Thankful for Birthdays, Boys, Toys, and Wonderdogs

We celebrated Whotwo's 3^rd birthday this weekend.

It’s crazy that a year has quickly passed – and this little man is growing up.  We had a great time with family and friends.

And then, we played the rest of the weekend with our grandsons.

I'm pretty sure I might be getting older (our chiropractor calls Monday Grandparents Day)…but I sure had fun playing with a bubble machine, balloons, and MONSTER TWUCKS!

I love kiddos…especially those kin to me!

The Wonderdogs took it all in stride.  They love these kiddos.

What are you thankful for today?

Right On Time

Tears flowed around here last night for a bit.  One of our friends is in town, and we were catching up.  She has a new job, and we were talking over the last week's activities specific to her new position.

The tears were healthy tears.  You see, ThatManILove had just given our friend what we call a Position Statement. 

Sounds bad, doesn’t it?  It’s not.  A Position Statement is just that.  It’s a position. It’s a clear, concise view of how you see that person, in that moment.  And this is what he said to our friend:

ThatManILove: “I have a Position Statement for you.”

She sat up straight on the couch.  I held my breath.  (Isn’t it funny, how we always brace ourselves for bad?)

She said, “Okay.”

ThatManILove:  “Girl, you got this.”

I breathed.

She breathed, or tried to breathe.  When she could, she said, “Thank you for caring enough to share.  I promise to weigh it carefully.”

And then, she burst into tears.  I did, too.  In saying those few words, ThatManILove affirmed that she was in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing.  He spoke right into the very core of her being.  She grabbed each of us, hugged us, and thanked us for our portions in her life, and for our encouragement and counsel.

This young woman has scaled mountains.  She has come up higher in her relationship with the Lord, and He is her everything.  The Lord is prospering her, in every single facet of her life, her family, her job, and most importantly, in her minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day relationship with Him.  With Jesus.  With God as her Father.  As the Lover of Her Soul. With the Holy Spirit.

And she is blooming.  Her joy, contagious.  Her zest for life, uncontainable. As it should be.

As it should be.

I look at her, and I am encouraged.  Growth is encouraging. And inspiring.

Thanks, my friend, for being open to what the Lord is accomplishing in you today.  You're right on time.

For who knows whether you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

For my readers:  I hope this post has encouraged you.  We all struggle...and Jesus lives to intervene on our behalf.  Turn to Him.  He will hear your heart cry.  I promise.

You Are Awesome!!

When I came into a relationship with Jesus, I was 38 years old.

When I came to know the Love the Father has for me, I was, simply, renewed.  Refreshed.  Everything, washed clean. 

I had daddy issues, me issues, all sorts of issues.  And Jesus?  Well, over time, He healed me.  And I came to really, really know God as my Father.  And I will never, never be the same.

When ThatManILove met me, he would often say to people, “I’ve never met anyone who so fully walks knowing that she is the Daughter of the King of Kings. Janie knows that she knows that she belongs to the Lord...that He is her Father.”

I did know.  And I do know.  I am a Daughter of The King of Kings.  And I am loved.

I’m SO thankful.

This video?  Reminds me, again, that I am wonderfully made and designed.  And I thank God for this powerful reminder, today.

Share this video today with any female you love.  Remind them...you are loved. 

Credit:  The Anima Series

ChChChChanges....

Lately, different things have been resounding in my spirit.

Senses of things to come, by way of Jesus.
A shifting in hearing.  Sensing. Seeing.  Knowing.
Changes in provision.
Changes in relationships.
Changes in perspective.
Restoration, in areas that have been experiencing such a void.

I don’t know if I’m getting older and wiser, or that I'm settling down and finally tuning in more to the things of the Lord.

But my main sense is a sense of well-being, even in the storm.

And mostly, Love.

The knowing that He loves me.  And His plan for me, and mine, is good.

I am thankful that His Love never fails.

Sooooo thankful.

Meeting Myself Coming and Going

It’s been a busy time.

My eldest brother-in-love has been at MD Anderson, and we’ve been spending quite a bit of time with he and the family there.  And yeah - I still hate cancer.

I’ve been all over everywhere for business meetings.

And during this time, when we’re at the hospital in Houston, who decides to make his appearance in Austin, but our little grandson, Eli?  Weighing a sweet 8.8 lbs and measuring 20.5 inches long! He is absolutely gorgeous, and mom and dad are both doing well.  So proud of them.

Did I have my camera with me?  No.  We left so fast to go to Houston, and thought we'd return quickly, that I didn't take it.  Hopefully I'll get to take some great pictures of the little man soon!

I swore I would try to post every day, but our “every day” lately has been full of work/hospitals/flying/travel and of course, we went to meet Eli.  How cool it is to see ThatManILove hold his grandson!  And how cool it is to see YoungerSon rocking it as a dad, and his beautiful wife rocking it as a mom.  Isn’t it neat how parents just learn as they go, and they do an awesome job at it?  Awesome to watch. Awesome, I say.

We’ve had a friend in from North Carolina who ministers in Kenya during   a portion of the year...it’s so good to see her! 

So, faithful readers, I’ll get track on back soon, I promise.  Just hang with me here a bit while we get through this wee patch of taking care of business at hand.  And then, go pick up the Wonderdogs from the trainer.  God, I miss them so.

Until then, happy trails to you!

Dancing With Jesus

Darling sweet girly-girl,

Your aunt Patty texted me tonight about ordering some of your pictures, so I reviewed the albums of your family, and had to write you a letter.  As a sometimes photographer, I see lots of things and people through the lens of my camera.  Last year, I was asked by your mommy to take some photos of you and your brother, and I was blessed to  “see” you. 

I’ve known your mommy since she was a little girl, not too many years older than you were in our session.  You, your brother Eli, and your mommy made my day, that Sunday.  I picked y’all up at your house, and we got Starbucks.  We went to the museum, and y’all posed and played and smiled for me.  We went to the lake, and you talked to the geese and ran scared, long hair streaming, when the gander came after you.  You took your red sparkly flats off, and hung your bare feet through the rails over the lake, and I remember you had on red toenail polish that matched your sparkly red headband. 

You three were an absolute joy to photograph, and I fell in love with you all.  I saw how much you love your mommy and your big brother, and how much they love you, their sweet Cameron.  You flirted for the camera, you ran, you climbed, you played with flowers, you and Eli held each other, and both of you held your mommy.  You did everything I asked you, and more.  I took the most amazing shots of y’all, but it wasn't about me - it was about y'all.  You all have so much love, it easily transfers to the photographs.  In one photo, a sunbeam is shining down on the three of you, it looks so special, and you all are so beautiful. Even now, when I review the photos, I can see your heart.  How much you love.  How much you care.  How you embraced everything.  You are fearless. And beautiful.

Little Boogie, your mommy calls you.  And Cam-Cam, you are to your big brother Eli.

Your special name for your mommy is Ma moo, and Eli's special name, LiLi.

Girly-girl, I know you had an amazingly fun 6th birthday party with Jesus yesterday.  I bet Jesus danced with you, the way he did the day He welcomed you into Heaven.   I can see you in a red sparkly poofy petticoated dress, much like your red recital dress, spinning and whirling.  Words cannot express, but I know.  It gives me peace. 

Oh, you beautiful little girly-girl.  I miss your glorious smile, your twinkling eyes, your beautiful hair, your adventurous spirit, the way you loved on your mommy and your big brother, and every single person you met. You met life with wide-open arms, and to love and be loved was your absolute design factor.  I am so honored to have met you.  

We miss you, Cameron.

You are forever loved.