Praying for Stanton Oster

A family in our church is going through something I can't imagine today. Their son is having brain surgery. They are posting updates on caring bridge. We are praying for their family right now.

Owen's first word!!

On Sunday, Kate was acting silly and singing the Hot Dog song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Owen started giggling at her so she started saying "hot dog" to him and he repeated it! His version is more like "dat-dah", but it's close. Now one might argue that his first word was either dada or down. But da-da-da is his usual sound of choice whether or not it's coincidentally said to James or not and he says "ahhh" when we play the Up, Up, Down game from speech, so I don't know whether to count that. But, I'm going to go ahead and say this is his first actual word. Hot Dog!

I choose a joyful 2009

I feel like today is my official start to 2009 since the last four days felt like one long holiday with James home. I had grand plans with actual resolutions/goals, but we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. Both kids are in a major Daddy phase and both cried when he left (Owen would hardly even come to me, what's up with that?!?) and then I realized that I washed my phone last night with the laundry. Seriously. My watch, too, but it seems to be working fine. I don't usually have either one in my pockets, but James wasn't home and I wanted to hear my phone if he called while I was putting the kids to bed and I had to take off my watch to give Owen a bath. I always empty my pockets before putting things in the hamper, but this time I was waiting to do my last load of laundry until I finished wearing my pants yesterday and hastily threw them in the washer without emptying my pockets. Ugh!

Oh well, tomorrow will be better.

Though the cherry trees don't blossom
and the strawberries don't ripen,
though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty,
I'm singing joyful praise to God.
I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God's Rule to prevail,
I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
I feel like I'm king of the mountain!
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Choose joy!