Just 'Cuz It's Silly

So True

This just might be my favorite Baby Blues strip yet.


(click on image to enlarge.)

Happy Birthday, Joshua!

Tomorrow is my wonderful husband's 28th birthday. I'm afraid tomorrow will get too busy so I'm posting this today. If you get me started on how great I think my man is then I could write pages. So instead I will simply post a few pictures that, I think, sum up what I love so much about Joshua.

His careful thoughtfulness.
His tender love for our kids.

His willingness to work hard.

And, last but not least, his dashing good looks!

I couldn't find a picture that properly portrays his goofiness, (even if I did he probably would rather I not post it) but that is also something that I love about him.

All these different aspects of my Joshua are what make being his wife a joy. He's not a perfect man, but he's the perfect man for me.

I love you, Joshua. Happy Birthday!

Lord's Day Quote

He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Refrain
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

Refrain

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain

What's Over There?

Your guess is as good as theirs.

Gotta Love This Quote

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."

----Mark Twain

Another Good Song

I've heard this song dozens of times, but I was struck anew by it today. Yeah, the music video is a tad on the silly side, but just listen to the song. I bet that you'll be struck by a strange desire to raise your hands in praise. At least I was.

Redeemer

From My Heart To Yours

Throughout the earliest stages of this pregnancy, I have been struggling with fear. I've been afraid of the possibility of miscarriage. After all, don't women who have their children close together have a greater chance of miscarriage? I've never had a miscarriage- isn't it my turn? I would imagine what it'd feel like to go into my next midwife appointment only to find that there is no heartbeat and my baby has died. These fears were starting to eat me up inside and I felt like panic was always just below the surface.

It took me some time and a lot of crying out to God, but I reached the point of being able to say, "God, you are in control here. You can give my baby life or You can take it away. You are good so I trust You no matter what you decide."

Last Friday I went in for my check up. I lay down on the exam table and the midwife got the doppler tool they use to hear the heartbeat. She put it on my belly, wiggled it around and... nothing. She couldn't find a heartbeat. She tried a different spot- still no heartbeat. She pushed on my belly until it hurt, still trying to find that gentle beating. I heard my own heart's beat, but not my child's.

I tried to not cry. I prayed, silently screaming the words, "God, please!" Then I fought down the panic and I was able say to Him, "Whatever you decide, I trust You. God, help me." In that moment God was asking me, "So did you really mean what you said about trusting Me? Are you really willing to trust me even now?" And I found I was able to answer- through tears- "Yes, Lord, I trust You. Even now."

And, suddenly, I heard the heartbeat.

The gentle whooshing of my baby's little heart was strong and healthy. He had just been tucked away in there and hiding from us. I breathed a prayer of thanks.

I cried the whole way home that morning. I had had quite a scare, but I realized that I had also passed the test. It's not often that I pass the tests that God gives me and I felt such joy- again through tears- that my faith has grown enough to pass this one. God has done some really horrible things to me. I have experienced what it's like to see a sonogram and know that baby wouldn't live. But I am able to say, with full certainty, that my God is good.

I write this with the hope that you, too, can now look back on the various heartaches you've endured and see that God brought you through them all and He was holding you close the entire time. He asks a lot of us when He tells us to trust Him, but He is always worthy of our complete trust.

And all these tears that we've cried through these hardships have been counted and stored by the One who sees all and one day He will wipe them all away.

Another Arrow For Our Quiver!

That's right, another baby is on the way and we're thrilled to bits about it! Come February, Lord willing, there will be a beautiful child in our arms for us to love and raise.

How amazing is that?!

Found On A Photography Blog

"I don’t think of myself as a great photographer, I may never be a great photographer; but I am definitely having fun just trying to become a better photographer than I was yesterday."


Yep, that's what I say, too.

Just Plain Good Stuff

I don't actually watch the show "America's Got Talent," but I do enjoy watching some of the highlights from the show online. I wanted to share with you two of the acts that I keep coming back to. Both of these performances combine something rather old-fashioned and traditional with something new and modern. It really is a joy to see people work hard at their art and create something really incredible.

The Southern Belles

Nuttin' But Strinz

A Suggestion

About a year ago, my family and I were out taking a leisurely Sabbath afternoon walk and our steps took us past the local nursing home. There were a few elderly patrons sitting outside enjoying the fresh air and they were staring and smiling at the kids so we walked over to say hi. They introduced themselves as Paul and Betty. Betty lives at the home and Paul, her husband, constantly comes to visit her. We said we'd come see them again and they were excited at the prospect.

It's been over a year now and we've been visiting Paul and Betty on various Sundays ever since. We try to make it every other week or so. We've also made a few new friends there. Ginny, a single woman who lives at the home and doesn't have any family nearby is always thrilled to see us. She doesn't remember us from visit to visit, but the kids always bring a smile (and sometimes tears) to her face.

I'm mentioning all this because this experience has been a really good thing for our family. We are training our kids to be unselfish with their time and to be kind to others. The kids used to be a little scared of the older folks, but now they ask every Sunday, "Can we go see the elderly today?" God gave us this little ministry and we are so glad He did. Each time we visit the elderly and bless them through the simple joy of a young child's hug, it's as though we are doing it to Jesus and we, in turn, will be blessed for it.

There are some weeks that I don't want to go to the nursing home and there have been times when we didn't go when perhaps we shouldn't have skipped it. So we're not perfect here. But I feel it our duty to share this tiny way in which we are endeavouring to obey Jesus and to suggest to you that you do the same. Your ministry will be different from ours and maybe visiting a nursing home isn't practical for you, but please consider doing something. Jesus is pretty clear when He told us to visit the sick, prisoners, etc.

Anyway, like I said, each of our ministries will look different, but may I encourage you to be sure you are ministering in some way?

Too Funny To Not Share

What would happen if I took my two daughters, put 'em in a box and shook 'em:

Hmm, maybe they're cuter separate.

I'm Not Alright

I'm Not Alright by Sanctus Real

If weakness is a wound that no one wants to speak of
Then "cool" is just how far we have to fall
I am not immune, I only want to be loved
But I feel safe behind the firewall
Can I lose my need impress?
If you want the truth I need to confess

[Chorus:]I'm not alright, I'm broken inside
And all I go through, it leads me to you

Burn away the pride
Bring me to my weakness
Until everything I hide behind is gone
And when I'm open wide with nothing left to cling to
Only you are there to lead me on.

Honestly, I'm not that strong.

[Chorus:]I'm not alright... that's why I need you.

(Listen to the song here.)

My Deer Little Boy

Just as we were leaving my in-laws' house yesterday, we came upon a beautiful little fawn standing in the road. We slowed the van and said to the kids, "Look at the baby deer!" We pointed out its little white spots. What a great opportunity to show the kids God's glorious handiwork!

Malachi, in his usual boyish way, said from the backseat, "When is Grandpa going to get his gun and hunt it? Deer turns into meat!"

A Poem

Here's an exerpt from a poem written by Kevin Swanson for his mother. It's so lovely and just what I needed to hear.

Some will stand in the gates.
Make a name in the state.
But she's in the kitchen
Surrounded by children.
Nothing big in the world's estimation,
Just taking that world with the next generation.

A glorious woman
Jehovah has given.
Worthy of such honor
No mere man could proffer.
In the eyes of the world, there's nothing to see.
But then, that world was never worthy of these.

Being A Dad

Joshua had stumbled upon this article about Christian fatherhood. It's so beautiful that I thought some of you might enjoy it as well.

My Education Continues

My Dictionary.com Word of the Day today was "mephitic." I had never heard of this word before, but amazingly enough I found I understood its meaning and purpose completely. I think I can even use it in a sentence:

"The odor emanating from Evangeline's room this morning was mephitic."

Yes, after changing that diaper (and the sheets and giving her a bath) I find that my mind has now been enriched in its understanding of the very aptly descriptive word, mephitic. Who says motherhood can't develop our minds more?


mephitic \muh-FIT-ik\, adjective:1. Offensive to the smell; as, mephitic odors. 2. Poisonous; noxious.

Super Cute Kids!

When we were in Illinois I managed to get a picture of each our adorable little relatives. Look how much they are growing up!

Marriage in the Eyes of a Three-Year-Old

This evening, during family worship, Joshua thanked God that we've been married for six years. When we were done praying, Malachi said excitedly, "I'm going to marry a girl! And Lily's going to marry a boy!"

"What about Evangeline?" I asked.

Without missing a beat he answered, "She'll marry a baby."