Undocumented Fun

Of course I left the house with everything but my camera last night-- so nothing is documented on film :( , which was my goal. But I will include some links and pics here in attempts to capture a bit of the visual memories.

Dave took me to a new upscale casual restaurant in Chadds Ford (it's actually the newly renovated Chadds Ford Inn)... called Brandywine Prime. I had a big juicy burger-- it was great! Followed by Blackberry Cobbler with Buttermilk ice cream. uh, yeah, definitely worth it just for that! I was a stuffed prego!

We walked around a little bit in the town of Centreville, DE and then backtracked to the Fairville Inn in Chadds Ford. Not quite as nice as some other B & B's we've been to, but definitely nice. It seemed like we were the only ones there-- we were definitely the only ones eating the yummy fresh french toast at 8am in the dining room. It was flurrying when we walked out of our room this morning, so that was fun-- while it lasted, which snow really doesn't do much of these days round here.

Then it was off to our parenting class-- which was divided into three sections-- 1. The Toddler Years 2. The Grade School Years 3. The Teenage Years.

All 3 were interesting and very encouraging. One of the best parts, in my opinion, was when they talked about how God delights in us as His children, and He only disciplines us in Love-- never in anger or disappointment. I heard a guy say recently that God is never disappointed with us if we are IN Christ-- in order for Him to be disappointed, He would have had to have some kind of unmet expectation on us, which of course He does not. I like that. It makes me want to study more of God's Fatherly character. He is so unlike us as parents, and yet we are called to model His Love to our children. I can't wait to see this miniscule picture of unconditional delight in becoming a parent for the first time! I realize that I will only ever be able to be an example of Love if I am experiencing God's Parental Love personally-- being filled to overflowing, and empowered to love my kids beyond my natural ability-- especially in those testing moments! I know I will fail, will get angry, will not always discipline in love-- and yet what an opportunity that will be to show my children the beauty of humility, repentence and forgiveness.

My time with my girls at Cosi was super. I love them so much-- and consider them all my birthday gifts :). We ate s'mores galore and laughed at Kate, who insisted on trying to melt the hershey bar squares, on the sticks, after all the marshmallows were gone! This is the moment I regret not having a camera the most! She said in comparison to the millions of kids who make a mess with their s'mores, this was nothing. Probably very true, and thus an acceptable excuse to drip chocolate all over everything! It's fun to grow up, and yet, not. :)