:)

A while ago I got out all of Ilsa's cardboard books so I could start reading more things with pictures to her. Has anyone else noticed that nursery rhymes are a little weird??

Peter Peter pumpkin eater, had a wife and couldn't keep her, he put her in a pumpkin shell, and there he kept her very well.

..........spousal abuse????

Its raining, its pouring, the old man is snoring. He went to bed and he bumped his head and he couldn't get up in the morning.

..............a sad rhyme about an old man who didn't wake up the morning after hitting his head???

Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub...

..........hmmmm, no comment.

These don't seem very 'kiddie' or uplifting if you ask me :)

On the bright side.......I'm doing lots of laundry today and am awarding myself a medal for ability to get baby poop out of anything !!!!!

Have a great week friends!!!

Back at it

Well......all of us survived me going back to work! The baby barely ate the first night but by the third night was a bottle pro! I only cried on the way to work the first two days :) And it was good to get back into the swing of things and see my lovely coworkers again!

We just returned home from a quick trip to Omaha over the weekend. Was great to see everyone and I'm pretty sure Ilsa's got everyone right where she wants them (wrapped around her cute chubby little finger) :) We got some nice pictures taken, had a family dinner, watched the Packers win, exchanged gifts, and Kyle and I even went out for a dinner date :) We got the distant grandparents a webcam and are planning to do some videochatting as Ilsa grows so we can all stay connected better......so Kyle also got that all hooked up there and we had a practice session :)

The project this week: continue to try to get the house in order.......maybe by the time we have our summer party it will be done :)

Reflections as of late:

Thinking a lot about young wives and mothers with cancer (a friend of a friend and two patients right now). I can't breathe if I even try to imagine being in their position. How incredibly hard (not really strong enough a word) to let go of this world and look to the next. To lay down your control of life at the foot of the cross. To entrust your loved ones into His hands. To change gears from living in this world and taking care of those He's given you......to looking to the day when He brings you to himself. To really have to live and rest in what you believe. To let go of the questions and rest in Him.

Or, even scarier, if you don't believe........how hard to live with the anger and questions and fear of unknown. It must be a desperate place to be nearing the end of life and thinking that death is the end.

Pray for them friends.

Thankfully, most of us are not in that situation. I'm reminded to enjoy every ounce of what I hold precious for every bit of time that I'm given. I don't often talk about it but I generally live with deep seated fears of loss (maybe because of what I do and what I see) . I wasn't so afraid when I was single, but have been increasingly so as I've gotten married and now had a child. What I know though, is that there is no situation that the Lord cannot redeem. That even if times of hardship come, He is in control and doesn't leave us. No situation is too difficult for Him. In the end my worrying, protecting, and controlling doesn't really do anything other than take up my time and energy. My mantra this week is...........Live by faith, not by fear!!!!!!

"In God I trust; I will not be afraid." Ps 56; "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Job 2; "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever." 2 Tim 4; "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God." Job 19; .."that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." John 3; "God is the strength of your heart and your portion forever" Psalm 73; "But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself." Psalm 49.

Two thousand eleven

Sounds crazy! I remember writing 1989.....yes, yes I know....I'm ancient. Although I doubt very many people reading this are much older than I am. We celebrated the new year in real style this year.........me in bed with Ilsa by 9 and Kyle up watching TV :)
Kyle was off with me this past week. We were up to his parents one day and otherwise just working around here. Our big accomplishment was getting the room upstairs (that will be Ilsa's nursery) cleaned out and painted. It's a pretty vintage green color. I'm having the carpets cleaned tomorrow and then we'll be moving her in :)
We started using the cloth diapers and homemade wipes this weekend. Seemed like a pain the first few days since we've been used to the disposable but I think we're getting the hang of it. Feels good to save money and the environment at the same time :)
I'm back to work on Friday so wish me luck :) :(

This was a nice little reflection that was in my study last week, thought I would share:

Take a moment to read Psalm 23, then record all the activities described. Once you record the activities, go back and circle the verbs or action words in your notes.

Ex: Makes me lie down.


Notice how active God is in your life!!!! The psalm opens with this line, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." (Ps 23:1). Then, the passage goes on to show the many ways God is providing for us through his guidance, leadership, restoration, protection, comfort, blessing, and assurance. The truth is that God's provision in our lives takes many different forms- and not just financial ones.


Blessings friends!