life is a vapor.

this is my sons birthday invitation, so full of life and promise. one year is about to take a bow, and another one about to waltz right in offering adventure, growth and more developmental milestones. i'll laugh and say words while hoping he repeats. he'll start to walk like a tottering baby giant and in this, still, his life will still only be in at the very, very beginnings.

this isn't true story for all babies. to some, they seem to say goodbye as soon as they've taken one breath - and even some are not offered such a luxury.

and this is only a clear melody - singing to our ever deceived souls - we will not live forever.

the reality that as quickly as amos will grow up, he too will die and face the God of the earth. his life will be evaluated, he will fall short of righteousness demanded, and by the grace of God, Jesus Christ will come and give his weak, feeble heart His own righteousness.

on this side of eternity he may go to harvard. swim the atlantic. create paintings that inspire awe. write music that sets hearts on fire. he may preach to thousands. heal millions.

but really, in the end of his short life (even at 100 years) he'll stand before God.


this is our fate. at 1 year old, 25 years old, or on our deathbed.

we will meet God and eternal life stands before us. an eternity of darkness or an eternity of Light.

and so, in reading this story, i am reminded of true parenting. the nature of this breath we call life. what matters as i help my son grow. and that because of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and His illuminating my heart - i will undeservingly live forever with Him.

amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.

amos worships. :)

Amos Worships from Tiffany Valdez on Vimeo.

in the middle of cleaning up, Amos and I decided to take a break to worship. :)

denver chronicles [6] // the parker home

while in denver we were able to spend a lot of good, quality time with two couples. one is my cousin tara and her husband brandon - and the other is my childhood friend alex and her husband nate. they have a wonderful, old apartment in a cute district of denver that alex has really turned into a home. one evening i took some time to snap pictures of her place and our time there.



 

small request.

flowers from sharaya.

summer dayz.

a crawling boy with dirty fingernails.

dearest reader,

my son is nestled in his little crib and my husband is sitting in a university classroom. i am typing away at our little computer desk. i don't have much to say at all.

but,

over there at top baby blogs they did a reset, so for the few of you who do read my blog, it would mean so much to me if you would click here to vote (left owl). i have found some of my favorite blogs through that site, and would hope others may find something within mine. maybe some words i write can be a sovereign word to a heart.

just maybe.

i've enjoyed sharing the journey, and having you come along for the ride.

love, love, love,
tiffany

 

probably my favorite song, ever.

make room, o heart of mine.

 from here.

"there seems to be a mountain of obstacles preventing people from being where their hearts want to be. the astonishing thing is that the battle for survival has become so 'normal' that few people really believe that it can be different. oh how important, discipline, community, prayer, silence, caring presence, simple listening, adoration, and deep, lasting faithful friendship. we all want it so much, and still the powers suggesting that all of that is fantasy are enormous. but we have to replace the battle for power with the battle to create space for the spirit." -henri nouwen

 thoughts for today. // song that is burning in my heart.

psalm127 and the reason we are blessed.

Ricky and I are sitting at a coffee shop - again - while Amos hangs out with his grandma and grandpa and cousin emery. I am sipping on an [illegal] hot mocha - and Ricky looks as cute as the day I met him with his bball camp backwards and his mega headphones on tip-typing away.

These moments remind me of our dating age. Where we would sneak off to Panera or Starbucks in Kansas City or San Diego and Ricky would work on papers and I would read my books/bible. I feel silly - the same way I feel when my ring is at the jewelers. Like I'm 21 and carefree. It's a pleasant feeling, but not a place to find my home.

Because home, as they say, is whenever I'm with you. and the you is my dashing husband and babbling baby who awaits me to blow me imaginary kisses.

I just couldn't wait to share these photographs:



that's amos with Jen's (Ricky's sister/new mom) father-in-law Tony. they are hanging out in the hospital room the day little Emmy was born. tony kept banging on the wall, pretending he was running into it, and Amos could not stop laughing. it's just one of those moments you want to freeze in time.



This is our day at Estes Park while visiting Colorado. Amos loves riding on our backs now and everytime Ricky bent over he would laughhhhh and laugh some more. I remember them telling me it gets better with every new day - as we watch our little humans grow into an independent person. Amos has personality and a sense of humor and it's incredible. absolutely incredible. 



You give up a lot for kids - like sitting at coffee shops to read, traveling overseas, flat tummies, peaceful mornings, and the list could go on and on.

But what you gain - what you GAIN - is unbelievable.

Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; [And] the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate. - Psalm 127:3-5

check out the giveaways for this shop and this shop here and here!

denver chronicles [5] /// children's museum.

the children's museum of denver is INCREDIBLE.

this visit was definitely the highlight of our entire vacation. amos had the time of his life, even if he was on the fringes of getting sick. you always feel like a terrible parent when your child coughs in the vicinity of other children, while simultaneously crawling in a playground. oh well.
 




he read books. crawled around. met friends. threw pillows in the shape of frogs and pigs. dressed up like a fireman. and had some grand ole' baby fun.