Linus, Lucy & Woodstock

I had a moment as I was sitting on my porch, enjoying the cool calm before the rain, and checking m e-mails, so I decided that I would post some pics of my kids that I just took. :) Just a brief update on my babies...

Bought with the precious blood of Christ!

I am in awe today as I remember what my Savior did for me so many years ago on this Good Friday. As our guest speaker, an amazing completed Jew, reminded me at church last night..."We can't taste and enjoy the sweetness of redemption until we remember first the bitterness of slavery." Well I remember it all too well and that is why today I am so blessed to tears! He saved me...and not because of righteous things that I had done, but because He loved me! I am humbly amazed!...and I stand a bit taller only because I am bowing a bit lower.
I was reading the Gospels today as we have been going through the Holy week this past week, and I was reminded yet again of how beautifully that they really do fit all together. Just as the Passover symbolizes His body broken for us by the bread, so His Resurrection symbolizes His newness of life to us. Some of Jesus' last words were, "See, I make all things new," as He was riddled in blood, sweat, darkness, my sins, and tears! Oh my! His death enables me today to sit here today, read His Holy Scriptures, and type this...all the while as I watch a loving and stunningly beautiful cardinal bird couple flirt, eat, and flitter with one another (yes, I made up that last word!) I'm gazing out my window at these two birds, my dogs frolicking close by them in the grass, Linus literally prancing in our bluebonnet garden, butterflies flittering by, and the taste of Spring in the air! Hallelujah! I rejoice this Easter b/c His death has brought me life, I know that my Redeemer LIVES, evil has been defeated, and b/c of His death, I can face tomorrow! Thank you, Jesus!
Happy Easter, friends! I love you! :)

Catching up...

First things first, today is my little man's 2nd birthday!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my sweet little LINUS!!!! Mommy promises not to poison you with steak this year like she accidentally did last year! I love you! :)

Man, I feel as if I have been very incognito. I went to Florida for Spring Break with some of my family and Ryan and it was nice to get away. We did the whole Disney World route with the fam, and then Ryan and I snuck away for one day where we headed to Clearwater beach. That was beautiful! I would insert some pics but I took over 300 so I'll spare you and me the time. If you want to check out some though, look me up on facebook. All in all it was a good time (except for the fact that I got sick the last 2 days, only to find out when I returned home that I had the flu.) Yuck! Last week I was laid out with fever and felt awful the entire week! I am finally on the mend now and trying to play catch up. I have 5 papers due today for YL too-and I'm not finished! : / With all that said, I think I actually have a bloggable moment to post. :)

This past weekend, after my fever finally let up, I was tired of living like I was in a hole of solitary confinement so I turned on the hot tub and decided to take a dip. It was a cool night as another cool front had just blown through and I was talking with the Lord. I told God how I figured this was probably our last cold snap and that I was sad to see the Winter go. As much as I love the sunshine, beaches and the heat of summer, I also love the Winter too (esp. when our summer's heat up a bit too much.) So I was voicing all this to the Lord when I felt I heard Him say just this: "My child, I am so happy that you enjoy my Winter's , but that is only a season that must too come and go so that I can grace you with Spring, Summer, and also Fall. They all matter." It was at that point that it hit me...My "winter" was coming to an end! You see, for the past few weeks I had been talking with several different friends in regards to how they felt that they were in a "wintery" season and they felt stuck in a rut and wanted out, but they couldn't completely sense God moving. I was able to share with them that I know what it was like to be there. I had spent the past few years there. But my "spring" was finally here and as grateful as I am for His light bursting through, I don't regret my "winter" now. Actually I kinda miss it. There is such intimacy encountered as you wait on God. He is all you have. But now, after my hot tub experience, I realize that He is just as near now and I need Him just as much! So I stepped out of the hot tub that night with great hope for me...and for my friends. I proceeded to lay down on the ground and gaze at the stars. Such beauty awaits you when you take the time to sit, behold, and do such a thing. I gladly welcome Spring now! And I am so excited to celebrate Easter this next week. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me, so that I too may die to self in my wintery seasons and live with you in my spring's! I love you!

I'm now off to write a paper and play catch up...