Let's dance

Ok, I must make a confession...I absolutely LOVE to watch So You Think You Can Dance on Fox! I don't know why I enjoy watching people dance so much, probably because I am not a good dancer. I enjoy dancing but only in the privacy of my own home or at weddings here and there. For those of you who have not watched this show, I just had to share this audition that was amazing! This is a popper from Cali and he is unbelievable at what he does...what an entertainer! ENJOY!

Random pix

I haven't shared many pictures very recently so I thought it time to do so. I look at these pictures and am amazed at how Ellie has somehow morphed from baby to little girl so quickly. She is now talking up a storm, and able to communicate fairly well and understand us even better. (Even though she doesn't always want to hear what we are saying) She is such a joy and blessing!

On a hike in Colorado National Monument:
Playing with her cousins- this just cracks me up
you have to click on the pic to make it bigger:

Playing in the water on our hike:

The Fam:

Yesterday was her first time in piggy tails
"Moo" the cow, courtesy of Diddy and Nana!

Restoration

I have been convicted lately of how much time I spend consumed by what is going on in my life, my family, and my job. I love it when you find something that touches you and is so much bigger and deeper that opens your heart up to more. For those of you who have heard about the genocide in Rwanda, this is an amazing story of restoration, hope and healing that can only take place because of God's power in the lives of His people. I found this article through a friend's blog and just had to share it here. Read it, find out what Macy's and Rwandan basket weavers have in common...and be blessed!

My desire

I felt compelled to share this song as it speaks what is on my heart right now. Aren't we called, as Jesus' hands and feet with the power and authority of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to set the world on fire??? My heart is that if we really took the Lord at His Word, nothing less than this will happen. What dreams has He given you?

What is Joy?

I love to laugh and I love to hear people around me laugh. The sound of laughter coming from those closest to me are among some of my most cherished memories. I recall so many times growing up when our family shared big belly laughs around the dinner table, playing games together, and just through our general conversations. Every time I hear my mom, dad, and brother laugh I am brought back to those great times we have shared. There is just something so sweet and unforgettable about the unique ways they each laugh. Then there was the time a few Christmases ago that we were sharing a game of Balderdash with Graham's mom, Wendy and sister, Hilary. Graham wrote something so outlandish and hilarious that Wendy couldn't even read it and every time she started to, she would just wipe the tears from her eyes and try to get in a good breath between the laughter. I crack up just remembering it.

Motherhood has provided ample opportunities for me to laugh, especially lately. It is an amazing thing to be able to go from seeing the first smile and hearing the first tiny giggle to causing your child to belly laugh and then watching her do things that make me laugh so hard it hurts. I love to experience these times!
However, I often confuse laughter with joy and happiness. We are so into trying to place ourselves into positions where we will only experience happiness that we have lost the true meaning of joy. I keep thinking about something Bill Johnson said at a conference we were watching in small group. He talked about standing beside his father as he was dying, praying for the Lord to heal and restore him, but the Lord didn't choose to heal him and he died. At that moment, Bill realized that because of the Joy he had in the Lord, he had a unique opportunity on this side of Heaven to praise and worship Him in the midst of such deep sorrow. He said that the fragrance of the worship that he was offering to the Lord at that time was different than anything he would be able to give Him in eternity. Isn't that just a beautiful picture of true Joy? I deeply desire to live in that and not this plastic, sugar-coated happiness management society that I find myself most days.

These are a few things I found that I like:

"Weeping is for a season, laughter is for a season, but joy goes on and on. Don't put your trust in temporary emotions like laughter. Laugh at appropriate times, weep at appropriate times, but put your trust in the Lord and His Word, and you will have abiding joy forever in your heart."- unknown

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose. ~Woody Allen

"Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell..." - William Saroyan

Tidbits

I must apologize to my countless (;o) readers for my lack of posts lately. I have been doing this single mother thing for the past couple weeks and believe me, it is challenging. It amazes me how much of a relief it is to have Graham come home after work and change a diaper or two, give El a bath, and read her books. It really doesn't seem like a lot less work for me but somehow it is. The end is in sight although his training in Denver has been extended so next week he will be spending Tuesday through Friday there. That will make it 4 weeks that he will have been gone. His job is a blessing, though, and he seems to be enjoying it so far!

After his first week, El and I decided to head over the mountains to spend a weekend with him. We went to the Denver Zoo and El sure enjoyed looking at all the animals. We also learned that a half day at the zoo is very sufficient for a 22 month old and her parents!
Back at home, we have been enjoying warm temperatures and time spent outdoors. The wind often threatens to keep us from journeying out, but most of the time doesn't win out. El enjoys pretending to water all of our and our neighbor's plants. After she is done doing our neighbor's (Phyllis and Reid: aka surrogate grandparents) plants, she must knock on the door to let them know and be rewarded with a graham cracker; she knows exactly in which cabinet they store them.
We just returned from a couple night sleepover at Papa and Meema's house! I wasn't feeling too well, but she had so much fun playing on the swing set with them, marching with the nutcrackers and going on a long ride on the lawnmower with Papa. He even let her take over the steering wheel, to which she screamed, "Wheeeeeee Wheeeee!" Now we are back at home and just can't wait to see Graham come Friday night.

Protected (once again)

It seems like I have had some really close encounters with death or serious injury lately- 3 to be exact, if you include the furnace incident. Obviously, because I am sitting here typing, everyone is fine and God's hand has protected us. Isn't it amazing how much we take life for granted the majority of time? I was struck by that today when Ellie and I came inches away from being run over by a large, Dodge Ram truck. This only happened about an hour and a half ago so it still has me shaken up.

We were going about our normal, daily routine of going to the fitness club in the morning for me to get a workout in and some 'sanity time', while allowing Ellie to play with other children in the nursery. On our way out to the car, Ellie had just finished saying her loud, enthusiastic "bye's" to all the nursery ladies and friends. As we came outside, there was a group of 3 men walking into a door nearby and Ellie greeted them with her equally enthusiastic "hi's" to which they laughed and responded to her. I helped her down off the curb, and noticed a large, blue Dodge truck parked in the middle of the lot. I vaguely remember glancing at the driver who was reading something and didn't look like she was going anywhere. With Ellie's hand in mine, we started walking a short distance behind the truck. All of the sudden, I heard tires screeching as the driver had floored the gas IN REVERSE! All I remember is screaming, backing up as fast as I could, while dragging Ellie by her hand back with me. The truck had missed us by inches. I just stood there with Ellie in my arms while the lady from the truck got out and came towards us. I couldn't even say anything except, "I'm still scared." The driver simply looked at us, started crying and grabbed Ellie's hand saying that she was so glad we were okay. I didn't feel mad at her because I had a sense of how horrible it would be to be on her side as well.

Thinking about this has allowed me to ponder my own driving. How often am I unaware of who or what is around me? I think that because we drive so much, we often go into autopilot mode and go through the motions. Accidents happen in the blink of an eye.

I have no doubt that it is the Lord who is protecting us and getting us out of the way of possible tragedies. Thank you, Lord! Life is precious...

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24