An Excerpt From My Devotions

Just something that blessed me today. From Streams in the Desert, by L.B. Cowman.

"This is my doing." 1 Kings 12:24

The disappointments of life are simply the hidden appointments of love.
~ C.A. Fox

My child, I have a message for you today. Let me whisper it in your ear so any storm clouds that may arise will shine with glory, and the rough places you may have to walk will be made smooth. It is only four words, but let them sink into your inner being, and use them as a pillow to rest your weary head. "This is my doing."
Have you ever realized that whatever concerns you concerns Me too? "For whoever touches you touches the apple of [my] eye" (Zech. 2:8). "You are precious and honored in my sight" (Isa. 43:4). Therefore it is My special delight to teach you.
I want you to learn when temptations attack you, and the enemy comes in "like a pent-up flood" (Isa. 59:19), that "this is my doing" and that your weakness needs My strength, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.
Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, never ask your opinion, and always push you aside? "This is my doing." I am the God of circumstances. You did not come to this place by accident - you are exactly where I meant for you to be.
Have you not asked Me to make you humble? Then see that I have placed you in the perfect school where this lesson is taught. Your circumstances and the people around you are only being used to accomplish My will.
Are you having problems with money, finding it hard to make ends meet? "This is my doing," for I am the One who keeps your finances, and I want you to learn to depend upon Me. My supply is limitless and I "will meet your needs" (Phil 4:19). I want you to prove My promises so no one may say, "you did not trust in the Lord your God" (Deut. 1:32).
Are you experiencing a time of sorrow? "This is my doing." I am a "man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering" (Isa. 53:3). I have allowed your earthly comforters to fail you, so that by turning to Me you may receive "eternal encouragment and good hope" (2 Thess. 2:16). Have you longed to do some great work for Me but instead have been set aside on a bed of sickness and pain? "This is my doing." You were so busy I could not get your attention, and I wanted to teach you some of My deepest truths. "They also serve who only stand and wait." In fact, some of My greatest workers are those physically unable to serve, but who have learned to wield the powerful weapon of prayer.
Today I play a cup of holy oil in your hands. Use it freely, My child. Anoint with it every new circumstance, every word that hurts you, every interruption that makes you impatient, and every weakness you have. The pain will leave as you learn to see Me in all things.

~ Laura A. Barter Snow

The Final Season

That's right. The final season of LOST begins on February 2nd, much to the chagrin of fans such as myself. It'll be bittersweet as some of our questions might be answered, but it will also be over. It would be too much to ask for ALL of our questions to be answered, right? As we well know, the makers of LOST have teased us since day 1, mercilessly taunting us with unshared details, believable and endearing characters, and incredibly addicting plots from episode to episode, rubbing their hands together and laughing maniacally as they string us along from season to season. It's true, you know it. And we continue to watch willingly. Desperately. Well, maybe not desperately. You get my gist.

There is still time to get caught up to watch the final season of the best show on earth. Check out the LOST Starter Kit that will help fill you in. There are highlights and pivotal episodes you can watch from each season. The Timeline may also help and provide interesting details. Don't forget to ask Sawyer for your own Nickname. :P

Without further adieu, I leave you with the official LOST countdown as I do every season.



On a side note. As it turns out, I am currently unable to transfer the pictures (from California) from my camera to my computer. I've got a lot of pics from my parents as well so I may end up posting them first. I think I might like to post them all together though, so I may wait until I am able to use my camera card. It will be a few weeks I imagine. =(

The OC List

Well, it was my intention to post a big long blog with loads of pictures for all of you, but I left the flash drive with my pics on it in Audrey's room and she is fast asleep. I'm sorry to say I won't waking her up to get it, so consequently won't be posting that ginormous page of pictures for probably a few days. I WILL say that I am having a great time in California with my family. Christmas and New Years were great fun. Audrey and I miss Eric very much, as he went home last Friday. However, we are enjoying our walks in the sunshine, playground time, seeing old friends, watching countless movies per tradition, and naturally we are joyfully chasing after Audrey during all waking hours.

I'm due for a list. Definitely. So a list it is. I cut it down to a top 10 list because it would get too long otherwise.

MY TOP TEN FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY:

1. Wearing flip flops year round.
2. The Ocean. I miss late night walks on the beach when I need to think or be alone.
3. Coffee Bean. Better than Starbucks. We need Coffee Bean in Ohio. Please. Now. Please?
4. Where else can you live where the beach and the mountains (aka snow) are both within 2 hours driving time?
5. The surf scene. I always kinda wanted to be in that crowd, living in a little shack at the beach, surfing every day, letting my hair get super blonde under the sun, riding a beach cruiser or a long skateboard instead of driving a car, being tan all the time or constantly being on fire in my case, getting skin cancer at age 22. In all seriousness, surfers have a pretty lazy, non motivated mentality about life. It's kinda appealing and kinda repulsive. I love it. If my corn fed white boy hadn't swept me off my feet I may have actually learned how to surf and begun to become the laziest version of myself.
6. The super fast paced culture lets you have anything you want or need at your finger tips at any time.
7. Islands. Best chips & salsa and burgers on the planet. The Hawaiian is my fave: Pineapple slices, teriyaki sauce, lettuce, tomato, and swiss cheese (It comes with onions and mayo also but yeah. Ew.). Eric and I used to eat there regularly when we lived here. We had a blast eating there the other day before he flew home.
8. Disneyland. Knotts Berry Farm. Six Flags. The OC Fair. The Swap Meet. Catalina Island. Just to name a few cool places to hang out, all very close by.
9. The malls. They are like free standing cities. Self sufficient communities. They practically have cultures all their own.
10. Being able to take a freeway to any destination, even if is right down the street. Going 80 mph without the cops caring is also nice.

I do plan to do more blogging on Tuesday night, so stay tuned.

Audrey's First Snow Experience

It was quite a hit! Audrey loves playing in the snow, especially building snow men with daddy.

Casper the Snow Kid and his side kick, Snow Baby.

Update on the Little Monkey

Audrey is such a little stinker these days. Anyone who has seen her lately knows that she is the biggest ham around. She's been getting into everything lately, including Daddy's shoes:


We've been watching Christmas programs together.. you know the really old ones with awesome "clay-mation" type animation from 50 years ago. Here she is snuggling on the couch:

And exhausted from a long day of being cute and hilarious:

We had a doctor's check up recently, during which we got some new stats which I thought I'd share, since it was her last big doctor's check up for awhile. Our doctor said she looks wonderful and is right on the developmental track in every way. Praise the Lord for a beautifully healthy child!

Height: 33.5 inches (80th percentile)
Weight: 24 lbs. 15 oz. (45th percentile)
Head circumference: 17.75 inches (10th percentile). We joke that her head never grows, because it really hasn't grown much at all for a long time! She is perfectly proportionate though, so no harm done.

Let's see, what else... We'll be getting a potty training toilet for her soon. She is NOT ready to start potty training and I refuse to force her to start before she is ready. However, it wouldn't hurt to get her used to sitting on the little toilet so that when she IS ready, she knows what it is and doesn't freak out about having to sit naked on this weird plastic thing.

Audrey has quite a vocabulary these days. She says a lot of new words such as Cookie, Sweet (which sounds like wheat! That is a new one as of this morning), Juice (Joo), Cheese (Chee), Kitty (which sounds a lot like cookie), Bubble (pronounced perfectly), Baloon (boon), Cracker (cwackew), and more. Hilarious. She has me laughing all day long.

She has also taken to throwing tantrums. I'm talking, arching her back, screaming hysterically, kicking, thrashing around. This kid has a strong will underneath that sweet, mellow exterior. I believe we are well on our way to entering the famous Terrible Two stage, albeit a bit early. She freaks out if she doesn't get what she wants, which is normal for her age but frustrating all the same. Eric and I are disciplining her in small ways and discussing when we should start spanking. Yes, we will spank our children. Call us child abusers, but our kids will be disciplined in that way when needed, not out of anger but out of love and care and only when really necessary. Pray for us as we seek the Lord and grow as parents, stumbling along this road called Family Life!

A Virtuous Wife

^{Proverbs 31:10-31}

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
²² She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

I read this often, praying that the Lord will shape me into this amazing, selfless woman. What a great example and reminder for all wives!

New Banner

In honor of the winter season and upcoming snow, I had to make a new banner. So fun! It's so chilly here today - in the mid 30's, getting into the low 20's tonight. Brrr!