From our hearts to yours ...

To family and friends, near and far, ...

Happy Valentine's Day!

(And for the record ... I did NOT manage to have all three children in matching Sunday outfits with pleasant moods ALL day and then forget about taking a special Valentine's picture until after they had changed into their jammies for bed. Nope. Not me. I'm far too organized for that!) ;o)

Jesting aside, we are thankful Valentine's Day is not about studio-worthy pictures. We are thankful for the love of God, shown to us through the incredible gift of His Son.

:::

For God so loved the world,

that He gave His only Son,

that whoever believes in Him

should not perish

but have eternal life.

John 3:16

:::

It's mind boggling to comprehend God's love. Just this week we've faced some difficult things as a family. It's really hard to see your child hurting. To hold them as they cry. But God did that. For us. And He chose it. I did not choose to bring circumstances into my child's life that would hurt them. And I really can't imagine doing that. But God did. He gave us His Son--knowing it would mean His death--so that we could live. Thank you, Father God. Thank you.

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star,

And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled

And pardoned from his sin.

When years of time shall pass away

And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;

When men who here refuse to pray,

On rocks and hills and mountains call;

God's love, so sure, shall still endure,

All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam's race--

The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made;

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Tho' stretched from sky to sky.

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure,

The saints' and angels' song.

Frederick Lehman

"Not Me"

One of the blogs I read periodically has a regular feature called "Not Me Mondays" in which she records all of the things she did "not" do in the previous week. (Obviously these are things she wishes she had not done!) Without further ado, let me share my own "Not Me" post.

:::

I did not completely and utterly forget school pictures on Monday morning, thus sending my daughter to school for her K5 pictures in a neat, but very ordinary outfit with hair which she had brushed and styled herself with a headband.

I did not fail to have the thought of school pictures even cross my mind until a friend at work who also has a child in K5 asked me, "So, is Hannah excited about school pictures today?"

And if I had reacted in astonishment to the realization of aforementioned school pictures, the ladies in the office would not have had many good chuckles at my expense, with the comforting words that it made them feel better to have me forget such a thing.

And if I had done such a thing, I certainly would not have forgotten to take a picture of her after school to at least document the occasion.

Nope, not me. :o)

And although lacking the aforementioned picture, at least you can enjoy some other cute pictures of our kiddoes ...

Lest anyone think I "have it all together."

I stand on record.

I don't.

:o)

P.S. - The one consolation is that Peter's school pictures were not scheduled for the same day. He was wearing camo Monday morning.