Wordless Wednesday (sweet sister hugs)

Oh my Lily-girl!

I tell you what...this sweet girl just gets to me. She is one complex little creature...full of true affection, love and boldness, with just a touch of spice. In the picture above, she had just finished singing a solo for the homeschool program. As I watched her up on that stage, with her beautiful voice, radiating the sort of true confidence that comes from within, tears welled up in my eyes. I thought of Lily's birthmother and wished that I could meet the sort of woman who would give birth to such a child! I thought of the loss that this world would experience if Lily were not in it. I thought of the great wonder and gifts that I would have missed out on if this Lily were not my daughter. I thought of the many other "Lilys" who will spend their lives in an orphanage...in a place where they will not receive love, without a chance to learn to love others boldly in this world.

The concert was almost a month ago, but I just can't get it out of my mind.

This sweet girl just gets to me...

On Christmas day, my Lily-girl gave me this card.

Oh, Lil! You just get to me...

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just lovin' my girl!

Jesus

Doesn't His name just take your breath away? I find it absolutely incredible that The Altogether Lovely One chose to come down to earth to live among His people. Sometimes His goodness hits me so hard that I'm ruined for the day. It's one of those days...thank you Jesus.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A sweet day

The Lord has been speaking to me about so many things lately--His Kingdom, His Church, relationships, love, money, orphans...the list could go on and on. I'm hoping to to get a chance to share some of it sometime in the next couple of days, because He is so good and I want to see Him glorified more!

But, since my time is short today (!), I just want to share a quick post about the sweet day that we had yesterday.

In the morning, David and the boys joined some other boys from our church to help clean up the yard of a single mom, who takes care of her grandmother. They had such a great time helping out this lady, and can't wait until they have another opportunity to do it again!

Since I had the camera, and was spending a morning of leisure (while the boys worked!) with the girls, I didn't get any pictures of the boys. But, I did get some pictures of the girls and my craft day. We had such a fun time making snowmen and snowflakes.

Didn't they turn out cute?

After David and the boys got home, I took Lily out for a date. We had such a nice time. We ate a late lunch together, talked, and Lily got some Christmas shopping done.

I took Lily to her friend's house, because they were celebrating her birthday. Don't these two look alike??! Well, they are alike--in so many ways. They have such a fun time together--they are two peas in a pod.

After dinner, the rest of us enjoyed reading the next chapter of Jotham's Journey. We love reading this book during Advent. I'd highly recommend it.

Hmmm...like a pile of cute little puppies!

Thank you, Lord, for such a lovely day--a precious gift from a loving Father.

Love is...

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres. Love never fails." I Corinthians 13

14 years ago, in the midst of a Minnesota snowstorm, I married the kindest, humblest, most patient man that I know.

I love you, sweetheart. Thank you for making these past 14 years a joy and a pleasure. You are a gift to me every day.