Happy birthday, little one!

Today was Simon's 2nd birthday! He is getting so big. I can't believe my baby is 2!

Winter days

The boys have been doing lots of coloring lately. That, and playing Diego, watching videos, helping me clean the mirrors (hello, Motivated Moms...did you clean your mirrors today? :) ...basically nothing to really get their energy out. Anyone else ready for spring????



I alternate between pulling my hair out and counting my blessings. Sometimes things are so peaceful around here, and other times it is just oh, so NOT peaceful. :) These are the peaceful moments.





Simon has been talking a lot more recently, putting 2 and 3 words together: "I need that" and "what dat?" and "I wuv u" and "Go, Diego, Go!" He is obsessed with Diego...good thing Aunt Ruth bought a couple more Diego toys for his upcoming birthday! He was THRILLED!

That's right, Simon turns 2 next week! My baby isn't a baby anymore!

Valentine's Day (a few days later)

Dave and I got all dressed up on Saturday evening and went to a ball/benefit for a university that Dave is doing some expansion on. It was a wonderful evening, and since we were tied up all the other evenings, it became our valentine's date!

Brittany watched the boys, and she took a picture right before we left. It was fun to have an excuse to get dressed up!


Dinner was fancy...salad with sugar nuts, blueberries, and blue cheese, prime rib, giant shrimp, mashed potatoes, and a shredded zucchini/squash mix. So yummy! Dessert was flourless chocolate cake or cheesecake. I went for the chocolate. :)

Speaking of Valentine's, Dave surprised me with having roses delivered this year! They came complete with a card and poem from....Eric? Who is he????

Whoever he is, he is quite romantic! Dave and I got a good laugh out of that one. :)


Thanks for 5 1/2 great years, honey! Love you!

How to Ascertain the Will of God

Mom sent this excerpt to me today, from George Muller's book Answers to Prayer.

How To Ascertain The Will of God

1 - I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it maybe. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2 - Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3 - I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4 - Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5 - I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.

6 - Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective. GEORGE MULLER

We are on the mend, thankfully. We were even able to have Bible study here last night. The cough is still around, but each day we feel just a little more strength. And there is just the slightest hope of spring - I'm clinging to it. Can't wait to open these windows and air this place out!

More from the sick bed

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15

This is verse caught my eye during my time with the Lord today, and encouraged my anxious heart. I'm so tired of coughing, listening to coughing, being up all night with coughing children, having no appetite, laying around all day with emotional children...it isn't too pretty over here right now.

But I'm not letting the peace of God rule...I'm letting the cares of this life rule, aren't I?

So I asked the Lord to change my heart today, and of course He did. And when I pause to think about it, the next part of the verse comes so naturally...there is really so much I can choose to be thankful for. I am curled up by a nice, warm fire; my house is cozy and warm. We have plenty of food to get us through the week. There are no pressing commitments, nowhere we just have to be. We can hibernate and slowly regain strength.

And the blessings of having children come to mind today too...I have enjoyed the extra cuddling and talking we have all done during the past week. And I think they have enjoyed it too. With nowhere to go, we have enjoyed the family time we don't always get to have.

So there it is...I guess that's what "letting the peace of God rule" means...choosing to look at my circumstances with a thankful heart instead of worrying over what I cannot change. Man, this does not come naturally to me.

From my bed

We are sick again...pray for us!

"Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Martha who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, 'Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.'

When Jesus heard that, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." John 11:1-5

I read this passage tonight, and the rest of the story too, and just appreciated the care and compassion of the Lord for those He loves. He knows when we are sick, when it is painful and agonizing, and He understands when we (and others) plead for our return to health. He loves us after all.

We have had quite a bit of sickness in our household over the last several months, and I am very ready to be done with it. And yes, we are all sick again - this may be the worst we've had yet! It's been a rough week, and it doesn't look to be leaving anytime soon. :(

But this does not go unnoticed by the Lord, and I was comforted tonight in knowing that He loves me and cares for me and my little family. His ways are not my ways, and I cannot claim to know what He is doing or why He is allowing it. Of course, there are so many others who are suffering much more than we are...we really have no idea what real suffering is like.

I do know that His desire is to bring glory to Himself - and I am praying for endurance to trust Him to do that in this small circumstance. Because my faith is small, you know? I am easily discouraged and disheartened, especially when my fever reaches 104 degrees. :(

Thank you for praying,