Good times in Tulsa :o))

Jadon Michael- 16 months

This boy warms my heart like craZy. He is so much fun! AND, he's super snuggly!

Grief

Grief is a strange thing. It's as if it's a vague feeling/notion/experience that kinda floats around and hits you at times you expect and at times you least expect. There's really no nailing it down.

I thoroughly miss my mom. And I know pretty much everyone has somebody (or somebodies- word??) that they miss. I just plain old miss her presence. Her joy. Her life. Her visits. I miss knowing I could call her at almost any time and get instant fellowship, encouragement, counsel, love. I'm sure I've said it before but nobody but nobody loves like a mother loves. My mom cared for me in a way that no one ever will again on this earth. She cared for my soul, for my testimony, for my role as a mother and wife. And she absolutely showed me. ALL THE TIME.

So, of course I'm hurting. How could I not be?! Sometimes I (foolishly) wish our relationship would have been a 5. Not a 1 where I'd have horrible memories, and not a 10 (which it was) where I'd have TONS of memories that hurt so painfully. Just a 5. Not too bad, not too good. Yeah, that certainly was not the case. It was "too good," and I thank the LORD for the time I got to spend with that godly, selfless lady I was privileged to call my mom.

I was blessed today reading Spurgeon's morning devotion from "Morning and Evening." Here's a quote from it that I like: "The distance between glorified spirits in heaven and militant saints on earth seems great; but it is not so. We are not far from home- a moment will bring us there."

How true it is! In the pain of not having my mom on this earth, I believe I've been extremely blessed with a gift. It's the gift that eternity is more real to me. Eternal life with Christ is much sweeter. It's in knowing all the more that:

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;

And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say 'twas worth it all”;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

C.T. Studd

Help me, precious Lord, to live my life for you. Please teach me, guide me, help me. Help me not to grieve in an ungodly way. Please continue to comfort my hurting heart or others who are hurting also. I pray you would open my eyes to others who are hurting around me. Show me ways to help and minister to them. I pray my life would be pleasing to you. I fail SO often. Help me not to stay there, but to know how sufficient your grace is every single day of my life. Thank you for loving and saving and keeping me. I look forward to spending eternity with the One who paid the awful price for my sins.

In Christ's name,

Amen.

Ten things I've learned in hotel living

I'm sure most you know (through facebook) that while we were on vacation, we got a call from our neighbor telling us that water was coming out of our garage. Not the funnest news to receive when you're hundreds of miles from home. We've been living in a hotel since we got home and here are some things I've learned:

1) there's nothing quite like homemade food. Yes, it's very nice to be able to eat out whenever we wish to and have it paid for, but I miss cooking

2) It's hard and NOT FUN to keep kids quiet all the time. for everyone involved.

3) Housekeeping (or room service) is nice.

4) Housekeeping (or room service) is sometimes wasteful. We don't need fresh towels every single day. I promise!

5) no matter where our family is- that's home

6) Our oldest 2 are non-stop about CANDY! (which is readily available near the front desk) and the elevator buttons

7) not all hotels are created equal

8) having a non-smoking room doesn't necessarily mean that you won't smell smoke and lots of it

9) kids do eventually fall asleep at nap time and bed time :o))))

10. We.are.spoiled. like crazy.

What an adventure!