in the midst of the storm

Today I received some hard news.

My dad (who was diagnosed with cancer in October) went in for his second surgery

to remove tumors under his collarbone and on his neck. 

The doctors were not successful.

The tumor is larger than expected and embedded in a major artery.

They will not attempt another surgery.

Radiation and chemo are not viable options.

Reality is setting in,

my Dad will not be around forever.

I wonder how long he'll get to enjoy his new granddaughter.

I wonder if he'll be here for Sam or Ava's next birthdays.

I wonder if he'll enjoy another Christmas with the family.

So many thoughts are swirling through my head.

So many questions that there are no answers to.

But one thing I do know.

My Jesus is in control.

He is my Comfort and Peace,

the Arms That Will Carry Me,

my Assurance and Hope.

So in this moment

I will look to Him and take refuge in His strength.

Tomorrow (or the next hour) has it's own troubles.

But right now I will choose to rest in the soothing embrace of my Savior.

comfort and joy

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ, our Saviour

Was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,

This blessed Babe was born

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessed morn

The which His Mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father

A blessed Angel came;

And unto certain Shepherds

Brought tidings of the same:

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by Name.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,

"Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Saviour

Of a pure Virgin bright,

To free all those who trust in Him

From Satan's power and might."

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Wishing you and your family the Comfort and Joy that comes from our Savior!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!



sam says

The other day Sam asked Marko,

"Do you know why I'm a redneck and you're not?"

"Um, nooo..."

"Because I have camo underwear and you don't!"

This morning was our first real "cold" day.

After Marko went outside and declared that it was 42 degrees, 

Sam said,

"Mom, we're gonna need muffins for our hands!"

And last, an entry from the dictionary of Sam:

PUMBLE: verb

1. Strike repeatedly, typically with the fists.

As in, Sam and Marko were wrestling and Sam said,

"I'm gonna pumble you, Daddy!"

christmas creativity

Something about Christmas gets my creative juices flowing.

I get this huge urge to craft and create, to give handmade gifts

and invest time in making the perfect offering for my friends and family.

Here is the first item in a clutter of gifts I'll be making this year.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

Isaiah 49:16
 

I'd love to know, are you doing any crafting for Christmas this year?

something to ponder



tick tock

This week brings me to 6 months pregnant.
I can't believe that I'm over half-way through with this pregnancy. 

I feel like I just found out yesterday that I was expecting.

Baby Girl is kicking and grooving up a storm these days.

Thankfully, she settles down at night and I'm still able to get a good night's sleep.

(Except for the 5 times a night I have to get up to pee!)

We have decided on a name (no, I'm not telling)
and it's fun to talk to/about her like a real person now,

instead of referring to her as "the baby."

Sam is getting used to the idea of another sister...
although he's still praying that she will come out a boy!

And Ava, she's totally clueless.

However, she is very, very interested in her newborn cousin.

And wants to be touching and playing with her whenever she can reach the baby.
So, I'm sure once her little sister arrives, Ava will be all over her!

Speaking of Ava...

she is walking all over the place now
and tries really hard to keep up with her big brother.

Her favorite questions are, "What's that?" and "Who's that?"...

questions she asks a hundred times a day!

She also says, "WOW!" about anything that catches her eye.

She has perfected the temper tantrum,

and looks up at us out of the corner of her eye
to see if we're watching her do something she knows is wrong.

She is obsessed with cell phones and, if there is one in a 20 ft. radius,
she will have it in her hands in 1.6 seconds.

The moment music hits her ears, she wiggles and jiggles like she's dancing for her life.

And she manages to wrap everyone around her little finger in a matter of moments.

I'm just wondering...what happened to my newborn? 

a reminder from the Lord

Things are tough right now.

There are unanswered questions.

The path is not well marked

and the way is not clear.

It could be is easy to get discouraged and wonder

"why, Lord?"

But I am reminded of this verse,

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you."

Psalm 9:10 

And what is His name?

Protector

Joy-Giver

Provider

Counselor

Strength

Comforter

Healer

Friend

just to name a few.

He says, "I AM."

So I will remember His promises.

In the storm

He says, 

"I AM your Shelter."

In the drought,

"I AM your Refreshing."

In the confusion,

"I AM your Wisdom."

In the fear,

"I AM your Consolation."

I have expereinced Him to be all these things.

So I will trust Him once again

to be who He says He is.

After all, He is Good.