Jillian is 5 - Finally!!

Jillian - you are finally 5 years old.  Everyone else in the family has a March, April, May, or June birthday & you have had to wait all the way to October.  There were some days I wasn't sure you were going to make it.  You have asked countless times, 'Is today my birthday? Tomorrow?  Next week?'  And when I said no, your reply was 'my birthday isn't until forever.'  I know sweetie, it has seemed like forever for your birthday.  I promise you it will not always seem like forever.  In fact, quite the opposite.  You'll be thinking, 'It's October 5th already?'

You, Jillian, are an amazing little girl.  Your energy, love & intensity are unmatchable.  You have a delicately balanced need for equal social & alone time.  You LOVE to talk, play with your sisters, take care of your sisters, help me clean the windows (I think you just like to spray the Windex), candy, dancing, playing with your animals.  You have an infectious smile, and an abounding love.  I am SO blessed by you, and so humbled that God would entrust Papi and me to be your parents.  WOW!

Jillian, we love you, and are so excited to see what God has in store for your life. It is our prayer that you would grow to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your mind, and with all of your soul!

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:6-7

For You are my rock and my fortress, for Your name's sake you will lead me and guide me.    Psalm 31:3

Wordful Wednesday

Gotta love the mess in the kitchen in the background.  Love even more that my girls are 'playing' with me & loving it.  My sister was in town visiting & brought this with her for us to play - and ROCK OUT we did.

Crazy Times of 2008

Presidential elections, financial crisis, high gas prices & leans - seems like we are smack in the middle of precarious times.  I am hoping that when you girls finally read this journal, all of these things will be truly history & would have had NO long term lasting affects.  I really don't know.

I have stated before that I have NOT been good at keeping up with current affairs of our nation or others for that matter.  I would like to think that I focus on our community, and trying to care for others locally (generally speaking).  This is IMPOSSIBLE - especially in today's day and age.  What goes on & is happening around the world in many ways affects us exactly where we are at.  Also, as a follower of Christ, I am mysteriously connected to my 'brothers & sisters' in Christ around the WORLD.  Not just in our city.  I am still figuring this out - how to live for Christ in a holistic  / global way.

-Should I not call FEMA to put pressure on them to help natural disaster victims?

-Should I not recycle - put pressure on my city to start recycling?

-Should I know who my Senator & Congressmen are & what they are doing?

-Should I not support my local stores & not just purchase it ALL at Wal-Mart?

-Should I compost?

I am not trying to 'should' on you girls, but . . . we are called by God to love our neighbor - in ALL of our actions.  Not easy, and mommy is not always great at following her own advice, but I'm trying.  I think it is IMPORTANT.

A Snapshot (literally) of Our Week

Arturo has a program where we can look at 'this week's pictures'.  As I was looking at how random these pictures where, I thought of . . . the Bible.  Yeah, I know I'm weird.  Especially Psalms & Proverbs, which seem so eclectic, random, not ordered, emotional, disjointed . . . well - life.  Who doesn't have a week where you experience almost all of the emotions, energy levels, thoughts & dreams brought on by simply living life - or rather by chasing it down?  Whether you have children or not, life (especially if you are trying to live it for Jesus' glory) can be a crazy ride.  Hang on, here's our past week.