Gifts

I can't believe it's already Monday! Our weeks seems to be flying by, yours? I enjoy our weekends. I love having my big girls home from school. They have ballet lessons every Saturday morning so while they dance their little hearts out for 45 minutes, Marc, Addison and I walk around Roath park for a while and watch the ducks. Addison sits on every bench! She will stop and climb up on one and say "Ahh, rest" and then pop up and run to the next one. Ah, the things that entertain!

I just want to freeze time y'all.

Addison is in a fun stage and just keeps us laughing. Her new phrase this weekend is "COME ON DUDE" - she can thank her Daddy for that one. He's been watching some basketball and tends to shout at the TV or maybe that was when he was driving?!? It all runs together. (I love you honey!) I was changing her nappy today and just looking at her chubby feet and thighs and my heart was breaking. I had just cleaned out a few things she can't wear any longer and while doing that I found some baby items and I just had to stop and have a moment. Only a few tears shed before she cracked me up again. I just scooped her up and hugged her till she squealed.

Speaking of moments like this, I've just finished reading Ann Voskamp's 'One Thousand Gifts' and I'm kind of speechless. Not only is she a beautiful writer, her story is one that I could relate to in many ways. She talks about her anxiety and of course if you know me, you know that struck a chord with me. She says, "I know my supreme need is joy in God and I know I can't experience deep joy in God until I deep trust in God....If I deep trusted God in all facets of my life, wouldn't that deep heal my anxiety, my self-condemnation, my soul holes?" Wow. I had to let that sink in for a while and it finally moved me to tears. She says, "The fear is suffocating, terrorizing, and I want the remedy, and it is trust. Trust is everything." That is so true. And one more, "I had never known what the door of eucharisteo (giving thanks) might lead me into- and all the fears it might lead me out of." I was really moved by her story of flying to Paris. Goodness, I can so relate. Sometimes I'm not sure how I was brave enough to leave Texas to move across the ocean. Only God. If I ever get to meet Ann Voskamp, I would tell her how much her book has meant to me and how I'm going out tomorrow to buy a new journal to start my 1,000 gift list. If you don't know what I'm talking about, head on over to A Holy Experience , you will be blessed.

So while we are on the topic of what God is doing in my life, let me share one more thing. I am doing a Priscilla Shirer study (my first one ever, she's a hoot) and today she said, "The area of sensitivity and tenderness in your life is probably the area where God wants you to experience the most victory..." Amen, let is be so Lord.