Sickness invaded our house during this entire past month and it has been hard. From colds, coughs, wheezing, fevers, headaches, stomach pain, chicken pox, and ear infections, it has just been constant. Constant DEPENDENCY on a CONSTANTLY FAITHFUL God! As I sit up comforting a sick little girl, who I know has been created by the Hands that are holding us up now, I am comforted as well by His still calm voice to just.... Depend. Depend, let go of the worries, concerns of this world that cause me to run to other things, and come close to the GIVER.

Our God is the giver of rest, comfort, peace, joy, faithfulness, mercy and strength. In the middle of the night, the early morning, and at any and every second, HE is there, and He says to be still and know that HE is God, that HE will be exalted among the nations, to not grow weary or afraid, but to be STILL and depend. Depending on HIM is freeing, it is His desire and we serve a pure, rich in grace, powerful, redeeming, rescuing God.

Thank you God, that you are the Giver. You are the Giver of the grace that abounds thru sickness and trials, early morning feedings, middle of the night cries, and a heart's unaware need for nourishment.

I am holding the most incredible baby girl in my arms as I type, she is just pure beauty and I thank God for her life, He is using her big deep blue eyes to teach me, to remind me that as she cries out to be nourished with milk, I delight in feeding her, picking her up, loving her, caring for her, teaching her, and sharing with her the graces of God. And as she grows and the world around her captivates her more and more each day, she is eager to go, to explore, discover what is out there besides me. I love how she delights in others, I love seeing her learn, and I love seeing her realize that she must come back for her nourishment because it is what she depends on. I am just like her, I am dependent. God knows every need, desire and HE in His majesty LOVES and GIVES.

Birthdays!!!!!!!

We like birthdays in our family, we like them so much we begin celebrating the week before! We just started the "round" of kids' birthdays just last week! (Post to soon follow!)  We typically do really fun events the week prior to whoever's birthday it is. Then on the actual birthday, the birthday girl/boy gets spoiled with their favorite meals, a fun event and a special date with just Jonathan and I. Sometime during the day we go around and each person tells what they love about that person, we pray, sing, DANCE, make signs and cards, and tell about the day he/she was born. We reminisce and we look forward to all that God will do in their upcoming year.

Well, this year, my husband and children made my birthday extra FUN!!! My husband planned an afternoon for me to be surprised by my friends and have dessert and tea at an old palace! I was totally caught off guard and completely blessed! We arrived at a beautiful resort, ate real cheesecake and had delicious caramel apple pie with coconut ice-cream! YUM! It was a sweet time with my friends.

On my actual birthday, I woke up to breakfast in bed prepared by the ONE and ONLY, Jonny (J-Dawg) Dobbs, overwhelmed with homemade cards and gifts, a dance party, a hat party, pool time, brick oven pizza at a rooftop restaurant, a movie night and a family sleepover on the living room floor!!!!!! It was a lovely day, I felt completely loved and blessed. Along with all that, I received many birthday wishes and prayers from my family and from people I feel honored to call "friends!"

I love God. I love His kindness of giving life and birthdays, and I am thankful for the most precious gift ever, eternal life, a life lived for Him.