Pure Joy

Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Philippians 2:5-8

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!”- Philippians 2:5-8
(Today's passage is from the New International Version. Bible Gateway)

This verse really hit me today and I wanted to share it.

Lord Jesus, make me look and act more and more like you today!

This Weekend

So.....
I just wanted to share that I got to go on TWO dates this weekend and we enjoyed a great family day today.

Life is good.

Park Pictures

___... a fun time!

Three

Three Stories

#1.) I've been a healthy Mom and really watched what my child puts into his little body. We just stopped nursing... I introduced veggies before fruits... I don't buy things with MSG... I dilute his high-fructose free 100% juice with water... etc... Well, this child is 20 months old and he 's had maybe 3 suckers - ever - from the bank drive thru, but rarely gets CANDY! He thinks that our chewable vitamin C are "candy" -- God bless him. But I just want you to know that God has been teaching me about freedom and I am learning a lot. My husband requested non health food cereal, so I brought home a TREAT:

I just want all of you to know that my child -- with NO instructions what so ever -- when given a small 1/2 cup size bowl of Lucky Charms sat and picked out the marshmallows and completely rejected the other cereal pieces. Despite my efforts for him to choose the healthiest options... my child is completely NORMAL!

#2.) I decided that I needed to wash the stroller cover. (The fabric, You know!) It was really yucky and needed to be CLEAN. Well, who knew that it required an act of congress and a drill (or a screwdriver) to disassemble that sucker and get the cover off. WOW -- it was not easy!! Then once you wash it and air dry it, you must remember how to put it all back. Attaching it to the frame and pulling the straps back thru, etc.. Just call me, Handy-Mom! One Gold Star Please!

#3.) We have our first pet

He's a Caterpillar (aka the nice bug) from Gran Gran and KK's house.

Low maintenance.

Blog Friends, have you had similar experiences?

Moments of Truth

What is this time we are living in? Non of us know for sure. We know that our US economy is a mess right now. We've heard that the global economy is rough.
And then there are the "signs of the times" that point to the fact that we are living in the last days... in the Biblical way. We are living in the generation in which the Lord will return.
Ok
Here we are.
It's not an accident. God 's plans are perfect and He knows who is alive in this year and He knows what He has called each of us to. He's created each of us with great purpose and plans of destiny. He uses His children, those who call him Lord, to expand His Kingdom on the earth. We are part of the story of Eternity.
So, when someone attempted to pour out their fears on me about the times we are living in and how that should or shouldn't effect my decisions, I said NO, in my spirit.
If we are living in rough times -- here we are -- but we are still called to LIVE!
If we are living life in the end times -- and I believe that we are -- we are called to LIVE!
I will not live under or out of fear.
I will not live like we are all destine to die and this doom and gloom mind set.
There is HOPE!
As Christians, I believe that our relationships are FOREVER!
I will know my child and my husband and parents and my sister and all of our dear friends/family who also know Jesus -- FOREVER in ETERNITY.
That's Awesome! Think about it....
I could spend 1,000 years with each person I have ever known and loved and still have hundreds of thousands more to spend with all of the cool people I did not get know in this life.
Maybe this sounds CRAZY to some of you.
I believe that the Bible is wholly and fully true. And I believe that each person is created with an eternal soul.
This is not the end. This is just a short part of a very long and masterfully crafted story by our creator God.
He is our HOPE!
He LOVES us!
His plans are perfect!
So.... may you LIVE LIFE to the FULL every single day!!!
I want to.

Happy 20 Month Birthday

Happy 20 Months

little guy

We Love You!

Highlights from Month 19:
-climbing
-talking so much more
-everyone keeps saying you LOOK older
-wears 2T clothes; 7&1/2 shoe; 4 diaper
-you are very funny & you are learning so much
-your first throw-up bug
-teething... finally got our 1st Canine in (top right)
-weening & almost totally finished
-much better on keeping a bed time & regular nap time this month (and sleeping well)
-love going to the park
-the slide (called the "Whee") is still best
-plays pretend; understood a pretend story line that he and Daddy made up about a red string on the kitchen floor, a "snake" and the stuffed dog went in to "get the snake"
-good eater: chicken, veggies, fruit, even new stuff
-gives kisses (even just on his own)
-said: "I like it" and "I get that Mama"
-Says "Apple" very clear & loves to eat them
-Plays WITH other kids (interacting)
-drinking a lot more (water & juice)
-learning letters, colors, & shapes
-still love animals, animals sounds, & animal books
-enjoyed helping Daddy water plants
-said, "Back, Da" over by the door when I told him Daddy would be gone to work and then he was coming back
-said, "Der y'go, Da"
-Gives Hi Fives to anyone now (even Junior)
-2nd EASTER and enjoyed throwing the eggs into the basket (it looks like a ball, right?)
-loves to sleep w/ one hand on our face (Mama or Daddy or whom ever is holding him) and it's so sweet... it melts my heart
-Letter Recognition (so far): A, C, E, G, L, O, P, R, S
-Enjoys going to the bank where candy comes in a magic plastic container, directly to our car window
-calls all other kids "Baby" even if they are older
-Dances randomly and laughs when we join him
-Still loves some of his same movies, but added NEMO & BOZ to the top of the list
-Still calls Coke & all soda "Gucky" (aka yucky)
-Things He tells "NO" to: The FBI Warnings before the movie starts, snakes & the letter "S", the large Bees outside our door, bugs, barking dogs, the monkeys in the Jungle Book, the rat in Lady and the Tramp, the Bees in Winnie the Pooh, the sharks in NEMO, wall outlets, and the things he's not supposed to touch
HAPPY 20 MONTH BIRTHDAY!

Pictures (from Easter 2009)

______

__________HAPPY EASTER 2009

_______

blog slacker

I have not been posting on my blog... and I guess I kind of miss it.
We had a great weekend, just before Easter, we went up to the lake and my little guy got to go on his first FISHING trip with Daddy (and Mama, and his Aunt and Uncle too)! The weather was great and we were both feeling much better. Other than the occasional runny nose. It was a great weekend. We ate dinner with friend on that Sunday night and went to church together.

PHOTOS FROM OUR DAY AT THE LAKE
April 4, 2009

Then, the following Tuesday, our little guy started running a fever. He ran a fever off and on and then threw up (sorry if this is TMI) on Wednesday night, Thursday night, & Friday night. It was a hard week. He was fighting a virus and dealing with teething. He just points to his cheeks like they hurt and then he carefully places food all the way to the back molars to chew. Bless him. The fever finally broke on Friday morning and has not been back! He is still hurting -- from the teething though -- and very fussy. You'll hear a Mom say, "they are just not themselves" and I guess I wondered what that was even supposed to mean. But now that I am a Mom, I understand. He truly was just not himself. It's like the Mom - radar thing when you just know that something is NOT RIGHT. He's been doing better. Eating better. Sleeping better. (Praise the Lord!) But we missed all of the Easter Egg Hunts and other fun stuff we'd planned to do with him last week. I even had to miss church on Easter Sunday!!!! (I've never had to miss on Easter before and I was really looking fwd to going.) My husband got to go and he told me all about the great service. You see, we had two of our friends from our small group who were baptized on Sunday! I really did not want to miss that. But he was there and he said it was awesome. How neat, to be baptized on Easter Sunday!
We did go to our family lunch and dinner on Sunday. He did Ok. He actually did MUCH better than the day before -- as far as fussy stuff and just being more like himself. I'll post Easter photos soon!

So...... I guess I had a reason for being a blog slacker.

But I've missed y'all!

My Week

So..... This week has been interesting. I've been fighting a cold. My little guy has not felt great either. He's dealing with teething, weening, and fighting a cold. Our sleep schedule has been crazy (but better last night) and we are just in a little funky time this week. I'm not writing this post to complain at all... but more to talk about CHANGE.
Most of my life, I 've had a hard time adjusting to changes. It takes me a while to get OK with things. Some people thrive on change and look for changes. I guess I felt safest in the what was KNOWN and any changes, even GOOD CHANGE, often meant I would be entering the great UNKNOWN. I feel like God has brought me on a journey in this area and I do feel that I handle change better than I once did... but just to honest, it is harder when it's multiple changes all at once. You know? Our work has been slow and we've been praying for break thru there (see all of the posts about Supernatural Provision). I have not felt great, because of the cold, so we've been praying for complete healing and health over our family. My little 19 month old is dealing with weening, teething, the runny nose, and mom 's attempt at sticking with a sharp bed time. We've made the decision to change churches -- to help with a new church plant (more on that in another post). It's like all of the sudden there are so many changes. And not everything that changes is bad. In fact, I know that if I had a blog time machine, I could fast fwd to my blog post in a like two months.... and a lot of this would be FINE. A lot of this would be settled. And in fact, most of what is changing in my life would end up being really good!
Anyway, that's just where I am this week. I know God is faithful and He must be teaching me a lot even thru this time of transition.


Featured blog today: Letters to Catherine a miracle baby -- please check it out and PLEASE PRAY FOR CATHERINE. Thank You.