brilliant idea

So what's the most brilliant alternative to shopping/crowds/city driving on the day after Thanksgiving??

This year it came to me via my wonderful fella when he said to me, "Hey...what's up in the mountains right now?? And what do I not have to do on Friday??"

Ooh, ooh, I know! Snow, and work...hmmm. Brilliant. And even better, "...let's surprise the kids." So...what did that all equal?

White Pass, sledding, snowballs and hot chocolate. Totally brilliant.

This video cracks us up. So, it's alright if it hits your funny bone too...

time for a trim.

And voila...back to the no bed head, always looks fantastic, blondest buz cut on the block.

rest

Ok, so I know that I'm behind on posting. And I have been thinking of a new post...really.

But I've had the hardest time sorting...you know, too many things running together that make perfect sense to you (kind of) but wouldn't make sense to another living soul...

For the most part, the last few weeks have been very settling for me.

Plenty has gone on...we're very busy with daily stuff and there have been our fair share of 'hairy' days for one reason or another. So it's not like life here is dull...

But God has been settling me with it too. It's weird in some ways. Normally, I frazzle pretty easily, but God's been working patiently with me, probably wanting me to grow out of that tendancy.

After learning to survive on scepticism and live behind walls for so many years, it's been really overwhelming to be taught not to.

In the more recent months, I've experienced more depth of emotion than I've allowed myself in years. This has been such a hard thing, but also very freeing. God has used it to show me that it can be safe let walls break down around another person. Praise God for this.

I guess the overall jist of these last few weeks in particular is that I've been reflecting on how I'm just so blessed and thankful for my fella. God has had this man waltz right into the middle of my little life and it's happened in such an amazing way.

I'm so glad to have him as a friend, comrade, companion and ally. He's not only a brother in Christ who challenges me to grow in my faith, but he doesn't feel the need change me. He's content to let God do whatever He sees fit, and let me just be who I am.

At the end of the day, I just shake my head at the blessing that God has given me in this fella. It's like He's saying, "See...I have you all looked after, and I know exactly what's best for you. Don't worry about a thing..."

A place of rest in human form...

words

The Words I Would Say by Sidewalk Prophets

My fella sent me this song recently through some sort of computer magic and I've been listening to it a lot since then. I find the message in it to be very encouraging.

The lyrics for the chorus are:

Be strong in the Lord and,

Never give up hope,

You're going to do great things,

I already know,

God's got His hand on you so,

Don't live life in fear,

Forgive and forget,

But don't forget why you're here,

Take your time and Pray,

These are the words I would say...

The rest of the song is great too, but the root of their message is in this chorus. God is doing such great and mighty things...may His name be praised.

It's Monday

Hmmm...Avery does a pretty good cousin It.

He gives, and He takes.

Grandma's hands. For some reason I wanted to make sure I would remember what they looked like years from now...so a couple of weeks ago I took these pictures. The Lord, in His timing, has taken her now and I'm so glad to have the pictures of these hands.
This Grandma...strong and capable, so generous, fiercly loved her family and fought for them to the end, rich with wisdom, quick to smile and laugh, LOVED garage sales and clearance racks, worked harder than anybody for longer than anyone else I know. So totally irreplaceable and loved.

In His Sovereignty, God chose this same day to bless me with the new life of my best friend's 5th daughter. She is completely perfect and beautiful. Not only in her newness, but in her very creation. Sometimes God's power and might are shown in big, dramatic ways...and then you see it at the same time in the sweet, gentle birth of this little girl.

The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.

...........

Sleepin' like the king.