Update

Aug turned 3 months this past Friday the 17th. He is getting really big with big thighs. We are having a ball. Actually, this past Saturday was the first night we left him with a sitter. My friend Rocio from our church watched him for us while we went to Tru's cousin's wedding. We had a blast although we thought of Aug often. When we went into the receoption I felt like I was forgetting something ( diaper bag, baby carrier...baby!) But really it was a relief to have some time, just Tru and I. It was very good for the marriage.
I am excited because our church is having a potluck next Sunday. I am going to help set up and I am also going to bring some salad and a dessert. Little by little I am getting more plugged in. I love our church- the people are so down to earth, transparent, and not to mention fun! We really fit in great at Castle Rock. It is crazy to me because it just seems like we have always been there and have known everyone for so long. But really it's only been going on 5 months. I just found out a couple of people are pregnant. I am so excited for them. Don't worry...my urge to be pregnant is in the future...where it will stay hopefully for some time. I am content with the little one I have now....with his great demands and all.
I got a job at Southern Oaks Plantation. It's a wedding venue only a few blocks from our house. I can work once or twice a week for a 5-6 hour shift so it will be good to bring in some extra dough, meet some new people who are not family and not church folk, and to just get out of the house. It is extremely flexible so this is right up my alley for right now. Check out their website... it is beautiful and a very expensive place to get married! www.southernoaksplantation.com

Aug's Eyes

There is such depth to my son's gray eyes. Around his pupils are green and yellow- so mysterious yet so familiar. The shape of his eyes resmeble mine- big. The color and mystery- his father's. I always wonder what that little boy is thinking about. I wonder if by looking deep into his eyes I can tell that he is crying out, desiring articulate his very need. It's really in the morning that his eyes do cry out. They cry out with joy, though. His eyes, arms, and legs rejoice that it is morning. That must be one of the best things about August Mileston Butler that when I am dragging in the morning he is a refreshed little boy, transformed and filled with joy. That joy is so evident when I peak over the edge of the crib, pick him up and turn him around. When our eyes meet I forget about my fatigue; I peer deep into his eyes.

Nov 1st

One of my mother-in-laws ( My father-in-law's wife Ms Mary Ann) called me up and asked if I was interested in helping her at a craft show. Oh how my mother (Ruth) would be proud. When I was younger my mom would always want me to go to those craft shows with her and I dreaded it. I always felt that those type of things were an excuse to accumulate more junk. Gradually as I got older I like those type of things. I guess things change. Nevertheless I am going to help her. Actually she said that I could try and sell some of my art work or whatever I wanted to. She makes jewelry and I make ...well...I had some ideas. I am making cards that have a scenic picture matted in the middle. I also had some other ideas on friendship cards ( thanks to my friend Anjuli). Who knows what will come of it or even if I'll make any money, but I think having some projects and accessing the creative part of my brain will be good for me. So, Nov 1st I have plans to be at a craft show selling my junk...I mean art. :)

Sleep and Rise

Last night August only ate one time. That means he only needed me one time. That means that I got to sleep most of the night...well kind of. When I put him back down after feeding him I was wide awake. I struggled to fall asleep because my mind was racing, thinking about what what going on in my heart. So, really I was awake off and on from 3:40am til we left the house at 6:40am. I really could have used those couple of hours. I guess I will have to catch up later. That's what seems to happen when you are a new mother. Catch up sleep has to come later.

Truman, August, and I rushed to the lakefront to watch the sunrise this morning. It was so refreshing to sit and watch the fireball rise from the horizon. Then as I turned my head and saw how the lake seemed to go on for days it seemed that the lake and the sky met with such peace. I am glad I got to see that this morning. It calmed my soul.

Sugar Cookies

I am going to try to do something creative every weekday. So today I chose the home-ec route and baked some cookies. It was so interesting to see that when you add the adequate ingredients a recipe calls for you are almost guaranteed that the dish ( or whatever you're making) will turn out...unless you completely scorch it in the oven. As I reflected on my cookie baking today it was to no surprise that I came to this conclusion: when we do what God calls us to do the end result will be somewhat of a masterpiece (delicious sugar cookies). If you were wondering, the cookies did turn out well and I didn't even have cookie sheets- I used heavy duty foil. Anyway, back to the spiritual side of things. When we seem to ignore God's call or the Spirit's leading or when the recipe calls for flour and we put sugar our excuse and decision is not valid. We could reason that because both flour and sugar are white they can serve in each other's place but that would be false. Each ingredient has a specific purpose. If you are making bread you use yeast to make it rise. When we go through life and encounter struggles ( which is bound to happen if you are human) we have the recipe that will result in a masterpiece. Therefore, we are like sugar cookies. If we put in the right ingredients, the decisions God is calling us to make, in the end the masterpiece is inevitable. And we don't have to worry about getting scorched in the eternal oven.

Stranger

I went to the Sculpture Gardens today in City Park (a huge park in New Orleans). As I pushed August around in his stroller, I couldn't help but get aggrivated by the stone blocks on the path-they made August look like he was at a head-banging concert. Anyway, Aug was very calm the entire time, which contributed to my quiet afternoon. But you know, sometimes I don't want to be quiet. I am tired of quiteness. I desire some hearty, gut-renching laughter...like back in the old days. A simple cordgial conversation with a woman in passing seemed like all the afternoon had to offer. I guess I have to be thankful for the everyday interaction with strangers. That is what I feel like- a stranger.