Let It Snow

We finally had a decent snow for Libby to have fun with! As soon as she heard daddy with the snow blower she was ready to go outside. She had a blast playing in the snow. She loved seeing her foot prints and swishing the snow back and forth with her gloves. Libby wanted to run the snow blower so daddy let her help him just a little bit. I think she had more fun running around in the snow though. The only thing that could have made it a little better is she really needs some snow boots. We are going to Payless tomorrow to buy some...then, look out snow here Libby comes! 

CHEERS!!!

Yesterday at church we had communion. I saw something that I have never seen in my life at a communion. It was amazing! Everything was normal until we were to drink the juice. The pastor told us to drink and two middle school-aged girls clinked their communion glasses together (like they were on Cheers) and then drank!!! It was hilarious. I had to share the joy!

Desire

I have been busy today...looking for God. I want so badly to live for him. I desire it with all of my heart, actually. I feel like I keep stumbling and I get frustrated. I know that I can't just "BE" the perfect Christian, but I feel like I keep struggling with the same things over and over. I want to FOLLOW CHRIST!!! I don't want to be a "Christian". That sounds so religious. I don't want religion...EVER! I want a relationship. I want to grow closer and closer until I can feel God whisper to me in my chest that he loves me. I want to shut the world out, but yet I want to reach out to the world and bring it in with me. I want to be an open vessle that God's power can flow through. I don't want people to see me, but I want them to see Christ. That is what I so desperately want in life. I pray to God today that I empty out my vessle and let him fill it. I want to do God's work, no matter how trivial or big.

Please, those of you who read this, pray for me in my journey. I feel like I am failing across the board, yet my desires are so great. Pray that God drags me along until I can find my own footing. Pray that I don't loose this urgency that I need to be where God is.

Thank you!

Kitty, Kitty

Last night Libby started to get really tired. We knew she was tired because she was actually snuggling with us. We snuggled for about half an hour and then decided we should really let the poor girl sleep. I took her back to her bedroom and laid her down in bed. As I was walking out of the room she started crying, "Kitty, kitty". Her kitty cat was still in the living room so I went out, retrieved her kitty, kitty and took the kitty back to Libby. As soon as she felt the kitty in her arms...she was done. She was out like a light bulb. The power of the kitty!

Life Lessons from a Goose

My sister took these notes from a Wednesday night youth meeting. I found them very inspiring and thought they should be shared. It made me think more than once!

God's Creation

You can see characteristics of God in every animal you look at. Take geese for example-Have you ever tried to think of why geese fly in "V" formation when they migrate? Well that's because it makes it easier to fly w/ the air resistance and junk! When they fall out of formation they feel an automatic drag.

It's easier to "fly" when you're not alone.We are one body-many parts- working together1 Cor 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

The front goose breaks the wind and the others draft off of him so therefore, the one in front works the hardest.In order to give the goose in front a break, other geese jump in to help out.

Take turns; doing hard tasks, taking leadership, taking opportunities.
When geese honk, they aren't being annoying. They are simply giving encouragement to each other.

James 3:7-8

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Be there to encourage and build up a friend.

When one goose gets hurt, two other geese drop out of formation and stay w/ the other one until either it dies or gets well enough to fly again.

Are you ready to drop everything to help a friend? "May we be so sacrificial that we might have a friend like that when we are in need?"

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Put others needs before your own. [give up your desires to put others desires before yours]

In 1 Samuel 18:1-4 Jonathan and David make a pact not to let anything come between them two. Not only w/ themselves, but w/ God.
The most important thing in life is God.

Take time to look around you; don't be so busy that you don't see somebody else’s pain.

Seek God's creation and it will tell you

-All God's creatures know what he has done-
-we need to work together as a team-
-hold each other accountable-
-be willing to put others desires before your own-
-do all you can with talents, knowledge, and abilities that you've been given-
-be willing to lead-
-be willing to let others lead-
-encourage each other-
+stand by those who fall along the way+
-be *courageous* [let others see Christ in you]-

People aren't going to evolve into amazing people. They have to be taught. Why not teach them now?Why not you?Somebody needs to take control...you can't just sit by and watch the world die...they need you...they need GOD!

Unleash yourself and don't hold backSatan will try to make you fail...my suggestion...don't let him!Make a difference in someone's life...do it soon before it's too late.

Christmas 2006

After almost 2000 miles on the van (and our hind ends) we are home and recuperated. Everything is even unpacked...I think. We started by driving to Warsaw for a pit stop. Then we went on to Bellefontaine on Christmas Eve. We had Christmas at grandma and grandpas and had a good time visiting with all of the family that we don't get to see all of the time. It was good to see my cousins again. On Christmas day we had our family Christmas. Steph and Hannah and I got to talk alot. I miss them so much. I am very lucky to have my family...even when we drive each other crazy! On Tuesday we went down to Cincinnatti to have Christmas with my cousins that just moved there this past year. I was glad to see them again. I enjoy talking with them. Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to them as much as I wanted because there were SO many people there. Wednesday we got to just enjoy my grandparents' and parents' company. Oh...and we got to go to House of Szechwan...I miss my Szechwan. It was good to spend time with my family. I do miss them being way out here in Iowa. On Thursday we hopped back in the car again and went up to Defiance. I got to visit with my good friend Sara, who is pregnant with her first child. I can't wait to visit her once she has her baby. We also got to eat supper with another good friend, Meghan. After supper, we headed back to Warsaw. At Warsaw we were able to visit with some more friends, Carter and Jenny. It was wonderful to see them again...they are hoping to come out here this summer and I can't wait! We also had Christmas with Chris's family. Libby got lots of presents and she was, of course, doted on. After that we just relaxed until January first when we drove back to Iowa. We were hoping to go to church on Sunday, but we had visitors and I wasn't feeling well. We hope to be able to do that next time.

Here are some pictures from our journey.

Christmas 2006

Cookies Anyone?

So...I tried to burn the house down. Not really! Libby wanted cookies last night so I thought I would make some for her. Unfortunately, before they were finished I smelled something that did NOT smell like yummy cookies. I went to check on them and, yeah, they were on fire. I've never really had to deal with this type of thing before and I didn't want to burn our RENTAL down. So, I did the first thing I could think of...ran and got the fire extinguisher. Of course Libby thought that the clouds swirling around the kitchen were pretty cool. She was running through them saying, "Whee! Whee!" I took her out to van and let her "drive" while I opened the windows and the doors to let the smoke out. In the end, all we really had was one big mess to clean up. Nothing to replace at least. Maybe I should have just turned the oven off and let them burn themselves out. Oh well, I'll know next time! Oh, wait...I'd rather there not be a next time. 

Terrible Twos

Ok, I didn't realize that the terrible twos don't creep in. Oh no! It's a day/night thing. One day, your daughter is as sweet as sweet can be and the next...well, MONSTER!!! Yes, we are entering a new phase. Last night at the store Libby decided that she didn't want to ride in the cart, she wanted mom to hold her...or better yet, to run around the store at her own leisure. She stood up in the cart and just screamed her pretty, little head off. I felt like I handled that one ok. I just stopped the cart and told her we weren't moving again until she chose to sit down again. So we stood there for five minutes in the middle of the aisle with her standing and screaming and me staring at her. She finally gave up, sat down and was fine for the rest of the trip. One battle won! Next? Pray for us...if this is the beginning of the way things are going to be for awhile, then I know I'm going to be a little stressed. Hopefully, we'll have enough good mixed in with the frustration that I won't lose my mind. :)

Bath Time

I forgot to blog this hilarious Libby moment. Last Tuesday we went over to Christian's house to visit. We ate spaghetti for lunch and Christian was an absolute mess so his mom tossed him in the bath tub. Libby looked longingly after him and I told her that if she ate some spaghetti (she was being stubborn again) she chould join him. Well, I was finishing up my own spaghetti so I just kept checking on her. I wasn't too worried. I knew that she couldn't climb in. Yeah, you know where this is going...I was wrong! I was taking my last bite of spaghetti when I heard I loud splash. She had climbed in fully clothed...shoes and all! What a sight. I didn't realize that diapers could bloat to that size. Needless to say, she wore Christian's clothes home and just looked like a cute little boy for the rest of the day.

Wanna Shake on That?

We had a builder visit our house tonight so that we could toss our house plans to him. While he was here Libby kept walking up to him and talking to him and giving him her toys and was a general sweetie (which was a welcome surprise from our experience a little earlier today). When he was getting ready to leave, the builder shook Chris's hand and then mine. At that point, Libby looked right at him and offered her hand to be shaken too. Luckily, he had enough grandchildren that he took it in stride and grabbed her hand and gave her a good hand shake. She was not about to be left out on that one.