Clinging to His Promises

We often don't understand the way in which God answers our prayers. We've been praying for months for the provision of permanent work for Stephen. We were really excited about a recent interview that he had, hopeful that he would get the job. But God said no. Or was that "Wait"? Obviously, we can't know at this point. But we will keep praying for Him to provide, keep clinging to His promises to care for us, keep trusting in His good an perfect will for our lives.

Charles H. Spurgeon reminds us, "Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there....Down busy self, and proud impatience, it is not for you to choose, but for the Lord of Love!" (Morning and Evening, November 11).

My prayer is that the Lord will use this circumstance to draw us into a closer relationship with Him, to bring us into a deeper sense of our dependence on Him, and to root out of our hearts the sinful idols that keep us from giving our full affections to Him. Soli Deo Gloria!

Worth the Wait

Well, my Persuasion DVD arrived about 10 days ago, and despite the less than glowing reviews from other viewers, including my MIL, I found it to be very enjoyable. I've watched it twice - the first time was with two little people who, considering their ages and their gender, did quite well at sitting quietly in the dark watching a girl movie with Mom. And the second time, only one of the little people was there. So I still need a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea to fully enjoy it...one of these days...

I'm still waiting for my MI-5, Vol. 5 DVD to arrive in the mail. What's taking soooo long??!!

Our First Snow!

We had a dusting of snow a month or so ago, but this is the first real snow we've had this year. I think we have about 3 inches or so, and it's still coming down. Mr. Blue-Eyes was dying to go outside and play, and while I didn't know how Boo-Boo would like it (he hates the cold and the wind), we gave it a shot after lunch.

Boo-Boo held up pretty well, although he did not like the snowball fight that I was having with his brother. He kept whining, "No wike it!" Mr. Blue-Eyes, however, was having a blast pelting Mom with snow as he chased me around the playground.

As you can see, we figured out that it was a "wet snow" and we were able to put together a rather sad-looking snowman who had about as much mulch rolled up into him as he did snow. That's the trouble with making a snowman on the playground instead of the grass. Mommy wasn't thinking too quickly out there in the cold. Maybe my brain was frozen?

It was actually sleeting while we were out, and after a while both boys were ready to come in. In fact, by the time we started crossing the street to go back to the house, Mr. Blue-Eyes was howling to go in! His hands were cold (because he wouldn't keep his mittens on...and they were wet anyway). And that set off his brother too. Once inside, I stripped off their wet clothes and popped them both into Mr. Blue-Eyes' bed to warm up while I made some hot chocolate (allergy-safe so Mr. Blue-Eyes could enjoy it too) with marshmallows. Yum!!

Yep, Mom, I still remember that being our after-snow tradition as kids...one of my favorite memorites is building the spray-painted snowman with you in the front yard (the biggest one ever!) and then coming inside for hot chocolate downstairs in the basement. Good times! And so, although there were other things I could have been doing this afternoon...in the nice, warm house...I decided that just maybe someday my kids will remember me spending the time with them outside and be glad for such a blessing as a mom who wants to play with them...just like I remember you. Thanks, Mom!!

Can't Wait for Persuasion!

It's on it's way! Only a few more days until it arrives and I will get my Rupert Penry-Jones fix. For those of you unfamiliar with RPJ, all I can say is...well, my husband will surely read this at some point, so let's get back on track. :-) Yes, I'm laughing at myself as I write this...and I know my MIL is as well. But she has her own problems with someone of the initials RC...and that's another story!

Anyway, Persuasion aired this past Sunday night on PBS Masterpiece Theatre. I've been waiting MONTHS to see this new version of the Jane Austen classic. Honestly, I think it was last May when I saw that it had been released in the UK, and I've been waiting patiently for the movie people to release it here in the US. And so they have. Only now we don't have cable...herego, no Masterpiece Theatre. *Sigh* But my loving hubby pre-ordered the DVD for me, and it should be arriving in the mail very soon!

I also have to recommend the series MI-5 (aka Spooks)...which also stars RPJ...and which also was released just last week (Vol. 5). And...which I also ordered at a FABULOUS price just today. :-)

I'm really wishing for cable now as Persuasion is not the only Jane Austen film to be airing on Masterpiece Theatre in the next few weeks and months. Check this link for all of the upcoming programming: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/index.html. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to add cable for the next 3 months or if I should just beg my mom to record them for me.

If you're a die-hard Austen fan, you might enjoy this fun little quiz below:

Take the Quiz here!

The Birthday Boy

Boo-Boo enjoyed his Bob the Builder birthday cake, so it was worth my aching back. His Grammie & Grandpa, Uncle and Auntie, and some friends from church all came to his party. And he had a blast! Cake & ice cream, new books, toys and clothes - what more could a two year old ask for? He's already working on learning how to put up "2" fingers when he's asked how old he is.



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And one last picture...Boo-Boo was playing with his new stacking-block train a few days later. He removed all the blocks from the train and began shouting, "Train naked! Train naked!" So here is the "naked" train! :-)

Oh my aching back!!

A Bob the Builder Birthday!

This year Boo-Boo (aka The Cookie Monster...that story next) is getting a Bob the Builder birthday party. Mr. Blue-Eyes had Bob for his 2nd birthday, so we'll do the same this time around.
Anyway, here is a picture of the cake I slaved over yesterday. Seriously, after being on my feet in the kitchen most of the day, I was beat. Sheesh, I'm getting old. :-)

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Now for the Cookie Monster story...
The day before we left on our trip to see family, I baked a bunch of cookies to take along. I mixed them in the morning, they spent the required time in the fridge, and in the afternoon while Boo-Boo was napping, I baked them...precisely to AVOID what happened anyway! The cookies - yummy Raspberry Walnut Pinwheels! - were in an open container on the table with a few more on cooling racks when I got the little one up from his nap. After popping in a video for him and big brother to watch, I rushed upstairs to pack the suitcases for the trip. When I heard Mr. Blue-Eyes yelling that his brother had a cookie, I figured, "One won't hurt him." Silly me... By the time I came downstairs, Boo-Boo had proceeded to take a bite of cookie, put it down, take a bite of another one, put it down, get another from the open container, etc. He ended up with his own container of cookies for the trip, each with a bite out of it...about eight in total.
Note to self: Keep the cookies under lock and key!!