Full of Joy

It's true! Our house has that feeling that can't really be put into words. The excitement hangs in the air like smoke after a firebowl. The food sits out on the counter from morning til night. Cookies, cakes, chocolates, cashews, bark, candies, Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew, and more Mountain Dew! Yesterday our GREAT friends KRISTI and Peg Walker (HI KRISTI!!!!! I love you!) stopped by with a warm apple pie to share! We sat around the table and gabbed for a long time until more of our family rolled into the driveway! Yay for Grandma and Aunt Keren coming all the way from IA and IL! WHOO HOO! I got to finish the beautiful day with a lovely phone conversation... ;) Then today I got to have a very special wake-up call, followed by breakfast with two very special girls in my life! There was laughter galore and of course some tears! Later Father and I took Grammy to run her errands and then went to shop the afternoon away together! It wore us both out! I am amazed at the st...

TODAY is a remarkable day! I am compelled to praise my God for LIFE. For MY life. I am living, breathing, alive, healed, WHOLE, and FREE today. 4 years ago today I never imagined that could possibly be true, but here I stand. I stand in awe of my Savior. I stand in awe of his deep, intimate, and personal love for ME. I stand in awe of His unfathomable power. I stand in awe of His ways. I stand in awe of the beauty he created from ashes. I stand in awe of Psalm 23. I stand in awe that He is my Shepherd. I stand in awe because HE RESTORED MY SOUL. I stand in awe of YOU, Jesus. So I'll let my words be few... Jesus, I am so in love with you...

I got to see The National Christmas Tree this past Friday night! I'll admit before moving, I had never even heard of it! But I was invited, and more then excited to check it out! We rode The Metro downtown (which I loved!) and only had to walk a little bit before the tree was in sight. I think I squealed when I first caught a glimpse of it. To say it's enormous is an understatement! Obviously, it's so big you can't even see the whole tree in the picture. One of my favorite parts were the 57 other tree's surrounding The Big Guy in the middle. I know there are not 57 states in our country, but I can't honestly remember what the extra ones are. One was Portico, Portugal, or something. =) ANYWAY there was a smaller Christmas tree for each state in our country! Well, as we crossed each "M state" tree I was getting more and more excited to find the Minnesota tree! Once it appeared, I leaned closer to read the lil sign, and what do I see? None other then the...

I am missing Minnesota. Quite a lot, actually. It's getting worse and worse as the minutes pass me by this morning. Particularly Minnesota Christmas. The MOA I miss walking in The MOA at 6:24 AM every morning and being awed by the thousands of strands of lights dangling so delicately from the ceiling. I miss gazing at them and being mesmerized each day. I miss those moments before the hustle and bustle started at The Mall. Just me and the lights. Every thing was dark except for the little lights. That was the only time of day one could experience such a scene in The Mall. I miss Black Friday with Matt at 4 AM and shopping in our dorky red matching T-shirts after work. I miss walking around and shopping in my favorite mall. I miss my favorite stores that only The MOA has! There was something so special about me living so far away from the fam, and getting them presents from THE MALL OF AMERICA! I miss the enormous Christmas tree on the East side. I loved resting my arm...

Hi Father! This post is especially for YOU! Peg was clicking pictures while we were waiting for your surgery to be over! This is what we do for hours and hours while we wait...and wait...and wait...I think you had the easy part! You were fast asleep! ;) Update: Dad got all 59 (YES! 59!) staples out today! His stitches, too! YAY! This is the screen I've mentioned in previous posts. Dad had a special code so we could watch how his surgery was progressing. Big Mel and Johnny Cakes. Absolutely thrilled to have their picture taken! This is in the first family waiting room- the NICE one! Aunt Cynth and I Facebook stalking! Her famous line of the day, "Why can't we just STAY in this room?!" My amazing mother. Cool, calm, and collected. I get teary-eyed just thinking about the strength our God has given her. I hope I am half the woman she is some day. This post is especially meaningful because it gives such an amazing up-close and personal look at the incredib...

Beth informed me last night that her little niece Mikayla, has been diagnosed with epilepsy. She has been having siezures and is understandably upset. Mik won't be able to ride her bike, eat chocolate, go swimming, and obviously other things. Please keep her and the family in your prayers. Thanks!

Beth (Brown) Wagner left me a voicemail tonight asking for prayer, and if I would post this. Her little niece, Mikayla, daughter of Steve and Alicia Brown, had some serious tests done on her brain today. The doctor has requested they come back immediately tomorrow morning. Please pray for the family! Thank you!

He's HOME! I am praising God today that my dad made it safely home! The trip from Philly went very well. My dad slept great the night before, and I quote from him, "Drugs are a wonderful thing!" HaHa! Indeed. Thank you so much for praying for their safe return. My mom said she could FEEL every one's prayers. I heard an amazing message on prayer last night, and I am still mulling it over in my mind. I am still wondering why God chose to answer our deepest prayers and bring my father through his 3rd open heart surgery. I am wondering if God was glorified through this situation. I hope so in the worst way. I am wondering if I would still praise God if the outcome wasn't what I had prayed for. I can only hope, and pray that it would be. For now, I rest in thanking my Heavenly Father for my earthly father's life! My heart is so thankful that almost every Christmas song I hear brings me to tears. My heart is so full of awe and praise of my mighty God that I can hard...