Thursday, January 29, 2009

Shower Power!

OK – last Friday, Jan 22nd – the office “folks” threw me my first ever baby shower. I was excited and surprised! Their generosity and thoughtfulness was way beyond cool. I love my job and the people I work with – aren’t they cool? They decorated my office an wrote on pink “onesies” words of advice and there was this poem called “Instantly” that was very touching too. I love pink!



Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Ice Beauty ~ by God





Again.....out awandering in Kansas.....God awes me!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Girl Scout Cookies

OK – I purchased my Girl Scout cookies from my friend’s daughter so I could tell all the others that came by "I already bought cookies from Beth!" Gets me off the hook, plus I love my Girl Scout cookies clear to my thighs! So – I ordered up my faves unbeknownst to me THAT…..to offset the cost increases of cookie ingredients the Girl Scouts people (Girl Scouts of the USA) shrunk its cookie boxes by a mere centimeter, which allows them to package FEWER cookies into boxes of Thin Mints, Do-si-does and Tagalongs! They also reduced the size of its Lemon Chalet Cremes! Oh the nerve of those folks!



Regardless – I’d still order them….my thighs demand it. Just means I’ll hide a few boxes from the kids!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Happy Adoption Day!


Jan 22, 2009 – Happy Adoption Day. Today we adopted Sophia Aspen. Oh what a day of Blessings. Thank you Lord for your goodness and grace. We chose Aspen for her middle name as the Aspen trees of Colorado that we love – the unique thing about Aspen trees is they grow in families – when you see one, you’ll see others around it and they share the same root/tuber family. We loved the symbolism of how Sophia connects us all – she completes us as a family and makes us whole as a unit. Thank you Lord! Thank you to the many people who have supported us in this process from our family, church community, friends, social workers, lawyer and Judge!

“tiny little thing, great big blessing.”

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Wild Week

I can’t begin to share how wild this week was. First of all it might downright depress someone. So, I’ll show you what we did to restore our souls…..closest Canadians I could find!





















Saturday, January 10, 2009

Optimism & Rock Band

“It’s easy to wallow in the dark, to be cynical. It’s a brave choice to be happy. It’s taking a stand.” By Sally Hawkins in Jane Austin’s TV version Persuasion.













Q: Does this mean I have to like Rock Band? Hmmmm

Monkey See, Monkey Do



Thursday, January 8, 2009

Birds


Ok – feeling a little Hitchcock here….but I was driving in the countryside on my way to shoot/inspect a “barn” pic for the office and came upon a stubble field of “birds.” I really wanted to just get out and run through them…..but…

#1 ~ soft dirt field
#2 ~ I didn’t really want all that bird poop in my hair.

So, I held back and shot some pictures from the road. Isn’t it amazing? There were hundreds, swooshing and swarming, settling then going again. So cool – so God inspired awesome. When I see these birds from time to time (usually in the fall during corn / milo harvest) I always think of the scripture: Luke 12:7 indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Actually – I’ve no idea what kind of birds these are – anyone out there venture a guess?


Genesis 1:20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Wet Baby Back
















I love a wet baby. I love the smell of Johnson & Johnson Creamy Baby Lotion.










She loves bath time – trying to catch the bubbles, playing with toys, sucking on the wash cloth (I know that is gross, but….) she reminds me there can be joy in simple things….she explores with such awe. She humbles me and reminds me life goes on no matter what.
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Filling Shoes











Sophia wouldn’t leave my shoes alone – she had a great time with them – don’t’ know why we buy the girl toys! She kept trying to put them on herself, then me, then was content just dragging them around. They amused her for at least 20 minutes. Was interesting to watch and wonder what her mind was processing.
Made me wonder….does God watch us with amusement too as we try to fill shoes that don’t fit in our lives. Jim called me on Friday to tell me that his brain tumor is triple the size it was last August. He doesn’t want any more chemo (wasn’t working anyway) or surgery – he is ready to meet his maker. Jim is ready – but those of us left here on earth sure aren’t ready for him to be gone….why is God calling him home? Who is going to fill his shoes here on earth? Does God think Jim has filled his shoes and done a great job – now it is time for him to come “home to heaven.” I listen to Jeremy Camp’s new song “There will be a day” about every day – often the tears fall freely as I drive my commute. But I keep listening to the song because in it is hope and a reminder that “there will be a day, with no more pain, no more suffering” and it reminds me Jim get’s to meet Jesus face to face before the rest of us. Now if I can only wrap my human mind around that and find solace, comfort, acceptance, peace….I’m going to miss those shoes….and so will the world that Jim has touched. But he is still here today – while 1,000 miles from me – I know he knows I love him and I know he loves me. I can still call him on the phone to hear his voice. I’m at peace with my brother. My brother is at peace with me. I found my wedding picture of Jim & Helen – love it. My other bro Gary and I were attendants.

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