-good-as-her” trap. The second we entertain those thoughts, the enemy pounces in with a volley of lies. Those arrows sting and are deadly if we don’t counter-attack with the sword of truth: God’s word. And the truth is: You are perfect in Christ. You are not like her because God needs you to be who He made you to be. The truth is what sets us free to be who we are created to be.

So, those clean counter-tops you wish you had do not define who you are. You are a beautiful woman with a glorious gift of music. The issue you have with speaking your mind does not define who you are. You are a woman whose heart is so generous, you don’t even realize you’re giving. The hidden clutter doesn’t define who you are. You are a true friend who sees a need and meets it without being asked. Your hoard of shoes, or clothes, or cars, or cookbooks are not what make you amazing. Your ability to welcome people into your home at any time, and always speak well of others is what makes you amazing. Your inability to carry a child within your own body does not make you any less of a woman. You have the uncanny ability to create beauty and inspire others to do the same. Your heart is no less able to love and sacrifice just because you never birthed a child. Your unborn babies do not make you a failure as a mother. Your heart is so much fuller because it loves someone no one else has known. Mothers, women, you are so perfectly custom-made by the same God who created the stars and flowers and every grain of sand. He makes no mistakes. Stop believing you are not enough. Stop believing He messed up when He made you. Don’t stop believing you are exactly what He was going for when He began to fashion you in your mother’s womb. He sings over you, He cherishes you, and He never condemns you. Start and never stop believing that truth.

La Famiglia

April 1, 2014 / amylynw / Leave a comment

Before more time goes by, here are the closing remarks via photo, from our special family fortnight.

A rose among thorns, Heidi between her brothers.

We had a “see who can hang the longest from these freezing cold monkey bars” contest. Jack was the one to beat, and his daddy rose to the challenge and won.

My ever-present comedian.

The series of these photos was hilarious. We had a photo-bomber named Jack darting in and out from behind us. Among the lot, there is not one of all three coupes kissing. We tried. The middle couple were pretty oblivious to all the crazies. So cute!

DSC_0945-2
The cousin shot didn’t work out too well. It was cold. Betty was sad. Elsie was silly. That’s life!

DSC_0971-2
Sisters by love, not blood.

So blessed.

Italian Surprises

March 24, 2014 / amylynw / 1 Comment

Surprises are the spice of life.

We had a surprise brewing for a few weeks now. I kept it from the kids, excitement building in my own heart. It had been almost three years ago since we saw these sweet faces, flown straight from Italian soil to our side of the ocean!
DSC_0633-2
One night previous, Elsie had just been in tears for her cousin, Hannah. She missed her so badly.

Few words are needed. It was a blessed week and a half. So thankful we were able to see them a few times and cousins were able to connect over dress-ups, dance-parties, and sidewalk chalk.
In the between days when we weren’t at Matthew’s parents house visiting, we kept busy with the usual school and business of life. Soon I will post pictures of our entire family together. What a beautiful week it’s been.

Three-Four, Open The Door

March 9, 2014March 9, 2014 / amylynw / Leave a comment

March has a tendency to speed right along, almost as if it’s anticipating spring as much as the rest of us are. It’s been a super fun-filled month so far. Exactly three weeks until race day, the trail has seen a lot of my old sneakers. Between miles there has been much chocolate, a medieval feast with friends (we are studying that period of history together), an Ikea trip with my sister and nieces, furniture painting, cute kids, field trips and birthday celebrations with friends. There is much between the lines, many memories and blessings. Lots of words are flying about in my brain, unsettled as of yet; waiting for the unseen breeze to stop their spinning.

But right now, today, thirty-four is shaping up to be fabulous.

Making More Than Babies & Lunches

February 18, 2014February 18, 2014 / amylynw / 6 Comments

There’s a secret between us. Yet it’s no secret at all. It is loudly spoken by the way he looks at me, the notes he leaves me, and most definitely by the five children who grace our lives.

Our love was strong from the start. Yet its strength was like that of a seed: its full potential unknown until put into the right environment. After four years of waiting, we were given perfect freedom, wrapped in holiness, that first night so long ago. What was once forbidden was now ours to hold. Each, the other’s, to have and to hold, til death do us part.

Nine months later, a sweet darling baby blessed us. I struggled with the holding on part, and slowly he grew farther from me. He no longer had all of me. I felt needed and needy, exhilarated by new life and exhausted by it too. I was leaking tears and breast milk, of practically equal amounts. And as I held this child, I didn’t realize he was drifting farther from my arms. Fear gripped my body, mind, and soul and I closed out the very thought of ever experiencing pleasure again. I was forgetting: he was my husband first.

A few months later, the distance was breached. Our secret, though dangerously close to ruin, was restored and renewed. Trust replaced fear. We had become as blue and yellow, independent of each other. Now our bed melded back into a beautiful shade of green. Our discordant solos became one unified symphony again. It took me awhile to truly grasp: children should never replace the love, care and attention we give to our husband. I’m told one day our children grow up, and am starting to believe it. They are not given to make strangers of us or dull us, but rather to sharpen and enhance what has already begun.

Exhaustion is real, I know. It is not an eternal excuse, however. We miss sleep for football games, favorite television shows, another chapter of our book, and an extra cup of coffee. Can we not sacrifice sleep for love?

Often I forget to make our bed. The past couple of days, a little small fairy, with one missing tooth, has secretly been making our bed and tidying our room. I think of her humming little self, smoothing back the covers and fluffing the pillows. Deep in her heart she knows how much we love each other. This messy bed speaks of love and togetherness. Its crumpled sheets hold a secret. I’m never ashamed they should know. The time one of them barged in, because sometimes love has no schedule and can’t wait for candlelight and quiet, I was embarrassed but not ashamed. He declared he was NEVER getting married, and we laughed to ourselves and held on to our secret.

Tired mamas, hold on to your man. Don’t replace him with your baby, your phone, your mother, or your wallet. Nurture him, because he’s hungry too. He’s hungering for you. When you become unavailable until an undisclosed date, he may eventually feed his soul, mind and body at some other source. I know you feel needed every. single. moment. of. every. day. I know you feel about as undesirable as a week-old hoagie. I know you sometimes feel like you don’t belong in your skin. I know you bear the marks of motherhood in so many places and in so many ways. I really get how a hoodie and stretchy pants are the outfit of choice these days. I understand how the thought of making sandwiches crosses your mind much more frequently than the thought of making love. I totally understand.

Yet I implore you to safeguard this secret with your life. Never share it with another. Always, always, whisper it frequently to each other.

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very flame of the Lord.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
all the wealth of his house,
he would be utterly despised.
-Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Thoughts From Mt Everest

February 15, 2014February 15, 2014 / amylynw / Leave a comment

We have windows facing the north, east, and south of our house. Every morning for about five minutes, I get to see part of the sunshine as it creeps up past our neighbor’s brick wall and sneaks into my window before it rises higher, becoming indirect light for the rest of the day. There is another small slice of time when it shines full force into the laundry room downstairs and bathroom upstairs. During those times, if I’m able, I practically paste myself to the glass pane while it shines its bright happiness on my white and wintry face. Growing up with access to full sunshine every day it didn’t rain, makes its absence more intense some days. Yesterday, I even climbed the Himalayas for it.

Ok, so it wasn’t the actual Himalayas. It happened to be this ginormous seven-foot snow-pile in our front yard, with a tiny corner of sunshine right at the top calling my name. For a few minutes I disappeared into a world dripping with vitamin D and vast expanses.

My fellow arctic sojourner.

Practically the North Pole.

Then Betty started crying because she couldn’t get up from the deep snow where she had fallen.

Yesterday was Valentine’s day. We generally don’t make a huge fuss about it. If it truly is commemorating an amazing man who was martyred because of his faith in Christ, and who helped to secretly marry Christians who were being persecuted for their faith, because he believed so strongly in the institution of marriage before God, then I think we’ve cheapened it immensely. Passing out messily-written notes out of obligation isn’t exactly how I imagine we should memorialize love. Not to say I dislike Valentines Day, or I didn’t immensely enjoy seeing so many fun and creative ideas floating around yesterday. I mostly dislike the mandatory feeling placed upon so many, when love should never be forced. We have fallen prey to this just as much as anyone else. I MADE my children create valentines for their classmates. It was an assignment, though, not a freewill offering on their part. There is something beautiful about love given when you don’t ask for it, and love received when you know it wasn’t coerced.

When Matthew was on his way home from work, I asked him to stop at the store for a couple of items we needed for supper that night. I ended with, “Don’t buy me flowers!” He replied, “I wasn’t going to!” Then we both laughed. That’s how we work. Don’t buy me flowers when they’ll be jacked up in price to more than is ethically possible. Don’t buy me flowers out of obligation because every other guy is doing it. Buy me flowers (better yet, pick them for me when they’re free and fresh from the garden!) when I least expect it and because YOUR heart told you to do so, not some looming expectation from society is practically forcing it upon you.

Giving out of guilt is one of my biggest pet peeves. It was one of Paul’s too, in the Bible. This is in the context of money, not valentines:
Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don’t feel sorry that you must give and don’t feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give.
(2 Corinthians 9:7) God loves a cheerful giver: one whose heart is in the giving.

We can not force people to give. Actually, sadly, we can, but we most certainly can not make people’s hearts love to give. Nothing feels less loving than conditional love. Nothing feels less generous than compulsory giving. Nothing produces less blessing than forced and guilt-driven gifts. This goes way beyond Valentines day. The joy of giving is actually stolen when it becomes no longer voluntary but because someone is begging for it. Don’t steal my joy or reward by forcing upon me a dollar amount, a percentage, or a suggested amount. Giving should not be packaged like a vitamin, with its Recommended Daily Allowance to go along with it. It is incredibly personal and no one’s business.

The only consistent amount of money, time or services we are instructed to give can be summed up in a few words. Give secretly. Give willingly. Give until it hurts. Give your best. Give your all.

As I look outside, it appears as if a few more inches are being added to our Mount Everest. We may have a few more climbs before the weekend is over.

Five Little Minions

February 3, 2014February 3, 2014 / amylynw / 1 Comment

We have woken up to snow so many mornings this winter! Today’s snow dumped another six to eight inches on top of what was already there. A couple of weeks ago, the kids made a fabulous three-door hobbit home in the front yard. Hours upon hours were spent carving it out of the snow with my garden trowel. I love their creativity!

After hours in the snow, hot tea or hot chocolate are a welcome treat. Elsie is my usual tea-girl and loves it just like her mama.

Last weekend we finally were able to meet the newest cousin on the Weldon side of our family! Taylor Grace fought her way out of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is home and smiling! What a treat to snuggle and love her in person.

We celebrated Christmas Part III, since she was admitted to the hospital Christmas Eve. It was simply delightful.

One of our favorite gifts: five little minion hats, crocheted by Aunt Heidi! They are a scream.