Elisa - isms

"Mommy," she says. "Your house is a mess. You need to clean it up."
"Really?" I say.
"No. I'm just teasing." Big laugh.


"I'm Daddy's girl today. Mommy, I'll be your friend tomorrow when Daddy's at work."

"Mom, I can't go to sleep by myself."
"Elisa, Jesus is with you all the time. You can't see Him, but you can imagine that He is all snuggled up next to you."
"He fits, Mom? His feet are not too big?"

The next night.... "Jesus needs a blanket, Mommy. Tuck Him in. And, scoot me over. I don't want to squish Him."

Camping, Splashing, and Squishing

Last weekend, the Wachobs decided to venture out on another camping trip - a quick overnight near the trailhead where Erik planned an epic day hike with his friend Ryan. We arrived late and Erik and I ended up laying down in the tent to get the girls to sleep for what ended up being a very restless night. Elisa has recently begun sleeping in panties overnight, and she is worried about wetting her pants... so she cries and fusses to get up multiple times before she'll succumb to sleep. This results in some really late bedtimes, and camping was no exception - even though we offered a pull-up. She is a little pogo-stick at bedtime, up and down and up and down. Her noise wakes up sensitive little Sadie and a vicious cycle of wakefulness begins. That cycle was definitely magnified with all four of us in a tent. But we love being outdoors and waking in the chill of early morning for hot cocoa and a fire... what a blessing to be in God's creation! We camped beside a creek and listened to the trickling giggle of water over rocks... and then Erik had a great hike while the girls and I drove home.


Sadie watching the tent go up.



Elisa, saying "This is my tent!"

Peeking out

A little cozy angel... just before our tiny spitfire reared her wide-awake head.

Ryan... at the plateau he and Erik crossed (they climbed from one side of a mountain to the other - beginning at Flat Creek and ending 12 miles later at Crystal Creek).


At home.... Sadie splashing in the water!



I was trying to capture a close shot of Sadie enjoying the water, but Erik's comment was, "Were you taking a close-up of her deformed finger?" I guess I was. I don't even notice her long middle finger anymore... though I guess I should since I still haven't taken her in for an x-ray.

Elisa - all the way in.



Play-dough! I only had hard wheat berries on hand, no white flour, so I had to grind some wheat to make the play-dough. Pretty funny - and a little on the grainy side. :) Elisa didn't mind. Squish!

Erik and Elisa in the Land-Cruiser. She got to ride with him to the drop-off point at Crystal Creek. She loves riding in the open air.

Mara Antina Wolfswinkel

Erin is a mommy! I am so thrilled for my good friend Erin. At 12:30 this afternoon, she delivered a beautiful baby girl named Mara Antina. Little Mara is so blessed to be born into this special family! And I know that her coming blesses them.

Erin and I met in Seattle, while both of us were finishing our degrees at the University of Washington. We were coming out of strikingly similar circumstances, and a fast friendship formed... we led a women's Bible study together, ran, ate countless sweet potatoes, and shared life. God saw fit to bring two wonderful men into our lives... both of whom happened to live in Fort Collins Colorado. Erin married Karl just six months after Erik and I were married. It was such an amazing God-thing to have a kindred spirit nearby during our two years in Colorado, and I miss her!

Erin is open-hearted, kind, loyal, and full of joy. I have learned so much about God through her friendship, and I could not be more happy for her and Karl to enter into the journey of parenthood. I only wish we could convince them to follow us to Wyoming, and that our three girls could grow up together.

Mara Antina weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 20 inches long... a big bundle for my petite little friend! :)

Congratulations, Erin and Karl!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Like Mother, Like Daughter

“Elisa,” I say, struggling to keep my voice calm and steady. “Come here.” With a cackle, my blonde-haired vixen turns on her itty-bitty heel and barrels – full-speed – the other direction. My blood pressure rises. Only moments ago, she received a spanking for pushing baby Sadie, then returned to the playroom and promptly snatched a toy from her sister’s hand. Is she really going to choose to defy me again – so quickly? I set Sadie down on the floor and settle her with a different toy before catapulting after my wayward two-year-old. Softly, gently, I direct Elisa again to come, crouching down to her level and willing her to meet my gaze with those firecracker brown eyes of hers. She laughs again, twirls in a circle, and traipses toward the kitchen, ignoring her mama’s command for the second time. This time, I catch her in my arms and hold her firmly against my chest. She flails as I carry her to the dreaded red, overstuffed chair.

I pin wild limbs to her side and lift her defiant chin up. “Elisa, did Mommy tell you to come?”

She turns her head and clamps her mouth shut.

I try again. “Elisa Joy, did Mommy tell you to come?” My voice is rising. I don’t want to discipline her in anger, and yet, her unwillingness to comply frustrates my heart in a way I don’t quite understand. I wait for her to respond, trying to still my own churning emotions.

As I wait, something in my spirit quiets. I stroke her hair, then kiss the top of her head. Even when she is unlovable, I realize, I love her. Funny how God instills that capacity within us. He equips parents to love their children with the unquenchable, unconditional agape love He has for us! How often, I wonder, have I responded just like my daughter? How often have I hid, turned away, or run from the chastisement I know I deserve? How many times have I reaped consequences for my sin, only to backpedal into the same defiant behavior? How many times have I ducked my head in silent humiliation while my Heavenly Papa reaches out to me in love? Like mother, like daughter.

Sitting there, I think about how God’s heart is always toward us. He is always seeking to restore the broken relationship with His child. He wants our souls to be clean, forgiven. He wants us to receive His mercy and then move forward to walk closer in step with Him.

My motives are not always so pure. Sometimes, when I discipline my child, I am doing so with a selfish heart. She has embarrassed me, or inconvenienced me, and I desire to change her behavior for my own sake. But the point of discipline is to teach our children about sin, and repentance, about forgiveness, and mercy. It’s to lead them to the foot of the cross.

I don’t always know how to do that. Sometimes life in our home is chaotic, and it’s all I can do to plop Elisa in a time-out and send her back on her way. But, pondering the ways of my Heavenly Father, I am humbled. My mama’s heart swells with mercy – the mercy Christ has poured out on me, the mercy I am called to pour out on others.

I cup Elisa’s face in my hands and hold her firmly so that she can see my expression. “Elisa,” I whisper. “I love you.”

She wiggles, trying to writhe out of my grasp, but I hold fast. “Do you know that I love you?” Reluctantly she nods, and snarled strands of peanut-butter crusted hair swing forward. “God has entrusted me to raise you. And you know what, sweetie? That’s a big job.” I fold her fingers in my hands and bend my forehead to hers. “Before I discipline you, let’s pray.” And I do, thanking God for the gift of my child, asking for His wisdom as I teach her and train her, beseeching him to soften her heart to my instruction and praying that she would come to understand His grace and walk always in His ways. I know she doesn’t understand all the words. But I think she hears the soft surrender in my voice, and I feel the stiffness in her little body begin to melt away.

“Elisa?” I ask again. “Did you obey Mommy or disobey Mommy?”

Quietly she answers. “Disobey Mommy.”

“When Mommy says come, what should you do?”

“Come to Mommy.”

“That’s right. You need to obey Mommy. God has put Mommy in authority over you, and by learning to obey Mommy, you are learning to obey Him.”

A nod.

“When Sadie is playing with a toy, are you supposed to take it away from her?”

Her little head shakes. “No. Ask her.”

“That’s right.” I cuddle her and remind her that she loves Sadie, and that love is not selfish. I tell her that I love her to much to allow her sin to grow in her heart, and, after issuing a spanking, I hug her tightly.

She is a lot like her mommy. My Elisa is stubborn and strong-willed, wild-spirited and curious. But Elisa is also tender-hearted, teachable and full of life. I pray the lessons I give her – the ones that right now go so far over her adorable little head – will go down deep into the soil of her heart. I pray she will grow in the grace and truth of her God, and that someday she will pass these fumbling words onto her own daughter.

Like mother, like daughter.

Swinging Sisters

Elisa pushing her little sister on the swing



Both girls!

Elisa and Sadie have a new favorite pastime. Swinging in the backyard tree! Elisa has always loved to swing, and we sing a special "birdie" song while I push her... now Sadie is getting in on the action, and we hung up a second swing next to Elisa's so that Mama can push both girls at once. Thanks to grandparents for leaving behind both swings for our pleasure!

Four of the five June/July babies I have been anticipating with friends have arrived! Madelyn Kuntz, Megan Paisley, Ethan Perciante (born early in April), and now Salim Jacoby. Baby Wolfswinkel is due any day! What a blessing to see our friends' families grow!

Wild West Adventures

The past two weekends have found the Wachob family sharing adventures... First, Erik's brother and sister-in-law to-be came to visit on their trek east to Georgia. We had a wonderful time hosting them and getting to throw a bridal shower for Kristen's friends. On Saturday, the six of us set off a camping adventure. We loaded the car with canoes and camping gear and rowed placidly through the Oxbow Bend in the park. The girls were lathered with sunscreen and topped with sun hats... the sun was warm and bright... it was beautiful! Sadie fussed against her life jacket and finally fell asleep about twenty minutes from the landing. I tried to ever-so-carefully step out of our rickety old canoe without awaking her, but slipped in the mud and fell into several feet of cold river water. Sadie woke up screaming as her little body plunged into the water. Oh, I felt so bad! She dried off quickly, and we found a secluded - and mosquito infested - campsite up Pacific Creek. Our tent was set up quickly and my weary girl fell right asleep on a pad on the floor. Our friends the Tolsons joined us for a Dutch oven supper and campfire, then headed home while we crammed five Wachobs and an almost Wachob in our tent. The girls slept well and we shared a hearty breakfast before heading home for showers and naps in the early afternoon.



Sadie in the sunshine!

Hosting a shower for Kristen, Adam's bride-to-be, the day before camping.



Then, this past weekend, Adam's bachelor party was planned in Fort Collins, CO, our old home. So the girls and I tagged along for the ride, eager to see some old friends. It was a long drive, and poor Sadie just can't seem to sleep in the car... but they were troopers! We stayed at our friends Scott and Jebeke's home and Elisa had a great time playing with Hosannah and Hadie - who are 3 1/2 and 14 months. Hosannah and Elisa enjoyed a few home fireworks before simultaneously burning their fingers on sparklers. Yikes! Two screaming toddlers, two white blistered index fingers. We also got to see Erin and Karl Wolfswinkel, our dear friends who are just weeks away from welcoming their first child into the world, and Erik played a rowdy round of paintball with the boys to usher Adam into his nuptial season. :) Elisa, Sadie, Hosie and Hadie all took a bath together. Jebeke has pictures and I will have to post some later on as they are so cute!

On the way home, our trusty Tahoe broke down in beautiful Rock Springs, WY (read with a tang of sarcasm). We spent the night at an overpriced Best Western and were thankful to find a mechanic who could replace the fuel pump the next day. Things went smoothly.... Sadie had a nice morning nap in the hotel room, and Elisa slept briefly before we had to wake her up to check out of our room. Then we trekked four blocks on foot with suitcases in tow, and had a lunch of PB and J in the dealership's lobby. We walked about a mile while Sadie slept in my arms and found a city park that even had a free community pool! We didn't have our swimsuits with us, but let Elisa splash, fully dressed, and cool off. Truly, God was caring for us in this mishap. We are glad to be home. The girls and I have slept little over the last days and I am thankful for bedrooms and cribs and doors. :)

Hosannah and Elisa



Erin Wolswinkel. Isn't she a beautiful mommy?


Vagabonds in Rock Springs


Flowers in bloom at home!






Also - my friend Melissa and her hubby Nathan had a baby girl on July 3rd. Megan McKenzie Rose Paisley weighed in at 9 lb, 2 oz. She is sweet and we are so happy for them! Children are such gifts from God.

Hope you all had a great Fourth!

Five Little Girls

Hayden Block, Sadie Wachob, Trinity Green, Ellie and Olivia Tolson

I thought I'd share another little essay today... I wrote this one a few weeks ago, but last week we actually did get all five girls together and manage a photo. Aren't they all amazing?

Five Little Girls All In a Row

Shuffling through a stack of summertime photos, I smiled as I lifted out a picture of five round-bellied mamas standing side-to-side. Dancy was at the front of the line, her twin girls –Ellie and Olivia - easily filling out the folds of her maternity blouse. Jen was due only a few weeks behind Dancy, but her athletic figure camouflaged Trinity’s growing form. Tiny Becca carried Hayden all out front – a thin form with a perfect basketball tummy. I had tucked myself behind Becca, looking ever-so-slightly rounded at twenty-four weeks.

Time had passed so quickly. Those bulging bellies had disappeared. Our arms now held bouncing baby girls, and it would have been nearly impossible to coordinate all five schedules for a photo opportunity.

I stared again and thought of how different the four posing mamas were, different in temperament, different in shape and size, and different in talent. I realized those differences carried over into the lives of our growing girls.

Little Ellie carries the wisdom of an old woman in her countenance. She is beautiful, and while she is slower in development than her twin Olivia, she seems to process the world with a mature thoughtfulness. Olivia is petite and pixie-like. She scoots from place to place on her tummy, using her little arms to propel her tiny torso forward and back. Early on, Olivia was the complacent, easygoing twin; now she’s finding her place in the nursery world.

Trinity is a firecracker. She has the sweetest shock of dark hair and dancing eyes. A feisty little fighter in the beginning, her personality has tempered as she’s grown, and she’s finally sleeping through the night . At almost eight months, she sits up unsupported and rolls continuously.

Hayden is wiry and active. At seven months, she crawls all over and pulls up haphazardly on anything within reach. She weighs just fourteen pounds, and yet she began sleeping through the night only three weeks after she was born. Her physical talents are already so evident; will this tiny tumbler one day be scaling rocks or aerial skiing?

My Sadie is the youngest, at six months. She is also the biggest. Sadie is long and solid and relatively immobile. She is placid, content, happy. Her laughter is contagious and her smile is utterly charming. She is an easy, unflappable baby .

Yes, if we lined up the five little girls in a row, the differences between our offspring would be clear. Blonde, bald, brunette… blue-eyed, brown-eyed… content to sit and smile, eager to scamper off on an adventure.

With our daughters so close in age, it is easy to compare. I find myself watching Sadie and wondering whether she will ever catch up to ambitious little Hayden. She seems slow to progress, slow to catch on to new skills. The over-achiever in me wants to hurry her along. I want my child to advance as quickly as her peers, not lag behind.

And yet, I wouldn’t trade my sweet Sadie girl for anything. I wouldn’t exchange her happy-go-lucky personality for a skill set.

A holy, creative God knit together the lives of each of these baby girls. He fashioned their DNA with His almighty hands. He created them! Just as they are: unique in their abilities and their demeanors, alike in their worth to Him. Each of them is formed in His image; each of them reflects a tiny piece of who He is.

I am reminded of Isaiah 45:9, where the prophet writes, “Does the clay say to the Potter, ‘what are you making?’” It is not my job to question the creative work of my God. It is not my job to compare my child to others. I am called to embrace my baby girl – just as she is – and revel in the miracle of her individuality. God created Sadie perfect for His purpose. As she opens her heart to Him, He will fulfill His purposes in her life. He will use her unique gifts for His glory.

Maybe someday we will line up five adult daughters and marvel at their differences, at all they have achieved and become as they’ve surrendered their lives to their Creator, at the way their individual lives glorify Him. And when we do, it won’t matter whether they crawled late or talked early, whether they were A+ overachievers, athletes, or bubbly social leaders. Just as they are, their lives will bless their God, and their world.