Weak grace may do for God, but it must be strong grace that will die for God.  William Secker

The right manner of growth is to grow less in one’s own eyes.  Thomas Watson

 All grace grows as Love to the Word of God grows.  Phillip Henry

Grace is the freeness of Love.  Thomas Goodwin

For what is grace but the beams of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.  Richard Sibbes

“Do this and live!: the Law demands,
But gives me neither feet nor hands.
A better word God’s grace does bring,
It bids me fly and gives me wings.  Kenneth Wuest

“And grace will lead me safely home”  -from the hymn “Amazing Grace”

How can it be?  How can it be?
Was ever grace so full and free!
From heights of bliss to depths of woe
In loving kindness Thou didst go,
From sin and shame to rescue me-
O Love Divine, How can it be?

How can it be?  How can it be?
That God should love a soul like me,
Oh how can it be?  ~Avis Christiansen

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.  Romans 5:20

To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.  Ephesians 1:6

We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved.  Acts 15:11

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9

*sigh*  I feel better now.  Nothing like a good dose of God’s grace to change a case of the “grumps” to inner calmness. 

Watching a movie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I have noticed three signs of spring here in New England:

The birds are singing differently

The days are getting longer

There is a feeling within me that is looking and longing for spring

I’m so thankful for the seasons!

The day arrives when you see a teeny tiny hole (usually in a screen) and you think, “Oh well, he won’t notice THAT.”  You hope it won’t get noticed because we all know what happens to teeny tiny holes that get noticed.  They grow.  Oftentimes~ mysteriously.  You never actually SEE it happen.

Recently, at our house, a hole got noticed.  And it got too big.  WAAAAY too big.

My purpose has been defeated

So now I want to know something.  Should I:

1.  Rediscover my creative side and sew an artsy patch?  

or,

2.  Buy a new playpen. 

or, 

3.   Graduate the little guy from the playpen and give him complete freedom.

I need a playpen!

The day arrives when you see a teeny tiny hole (usually in a screen) and you think, “Oh well, he won’t notice THAT.”  You hope it won’t get noticed because we all know what happens to teeny tiny holes that get noticed.  They grow.  Oftentimes~ mysteriously.  You never actually SEE it happen.

Recently, at our house, a hole got noticed.  And it got too big.  WAAAAY too big.

My purpose has been defeated

So now I want to know something.  Should I:

1.  Rediscover my creative side and sew an artsy patch?  

or,

2.  Buy a new playpen. 

or, 

3.   Graduate the little guy from the playpen and give him complete freedom.

I need a playpen!

I’m sure you all have memories of a special birthday, a birthday that will never be forgotten.  Everything was perfect and you were so so happy.

That’s the way I want my son’s birthday to be today.  Perfect and memorable.  It is his 9th birthday and I’m trying to do everything I can to make it a special day.

We got him with silly string as soon as he came downstairs for breakfast.  (the kids have never seen it before so it was very funny)

We aren’t having school.

We went on a trip to the grocery store this morning where we filled the cart with chips, dip, fruit snacks, fruit punch, a balloon, the fixings for ice cream sundaes. . . .all foods that I would normally flat out refuse to buy!  I even let him get his own bottle of Mountain Dew!

My Friend K called this morning, wondering if she could drop by with a gift.  Her children are the same age as mine so we had a party!  We ate lunch, made ice cream sundaes, and then we took this picture:

********************************

Our guests have gone home now.  Later on when Daddy gets home we will have a special dinner (chicken and mashed potatoes) and birthday cake. 

Happy Birthday!

(EDIT, hours have passed) *More pictures:

I love Caleb’s laughing face in that one L

My sister w/her baby and Me with my baby

We have had a busy day and now I am very tired.  Good night!

I got a case of the giggles today.  The reason?  Stress overload.  Sometimes you just gotta laugh.

The weather is so messy today.  Slushy, icy, drizzling rain.  It’s oozing into the basement and crawling slowly in every direction.  Guess who’s down there walking around picking up stuff out of a giant puddle?  Yours truly.

Our cat Patches was fixed last week and started bulging on her tummy.  Guess who called the vet?  Guess who took her to the vet?  You guessed it!  It was me!  Me and five kids and the dog!  Through the pouring rain we went.

Just look at that picture up there!  Me with the cat carrier by my side and the rest of the van filled with the kids and the dog!  I got soaked, the road was washing out in one area, the side walk was flooded as I walked into the office, I got my feet wet, had to go a longer way to get home, school to do, lunch to eat.  I feel like the day is galloping.  GALLOPING!

I’m eating my soup now, while I type.  Today is a day of multitasking.  And exclamation points.

!