And some more pictures...

I told you in my last post that Evangeline is too irresistible! Here are some more pics from the last month that I have just dumped into one blog post!

Keeping warm in Flagstaff


Why we don't get any work done at home!


Sisters and cousins, aunts and nieces


Dads and their daughters


Dad (on his birthday!) and his daughter's daughter


Three Generations


Paci Pals (Meredith and Evangeline)


Couldn't you just eat her up?!


My girl


Daddy dressing her pretty in pink

Giggly Girl

I was going to write this long post about how much I just love Evangeline, but I thought this video says it better than words just how irrisitable, hug-able, kissable, loveable, adorable she is! No explanation from me needed...

George Bailey

I have been insisting that Jon and I get our fill of holiday movies this year. So far we have watched Home Alone, Miracle on 34th Street, Its a Wonderful Life, and we have seen a theatrical production of A Christmas Story in Flagstaff. Still on my list is A Charlie Brown Christmas, Christmas Vacation, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (not the Jim Carry version, the cartoon).

Well, last night was Its a Wonderful Life and I felt a pang of guilt in realizing that I am a lot like George Bailey. About once every couple of months I throw a little fit, feeling like everything we own is cheap and crappy, like our lives are just too chaotic and not worth the trouble. I curse our tiny house and the holes in my socks and our bank balance. I realize the plans I have to travel are not likely to occur. Now I don't get to the point where George does of thinking it would be better if I was never born or jumping off a bridge into an icy river, but you get the point.

Well, if you have ever seen the movie you know that George Bailey in the beginning of the movie is sweet, caring and adventurous, and the George Bailey at the end of the movie has his eyes opened to see the Wonderful Life that he has. Its the George Bailey in the middle of the movie that is not very likeable, so the fact that my own character sometimes resembles his is troublesome to me.

The reality is that Jon and I are so incredibly blessed through the generosity of many, many friends and family. We are blessed by the generosity of God, who provides everything. In comparison with most of the world, our family is so stinking wealthy materialistically and financially. But like George Bailey, I am blessed in many other ways, too.



So this Christmas I just want to take the time and be grateful for the amazing husband and daughter that I get to hug and kiss every day. For our parents and our siblings who are so kind, giving and sacrificial. For our friends and our church who sustain us day to day. For our students who give us cause to rejoice. For a God who so loved me that He came to live with us as a helpless babe and died on a cross for my sin. And, because my human nature wants to cling to ungratefulness, I am thankful for old movies like Its A Wonderful Life that serve to remind me of God's goodness towards me.

Two Months Old!

We love our little Evie, all 11 lbs and 13 oz of her!

We just returned from her two month check-up and we are just so thrilled that she is healthy and happy. She was quite smiley all through the appointment, right up until she had her immunization shots. I am not thrilled with the idea of vaccinations because of some of the research showing complications but in the end we decided we needed to trust our doctor. She took them with some crying but Daddy was able to soothe her pretty easily (he has the magic touch!.

Evangeline Meghan Phillips is now 11 pounds and 13 ounces, 24 inches long with a head circumference of 38 cm. That keeps her in the 75 percentile for weight, the 90th for height - exactly where she was at her one month appointment!

Isn't she BEAUTIFUL?!

Life and Death

What happens after you die? That seems to be a question that most of humanity is curious about. Jon, Evangeline and I attended Tucson's All Souls Procession last night and the streets were packed with Tucsonans dressed like the dead. Many were dressed to make some sort of statement on different issues like gay marriage, border deaths, animal rights, universal health care and even Christian martyrs. Many more were dressed to honor and remember someone they loved that has passed away, whether it was their child, parent, grandparent or even their beloved pet.








As we were approaching 4th Avenue, where the procession would begin, Jon asked me whose death I would choose to represent and seeing that it was November 8th, the due date from our second pregnancy, there was no doubt in my heart or in my mind that I would be carrying with me the death of our tiny babies.

In that moment I was overcome with a burden for all the unborn. Those precious babies that my friends and family have carried that never made it in this world. I carried them with me in my heart as we walked up and down the street.

My heart is heavy again tonight as we have once again learned of some good friends who have lost their unborn child.

There is such sorrow in this kind of death.

There is such sorrow in this life.

Henry Nouwen writes

"When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. The sorrow overwhelms us, makes us throw ourselves on the ground, face down, and sweat drops of blood. Then we need to be reminded that our cup of sorrow is also our cup of joy and that one day we will be able to taste the joy as fully as we taste the sorrow now"

I am able to "taste the joy" now and I pray that my friends who are currently grieving will be able to again soon, too.

Of all of the confusion and questions and pondering and sorrow and pain that our human race has in death, and in life, I rest in the knowledge that one day Jesus "will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" - Revelation 21:4.