Little Is Much

When we moved into our house here in Burnsville in 2005, we got DISH Network for the first time. One night, while searching through what seemed like endless channels, I happened upon "Gaither Gospel Hour." I remember seeing the Gaithers on TV a few times growing up, and I always loved sitting with family and listening to them sing.

I tuned in a few times, and eventually set the DVR to record it. After we had Cameron, we quickly noticed that he was also enthralled with Gaither music! I would re-play episodes again and again, and he would sit - mesmerized - even as a little guy. As he got older, he copied the movements and expressions of the singers...so the Gaither Gospel Hour has become a soft of family time.

I LOVE all the classic hymns they sing, but there is one that sticks out to me - one that I hadn't heard before I heard it on GGH. The harmonies are beautiful, and the lyrics are unique and meaningful. As the kids and I drove home from Minneapolis today, I thought of this song. I haven't listened to it in awhile, and I wanted to look up the lyrics, read them again, and share them too - a great classic.

Little Is Much When God Is In It

Words & Music by Kittie L. Suffield, 1924

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

In the mad rush of the broad way,
In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
Give to them the Word of Life.

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child—well done!”

Names

I'm getting more and more excited to meet my newest baby boy each day. I laugh when I look at Cameron and Elly, two carbon copies of me and Caleb, respectively. Will we get a boy that looks like his Daddy? Another blondie? A hybrid? It's so much fun to imagine, and no matter what, I think I'll be surprised what he looks like! (All I can imagine right now is another Cameron!)

Another question looming in my mind is what this little boy will be named. Caleb and I each have our favorites, but we can't agree. We definitely want his name to hold significance, and of course to sound really good ;) People keep asking me what his name will be, and I can honestly say I have no idea at this point!

Poor Elly wasn't really narrowed down until about a week before she was born, so we're following protocol as far as that goes. I think that when we decide, we'll probably keep the name a surprise until he's born, and also go in with a couple options. That's what we did with both Cameron and Elly, and the moment we saw them, we knew "who" they were!

So I'm wondering, blogging friends, do you have any suggestions? Requests: we likely can't do a one-syllable name, because "Sieh" needs more to go with it. We (OK, I) don't want it to sound too much like "Cameron," both because I want this guy to have his own niche and I know I'll get confused anyway! (Caleb likes a name that starts with a C and ends in "on.")

Heard any great names lately? We're not TOO avant garde, but also not necessarily traditional. Although we don't oppose traditional or Biblical names either...

Just for the record, here are the meanings behind Cameron and Elly's names:

Cameron Christian

Cameron has always been Caleb's FAVORITE little boy name. A speaker came to Caleb's Dad's church when he was little, and had a son named Cameron, and he's liked it since then. Cam's middle name, Christian, is also Caleb's middle name, and obviously means "follower of Christ." We pray that he would not only be a follower of Christ, but lead others to know Him.

Elly Mariah

Elly means "light." I saw this spelling and loved it, it seemed graceful to me and different than the traditional Ellie. Mariah means "God is my teacher." God taught us (especially me) so much about trusting Him during my pregnancy and preparation for two children 17 months apart. We pray that Elly would have a teachable, gentle and humble spirit before the Lord.

Any input would be much appreciated, even just to run them by Caleb! I love talking baby names anytime - even when I'm not pregnant - so this post is fun for me regardless of the circumstances! Thanks all!

I've Got Your Back

My friend Janel @ Team Sullivan had a cute post about pictures taken from behind. She loves them because they are so telling and asked others to post their favorites. A few popped into my mind immediately, so I wanted to share them!

Caleb and Cameron, March 2008.

Cameron & Elly, September 2008.

Probably my all-time favorite...quite literally "from behind!"
October 2007.

A unique perspective, for sure! Have any favorite pictures from this angle? Share 'em if you got 'em!

Cameronspeak

Cameron has been trying to sing more and more lately, and it's so funny to hear what he "hears," or what his mind processes and he tries to sing. Here are some of the best:

There's Just Something About That Name
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...there's just sumpin' 'bout dat name!
Tractor, Savior, Jesus, like figures after da rain!

Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me, 'dis I know,
For da Bible tells Nemo!

Caleb and I have also been discovering things that we say more often than we think, when Cameron repeats them...

5:45 a.m.
Cameron: Hi, Daddy!
Caleb: Hi Bubby, good morning!
Cameron: It's too early? Lay back down for little bit?

Cam and I walk into the bathroom to find that Elly has pulled the entire roll of toilet paper OFF the roll, and she's playing in the toilet.
Me: *gasp*
Cameron: OH MY WORDS!

I cut Cameron up little pieces of roast and potatoes for supper.
Cameron: Look Mommy, little potatoes!
Me: Yep, those are your potatoes, can you eat them?
Cameron: Oh, potatoes so sweet and cute!

He's a little sponge. It makes me all the more conscious of what I say and do each day - I've GOT to be in the Word or we all start to go south. Cam imitates me, Elly imitates him.

Amidst it all, though, I thank the Lord for the precious moments of encouragement! A couple weeks ago, I was walking across the living room floor and REALLY caught my toe (hard) on one of his tractors. It was one of those situations where almost anything could fly out of your mouth...fortunately I managed just a few "OUCH"es and limped away. Cam came up to me with the most concerned look on his face and asked, "Mommy get hurt?" Yes, Mommy hurt her toe on your tractor! Grrr!

Then he asked, "Pray for Mommy's toe?" Of course I said yes, and my anger was overcome with tears as I listened to him pray, "Dear Jesus, thank you for Mommy. Touch her body. In Jesus' name, Amen."

It's the true glimpses into the heart of a child that keep me laughing, striving, and loving what I do each day. I never want to forget or resent these moments...Lord help me to redeem each opportunity I'm given as a mom!

Time In Iowa

Caleb's Great-Grandma Orr went to be with Jesus this past week, so we were down in Iowa to visit his Grandma and parents, and to get a peek at our new nephew, too! The kids had so much fun hanging out with their Papa & Mema, cousins and friends. My parents (and Sonya & Jay) are still in Belize on the mission trip, so we didn't see them, but we had a relaxing time together.

Amongst the happenings of the 2.5-day vacation were the kids' first visit to a "real," big pool (the Reinbeck pool), Elly's first sucker, meeting baby Xander, pizza night with cousins and friends Jeremy, Erica & Leila, and celebrating Papa & Mema's 33rd anniversary! What a fun time!

Here are a few pictures of our time together!

Elly L-O-V-E-D her Tootsie Pop from Mema.

Cam is an old pro - he knows you always get suckers from Mema.

My water boy dove right in to the pool!
His lips were blue almost instantly, but that didn't stop him!

Can you gather what Elly was feeling about her experience?

Warm, happy boys.
They shared popcorn and ate Nerds off the ground.
Oops.

Less than 5 minutes after we took off for home...

Having this much fun is exhausting!

Confirmed Sightings

Whether she's coming...

Or going...

One thing's for sure,
Elly is WALKING!

So proud of my BIG girl!

Prankster

You know in college, in the dorms, when it was an especially funny prank to steal someone's towel from the community bathroom while they were showering...leaving them to try and figure out a way to get back to their room sans resources? (I lived in an all-female dormitory).

Well, this morning, my sweet little DAUGHTER played that prank on me! I was a bit lazy, so I didn't get my shower until Caleb had already left. I entrusted the kids to the proper care of Veggie Tales and was off for a hot, relaxing, 5-7 minute shower when the door popped open, Elly toddled on in, gave me the cheesiest smile, grabbed my towel and toddled out again! Apparently, she was ready for some relaxation and thought it would do as a makeshift blanket while hers was in the wash!

She was in and out in less than a minute, leaving me to laugh my way through the rest of my shower. When I was done, I called and pleaded to Cameron to bring me the pink towel. She must have ditched it, because I didn't hear a struggle...and it was returned to the bathroom with a "you welcome, Mommy."

I must admit that I pulled my share of pranks in my dorm days (towel stealing perhaps included), but they were all paid back to me MORE than double. Who knew I'd be getting retribution from a second generation...my own children?! Fun way to start my Saturday :)