Monday Perspective

Father, let the world just fade away
Let me feel your presence in this place
Lord, I’ve never been so weary
How I need to know you’re near me
Father, let the world just fade away

Till I’m on my knees
Till my heart can sing

He is
He was
He always will be

Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still, my soul
He is

Father, let your Holy Spirit sing
Let it calm the storm inside of me
As I stand amazed
Lift my hands and say

He is
He was
He always will be

He lives
He loves
he’s always with me

Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still, my soul
Through every fear
And every doubt
And every tear I shed
Down every road
I’m not alone
No matter where I am

He is
He was
And He always will be

He lives
He loves
he’s always with me
Even when it feels like there is no one holding me
Be still, my soul
Be still, and know
Be still, my soul
He is

(Mark Schultz)

TGIF

I know it’s not Friday for most of you, but it is for me!

This weekend, my goal is to help my son get his room organized.  Since we moved into the house, the bedrooms have seen the least attention.  Malachi’s floor is hidden beneath toys, pretty much, and I can’t ask him to clean it up when he doesn’t know where to put his things!  On top of that, he still has MORE things in the garage that we have yet to unpack.  My kids have too much “stuff.”  I wish I could get rid of 90% of it.    We will be putting items aside for a spring yard sale, though…    Maybe if I offer to let my children keep the money, they’ll be willing to give up more.  I hope.

This weekend is also the Super Bowl, so I’ve heard…  We’ll probably head over to my parents’ house after church to watch the commercials.  Super Bowl Sunday is the ONLY day of the year that I don’t mute the commercials.  I don’t even know what teams are playing, but I’ll probably be rooting for one of them by halftime.

This weekend is supposed to be rainy.  I love the rain.  We have gotten more than usual this winter, though, and I haven’t been able to spend as much time outside as I’d like.  Oh well.  When it warms up, I can explore our new terrain.  For now, indoor projects and activities get my focus.

I am so sleepy…  Getting up at 4:30 is unnatural.  I can’t get used to it.

Hope your weekend is more exciting than mine!

God bless.

Wordless Wednesday (God must have had fun with this one!)

Happy Groundhog Day!

Monday Perspective

Everyone in my office today is complaining about the “short” weekend we just had.  You see, last week was a 5-day work week.  We are not used to that.  We are accustomed to the furloughs (and resulting 3-day weekends)!  It’s ironic to me.  As much as I would really appreciate the restoration of my full paycheck, saying goodbye to the extra “time off” will be bittersweet…

Today I choose, rather than complaining, to be thankful for my job.  I work with really great people who do super things for the wildlife of California.  I praise the Lord for a career that supports my family and allows my children to be cared for at home by their Daddy.  I am SO blessed.

It doesn’t have to be the 4th Thursday in November ~ what are YOU thankful for TODAY?

Happy Monday!

Happy Story

A family from my neck of the woods brought home their newly adopted daughter from HAITI yesterday!

This photo gallery brought tears to my eyes.

Haiti

I know everyone is aware of what is going on in Haiti.  This is not a “news blog.”  Or even a “news post.”

In light of hearing that Haitians are enduring the effects of yet ANOTHER quake…

Please join me in prayer for our brothers and sisters.

My World Vision sponsored child, Lusiana Jean, lives in Haiti.  From what the organization reports, all of the sponsored children are safe and well.  It’s weird how that can mean so much to me, when I have never even met this girl.  I was immediately concerned for her.  Worried.  I want to hug her.  I wish there was more I could do.

One thing I did do is make a donation that provides clean water for earthquake victims.  Water is one of our most basic needs for sustaining life.  It doesn’t take much to help out in this way.  I encourage you to make your way over to World Vision’s site and give what you can.  Don’t be afraid that your well-earned dollars will disappear into thin air; they won’t!  You can be part of the relief effort.  Aid does not appear by magic; it comes from people who care.

Be love.

We are so spoiled here…

While you’re at it, consider sponsoring a child in Haiti, as a long-term commitment.  You won’t regret it.

Pray, pray, pray.

God bless.

The Christmas Dress

sisters

2010

Well, the past couple of months have been FULL!  Blogging has obviously not been high on my list of priorities, but I’m hoping to get into a new rhythm this year, posting at least once a week.

So, let me start by catching you up on the happenings of my life!

You met Zea.  Sweet angel.  Here is a more recent photo of her:

Doubtful that another baby has owned so many homemade hats…  I just can’t help myself.  Zea is adored by her siblings and doted on by her parents.  She is smiling and cooing and stealing our hearts.  I can’t wait to hear her laugh.  What a blessing she is.

We bought a house!  It’s perfect.  God totally hand-picked it and gave it to us.  Well, there’s a payment every month that we have to make on it, but I still consider it a huge GIFT.  It’s the kind of place that we will be comfortable living in for a long time.  That’s what I wanted.  It’s close to my parents, surrounded by pine trees, and planted in a quiet, safe neighborhood.  I couldn’t ask for more.

Thanksgiving was wonderful.  We took a road trip to southern California to spend the holiday with family.  I love seeing family.  My aunt is the most gracious hostess.  The little ones had a great time running around.  My aging grandpa even seemed to enjoy watching them…

Christmas.  It seemed like, this year, it came so quickly after Thanksgiving!  I couldn’t believe there was actually a month in between.  We did a “progressive dinner” for Christmas Eve.  Appetizers at my brother’s house, dinner at my parents’, dessert and gifts at our new home.  It was a nice way to spend the day together; each of us got to host each other.  Christmas day, we headed over to my inlaws where Ryan’s family gathered for gift exchanging and fondue.  Yes, fondue.  It was quite the ordeal, but it was neat to have somthing different.  There was meat, vegetables, bread, cheese, and all kinds of  oils, broths, and marinades…  and of course, chocolate for dessert.

New Years Eve was celebrated with Ryan’s sister and her family, along with a couple of young friends.  They came over for pizza and Wii playing; it was an intentionally low-key night.

On January 5, the world started to turn again.  The kids went back to school, and I went back to work!  I highly recommend the last quarter of the calendar for maternity leave, should any of you wonder when the best time to have a baby is.  Luckily for me, my workload also compliments this idea.  It’s sort of slow at the beginning of the year and builds up as time goes on.  I’ve been able to ease back into the groove of my job (and of getting up at 4:30am).  Oh, I’m back on the coffee.

Anyway, my mind is spinning with bloggable stuff, but if I’m going to post weekly, I must save some of it, right?

I’ve missed my bloggy friends, as I’ve been reading almost as little as I’ve written lately.  I hope you are all well!!!  I should be online more these days…

Thanks for stopping by.  May God bless you in 2010.

Distracted

So, I’ve been a little distracted from the blog world lately…  This little angel entered my life, and I have been somewhat consumed with staring at her, kissing her, nursing, and changing her diapers.  And I am loving every minute of it.

Zea is our 3rd child, and yet, I am even more in awe of the miracle that she is than I was with the first two.  That awe seems to get magnified with time/age, I guess.  Seems like it would diminish after having several experiences, but at age 33, I cannot wrap my head around how amazing it is to look upon a new child, a gift from the Lord, that was fashioned in my womb by the Almighty Creator.

Do you get me?  or am I still hormonal?

Anyway, I’m loving my time off of work.  I’m still able to log onto FB at least once a day.  My house is still a mess.  Life moves on, one day at a time.  God has not closed the door on buying a house, so we hold onto the hope that we’ll be moving soon.  I know that I’ll be back at work sooner than I would like.

I just want to THANK the Lord for paid time off.  A husband whose a wonderful Dad.  Kids that adore their new sister.  A healthy, adorable baby.  And so much more.  He continues to bless and bless and bless.

(Don’t take this as me saying my life is perfect.  It is NOT.  I’m just focusing on the positive!)