the leaves have fallen!

We have been having so much fun this fall!  Owen enjoyed the fact that we had to rake the leaves every few days to keep up with them falling.  We also took advantage of the beautiful fall weather by going to play putt-putt.  Owen did well for the two holes that he played!  He scored a 3 and a 4!  We also went to the apple orchard this past weekend with our Bible study.  They had so many great activities for toddlers... and adults!  Anyway, here's the handsome man and beautiful little lady!

A few days last week Owen had a high fever, I felt so bad for him - but we all loved the cuddly time with Owen.  Here is a picture with "Aunt" Carol and another one of how he looks when I put him to bed. 

Visitors!

This past weekend our kiddos had three lovely visitors from Minnesota - Grandma Deb, Great-Grandma Bernie & Great-Aunt Linda.  Owen & Eden truly enjoyed the love, cuddles and laughs from the ladies.  Jon & I loved hanging out with them & doing what they do best - shopping & card-playing!  Thank you for your visit, we love you!

Two Months of Eden

Today Eden is two months old!  We are loving her more and more each day.  She is sleeping right beside me in her bassinet, her hands are crossed but kind of hovering in the air.  I don't know how she's doing it but it is so cute.  She is also snoring.  Equally as cute.  As I am looking at her I am just amazed about how much I love her.  Even though it's not easy having an infant & a toddler running around, I love her immensely.

A few people have asked why the name Eden.  While I can't speak for Jon, I would love to share why I loved her name for her.  It all began with Owen's name.  Owen's name means "young warrior."  I found the name after I'd already been praying for him that one day he'd be a christian and be a warrior for Christ,  Then after his birth story it just fit perfectly.  Thus begins my desire to her name mean something appropriate for her.  So, as we were searching for a name we pretty much didn't agree on anything.  Then one day Jon threw out the name Eden.  At first I was unsure, but I grew to love it.  I pray for Eden that she would be beautiful and confident but not trust in her beauty.  I love the verse in Proverbs 31:30 that says Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  So I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to remind her of the beauty of the garden of Eden and help her to grow into a woman who understands her true beauty.  I also look forward to using the story of the garden of eden to share with her God's desire for a true relationship with her.   Maybe we'll sit down with coffee (hot chocolate for her) and I'll explain how in the garden of eden God actually walked and talked with Adam and Eve - can you see her face light up in awe!  We'll talk about sin and how it messed everything up.  We'll talk about how she sins.  Maybe she'll be sad about her sin and be sad for how it causes her to not be right with God.  Then I'll get to share about Jesus.  We'll talk about how He is God but became a baby.  We'll talk about how as he grew up to be a man, he never sinned.  We'll talk about his miracles, how he helped blind people see, helped paralyzed people walk and helped a girl about her age that died come back to life.  We'll talk about how he loved sinners, how he ate with them, laughed with them, cried with them.  Then I'll have to tell her about how he died on the cross, a criminal's death even though He was innocent.  That He died because of her sins.  Maybe she'll cry, maybe she won't.  But we won't stop there.  I'll get to share with her about how He rose from the dead!  Then I'll share the glorious news that even though her sin separates her from God, that it doesn't have to stay that way.  We'll talk about God wants to have a relationship with her, like with Adam and Eve in the garden.  I'll explain that if she asks forgiveness for her sins, that she believes that Jesus died to save her and that she wants to live her life for him, he'll have her.  Then it'll be up to her.  But I am thrilled for those conversations and for her to hear her name and remember true beauty, to remember that God wants a walking and talking real relationship with her.  That's why I loved the name Eden.

Below are the many beautiful faces of Eden:

I even love her sad face... well, some of the time. 

weekend in KC

Jon playing golf with Chuckles on Friday + 27 guys going to the Chiefs/Vikings game on Sunday = a weekend of extreme fun for Jenny, Owen & Eden in KC.  (For Jon too... I just don't have any photos from those events.)

We were so excited to have some quality time with our friends Rachel, Landon & London with Rachel's parents & sisters too!

It was good practice for Rachie & Landon to be
around a boy since they're having one this winter!

I was thankful for some girl time with my friends Kelsey & Juhi too.  And Eden got to meet Juhi's baby girl, Afsana.  She's so precious!

On Friday night we got to see Sandy's apartment in Lawrence & venture to art shows during Final Fridays.  Eden loved being carried around by Aunt Sandy.

Owen used chopsticks for the first time at Pei Wei - a yummy yummy simpler version of PF Changs.  Des Moines needs one badly!

And on Sunday we got to visit both of my Grandma's.  We finally took some fourth generation photos.

Here's Grandma Farmer & Eden - she's looking so good despite this hard month.  Love you Grandma!

Grandpa Tickles with Owen pulling a wagon that I used to be pulled in.  

Fall Baking

One day at church the refreshments were pumpkin muffins from Great Harvest Bread company.  Ever since then I have been craving them.  My good friend Shaly makes delicious ones so we tried out her recipe this week

~ and ~

I let Owen help me.

Needless to say there was flour & sugar everywhere; I also decided he didn't get to help with the egg & pumpkin part.  But we still had fun with our first mother-son baking time!

I was also relieved when Parents Magazine made the claim that "healthier baked goods" is one of the top 20 snacks for toddlers.  I thought I was justifying letting Owen eating the muffins because of the pumpkin but apparently its a good choice!  (At least according to them.)

Tuesdays are our family days.  I love getting to spend time together all four of us.  Isn't this picture so sweet with Jon & the two kids looking so comfy cozy with each other... and it captured Eden's precious smile.

One night, Eden was sitting in the chair & Owen wanted to join her for a picture.  He is such a great brother!

Finally, I'll leave you with a picture showing one of Owen's favorite spots in the house.  What a goof!  This is also why we had to rearrange our furniture upstairs... there was a couch right by the ledge.  It'll be interesting to watch as Eden grows up to see if she has as much energy & a love for climbing like Owen.

blessings

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  ~ Ephesians 1:3


And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  ~ Philippians 4:19


This morning when I was spending time with Jesus, I became overwhelmed with thankfulness in remembering all that God has done for us.  It began with praising God for the brand new fridge we just got for just under 20% of the retail price - 80% off!  A friend from church works for an appliance company and this one was not able to sold because it was a tester and so he hooked us up with it.  Our old one still sort of worked, but it wouldn't have lasted much longer as it started leaking this summer.  There have been numerous stories like that one where God has provided abundantly more than we could ever ask for.  When I think back over the years, of our marriage especially, it is amazing to see God's hand move to meet our needs.  When I think about our entire house even, every part represents some sort of blessing.  Whenever someone who is in the real estate industry hears what we paid for our house they are usually in awe.  Not to mention that most of the furniture was from our wedding or hand-me-downs from family.  It is always especially sweet to see the generosity of friends and family too and to know that they are acting out God's provision and blessings.  Even the very nature of our jobs require God to move through people to allow us to do ministry with college students.  Probably most of you reading this have been a direct movement of God's hand in our lives... whether you support GCM or the church, or have provided a meal with the babies, or have attend a wedding/baby shower, or blessed us with encouragement, prayer or friendship.  "Thank you" for all that you have been in our lives.

At Mom's Circle a few weeks ago, one of the Pastor's wives shared that being a "mom" is one of the only jobs where every task is directly associated with a blessing.  If you do laundry, its only because you have clothes to wear.  If you do the dishes, its only because you had food to eat.  If you have long days or long nights because of the kids, it's only because you have the blessing of having children.  I don't want to mislead you, its not like I sit around all day having a perfect attitude towards a messy house or crying children, but its something to think about.  But the beautiful thing is where I lack in mothering, I can trust God to help.  I appreciate the following verse: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).  This is another example of one of the "spiritual blessings" God gives - making it possible to handle two children 15 months apart in age.

Okay, enough talk, here are some pictures of the little blessings:

He's still fascinated with animals.

Eden meeting Great-Grandpa Wesley.

Eden and Jordyn Griess meeting each other... sort of.

Modeling his fall clothes.

Modeling her fall clothes too.

I came downstairs the other day and found Owen eating a whole half of a tomato like it was an apple.

New leggings!

We figured out a way to let Owen pull Eden in the wagon.

1st bath together!

Finally captured a smile!