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Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Thankful

As of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we have been in North Carolina for one year. Its so hard to believe that its been only one year, considering all that has happened. At the same time, its difficult to remember that we have been here a year already – its gone by so fast!!!

I’ve been taking stock this week, paying attention to details, and feeling so amazed at what God has done in this year. I’m thankful for so much.

I’m thankful we made the choice to move from here:




To here, our first and very own home:



I have an amazing job with wonderful people and work that challenges me.

I’m thankful for this man, for his love and his effort and his vision and his overwhelming desire to be the best dad and husband in the world:



I’m thankful for this cute little furry creature, who continues to delight me and love me, even thought I brought another human being into our home to challenge her status as pack leader:



I’m thankful for this amazing group of women who have adopted me into their lives and given me so much wisdom and love:



I’m thankful we were able to do this:



I’m eternally grateful for these amazing women:



This stunning woman:


And this little one for his energy and adventure:




And this little one for her never-ending love and sweetness:



I’m ever so thankful for this experience and what it taught me about my body, my heart, my mind, my feelings and the amazing things that happen that affirm my God in my life:



I’m so very, very thankful for the amazing Blessings of this little one:



For his grandma’s and grandpa’s:





His beautiful aunt Kellie:



And for a surprise from this amazing friend – Aunt Kathy:



For this lady and her sense of controlled insanity and just-rightly-timed encouragement and love:

http://www.ktnryansmom.typepad.com/

I’m thankful that life is both predictable and an adventure, that my days include both a schedule and surprises.

I’m thankful for my scrapbooking and all the amazing people I have met with my hobby.

And I’m thankful for the kindness of strangers who, thanks to the wonderful internet, have become friends and encouragers and mentors.

I’m thankful that I had the chance to chase a musical dream and that it ended so that I could have a chance to dream today’s dreams.

And above all else, I’m thankful that there is a God in Heaven, who sent His only Son to die for MY sins that I might have eternal life.

Peace, everyone…

And today, may you count your many blessings and challenges and count them ALL joy!

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

One Month

I've seen the e-mail about the difference a month, day, moment can make...

Here is my version...

If you ever wonder how much difference a month can make, ask the monkey:

One Week:




One Month:

I can't beleive how fast he's already grown!!!

Praise God, I'm a picture taker...I'd have missed so much already!!!

Peace, all!!!

Monday, November 13, 2006

Surprises!

My friend Kat came all the way across the country in secret to surprise me!!!

BOY was I surprised!!!

So, Jayden got to spend some time with his Aunt Kathy…and he loved it!!!

2006.11.12 Aunt Kathy 02

She managed to coax my second surprise of the weekend from him:














What’s that?

Yes…I think it is…

The first real smile!!!

Yup…all the way to the eyes….

Its hard to see, but he even wrinkled up his nose…

I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have her here!!!

You see…she REALLY fooled me…I was thinking she wouldn’t be here until the end of January. Scott told me he was going out to his parents’ house when he was really going to the airport. I had absolutely no idea…and considering that I have been home pretty much 24-7 for weeks now, its QUITE a surprise.

So, I don’t know if I’m suffering residual pregnancy brain challenges or if I’m just clueless or if they are really, really good.

BUT I don’t care, because it was a FABULOUS visit and I loved having her here.

Yes, we DID try to convince her to move…

I’m not sure it worked…she is a born and bred California girl…

Still…she did say that NEXT time she came she was bringing her husband and the kids…

WOO HOO!!!

There’s going to be a next time!!!

Sometimes…it’s the NOT SO LITTLE things…
Peace, everyone!

Thursday, November 09, 2006

INSANE!!!


Yes…Its offical…4 weeks today that I’ve been in either the hospital or at home. For the first two weeks, it was nice…

Rested lots…

Hung out in my robe…

Got to know my new little man…

Enjoyed that fresh baby feeling…

Now…

I’m going mad…

I feel insane…

My entire life is in 3 to 4 hour intervals…

Not that I’m not enjoying my new guy, who, incidently, already has several nicknames that all involve the word “bug”…

I’m just not exactly being intellectually challenged…

How in the world do you stay-at-home moms do this?

To comfort myself, I've been indulging in really weird tv, coffee with holiday creamers, Christmas present browsing and scrapbooking...

Here is my list of favorites'o'the day (to make things interesting, I could decide on different favorites tomorrow!!!)

Eggnog Coffee Mate

Basic Grey Fruitcake

Tis the Season Holiday Idea Book

KnockKnock

The Naked Archeologist

The A-Team

Banana Republic Alabaster

Privo Tequini

Photo-opoly (and virtually anything else this site has to offer!)

ps....I've changed all my links on the right...there are some new blogs, some new music, updated scrap sites and so on and so forth. I've not really update the shopping...I'm still working on that...

Peace, Everyone!

Monday, November 06, 2006

Good Monday Morning!!!

First of all…how stinkin’ cute is this????

2006.10.31 Sleeping With Daddy copy

This has now happened twice…because my son wakes up at 3 am stays awake until 4, wakes up at 5, stays awake until 6, sleeps until 7, stays awake until 8, then wants to eat, then sleeps again…we bring him to bed, give him a pacifier and try like mad to get a cat nap in while he’s sleeping.

Incidently, I think BOTH occasions preceded growth spurts…

This is today’s scripture:

To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. – Romans 8:6 NAS

I found it especially relevant considering that we are all looking at Christmas stuff in the stores.

I’m as excited for the Christmas season to begin as anyone. In fact, I can be like that crazy Christmas lady from “The Santa Claus” – you know, all Christmas, all the time.

Its always especially disturbing to me to see the Christmas things out before Halloween. Even more disturbing to me is to find the Christmas things and Halloween things in the same aisle – one on one side and one on the other. It’s a rather stark statement of the commercialization and secularization of Christmas, no?

There is continuous hot debate over Christmas – its at the wrong time of year (true), it shouldn’t be celebrated in schools (ok..as long as we don’t celebrate or acknowledge ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY, including the holidays of atheism) that government agencies shouldn’t recognize and/or celebrate Christmas (again, ok…as long as they WORK on Christmas like its any other day…), and so on and so forth. There are sound ways to debate the issue. Unfortunately, passion and personal interest enter the argument on all sides…there is just no way to be objective if we are going to talk about a holiday that has come to represent the polarization of our culture.

The plain and simple truth is that you either believe there was a Christ sent to save us all or you don’t. And for those of you who are firmly riding the fence – who believe there was a Jesus, but that he might not have been the salvation of the world – well…I hate to break this to you, but you are actually in the “I don’t believe” category.

It is made plain in Revelation 3:16: 1”So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Even Satan himself believed there was a Jesus…and Satan himself believed that Jesus was the Savior of mankind. Why else would he appear to tempt Jesus to sin DIRECTLY if he did not believe that Jesus was the Savior? So, to say you believe but to not accept Jesus into your heart…well…then you are in the company of Satan himself.

So…back to my Scripture of the day – I’m so tempted to be one of those that would argue my position, that would state Christ’s case, that would rail against the commercial establishment and debate the issue with my non-believing friends…

But this Scripture advises me otherwise…I’m advised to dwell in what I know is the Truth, to revel in the joy and peace of knowing the Lord. It prompts me to settle into the quiet place beneath his wing, to live a life of worship and love, to set an example by my actions for my son, my family, my friends, my acquaintenances and those strangers I will meet in my Holiday travels from shopping mall to grocery store.

Be the change you want to see in the world. Give somebody else the parking space up front, the last Elmo doll, the place in front of you in the grocery store check-out. And smile and laugh and enjoy that we are about to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. Accept Jesus into your heart (again if necessary – I know I sometimes have to do it several times a day!)…
And then let Him shine this season!!!