Happy Birthday Nikki!

What a delight this vivacious woman has been to us!  Have a lovely birthday, Nikki!

Some of my favorite moms

Today I am praising God for his provision of mothers.  He hard-wired them to be selfless, loving, and tender-hearted. And I am grateful, especially for these moms today:

 My mom and Dave's mom: so grateful for their examples of love and service over the long haul!

Elsa: mother to our Ada, calm, steady, caring, smart, funny.

Nikki: mother to our Emma and Ezra, creative, caring, full of life, thoughtful.

I am extremely grateful for these wonderful mothers in my life!

Thankful

I have recently found myself counting my blessings over and over again: hope of improving health; children and children-in-law and grandchildren and extended family who are doing well and love me; a rich life of service and contemplation; and possibly the world's best husband.  I do not deserve these things any more than the woman in Nigeria whose children were taken by terrorists, or the lady in Honduras watching her children die of hunger and untreated disease, and ignorance.  And yet, here I am, with blessings overflowing.

I am just thankful.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!
I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
~Psalm 34:1-10

Wednesday without words

Wednesday without words

Girl time

On my recent trip to Arizona, after a fun night in Tucson, Nikki, Emma, and I met Elsa and Ada in a little park in Casa Grande, about half-way between their two homes.

Ada has really grown up since Christmas!  We had a lovely picnic.

Ada loved chasing the birds, and Emma discovered she could do the "climbing wall", and then tried to teach Ada how to do "Cheers!" with her sippy cup, just like Grandpa Jack had taught her.  See the evidence below.

It was a lovely day with my girls!

Putting up the Christmas tree

We had a wonderful time decorating the tree with the girls this year.  Ada was napping, but I'm sure she will enjoy joining us in a couple of years.  Isn't God good to give us such memory-building times together?

Emma in motion

The short video below shows Emma playing in the water feature at a lovely city park in Kanab, Utah. Just before I started filming, her Daddy had told her this was her last time to get the water turned on. With the intercession of her Mommy, she is allowed one more time, and she gets in a bit over her head.  The last resigned statement she grumbles as she walks off camera is, "I OK."

Emma's first race

 This morning, after her Daddy won the 5K race at Saguaro National Monument, Emma ran her first race of 25 meters. All morning, according to Emma's Mommy, she had been wanting to run, wanting to cross the finish line mat, and wanting to participate.  Below, when the kid's dash was starting, she imitated the starter, and boy, was she ready to run!

 She quickly left the competition behind!

 And when she finally crossed the finish line mat, she had won the race for the under 5 crew!

Congratulations Emma! And congratulations Tim! And thank yu, Nikki, for recording the event for us all to enjoy.

Wednesday without words