{ Cozy Little Day }

{ I wish I could say that I took this picture and that this is our front porch, but it's not....

it's an image I am borrowing from my friend, Martha Stewart

until I have my own to stick in here...}

We've been having oatmeal for breakfast the past few mornings. It seems like a fitting way to start off the day with something warm in our tummies. The weather has gone from bright and warm to blustery and grey. I've been making a fire first thing in the morning and we've been bundeling up to go outside, wearing scarves and closed-toes shoes and I've started putting tights and turtlenecks on Annabelle. It's a good thing I love fall as much as I do, otherwise I could not bring myelf to trade in my beloved flip flops for a pair of warm socks and some comfy boots. Anyhow speaking of flip flops, now I am about to go on a rabbit trail. My sweet Mommy in law told me the other day that when she was a girl "flip flops" were called zorries.

I just think that is so cute?

They introduced a new song at church today, and even the words of the first line couldn't stop our tears. Funny how grief hits you when and where you least expect it to.

When I go don't cry for me

In my fathers arms I'll be

The wounds this world left on my soul
Will all be healed and I'll be whole

Sun and moon will be replaced

With the light of Jesus' face

And I will not be ashamed

For my savior knows my name

It don't matter where you bury me

I'll be home and I'll be free

It don't matter where I lay

All my tears be washed away

Gold and silver blind the eye

Temporary riches lie

Come and eat from heaven's store

Come and drink and thirst no more

So weep not for me my friend

When my time below does end

For my life belongs to him

Who will raise the dead again

It don't matter where you bury me

I'll be home and I'll be free

It don't matter where I lay

All my tears be washed away

Also at church, Annabelle was *winking* at the people in the row behind us. Really truly winking. I have no idea where she learned to wink. I certainly have never tried teaching her how to do it but it was hysterical.

Later on that afternoon David spontainiously sat down at the piano with me and we plunked out the notes to 'Heart and Soul' together. It made me feel like a girl again. We sat there and giggled and expeirmented and then of course we would mess up, which would made us giggle some more!"

And we all snuggled up and watched Chip and Dale cartoons.

And we had the yummiest sushi for dinner { thank you Costco }. And it cracked us up because Annabelle loved it. Especially since we know several adults who won't even try it.

And that is what I mean when I say, we had "a cozy little day."

{ Deep thought for the day }

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have to potential to turn a life around".

{ Making me happy }

This pair of baby lady-bug boots, most happily worn

by a favorite little girl of mine:

Back to School...

Just popping in really quickly to say hello. We've had a happy houseful, and I mean full, this week. And yes Fairlight, I promise I am going to frame this picture.

I adore this outfit on her and call it her little school girl uniform.

Precious in the Sight...

As of 9/5/07, he is with Jesus.

Thank you each for your words of love and prayers for us.

It's been a very sweet time.

Not without it's tears of course.

God is so good!

{ peek-a-boo }

A Time to Love...

Have you ever had something to say that you just didn't think you could put into words?Something so deep and so close to your heart that it felt almost too personal to talk about? As if reducing those thoughts and feelings into words would cheapen them somehow.
This post is my attempt to put words to something that I feel goes painfully far

beyond actual words. Perhaps at times you have felt this way before, and know what I mean.

" For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." Ecc 3:1-8

There is no easy way to say this but am going to go ahead and try. After twelve plus years of battling ALS, my father-in-law, who I love so dearly has now reached the final stages of the disease. In the last three weeks we have made four trips to Id. to be with our family. And spent precious time with "Papa Bob" and all the rest of our family. In the past few weeks we have seen what David loves to refer to as, " the biggest miracle of his life. " As God has healed hearts and hurts. As forgiveness has been asked and given. There has been a time to build up, after years of painful distance between David's Dad and his children, and a "tearing down" caused by the blindness that affects someone, infected with bitterness. David has 10 siblings so, you can imagine the magnitude of that. In the past few weeks his Dad has been saying the things that he and his brothers and sisters have longed to hear. Endless words of love, affirmation, and praise. It brings tears to my eyes to remember the simple, heartfelt words he whispered into my ear last weekend, "three treasures." Making sure I knew how precious David, Annabelle and I are to him. The transformation has been so beautiful to witness. God has been so glorified. And we are all living in the light of answered prayers. It gives us such real hope, even in the midst of the deep sadness we know his losing him will bring. Our loss. His gain. We will miss him so terribly, but are comforted knowing that he is soon to be safe in Jesus arms.

The happiest, best place any of us could ever be.

-Precious Moments-

Annabelle and David with Papa