Urgent: Your prayers are needed

Please take a moment to read the last few posts from MckMama and pray for Baby Stellan who is currently in the PICU fighting for breathe.

I've been reading her blog for some time now and he is beautiful blessing and miracle from God. MckMama describes seeing her little boy in the hospital and it brings me to tears. Yet her complete faith in God and trust that His will is perfect is humbling.

So, go to her blog, pray, pray, pray and leave her a comment if you feel led. In Christ, we are all one, big family. Please hold them up in prayer!

I'll be back to blogging soon...

...but first, I had to share this.

I wrote this down on December 19th because I didn't want to forget what Caleb said.

Here is the note I jotted down:

Friday, December 19, 2008

Caleb's first words this morning were, "Hot coffee." A boy after my own heart!

I'm not really sure if he smelled it brewing or just smelled my coffee breath! Either way it made me laugh.

Breaking and entering

(To my own blog, of course)

I'm interrupting my blog break to bring you these pictures.

Let this be a lesson to you all. Bag balm, children and kitty's don't mix...ever!

It took several washes for the boy and several for the kitty to be less greasy.
We won't even talk about the clothes, the sheets, the dresser, the bed...the list goes on!

We still didn't get it all out. It took a few days for kitty to be "clean" again and
I'm still finding bag balm in Caleb's room.

I think he learned his lesson and hopefully Max realizes what happens when you're in
the wrong place at the wrong time.

I'm back...kind of

Thanks to the amazing ice storm I've been offline since Friday. I have been able to check in periodically, but nothing permanent. Apparently Comcast is still experiencing some issues which disconnects me. Love it.

All this offline business gave me some time to think. So, I've decided to take a bit of a break. Not long, just a week or two.

With Christmas right around the corner, Afton's play, and numerous family gatherings coming up I figured this would be the perfect time to take a breather.

I may post a funny or cute picture from time to time. Or post something profound and full of wisdom (ha!). Other than that I'll be laying low.

Just don't forget about me. I promise I'll be back.

Until then...

An explanation for my unexplained absence

We're homeless.

At least for a couple more days. So far it's been 44 hours since we lost power and boy did we lose it good! They were saying it would be 3-4 days, at least, before power would be restored.

Half of our little town has power and we (of course) live in the half that does not. Thankfully this happened on Friday at 1:20 in the morning, so the weekend was almost here. That way we didn't have to toss work into an already crazy schedule.

So, for now we're vagabonds, nomads, wanderers...who just happen to sleep at my in-laws place until our house is warmer than 44 degrees in the daytime!

Prayers would be much appreciated since we're anxious to get home. Caleb was telling us tonight it was time to go home and it was really hard having to tell him we couldn't yet. It's so tough for him to understand. Otherwise the kids are doing pretty good, the parents are doing pretty good (Mike's fine...lol) and we are so thankful to his parents for being will to add a little bit of family hecticness to their otherwise quiet and peaceful life.

Thanks Mom and Dad...we love you very much and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate you giving us a warm place to sleep!

Now I'm off to catch up on a bit of sleep!

Stay warm and thank God for your houses, apartments, condo's or mobile homes!

Ever feel like you need more hours in your day?

I do.

Unfortunately I'll have to settle for an extra second in the year.

Now...what to do with that extra second....I could...

wink at hubby

blow a kiss to my children

blink 6 times (I just tried it and timed myself. It was either 5 or 6, or maybe 7. Hard to tell.)

take a picture

take a deep breath

wave to someone (quickly!)


Those are just a few things off the top of my head.

What can you do in 1 second?

Who let the dogs out? *woof woof woof*

This is an awesome "commercial"!

Click here to watch. Then show the boy in your life!

These morning are right around the corner. I can feel it in my bones...brrr

However, this would be a very nice thing to do for someone. An intentional random act of kindness.

Stay warm!

Why my hubby is perfect for me

Well, it's actually pretty simple. God gave us to each other. Since God is perfect and He never makes mistakes, then my hubby is perfect for me.

I would have to say that one of the most difficult roles a woman must learn is that of being a wife. Being a mom comes naturally to most of us. We may have some learning to do or experience to gain, but, for the most part, we kinda know what we're doing.

A wife, on the other hand...well, that is a whole other story. See, God created husbands to be the provider for the family and head of the household. That means he makes the final decision.

Elisabeth Elliot talks about her fathers role in the home as she was growing up:

"Head of the house' did not mean our father barked out orders, threw his weight around, and demanded submission from his wife. It simply meant that he was the one finally responsible."

As wives, we want to kind of take that role over. However, we were created to be a helper to our husbands. We are to stand behind him 100% of the time. Support him, love him, stand by him, and let him lead. That doesn't mean we become doormats, but there is a way to lovingly state your thoughts in a way that is honoring and pleasing to both God and our husbands.

In the book I'm reading, A Woman After God's Own Heart, there are several, very interesting statements on marriage. The author, Elizabeth George, was doing some reading and came upon an woman named Anne Ortlund. Anne Ortlund made this statement about marriage and her role, "I have no desire to run parallel to Ray, sprinting down the track in competition. I want to be behind him, encouraging him."

That is the desire of my heart. I don't want to compete with Mike. I strive to continually push him (not literally) forward. By my words and my actions. Being submissive isn't a bad thing and it's not degrading. It's an honor. To be my husbands helper. The world will never see it that way, but that's ok. I'm not concerned with what the world things. The only things I am concerned with is obey my God.

1 Corinthians 11:3
"The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."

In keeping with the theme I have a really cool site for all you submissive wives. *wink*

Go check out this site and consider making a purchase. Show the world that you are proud of your hubby and you're not afraid to say it.

On a side note: I am far from perfect. I use the word "strive" because this is something I am working towards. I haven't arrived at perfection. In fact, I'll never arrive until I see my Savior in heaven, face to face. So, until that time, I will continue to work hard, to strive, towards being the wife I am supposed to be. Most importantly I will seek to serve and please God first, then my husband, then my children. Everyone and everything is underneath that.