Weekend Fun

Last weekend was quite a whirlwind for TeamReno. The week prior B had started potty-training (talk about speed sanctification for Mama) and his reward was riding the carousel and train at Oak Meadow Park. He was SO excited all week. My parents were also in town last weekend as we were all congregating in Berkeley to celebrate my sister graduating from UC Berkeley (yay Lacey!), so they got to join in on the potty-training celebratory fun. Isn't it so much watching your kids have so much fun? I love it!

Futility

Today I am struck by the futility of our existence. That is our existence that attempts to express itself without giving honor or even credence to the One who brought us into existence. Not the vague one (or many) of our universalist, individualistic society, but the One who created the universe out of nothing in 6 days, the One who became a man, lived a perfect life, died on a cross and became alive again. The One who died because we all need one existential change of condition (borrowing a phrase from Arnold Van Gennep in his The Rites of Passage).

We go through many of these changes throughout our life – birth, walking, using a toilet (sorry, that just happens to be on the forefront of my mind at the moment, I am sure you can guess why), becoming a man or woman, graduating from college, marriage, having your first child…the list goes on. But there is one “change of condition” that underlies all others and ultimately brings fulfillment and completion to our existence – knowing Jesus Christ, the One, as Lord and Savior. Without this crucial “change of condition” from an unacknowledged, wandering sinner to a son or daughter welcomed home, any attempt at self-expression, seeking of peace and joy, establishing of meaningful relationship is fruitless, pointless and futile. No one else can offer this fullness of life. Buddha cannot, Muhammad cannot, our own souls cannot.

Where can we look to find Jesus? In the Scriptures. A much needed exhortation to myself. Anna – open the Bible – read – you will find Him there.

“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” –John 14:6

PW

This post illustrates why I love PW co much...

(1) Being home taking care of her family is one of her top priorities. And she likes being home. I LOVE being home. I am such a homebody. When I am out too much, my balance is thrown way off. Of course, I need to account for this and be prayful about my attitude and such when we are out a lot. CTBR loves going to the park and the beach and seeing friends and I love to bless him in these ways, which requires a little sacrifice for my introvert self. Anyway, I digress...

(2) she is HILarious - one of the few people who makes me laugh out loud...my husband and my far-away friend Faith being 2 others

(3) she doesn't like bananas - ick, ick, ick...my mom blames this on my childhood...apparently my diet as a picky toddler consisted of P&J and bananas and I guess I overdosed.

(4) oh yeah, and she shares yummy, yummy soul-comforting recipes with the rest of us, like this one and this one and this one and...you get the idea. Thanks PW!

what CTBR is up to...

Always busy building something, painting something, doing something...

More Fun Sibling Photos

I can't resist posting cute sibling pictures. I love that B is always calling E "Vangeline Rose." Melts my heart every time.





























Beniam loves when Baby Sister comes in his bed...and she loves it, too. So sweet!

Our sweet and sour

Been a little absent from blog world...we have had a new niece (sweet Zoey Faith) and a new nephew (Elias Matthew - what a hunk!) born in the last 2 weeks so things have a bit busy.

We call this girl our sweet and sour girl, because she is SO sweet (obviously, just look at these pictures) but sometimes quite sour (has THE loudest, shrillest shriek anyone has ever heard - our doula even said so) - but we love her so much!

TeamReno Snow Adventure

Our dear neighbors and friends recently invited us to their family's cabin near Tahoe. So, a couple of weeks ago we trekked up to the snow with them and our other good friends the Dauphins. It was quite an adventure. Good news - lots of snow (and a car with all wheel drive) and good friends. Bad news - no power and below freezing temperatures. Perfect backdrop for a just-how-flexible-and-patient-do-you-think-you-are test. I passed and failed at different times, mostly depending on the temperature. Praise the Lord that God's mercies are new every morning (and hour and minute) because I certainly needed them. Despite the fact that our trip didn't go quite as we planned, I am so thankful to have spent it with sweet friends.

My friend Nikki tells her version of the story here. She also has more pictures of the kiddies. My camera battery died, but I managed to get a few fun pics. We did stick it out for a couple of nights but then raised our white flag and headed down to the hill to warm cinnamon rolls, coffee and home.














Cute boys in warm jammies (ignore the kid in the red undies)





















Our hardworking husbands shoveling the stairs.















Beniam and Joshie Dauphin















My crazy husband















More cute children in the snow

Stickers and Bubbles

(of course, a bike helmet is most necessary for making bubbles...)

2.10.2011 - Playing together

B loves when Baby Sister joins in on his daily fun.

2.9.2011 - Three Generations

In my reorganizing of Beniam's room the other day, I came upon a book that had belonged to Chris when he was little. It even had his name written inside in his mother's handwriting. How precious!
Chris was at a meeting, so at bedtime Beniam and I read "The Bear's Vacation," and he loved it. And then, joy of all joys, Dada and Papa (Chris' dad) showed up and Papa read it to him again. Our little boy is so loved...can you tell?

I should also mention that Chris and his dad share a fondness for books and reading. You could say it is their "one weakness" (name that show!)...how fun to see this being passed down to Beniam. We can hopefully assume that his taste in literature will mature ;)

(Forgive the lighting or lack thereof...)

2.7.2011 - Labor of Love

My sister-in-law is due to have her baby girl, Zoie, in about 3 weeks and I am finally starting a baby quilt for her. I am just about novice as you get, learning as I go. I have made quilts for each of my kiddies, and I love them, despite their flaws. You can see Evangeline's in the picture.

Here she is, happily playing with fabric scraps.

2.2.2011 - 2 years ago today...

...we were declared the legal guardians of Christopher Tarik Beniam Reno. Quite a day! Thank you, Lord!

1.31.2011 - My little sickies

Both B & E have colds. Here they are watching Pingu. Aren't they cute?

On a not-so-cute note, I never seen a child launch snot out of her nose the way that E does when she sneezes. Amazing.

1.30.2011 - Korean food...

...yum...spicy pork bulgogi, rice, kimchi, dried seaweed and marinated cucumbers. My handsome chef of a husband is perfecting his recipes. We developed a love for Korean food when we worked with Korean students and now we can make it at home!

1.28.2011 - Happy Birthday to a Sweet Niece

January is a busy birthday month in the Reno/Johnson family. Today our sweet niece, Aaliyah, turns 10. Double digits, baby! If you know Aaliyah, you know what an amazing kid she is. She is so fun, wonderfully kind, patient, helpful, loves her family...I could go on and on about what a wonderful young lady Aaliyah is. It is especially a blessing for me to witness how much she loves our kiddos. When we brought B home, in order to encourage bonding and attachment, we didn't really have anyone else hold him, which was SO hard for Aaliyah. Her first (first) cousin and she had waited for so long with us and he was SO cute and she wasn't able to hold him and cuddle him! But she didn't love him any less. When E was born, I wanted to cry at how excited Aaliyah was to hold her!!

Both Chris and I continually praise God for Aaliyah. She is a blessing to us in so many ways. We love you, Yaya!

1.26.2011 - Siblings

B & E are just starting to "play" with each other. This may entail B being B and making E laugh in the process, holding hands, B making E roll over (he says, "Mama, I make Baby Sister roll like a ball!" - yeah, this requires a little adult supervision), B sharing his "bayntdee" (blanket) with E and so on. Too much fun!

(There were way too many cute pictures from this bunch...I couldn't pick just one!)

1.24.11 - Happy Birthday to the Man of the House

My handsome hubby turns 36 today! As I wrote on his birthday card that we delivered to his classroom along with balloons and some of his favorite treats..."Blessed is the man that fears Jehovah..." and we are so blessed because of his faithfulness, to God and to his family. You can see from these pictures what a great (and fun!) dad and husband he is. We are so thankful for him! Happy Birthday CJR!

6 months old!

This sweet little thing is 6 months old today! We love you Little Girl! You are an unexpected, blessed, challenging, beautiful gift!

First Taste of Sand

January 2011 - 6 months old














May 2009 - 7 months old