Jingle all the way~

No doubt that's what we will be listening to on the way to SE Missouri. We are heading out in just a bit but I wanted to give a shout out! I just got word that my SLPP practicum has been finalized as of this morning! Whoop! Whoop! God comes through just on time. I'll serve approximately 16 weeks at ECHO school/early childhood center in South Holland! Yeah~ Now if I could only get that Auntie Jeannette to move a bit closer to love on the Gracie girl one more day~~~ Wishful thinking...

Hey - Have a very Merry Christmas, making many memories with Christ at the center. Love & hugs! See ya next year!

Hey- Thanks for praying for my lil Gracie girl. She's much, much better...on her way to 100%. We enjoyed a visiting last night with my brother. They wrestled around & around...Grace was delighted! She loves rough & tumble play nearly as much as she loves tea parties & dressup. :o)

Wow! Travel time is upon us again. We're headed to Missouri to celebrate the season with family & catch up with treasured friends. Speaking of friends, we had a wonderful time this week sharing Christmas with some of our closest friends. Bob, Randy & Auntie Em came over Sunday evening & was worth all the preparation 10X over as we enjoyed fellowship, food & fun. It was quite teary as we expressed our gratitude to each other for walking through/standing together in one of the most difficult years. God holds us; often through the embrace & support of others. Very nice to be with these God-gift friends! Look at these gorgeous cookies made by Shortycake Cookies: Comfort in a Cookie~for every occasion! Cutie Patooty & scrumptious as well.

Thennnnnn, we celebrated with more God-gift friends Nate , Steph and baby Emily. What fun & what delight to have this family in my circle of friends. I'm thankful...

So, Merry Christmas to each of you as your embrace this Most Wonderful of the Year! Thanks again for your thoughts & prayers...really, thank you! See ya next year~

Prayer: yours plus mine

Grace is sick - fever & other yucky stuff that comes with being baby sick. This is the hardest part of being a single parent...just me alone to pray for her healing in the deep of night. When 2 or 3 agree...there I will be. Though the fever will break by morning (by faith), I would really appreciate it if you would help me pray for her healing & health. Thanks so much - for praying for her...for praying for me the past few days. God holds us tight... this I know.

My prayer

It's 4 AM & I'm still preparing for tomorrow. These silent moments when it's just me, my thoughts & God-- sometimes they are hard manage without tears dripping into the dishwater. For some reason, this is when hurts seem to surface & I replay slights from others or my own failures over & over as if on repeat. I think I'm just tired; not from lack of sleep, though that may be a factor-- but just tired of life as it is. This is the song rolling around in my head & heart; this is my prayer~

My Prayer (Use Me) Lyrics
Written by George Rowe2003 Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Rowe House Music (BMI)

Verse 1:
If my heart's been torn by hatred
Mend it with Your love
If I am wounded by my brother
Answer him with a healing touch
When dark moments lead me to doubt
Light my path back to faith
And when hope is crushed by despair
Complete my joy.
Rebuild my strength

Chorus:
Lord use me
I surrender to Your will
Lord use me
May Your peace move me to be still
So You can use me
Show me your ways
Please use me
I desire to do Your will

Verse 2:
Let me hear and not be heard
Let me see and not be seen
Not to be honored, but to glorify
Not to be loved, but to love

Chorus
Lord use me
I surrender to Your will
Lord use me
May Your peace move me to be still
So You can use me
Show me your ways
Please use me
I desire to do Your will

Bridge:
In giving myself, I know that I will receive
Teach me to forgive by forgiving me
Not to be known, but to know You

Chorus
Lord use me
I surrender to Your will
Lord use me
May Your peace move me to be still
So You can use me
Show me your ways
Please use me
I desire to do Your will

Amen

Just about over~

Hey there~ the Christmas production is over...what a weekend extravaganza: four performances, 23 song/dance/instrumental numbers with many, many cast/crew involved, 1000+ delighted guests, folks giving their heart to Christ and one tired little girl/mother. I've got all my assignments in; one final down & one to go by midnight tonight. Let the Christmas parties begin, the shopping finish & wrapping commence.

We got our 1st hair cut & still have curls. :o) Christmas portraits are complete & ready to be tucked in the yet to be addressed greeting cards. I've been doing a bit of backup babysitting this week (& next) for my friends. Makes me appreciate those moms toting toddler plus baby. :o) I started a new part time job & interviewed with a university down town for another part time job. Mind you, I already work part time & I don't need anymore jobs. I like to keep my options open.

BUSY~ Needless to say I haven't been the ideal blogger the last couple of weeks. Thanks for checking in on me & I promise to catch up soon.

Amidst the hustle & bustle of the past couple of weeks my nephew, Haddon, turned a BIG 3 years old. Happy, happy birthday, buddy! He's sporting his new cowboy boots & hat in this picture. :o) Cute, ain't he?

Must run but for now, let me leave you with this bit O'Grace from Tuesday night:

We race to the bedroom. Grace won, of course. "I win! I win!", shouts Grace as she jumped up & down on the bed. "Hey", I said...about to tickle the girl silly. "Hay is for the horsies, mommy", quipped my little smarty. This she knows from experience because she rode on the tractor with papa at Thanksgiving putting out hay for the horses to eat. :o)