Family Picture in front of the Christmas Tree

Catching Up

Hi Friends-
I have been missing blogging...even though I've faithfully kept up with everyone elses' updates, I've neglected my own. Thus, here are some highlights of what we've been up to lately--

Cassie has had a mysterious fever for the last 3 days. Wednesday night it was 103.7 and it's been hovering above 101 since. She's still in a pretty good mood but I've kept her away from other children so we don't share the germy-love (all together--the moms in our playgroup/Bible club say a big, "thank you!")! With Christmas approaching, however, we've had to keep up with our errands. We went shopping to Carters and Aldi on Thursday, Tyson's Corner, CVS and Ross on Friday, and will probably hit the library before nap time today.

Tim's new job at Edge Consulting is going quite well. He started the first week of November and has settled in very nicely. So far it's been an amazing change--working for a small company vs. the mammoth Lockheed Martin certainly has its advantages! His commute has increased but we're figuring out the best times for him to work in order to avoid the traffic snarls--leave the house by 6:45am and come home before 4:30pm. I LOVE having him with us by 5:30 every evening. As for Edge--they seem very family friendly--Cassie and I will be attending our first work-parties with Tim (Lockheed never invited families to their functions). Saturday (TONIGHT) the adult party is in Leesburg and then Sunday is the children's party with Santa. I'm not sure if little Cassie will be healthy enough for that, but we're hoping and have a sweet dress picked out for the occasion!

Emotionally and spiritually, I have been put through the ringer this past month...but in spite of tremendous challenges, I am joyful (Wha!?!)-yes, joyful- over how God is using EVERYTHING for good in my life. I've been at a new level of maturity in my relationship with God--and am finding freedom from old traps. I still need prayers, of course, as I know there's much more inside that needs to be removed in order for God's character to be duplicated in me. Specifically, when God brings us to your minds, would you pray for supernatural healing and forgiveness in my heart, for courage to boldly face emotional issues that I'd rather hide from, and for discernment/wisdom to recognize lies (especially those subtle ones from Satan!)and use God's truth to combat them.

Physically I'm on a roll with exercising! I have been running 6 easy 10 minute miles for a while now so I've begun challenging myself to do a few 8 minute-miles. I limit myself to an hour on the treadmill--I love it so much I could go longer easily. I've been reading books my mentor, Joanne (an older woman from Immanuel who I meet with weekly), has recommended to me while, of course, absorbing all I can from The Message. My latest favorite passage is in Matthew 5:


Matthew 5:43-48
43 "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' 44 I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, 45 for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. 46 If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. 47 If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 48 "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

I suppose this is enough news for now. Thanks for being my faithful blog-friends!

Nov-Dec Pictures

Nov-Dec. 2008