Friday, February 29, 2008

Walking in the Light



"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119: 105


Think about the imagery described in that verse. We are not given a 300 watt beam to reveal the entire landscape. There is no headlight on our hats that points toward the horizon. Instead, the LORD provides only a handheld lamp that illuminates the trail on which we are walking. In other words, He shows us where to place the next step, and that is all. We have to trust Him to lead us through the darkness that lies beyond our vision.

The light you're carrying only shows what you need to know today. That is enough. Just continue to "walk in the light" you have been given, and leave the future in God's hands.

~ Dr. James Dobson

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Just before

the crash, I heard "If you go this way, you're going to be in an accident."

Last night I was returning from my round of piano lessons and the roads which were only slushy three hours before, were now dangerously icy. I had been praying for safety and for the LORD to protect me several times through the whole trip, and again just moments before I was rear-ended as I slowed to make my turn.

I'm pretty sore today, but its probably nothing that won't go away in a few days. I am very grateful that it wasn't worse. Listen to the silent prompting to pray. God is good. He is faithful.

God is good!

Our God is working.
Grandpa has recovered more than we thought possible. More than we dared to hope for. His clarity of thought has been a beautiful thing to watch as it slowly returns to him. Yesterday he moved (by himself) from one couch to the other to be nearer his Sweetheart and soon he was singing to her and snuggling up to kiss her on the cheek. To have seen him on Sunday, you would have thought that he would never recognize her again and that this kind of gesture would never again be possible.
And his countenance brightens so when the children are around him. God is so good!
Thank you for your prayers and please keep remembering him as he continues his recovery.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Grandpa John

After tests, the professionals were able to confirm what we already suspected: Grandpa suffered a substantial stroke, stealing the vision from his right eye and leaving his right side strong but unable to be controlled. His mental facalties are compromised, but he can still speak. He went home with Mom and Grandma this afternoon, the professionals pleased with his home care.
On the brighter side, Mom requested and received a B12 shot for him and said that within twenty minutes he was a bit more alert.

On the mend


Thank you to those who have been praying for us. Annabelle is completely better and re- hydrated and Brownen is on the mend. She's as loud as ever so she must be feeling better. The rest of us are still relatively healthy - nothing more than a sniffle and sore throat.


On another note, my Grandpa suddenly deteriorated over the weekend and is under going a battery of tests today. He may have had a stroke. He had Grandma just moved in with my parents in January and were just getting into a comfortable routine. We don't really know what lies ahead, but it seems to be happening a lot sooner than any of us expected.

Eleven







New this month: mastered crawling
first sign, "more" to eat.
and still no teeth yet!
(photos by Noah)


Friday, February 22, 2008

Pass the kleenex please

It's been a difficult week. The migraine I've been wrestling with for two weeks finally pinned me to the couch for a couple days and Annabelle has passed her cold to Bronwen. The rest of us are trying to stay healthy. It's a nasty bug, settling pretty quickly into the chest and both girls have a pretty painful cough. Annabelle looks like she's coming out of it but Bronwen is two days behind and still in the thick of it. So, we're stocking up on Airborne, taking vitamins and drinking lots of water. And praying.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

No Guilt


Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

I don't sit down and write out New Year's resolutions, but I do figure out what I want to work on in myself in the coming year. I have many goals set for myself and they are falling into place very nicely so far. I won't mention them unless I need some accountability, but you may figure some of them out in future entries.
One of the things I have been working on was underscored for me in a recent Mom's group at my church. So I am slowly and methodically ticking off the goals I want to accomplish. I am taming my schedule, my house is coming back into order after a year of "new baby sabatical" . . . no guilt.


I'm sending out thank you cards that I made, wrote, but never mailed . . . no guilt.

No guilt. It's actually quite freeing

Monday, February 18, 2008

He has filled my cup


Praise Him for His mighty works;

Praise Him for His marvelous grace.

Let all that is within me praise His wonderful Name.

Yes, let my heart be lifted up in thanksgiving,

And let my soul rejoice with song.

For He has delivered me out of the lion's mouth;

He has lifted me out of the pit.

He has put a song in my mouth;

He has put gladness in my heart.

Yes, He is altogether lovely:

More than tongue can express or finite mind can know.

For He has stretched forth His mighty hand

And has smitten the waters:

He has made me to pass through dry-shod. Hallelujah!

For there will be no more sea. (See Revelation 21:1.)

There will be no more separation!

He has removed every barrier; He has bridged the gulf.

He has drawn me unto Himself, yes, into Himself.

He has left the enemy in confusion and defeat.

He has led me through the way of the wilderness,

And His hand has been a shade from the burning heat.

Through the barren wasteland, He has filled my cup from living streams.

He has sustained, He has deliered, He has revealed Himself

In the cloud, in the fire, and in the Shekinah Glory.

Lo, as if this had not been enough,

He brought me to the banks of Jordan. There He did precede me:

For as the priests went first, bearing the ark,

So He did pass ahead in full possession of all His Promises,

And thus He opened my way and

Brought me into the land that flows with milk

and honey. (See Joshua 3:16 -17; 4:24.)

A land of promise, a land of fulfillment;

A land of conquest, a land of victory.

A land of fatness, a land of unreserved blessing.

Yes, He has been unperturbed, though the inhabitants

Of the land be giants:

For in His sight they be as grasshoppers!

And one with Him shall be mightier than them all.

Yes, and He shall give me Hebron for an inheritance.

Let me not camp in the plain; but give me this mountain.

For though my youth was spent in the wilderness,

Let my strength be renewed:

Let my eyes see with keener vision,

Let my arm be mighty in battle. (See Joshua 4:10-14.)

For surely for this hour have You preserved my life.

As sheep You led us through the wilderness,

But now, O God, we stand in the Land;

As sheep no longer, nor You as Shepherd,

But You stand before us as the Mighty Captain

of the Hosts of the Almighty,

And we as men of war. (See Joshua 5:!3-15.)

We seek no longer

To rest in green pastures and lie beside still waters;

For You have issued Your command to wipe out the giants,

And to utterly destroy the inhabitants of the land.

Your provisions are full and free and abundant;

But they are not uncontested.

Yes, the enemy seeks by myriad means

To resist our every move toward conquest and possession.

STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH.

Make us mighty through God for the

pulling down of strongholds.

Let us bind on the full armor of God

That we may be able to withstand the attacks of the adversary,

And that we may by the energy of Your Holy Spirit

Deliver to him deathblows. (See Ephesians 6:10-17.)

Suffer us never to fall into his hands.

Fight for us; and in Your grace and mercy,

Sustain us when we waver. Be ever close at our side,

And forbid that we leave the job unfinished as did Israel of old,

And thereby suffer untold anguish.

~ Come Away My Beloved


What are your strongholds? What are your giants this week that are keeping you from your land of promise? I am fighting my giants beside you, take up your sword and have a blessed week!

Friday, February 15, 2008

My Valentines

Our heart day:



Heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch



Afternoon tea and heart shaped chocolates









A heart scavanger hunt. Found hearts were exchanged for m & m candies!
A round up of favorite friends sporting hearts.

My three sweethearts

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Making Valentines




A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
~Author Unknown


Tuesday, February 12, 2008

On the move

This weekend we took a trip to the running shoe store and I purchased a new pair. I have signed up for a 5k in the Sunburst May 31st

Monday, February 11, 2008

Laundry Day

Everyone should have a little help with the laundry!

Happy Birthday Dad

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself. ~John Gregory Brown, Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery, 1994

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Smiles






Just a few random pictures for you. Hope you had a wonderful weekend, we did!

Friday, February 8, 2008

Eighty Five years of blessing

You feel the fortune of your years,
I hope. For all your children's love
This day must bring you happy tears
And thoughts that joyful music prove.

I hope, for all your children's love,
There is an island, be it small,
And thoughts that joyful music prove
Beyond what years you may recall.

There is an island, be it small,
Amid the passions of the sea,
Beyond what years you may recall,
Where you in silent grace can be.

Amid the passions of the sea,
This day must bring you happy tears.
Where you in silent grace can be,
You feel the fortune of your years.
Happy Birthday Grandma!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Purpose

When he walks he casts a shadow of purpose. ~Emme Woodhull-Bäche


Monday, February 4, 2008

The Ancients

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

A Phoenician war ship. It sails ahead of the merchant ships and protects them from pirates.


These are Noah's recent illustrations of his history lessons. I love all of the oars on his ship. He's wonderfully creative.

The Silent Gondoliers


One of my favorite movies is The Princess Bride, and as is so often the case, the book by William Goldman, "as told by S. Morgenstern" was oh so much better. It is absolutely (and I don't use that word lightly) a delightful read. So I was excited to stumble accross this book in Jayme's Chicago apartment when I was helping her pack for Boston and I was allowed to borrow it.
The Silent Gondoliers is another delightful, charming, magical fable.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Flurries


A flurry of birthdays that is.


It's time for me to start planning Annabelle's first birthday party and while I'm at it Bronwen's is coming up just as quickly.


Here's a look at our family's winter/early spring calander:

Grandma Martha - February 8th (85th)

Dad - February 11th (58th)

Chloe - March 8th (6th)

John - March 15th (32nd)

Annabelle - March 24th (1st)

Christine - March 25th (30th)