Reading Corner

I picked up this book at a yard sale last weekend and started reading it today.  I cannot put it down!  I've always loved the Duggar family and reading their book just makes me love them even more.  They are such a lovely family with a beautiful story to tell.  I imagine after reading this book, their first one, I will want to read their second book as well which just came out.  I don't know how they do it but I think they are simply amazing!

Farewell Oprah

Saying good-bye to the "Queen" of television on Wednesday was a sad day for me.  Yes, I cried.  Save your laughing and judging to those of you who just rolled your eyes as you read that first sentences!  Surely you can understand the influence she has had in my life just as she does in so many others.  I am one of the millions out there who litereally grew up with her.  Watching her nearly everyday after school beginning at a very young age (7 years old I think).  She was always a constant in my life even when I lived abroad in Europe and South Africa.  When homesick numerous times for the good ol' US of A, I always felt a little bit better after watching an Oprah show. 

Obviously she is a remarkable woman who has made this world a better and kinder place in my opinion.  I don't agree with her on everything....  We are quite opposite in our political views and her Universalism mindset really gets under my skin!  But I love her and I will miss tuning in to her show everyday.  I was so relieved on Thursday afternoon when I turned on the television at 4pm to watch her show (a habit that would be very hard to break), not knowing what would be on in it's place and when a repeat of The Oprah Winfrey Show came on, I let out a huge sigh of relief!  Phew - I can still get my Oprah fix!  Hallelujah!  I think I'm gonna be okay.   :)

Tip of the Day

I know I'm offering unsolicited advice here, but it is my blog!  And in my opinion this tip is worth sharing so here it is:  Blue Shop Towels.  These towels are simply AMAZING!  If you are sick and tired of your kitchen sink rag always smelling so bad and in turn giving your kitchen a nasty, stinky smell then you have got to try these.  It's like a paper towel on steroids!  These towels do it all and cost only a couple of bucks, which in turn will last you a couple of months.  Just use one sheet all day long and you can keep your kitchen clean and smelling good!

They are so strong and durable that I reuse it over and over and over again all day and it never rips or nothing.  It's been pretty awesome and I will never go back to using stinky kitchen rags that need to be washed and dried in the laundry (and still smell afterwards), when I can use my handy dandy blue shop towels instead! 

Benjamin's Music Pick

This song is currently Benjamin's favorite. He wants us to play it over and over again on YouTube! His absolutely favorite part is every time the chorus begins - that's when he goes wild. He's got some good taste in music if you ask me! =)

God Knows Best!

Perhaps some of you remember that Steve and I came very, very close to buying our first house last summer.  In the end it didn't work out, which is a long story in itself ... we decided to back out at the time because there were too many question marks and not enough peace.

House hunting was such an emotional process (heightened by the pregnancy hormones) and it left me feeling very drained.  I desperately wanted to buy a house and get settled before Grace was born.  My instinct to nest was on level high!  When it became apparent that buying a house wasn't going to happen at that time, I was extremely sad & disappointed.  Desperate to know why it didn't work out for me to get the desire of my
heart - a house for my family to grow up in - I asked God, "Why"?  Not getting a straight answer, Steve and I both agreed that it just wasn't the right timing and that it wasn't the right house.

Well, God did in fact answer us and it happened last week when Steve was told by a friend that the house we almost bought is now in foreclosure, has a flooded basement and received very significant damage to the outside of the house due to a large tree branch falling on the roof during the winter storms.  Praise God we were spared from owning that home and dealing with all those problems!  After hearing this news from Steve I once again was so amazed by the Lord's protection in our lives.

It's so encouraging and faith-building to know we have a God that goes before us.  One who knows all things - past, present, and future.  A Father who wants the best for us and desires to protect us from unforseen circumstances.  Unfortunately, we are not always going to get an answer to our "why?" questions.  But for me, remembering this experience will help me trust that God knows what's best for me and will help me get through the times that I don't get an answer from Him.  He sees what I cannot see.  He is a good and loving God, who gives His children good gifts.  And I believe that whatever answers we don't receive here in this life, we will surely receive in Heaven!


Side Note:

It's funny how God works, but I had just finished writing this post when I went to read my devotions for the day and was struck with amazement when I realized that my post and my devotion were on the same subject!  Very cool when that stuff happens!  Here is an excerpt from my devotions:

"God may answer your prayer with a resounding yes..... God may answer your prayer with a no.  But a no doesn't mean he doesn't care.  If your toddler asks if he can play in the street, you of course say no.  And you say no because you care, not because you don't.  The same goes for our heavenly Father.  He has a reason for His answer .....

God may answer your prayer with a "Wait".  God has a perfect plan and timing for events in our lives and we must be patient.  That's difficult when the days turn into months .... but we must never doubt God.  He will respond when the time is right.  God wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him; His Spirit within guides us through each step, even when the days are difficult."

-Linda Taylor
from Santuary: a devotional Bible for Women

Grace Willow

Today marks my little Gracie turning six months old.  She is the sweetest, most scrumptious little girl and I cannot fathom my life without her!  As I'm writing this tears come easily to my eyes as I think of just how much I love and adore her.  Her life not only makes my world a brighter, happier place but her presence also helps those she's around to smile bigger and laugh deeper.  Her life is very special and it truly is my honor and joy to be her mommy!

When I was pregnant with Grace, Steve and I were considering different names for her, trying to pick just the right one.  We always liked Grace and from the beginning that name had been one of our favorites.  However we had only thought of it as a middle name.  Until one day, during an afternoon nap together, Steve and I stumbled onto the idea of making our daughters first name Grace.  It just sort of clicked into place.  It was perfect for her!

During the process of picking her name I came across the name Willow and loved it immediately.  Willow was actually one of the names we had considered as a first name, as well as Alicia, Eliana and Isabella.  But after we had decided on the name Grace it was obvious to me that her middle name would then be Willow.  Why?  Well, not just because I liked the name, it's meaning (which is "freedom") and it's uniqueness.  It's because of a deeper reason.

During my pregnancy with Grace, I was reading an urgent letter one day from James Robison. In it, he appealed to readers about how our freedoms were in jeopardy in these days and the days ahead.  It was a compelling letter that emphasized how true freedom lies in Jesus Christ, our Savior, and cannot be found in our government or anywhere else.  While reading the letter, the Holy Spirit spoke to me regarding the life that was growing inside of me.  He spoke to me of how our daughter would have a special calling on her life to share with the world what true freedom is and where it comes from.  Her life would be an example to those around her of what abundunt life is really like because her relationship with Jesus would be so pure that she would walk in total freedom -- freedom that can only be found in one true source - Christ Jesus!

What a moment that was for me!  I received this promise from above with tears flowing over my cheeks, and then, suddenly, it came to me. Willow.  The meaning of the name Willow is freedom.  Wow.  It was then that I knew this little girl was to have the name Willow.  And so that is the story of how Grace Willow came to be named.

If a Child...

I came across this today and thought it was brilliant!  I realize daily the magnitude of the responsibility we have as parents to train up our children and love them in the same way God does so with us.  It literally blows my mind to think of the profound impact we as parents have on our children! Thank goodness we have a perfect Father in heaven as an example to us to follow!

 

If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval,
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world.

(A sermon called The Divine Family, author unknown.)

To The Man I Love

From the moment we met, 3 years ago, it seems like the fast-forward button has been pushed and is still going!  We dove head first into life together and it seems to just get crazier and go by faster with each passing day.   I never knew so much could happen in such a short amount of time!  Truly! 

Lately, I find myself thinking back to our "earlier years."  Life was so much easier, less demanding and more carefree.  There was so much more "us" time to savor.  Looking back, I'm so thankful we daily relished in each other's company.  It was rare that we didn't spend every waking moment with each other. No doubt, there were people who thought we were unbalanced because of it.  But deep down, we both knew we were on the fast track to parenthood (the wonderful blessing and gift that it is) and that our quiet and relaxing days would quickly disappear altogether!

Honey, you are the man I love.  I adore you just as much, actually even more, than I did back then.  I  know it might not always seems that way, especially lately .....  No doubt, when you look in my eyes now, all you see is exhaustion, frustration and temporary insanity!  =)  Instead of the big, doe eyes you fell in love with you find big, dark bags under tired eyes!  I'm no longer your always "cool as a cucumber" wife, but have morphed into your "hot as a pepper" wife!

But babe, you are my teammate, on the same team, and even though I've seemed to forgotten that lately, I want you to know that I need you and appreciate you.  And I always will.  You are the man I love.  This is to you MB. 

HB