Happy Girl

She has just started playing with this toy.

I know it's a little blurry, but just look at that smile!

Heads Up

Eliana is such a happy baby. Recently I have been putting her on the floor on a blanket a little bit. She holds her head up really well now. She only lasted in this position for a short while.

Sneezing

Madyson has started doing something that is so cute. We didn't teach her to do it, I don't think...but I just love it. She did it this morning. I sneezed. Then she said "Bess you Mama." So cute! That's all. Just had to share it with you all.

Darkness

I awoke this morning to my wonderful husband inviting me into the living room to spend a few minutes with him in the Word. He had already left to his early morning prayer meeting and was supposed to be heading off to work directly following it. So I was surprised. Happily surprised. I was not quite awake, so he read aloud and I listened thoughtfully. He read Psalm 139. Verses 11-12 are my inspiration for right now. They are:

"If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee."

It reminded me of Mexico, the mission at Carmen Serdan, Baja Mexico. How I love and miss that blessed place. I was reminded of something that has always fascinated me about my time living there. I was never afraid of the dark. I am afraid of the dark...I don't like darkness. I don't like the creepy thoughts that arise in my mind when I am in the dark (surely all the movies we watch today don't help). But I wasn't afraid there. I really think it has a lot to do with two things. One, is the strong spirit and presence of the Lord in that place, which is so because of the godly lifestyle that is lived by all there and how the Lord is invited into everything and is the center of everything there. Secondly, I believe I wasn't afraid because of how much and how often I was in the Word, reading the scriptures, studying the scriptures. Ok, so three reasons. Thirdly, because of the constant praise that ascended from every heart there corporately and individually. It was a holy, set apart place. How I pray for help to transform my home more into a place like that.

Pictures by Laurie Passey

Dear friend Laurie took these amazing pictures and lots more of our fam a couple months ago.

Naps

No joke. After posting the previous photo of Eliana, Madyson said to me "Nap..." I was like, "want to take a nap?" "Uh huh" she said. So I took her to the room and she was out before I put her down. Surprising. That hasn't happened before.

Thumb Sucking

I am so excited! Eliana has been sleeping for a long time this morning...I went in a few minutes ago to find her sucking her thumb! For the first time she found her thumb herself and has been sucking it for I don't know how long. I love the thumb sucking. I just love it.