sara-beth was telling me today about a very interesting book on parenting she is reading. i already knew that having a healthy marriage is very important for our daughter to see (it was very good for both sara and i to see in our parents). however, this book encourages this in many applicable ways and with one inparticular sticking out. at night when a child goes to bed, it is encouraged for sara and i to spend time paying attention to each other, instead of singling out noa. this way, our baby knows that her parents love each other and is secure in her parents love for one another. it also helps a child not to be me-centered, as she would be if her world is all about her. wow. like i said in the title before, i have a lot to learn. so in fun tonight, sara-beth and i looked into each others eyes as noa went to bed. it seemed to work as noa smiled, time will tell. if anything, i think that this point, while valid, comes up short in a major way. not only do i want noa to be secure in her parents relationship, but more importantly in her and our relationship with Christ. we want her to know that our love and who we are comes only from God and by the grace He has given us. which makes it all the more important and appropriate to pray with her at night when she goes to bed. fun thoughts from baby books.
above are pictures of noa wearing a lovely james madison university dress. not only did we both graduate from jmu, but sara and i also met there. go dukes!
also, for those that like the noa pics, there are more on the newly added photo album link to your right. enjoy!
Continue reading about Noa #1? marriage #1? … well, actually Christ #1
today, much like other days, i was holding noa and she started crying, actually, wailing. i felt helpless. i walked and gently rocked her but to no avail. it breaks my heart to hear my girl cry and not know how to ‘fix’ whatever it is that she is crying about. i am realizing that sometimes love is just listening and comforting. hmmm…i guessing in 15 years from now, she will have some different issues, where tears may be in the picture, even wailing. i am guessing that, once again, i probably won’t be able to ‘fix’ whatever is the problem. one thing i can do, plead to my Father, and ask him to comfort and love Noa (and also ask Him for some wisdom in loving my daughter).
the joys and pains of fatherhood. this following verse should be on the first page of all books for first-time dads -
‘if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.’ james 1:5
oh, and the picture above, that is sara-beth with a calm noa, 20 seconds after i handed her our wailing infant. all brakes were applied to being upset, and a wave of comfort has seemed to overcome our daughter. she is falling asleep in her mother’s arms as i write. praise God for mothers! but as you have read, i have a lot to learn.
This one is for you Dad. Grandpa Noll sent this just in time for the big game. While I know that this isn’t Noa’s favorite toy (hard to compete with a pacifier), it sure is one of mine. For those that are wondering what is special about the teddy bear, its the Philadelphia Eagles logo on its belly. Go eagles!
many guys i know that have rejected the gospel or have put it off, did it for the sake of “freedom.” they didn’t want to be bound by religion or rules, or even a commitment to God. it would mean they couldn’t do the fun things in life, they couldn’t be free. what i am realizing is that i often fall prey to this un-truth as well. i claim ignorance and even desire “not to know my sin” if it means that i have to give up an idol or sin in my life that i want to hold on to. i am realizing how backwards this thinking is. God shows us time and time again in His word that unless we trust in Christ we are slaves to sin. There is no freedom. Greed, selfishness, lust, and more are rulers in our life without Christ. as my Father, I need to remind myself that God loves me (even more than i love Noa!), and that righteousness is much better than sin. i need to also remind myself that sin makes me think i am satisfied momentarily, but leaves me empty and further from God. finally, i need to remind myself that i cannot change on my own, that my heart will not change without Christ. i need Him.
“we know that our old self was crucified with hiim in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” romans 6:6
praise be to God!
i will obviously continue to saturate this blog with pictures of Noa. however, i also want to start blogging about some things i have been reading/thinking, as well as updates on our life and others. i hope you enjoy, feel free to post comments.
above is a picture of our family. we needed a picture for our prayer card so we had a fun photo shoot with aunt martha at a local university.
