morning joyous ramblings

Psalm 65:8
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

this morning my heart is full of joy
the sun is shining brightly
the forecast is for warmer temps
i plan to go for a couple-mile run with C this afternoon
A is exercising his athletic gifts at baseball practice
friends called for Lance to share his carpentry skills on their front door
we all waited in eager anticipation for D to awake, so we could shout
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 3!
and we sat down to a family pancake breakfast

"If life feels like an uphill struggle at the moment, just remember, the view from the top may be breathtaking!"

today we celebrate the gift of life

i sat in the big soft chair in the corner of D dark room last night
holding him
hugging him
his head heavily resting on my shoulder
i sang over him
"Jesus Loves Me this I know for the Bible tells me so!"
"Amazing Grace how sweet the sound!
i sang with him
the "Amen" song

and i felt the God-sized HUG that i was heavily resting within
Deuteronomy 33:12
“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”

even now as i type, i feel this deep sense of peaceful rest inside of me
words can't explain
i feel so awesomely hovered over and carried

we spent hours last night watching the live streaming video of the Decorah eagle nest
the anology i experience as i watch that is impossible to explain
you must see this
www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles
it is amazing
this is yet another glimpse into the awesomeness of our Creator God
the nest built by birds
is 80 feet in the air
it is 5-6 feet wide
it weighs 1.5 tons
there are 3 eggs
1 hatched early this morning

3 years ago today D was born
"A baby is God's way of saying the world should go on"
Psalm 100:5
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

i come through the valley of this week
renewed
vulnerable
humbled
refreshed
carried
reminded how on 4/2/2008 we had no idea about the journey ahead

had i known...
i would have fought to change the course ahead
for A, for C, for Lance, for me, for D
and i would have missed so much

some lyrics from the song "If You Want Me To" by Ginny Owens
Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

the HOPE i see as i reflect
gives me the STRENGTH
to move forward in FAITH
in anticipation of the PEACE that's renewed
and the JOY of celebrating as a princess in the presence of the majestic KING!

i pray each of you receive a God-sized ((HUG)) today, every day