Gratitude

As we embark upon another Thanksgiving...I am brought to my knees in gratitude for my wonderful Friends and family! I sat in bed this morning praising and thanking God for all of you. My heart overwhelmed with your thoughtfulness, grace,mercy and love! Through your emails, phone calls, letters and blogs, I realize how blessed I am by your friendships! You all "know" my heart! I never have to worry where I stand with you, just like I never have to worry where I stand with the Lord! Even though I mess up constantly and I am always in need of your mercy and grace you all are angels of the Lord ! I was talking to a friend the other day about a dilemma and we connected in a way that felt like praise and worship, I yearn for those times! I am addicted to those conversations! I was at church this weekend and of course the talk was on grace and gratitude b/c of thanksgiving but differently than my typical cynical and sarcastic tone, this talk really hit me to the core. He was right we don't praise God, and thank Him as we should...I think of the verse to "pray continuously" do I do this or do I go on with life until I NEED to pray continuously!
So thank you and I'm SO grateful and thankful to you all who stir me to MORE, you who make me YEARN for OUR Lord, where I want to run to the throne and throw myself down and worship the ONE who wants to Love me, and who wants me even though I am so sinful and I do falter and fail!
I love you all!

Sicky

I love this posing picture of Jake. I have a TON of just jake photos. As I'm sure every first time parent does. I just can't help myself. Every outfit, every event, even if there is no special occasion beyond he is just so cute! Last Friday, we all went swimming with my nephews and Dave and Erin. We had a great time until the boys got so cold they had goose bumps all over and their lips were turning blue. Since then Jake has just not been his usual easy going and laughable self. So we figured he had an ear infection. We were getting ready to go the the store today before we had to get home and then go to the doctors. On our way to the grocery, Jake got sick ALL over the car. I mean the vomit kept coming. I thought it would never end and as I'm helplessly looking for a place to pull over, the food just keeps spilling out except now it is through the nose and the mouth.
He was scared, I was scared, finally I found a place jumped out and started to clean up the yogurt, applesauce, egg concoction.
It is so sad to see a pale scared face. But we made it through without mom spilling her beans all over as I was cleaning.
I look forward to a good nap and then the doctor's to see what is going on!!

Grace Sustained

The past week I have reconnected with a wonderful friend and former roommate, Michelle.
I have talked to her on "facebook" at times but always short and sweet. Although Michelle would never place herself as a victim, she has been bond by a horrible disease, called Lyme's disease. Although she would never view it that way. Her faith in our Lord has only grown stronger and her relationship even greater! I am very jealous!
Anyway, at a time that I feel the locusts have come in and that I'm serving and not being served (how selfish...I know), Michelle contacted me to give my blog a facelift. And as I view this blog as a great outlet and avenue, I always look at my other friends blogs and wonder how they did that or how cute. But I have absolutely no idea or really the time to do it.
So with Michelle's offer, it came at a time, I really needed a good friend and it brought me to tears. I was humbled by her offer. That in her pain, her illness, she would reach out to do this...Her illness does not define her at all, but to take time out for me, was just incredible.
So look for some great new additions....what am I talking about, it is incredible what Michelle has already done! All of you without blogs are going to want to have one and have Michelle design it!
I trust you all who view this, that you know my heart and I can be honest without being destroyed and stomped on for it!
I am just a travelor on a journey with all the ups/downs and many mountain top and pitfalls of life.
So thank you Michelle for the gift of your friendship, it is worth more than any thing this world can offer!

Mommy's little Mimic

Everyone reading this blog already knows how Jake mimics everything. And it is very cute, and funny to see all the funny things that I do that I don't even realize. Such as, I never realized how much I say "oh". Jake will forget something or realize something and he'll say "oh". Very funny.
Every time we see Jake for the first time, from coming back from work, barn or after a nap or the night, we'll say "good morning Jake" or "hi Jake". Well now when he sees us in the morning or the first time after a hiatus, he'll say "hi Jake". At first we weren't sure what he was saying but after a while, we realized he was saying "hi Jake" . So now we've switched to just saying Hi or "Hi mommy, or Hi Daddy".
I've finished Jake's "baby book" and I've realized how truly Jake was made for us by the Lord. He has been knit in our hearts and in the Lord's since before time and I'm humbled by that fact.