Dub-date

It has be way too long since I've told you anything about Waylon! Poor little guy. I'm just so wrapped up in my own imperfection. . . ;)

He is amazing. Still. Fifteen months old now and, really, just a little ol' person. He says lots of words: ball, bye, dog, moon, mama, da, bird, tiger (once or twice). When he wants his cup, he says 'juice' even though he has never really had juice nor have we ever referred to his cup as juice. He 'awww's and 'mmm's appropriately.

He gives lots of kisses and hugs (thank goodness. I don't know what I would do if he were not affectionate. I need his loving.) He gives pats on the back and rubs on the shoulder.

He has entire conversations with nothing but hand motions and babble that imitates the tones of our own conversations.

He pretend-reads, also imitating the tone of our reading.

He is still napping twice a day, sleeping 10-12 hours a night and eating like a hoss.

He is still cutting teeth - his eye teeth now.

He plays basketball, baseball, football, but not soccer. He doesn't kick yet, but the kid's got some arm.

He finally got rid of the mullet. Still has tons of hair.

His big blue eyes still illicit comments everywhere we go.

He is 'looking less and less like me,' in the words of Joey himself. I am pretty sure he was just fishing for affirmation that this adorable child does, in fact, still look just like him. And he does.

He is pushing boundaries more and more, just to see how far he can get.

He has gotten a 'spanking' several times now. This consists of a swift paint stir-stick to the calf. Quick pop. Just enough to get his attention. It's only ugly for a minute.

He is very generous. He shares everything from food and drink to blanket and toys. Until he wants them all back, then they better be given back pronto.

He is a regular in baby church and loves it. Blanket goes every Sunday. No more incidents. (Although last Sunday as we were picking Waylon up after church and all the kiddies rushed the door like puppies at the shelter begging for an owner to love, I saw the little punk that bit him. I pointed him out to Joey, using those exact words and gave the kid the laaaazy eye. Squirt.)

He is a ham to beat all hams. He loves attention. . . for some reason.

Still will eat pretty much anything we put in front of him - except asparagus, zucchini and Brussels sprouts.

Almost every night after dinner, Waylon takes Joey by the hand, brings him to the sofa (if he's not already there), sets him down and proceeds to bring him book after book and magazine after magazine. They read until bed or bath time. This is Joey's new definition of relaxation. He loves it as much as Waylon does.

He is becoming more and more hand fulls of pure, innocent, Dub-tastic fun.

Watching him learn the world is the greatest thing I have ever been a part of.

ohhh...

This will be the first of a couple of posts in a row. I have some things to share, but they are of different subjects and deserve separate posts.

Back to the 'in and of the world' thing...

I am reading my daily devotion just moments ago and this:

What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick. . . Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. . . I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God.

So, this is where I am. . . I think indeed my obsession with living a holy life is for naught. And, thanks be to God for taking the time and the focus to teach me these things in the past few months. I have had it all wrong all along! It is not a need for more Godly living that my life is lacking. In fact, it is a need for more God. It is not my imperfect record that has caused my strife, but my imperfect relationship with God. The more I think that I can live more "Godly," the further I am from the truth. I can and will never attain God's standard for my life through the lack-luster power of my own effort and devotion. I. Will. Fail. Every. Time.

Instead, I am to grow closer and closer to Him in the midst of the fuzzy, un-focused background of my every day life. I am to seek Him, not just encounter Him or stumble upon Him. Really, what does a life look like that is devoted to perfecting a relationship with God? No, no, no. . . That's not what I meant. I don't mean how should I live my life in devotion to God. What I mean is how do I obtain a perfect relationship with Him? The answer seems too simple, clear as it is in every part of Scripture. Isn't it constant two-way communication, death of self, meditation on the Word, praise and worship, all of the things I've read over and over? Surely it can't be that simple.

Let me give it a try and, as always, keep you posted. In the meantime, pray for me on this journey.