It's Such A Mess I Could Cry!

It's such a mess I could cry, but not because of the mess; because we've waited and waited for so long to have this mess. 

Truly as I spent the past fifteen minutes picking up what tornado Lillian had destroyed, I stepped back to look at it all; tears welled up in my eyes. I really didn't think it was going to ever happen and especially not in 2014.  My heart is full. I know it would be full, by the grace of God, even if my living room did not look like this, but tonight I needed to just sit and see.  For this moment at this time my messy living room IS God's grace for this year. 

Praying His grace is tangible for you, especially if you are currently in the darkness. 

Writing the Word

So I just might be setting out to do the impossible and it might take me more than a year, but my plan for 2015 is to handwrite the entire New Testament. (I'm posting this for accountability so please ask me how it's going a few weeks and months down the road).

I started tonight and let me tell you, when you write the word rather than just read it you notice more (or at least I did tonight). Matthew 1 with it's genealogy we all like to skip or skim lover and the short telling of the Messiah's birth was interesting tonight. I tried to remember each story that I could associated with the Old Testament names. I knew about half. So tomorrow I will set out to learn what I can about the other half. 

In the name of Jesus Christ my Savior, I pray and command Satan to stay out of my way for this project. I pray God will use the project to hide the word in my heart and it will come alive to me in ways I have never experience before, help me to be a better follower of Christ,  better wife, a better mother and a better friend!

TBT: May the Joy of Christmas Sweep You Off Your Feet

A little Throw Back Thursday for ya!

As I look at this picture I think about what this couple had lying ahead of them. They had no clue what was to come. The dead of night was moving in and the joy of the morning would not come for another four years.  If this is where you find yourself today have hope, morning WILL come. It may not be this side of heaven nor in the way you think but His mercies ARE new every morning. 

But if you just can't see through the darkness, lean into the Savior my friend.  You can bring ANYTHING to Him. Lord knows I have had my share of shouting and crying to Him and at him. He is strong and steady and will not let you go.  He's walked through the wilderness too. 

May God bless you all this Christmas Day in ways you never expected! 

Eleven Months

Merry Christmas from our 11 month old!  We just attended the candle light service where we took advantage of the decorations for our pictures this month. 

Lillian has five teeth, is super tall and has huge feet. Her curls are starting to make their second ringlet and are long enough to hold a hair bow!  She is cruising everywhere but still not interested in walking alone just yet. She is super affectionate and gives unsolicited hugs and kisses. She's starting to eat table food and hasn't found much she doesn't like. Her favorite book right now is Duck and Goose It's Time for Christmas  and she often " reads" to herself.  

Yikes!

With thirty around the corner and now this, all I have to say is YIKES!

The silver lining...

pun intended...

Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.  (God's Word Translation Proverbs 16:31)

I don't know that I would say I am righteous, only through the grace of Jesus Christ, but I will take it!

Lillian and Kate Kate

Love Lillian gets to experience a "sibling" like relationship with Kate Kate. So much love between these two!

Somebody Pinch Me!

2007 to 2014. When we hung that first ornament back in 2007 I am so thankful we didn't know what lay ahead. Back then I had a "five year plan" to placing this second ornament on the tree.  God laughed because two years into that five year plan it changed to a now plan which in turn God made a seven year plan.  It's been a long time coming and I can't  believed I am actually hanging these on a Christmas Tree this year for my 10 month old daughter!  This time last year we had just found out our last fertility treatment did not work and a huge chapter in our lives was closing. I would have NEVER believed this would be my life today!!!