Tonight I'm Thankful

Tonight, I am going to be thankful. A co-worker lost an infant daughter today. I am incredibly sad for the family. My heart hurts for them. I cannot imagine the pain they are feeling right now. Many prayers are going up on their behalf. My daughter is happy and healthy, so tonight I will be thankful. I may have to get up several times to feed her or rock her back to sleep, but I will be thankful. She is fussier than normal tonight, but I will be thankful. I will be thankful for my beautiful gift from God and thankful that she is able to cry out to me and that I am able to comfort her. Thank You God for the gift of my baby girl.

A Simple Prayer

Monday I had a second wonderful snow day away from school. THis time Charlie was sleeping between night shifts, but I did spend a wonderful day with my daughter. I love to read to her, but it's not something that I do enough of. She doesn't like to sit still for long. I was reading to her from her Baby Bible that she got for Christmas. Each page tells a snippet of story from the life of Jesus with a short prayer at the end. The story was about Jesus calling the 12 apostles, his helpers as the book called them. The prayer at the bottom went like this

Dear God, please show me how to be a helper for Jesus and be kind to others. Amen.

This simple prayer from a baby book hit me right in the heart. This is the constant prayer that I need to be praying. Being a helper for Jesus should be my goal and being kind to others is part of being his helper as I wear his name. The words are so simple, but the thought is so complex. Even as an adult I must always work to be kind to people. We teach this to children from the time they are little, but sometimes as we grow it seems we don't do it as well.

Reading this prayer meant for small children and feeling it's effects on me has reminded me that God is everywhere. He is always looking to teach, love, and help us if we will only keep our eyes and ears open.

A Near Perfect Day

Yesterday was an almost perfect day. I told Charlie at the end of the day that it would rank in my top 25 days of all time. Because of a bit of bad weather, we had a snow day off from school. This will probably turn out to be a furlough meaning we won't get paid, but the day was worth it.

We started out the day by sleeping late. Abigail even slept well to allow me a good night's sleep. Charlie make me chocolate chip pancakes which are one of my very favorite meals. The day was spent with the three of us just hanging out at home TOGETHER!! Pajamas were the attire of the day, for the entire day. I love to cook, but I don't have the opportunity to spend much time at it very often. Yesterday I was able to make beef stew and homeade bread. The bread made us a bit nervous because it looked bad, but it tasted great. The extra day off gave me the time to do some things I would like to do on the weekend, but don't ordianrily have the time for.

We didn't do anything special to make this a great day. Just having the time at home to spend wiht my two favorite people made so wonderful. The day ended with Charlie and me watching the first half of Harry Potter. Even with the extra rest, I was not able to stay awake for the whole thing. Ahhh a snow day... I highly recommend it.

Getting ready to go out and see her first snow

She wasn't too sure why we were making her lay in something cold and wet.

My little snow angel

Just Some Pictures

Getting Ready for her first rice cereal.

Showing off her new outfit complete with fancy tights that Mom couldn't resist.

Helping Mommy cook

Ready to go!!

Abigail was not too sure about her new high chair from Santa.

Just chillin'

Abigail had few wild hairs sticking out in front, so Daddy gave her her first haircut.

Hello 2010!

I have been trying to post for several days now, but it just hasn't happened. Life is busy. 2010 is off to great start. We enjoyed a blessed 2009. Charlie and I started the year finding out that Miss Abigail was on her way. I couldn't think of abetter way to start a new year, but I am also quite glad that we didn't get the same kind of news to start 2010.

New year's eve was spent with watching football and "hanging" with some very good friends. As new parents, we really needed the social time. We actually stayed out til 11 which I think made us both feel like adults again.

I am excited to start a new year. I'm not big on making resolutions, but I do have goals and plans to make this a great year, and make me a better me. I like the chance to start over that each new year brings. Starting anew is one benefit of my job. Each fall, I get to start over with a new crew of kids with the hope that this year, I'll do a better job. I try to learn from my mistakes even though I know this year will come with it's own set of new mistakes. A new calendar year is similar. I have plans to make this year better, things I don't want to do again, or things I want to make sure that I DO this year. A fresh start feels great. Thankfully, God lets us start over each day.Happy New Year!!!