Spring is Coming!

Can you feel it? Have you noticed?

Spring is making an entrance. I had somehow totally missed it until this week.

The beauties we planted long before the snow arrived, reminded me that the sun is on its way; winter is almost gone.

Barely two and half weeks ago my grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Our own personal winter.

This morning she went home. Her spring has arrived.

If she hadn't known to expect the sun, she would have been terrified. If seeds of faith hadn't been planted in her life, and subsequently in ours, we wouldn't have been able to face this winter.

But her legacy of determined faith helped us spring forth and rejoice with her today in the midst of so much pain.

In the midst of heartache, we cling to the One who calls us by name.

We miss you, Gigi. Thank you for planting seeds of faith in our hearts.


"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Isaiah 43:18-19

He is mine and I am his

{Holding hands in Virginia on an anniversary trip}

Valentine's Day sure has changed for me over the years. Has it for you? As a little girl I remember getting a heart-shaped pastel pink box of chocolates from my dad every year.

Then I grew into a teenager and stood along side every other pimply-faced girl in the school hoping I'd have roses sent to the office with my name attached to the card.

Valentine's Day as a married person though is 180 degrees different from either of those experiences.

It's better.

I've listened to so many of my friends ache over how their husbands will forget February 14. How no roses will arrive in their cubicle, no remembrance at all.

For me, I don't expect candy and roses, although he often brings them home. Because my husband doesn't just show me love one day in February. He shows me love year-round. Every day of the year.

He changes dirty diapers. Goes to work every single day without complaint. Mows the grass in 110 degree Texas heat. Gets on the floor to play with our son. Prays for me. Eats whatever meal concoction I come up with. Supports my dreams. Surprises me with presents when I least expect them (like an early Valentine's dinner out and tickets to a show last week!!).

Monday, he came home from work late, after an extra-exhausting long day at work, kissed both me and our son as he walked in the door and then hit his head with the palm of his hand and said, Oh, honey! I meant to bring flowers home! (Extra super sweet since we already celebrated Valentine's Day!)

Then he rolled up his sleeves to tackle a sink-full of dirty dishes for me, barely having set his briefcase down.

Who needs flowers, baby? I've got you.

My beloved is mine, and I am his. Forever. For always.

The way to a man's heart...

Homemade bread. So, so good.

The Game of Life

...er Monopoly. We had a house full of teens from church over recently for a marathon Monopoly game. I laid low in the background, filling soft drink cups, entertaining our son. You see, I've never like Monopoly. I have memories of playing it as a little girl and always losing. That sounds silly, but if you can't ever even get close to winning, then it's really no fun, right?

But as I watched over their shoulders, I noticed that the rules were a little different than I remembered them. Apparently my older siblings had made up their own rules so baby sister couldn't ever win. Those stinkers! The teens got a good laugh out of that one. Probably because they've done something similar to their younger siblings. Just think, all this time I could have been enjoying Monopoly! (You're right, I probably still wouldn't.)