A Priceless Gift

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Doesn't this verse just make you excited?  A Son was given to us -- to redeem us from our sins and to set us free.  Not for anything we do or don't do, there isn't anything we could do to redeem ourselves.  God, in His mercy and love towards us, sent us a priceless gift, the gift of a Son. 

When a baby is born it is a time of rejoicing, a time of thankfulness that God would bless a family with a new little one to hold, love, cherish, and raise to serve Him.  A priceless gift, a treasure worth more than anything this world could offer. 

As I ponder the wonderfulness of Jesus' birth, I get excited.  Excited that God made a way for us to be with Him in heaven for eternity.  And I just feel so unworthy to receive such a gift, but my worth isn't measured in my eyes.  God made me worthy by loving me enough to want to be with me forever.  And I feel like all of heaven opened up and the angels are singing and there is a bright blue sky and I just feel the warmth of God envelope me in a big hug as I feel His love and acceptance. 


May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
 
~Irish blessing 

One Thousand Gifts

11.  My daughter Chelsea who just turned 17 on Tuesday.  I cannot even express in words how much she means to me.  My right hand when I need it, my "personal photographer" when I can't take the pictures I want to, she cooks a lot of our meals, took care of all of us when we had the Swine Flu last month, and on and on.  Chel...I love you so much!!

12.  That each day is a fresh start.

13.  A 2 year old who keeps me in prayer throughout the day.  A more challenging little guy I've never had.  Thankfully God hears me throughout the day and gives so much grace.

14.  Friends who have picked up and dropped my older two off at church while my car is being worked on.

15.  Safety from the Lord in my fender bender.  I shudder to think what could have happened.

16.  Big brown eyes trusting me for everything.

17.  My parents who both mean so much to me.

18.  A God who loves me in spite of my many short comings.

19.  My husband who faithfully goes to work every day despite the fact that he has a really yucky job.

20.  E-mails from friends far away.

21.  Children who were baptized in September.  Jacob and Becky shared their special day together.  Our church camp is where they were baptized followed by a pot luck afterwards.  How sweet it is to see my children following the One who loves them the most.

For more gifts, please click on the button on my side bar.  It will take you to Ann's quiet place.

It's Great to be Two

Aaron turned 2 on Sunday.  He was thrilled to open his own gifts and blow out his own candles.  He stuck a few fingers in the icing and smiled, then laughed as we all watched him.  Two is such a fun age for little ones.  I just want to remember each day, what it feels like to hold him, his sticky kisses, chubby toddler hands, how he says "bye" to me as he goes downstairs to play with Matthew, and how he loves to cuddle and nurse.

I love how he concentrates so much on opening his gift.  My husband said he always wants to remember the look Aaron gives as he's concentrating.  So cute!

The cake tasted really good.  Chelsea made and decorated it.  She loves to decorate cakes and is really good at it.

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I am just so thankful for Aaron.  I didn't think I'd ever be blessed with anymore babies after I had Matthew, and for 6 years I wasn't able to conceive.  Imagine my surprise when I found out a new little one was going to join our family!  Life is such a blessing.

It was a very hard pregnancy for me, filled with many doubts and fears.  I was afraid to do anything for fear I would lose the baby I had prayed for years to conceive.  I ended up on bed rest in my 7th month after I pulled a muscle in my back.  I was nervous, high strung and lacked faith through it all.  Aaron was born by c-section after many hours of labor.  He was transverse and despite our best efforts, he just wouldn't turn.  My worst fear had come true.  Me, a home-birthing, natural labor believer had a c-section.  It was very hard to recover from, mostly because of my lack of faith that ALL things work together for good to those who love the Lord.  All things, even c-sections.  And you know, I finally came to the point of not caring how he was born, just that he was here, and he was my special gift from God.

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Aaron through the past two years:

Happy Birthday my littlest love!