Grandma says No.

I don't like it when Grandma tells me I can't play with her laptop. I need to know WHY. How am I going to learn how to replace her in the office if I can't play with the keys?


I'm not touching the keys now but in my mind my fingers are all over it.

She has eyes!

Jessie just sleeps. I've seen her eyes only once since she was born. Last evening she actually had them open long enough to grab the camera.

But it was only for a very, very short time. Til Mommy was done feeding her and she had her diaper changed - pffft, in a blink of an eye - they were gone from sight again.

Daddy says "Come at midnight anytime and you can see her eyes". But I'm in the empty-nest stage and he needs the practice. Right?

How old are you?

Rachel had her first birthday last week.

It didn't take her long to learn to answer the question.

Cell phone vs. Bible

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
Disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

Nap time

How could naptime possibly get better then this?! A lap dog on one side and a sleeping granddaughter on the other. Now be kind - hubby will give me enough grief for posting this picture. What kind of hairdo do you expect on a lazy Saturday morning - something hubby doesn't do very often. Granddaughter is more comfortable then it looks - they all slept like this for over an hour.

I wasn't really asleep I was just meditating on unconsciousness.

~unknown

I usually take a 2 hour nap from 1-4. ~Yogi Berra

Blessings

The hymn "Count Your Blessings" has been a long time favorite of mine. But I must admit, to my shame, that there have been times where I've allowed my faith to be shaken and struggled with moments of despair. During a very trying time of life a church friend gave me this journal ... "Counting My Blessings - a journal of things to be thankful for." It is merely pages of daily boxes where you remember 5 things to be grateful for that day.

During those dark days I wrote an entry "Count my blessings? What blessings? What are they anyway? Where do you get them? Do you have to pay for them? Are they available? Today my name isn't on any of them." sigh..... a window into what teetering on the edge of hopelessness looks like. God was patient with me during that time.... and so very loving. Those of you who have found yourself asking hard questions of God may identify.

On another day I listed:
1. Jay - the love of my life
2. Mike - a man desiring after God's heart
3. Jess - my wonderful friend and helper
4. Jason - a heart of gold and smile of diamonds
5. my home - at least for now.
My family means much to me!

The journey of feeling so close to hopelessness had me desiring to truly count my blessings - because in the deepest part of my soul I KNEW there were blessings - but I felt I could only repeat the above 5 things. So I did because I really DID have 5 blessings.... I counted them. The Lord continues to teach me much about trust and today when I count my blessings I run out of time before numbers. We serve a God who is sovereign and in control! That will be my #1 entry on my list this morning.

Become a hunter of blessings, actively seeking them out in every

experience & person you encounter.

~Kate Nowak

Baby Jessie

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
~ Elizabeth Stone


Ten fingers, Ten toes
She's laughter and teardrops
So small and brand new
And amazingly angelic
She's sent to bless you
She's one special Baby
The best of life's treasure
And will grand and bless you
Many hours of great pleasure.
~Author Unknown

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one.
~Leo J. Burke

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again.
~Jimmy Piersal
On how to diaper a baby

Church Dolls

This week I made a stop at a local quilting shop. I wish I would have asked to take a picture of the walls covered with all the colors of the rainbow - maybe next time. The various rooms were filled with the talents of local quilters, basket makers, crafters, pottery and so much more. I found this doll tucked in a corner of a shelf in the quilt room. These were new to me.

It's made from a men's large white hanky

and I enjoyed the historic story that accompanied it.

"During the Revolutionary War these dolls were made for little girls to carry to church. Church services lasted all day and the girls were given the dolls to keep them occupied during the long hours of worship. The dolls were made completely of cloth so that if they were dropped in church they would not disturb the service. The dolls were revived during the Civil War. They were made as remembrances for those who went to fight, given as keep sakes to the soldiers of the loved ones left behind."

~~ I show my age but I'm grateful that our own children will have memories of sitting in the morning worship service. We sat as a family with just a few small things to keep their attention - not a huge bag full of trinkets and before there were fully staffed nurseries for children of all ages.

Spring is here!

This week I made my first of many planned stops to the nursery. It was a warm day and knowing I would have just a few extra minutes later that aftenoon I decided it was time for some color outside. Of course, some bright yellow pansies were needed. I found these little pompom gems "English Daisies" to place in the center of the yellow pansies. And until the flowers fill out the pot I placed my little bluebird of happines in an open corner.

Celebration wears a lot of different outfits but always wears the same old, beautiful dancing shoes. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

Be Still

I'm a morning person created by years of routinely wanting personal quiet time before the rest of the family charged into the day. Even now with an empty nest and a husband who leaves by 5 I am up before the sun. Down side of that is I don't last long in the evening. I enjoy, look forward to, and relish the quiet of the morning.

Quiet time to be alone is not an optional nicety; nor is it just for the retired, the lazy, or those naturally inclined. It is for all of us. It is valuable time well spent. And above all, it needs no justification other than its own noble purpose: to become more fully awake and to remember what you most need to remember about yourself and your life. --Quiet Mind by David Kundtz

Be Still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

Narnia Pop-Up

I was introduced to this wonderful book through "The Pioneer Woman".

It's truly a must have on your children library shelf.

It is pop-up at it's finest!

This page is my personal favorite.

The suggested retail is $29.95 but I found it on Amazon for $9.99 with free shipping (orders of $25) because I ordered one for each of my children and of course, one for myself.

I love a good book! and this one definately made the cut.

Yikes

I found this picture in a magazine years ago and have it in my 'laughter' folder.

"When I was born, I was so surprised I couldn't talk for a year and a half."

~Gracie Allen

"Laughter is like changing a baby's diaper. It doesn't permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while"

~Unknown

Laughter

Laughter is an instant vacation.

~Milton Berle

Twenty some years ago I began collecting articles and pictures about laughter. Some day I hope to put them all together in some organized fashion. In that time span there are countless books, discussion topics, etc... that confirm what we are already told in the scriptures.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov. 17:22

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Prov. 15:30

~~ < > ~~

Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit. ~Author Unknown

Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it.

~Henry Ward Beecher

Casting cares

I'm still learning to truly trust and truly cast my cares 100% in our sovereign God.

THE TROUBLE TREE

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit, and his ancient one ton truck refused to start. As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. Upon opening the door he had undergone an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do at the little tree.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "Iknow I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is,"he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before." --author unknown

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

Prayer and Mercy

Our prayer and God's mercy are like two buckets in a well;

while the one ascends the other descends.

--Mary Hopkins, U.S. Educator

Photo taken by my daughter, Jess.

Determination

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.

Sonia Johnson

Peek a Boo

Peek-A-Boo Baby

Who is that,
that I see
a cute little baby
is peeking at me.

Hey, little baby
where did you go
I can't see you
just your toes.

Oh, there you are
for just a peek
now come out here
so I can kiss your cheek!

Copyright 2003
Christine Michaels
www.WelcomeBaby.com