Day by Day

I've been thinking about this hymn today, and what a comfort it has been to me in a few of the very dark hours of my life. Where would I be without the faithfulness of the Lord and His dependability by His very nature?

I have learned to not look ahead to the future, but to just trust Him for strength today for what He brings. And He has never let me down.





Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.







Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Power.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.






Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

Let Go

I'm currently reading One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. I bought it for my iphone kindle app, so its in digital form. This is a handy way to read, for a mom.

And you can read at night, after the lights are out. This is what I needed when I was ten, so I didn't get busted by my sister for reading by the nightlight. Or the neighbor for that matter (he seriously told my mom that he saw my bedroom light on at 2 am.) Die hard reader, what can I say?



I have really appreciated Ann's words about giving thanks, in all things - this is something the Lord has been teaching me and it has changed my life over the course of the last year. A way to find joy in the day to day, to accept all circumstances as from Him. It's the way to really live!



Because the more we deliberately notice the blessings He gives, the more we come to trust Him and see how much He loves us.

Thought from the book that really struck me tonight:

"Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control...let go of my own way, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for joy's fire. Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whisper surprised thanks. This is the fuel for joy's flame. Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will."



Speaking of thanks, we loved this Christmas with our kids. It was encouraging to us to see their genuine appreciation and enthusiasm for the gifts we had chosen for them. Can't help but think that the Lord enjoys a thankful heart far more than I do.

"Give thanks to the Lord of Lords
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to Him who made the heavenly lights -
His faithful love endures forever."
Psalm 136:3-7

The most perfect Monday ever (at least in a kid's mind)

Today we got our first real snow of the winter, somewhere close to a foot, and school was canceled accordingly. Every little boy's dream come true!



Clare was determined to go out this year, even though I tried to keep her in. Even ventured down the block a few houses and met some neighbors and their dog, her current obsession. Goggies, she calls them. She has no fear.




Only snow could draw this boy away from his beloved wii.




She probably ate way too much of the powdery stuff. I have to admit, I just thought it was cute.




The boys were *snowboarding* down our driveway on their sleds. I tried not to look. Being the mom of boys has required me to bite my tongue on many occasions, this was definitely one of them.

At least it wasn't as dangerous as what the neighbors were doing - flying around the block pulling 2 kids on sleds behind their truck. Um yeah. (but my boys thought it was pretty sweet!)




I have the world's sweetest kids. Did you know that?





It's supposed to snow all night, and we just got word that tomorrow is a snow day too!