Little Man

Recently I got to have a "girl's only" weekend at the beach. Well, it was actually a "mom's and nursing children" weekend, but since that's as close as I can get to freedom at this point, I'll take it. It was me with G and J with her daughter, MC. We had so much fun. I am so thankful for J's friendship. She is one of my very best friends and I miss her terribly since we moved last year. We can talk about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and I think we did talk about anything and everything that weekend, literally. We.talked.the.entire.weekend. I think we were catching up for the last year since I moved! J-hope I didn't completely wear you out :)!

J is a many talented woman, one of those talents being that she is a fantastic photographer. I got 2 great presents from the weekend. J gave me a photography lesson and took some fantastic shots of G! Feast your eyes on these. I know I'm biased, but I can barely stand how cute he is!!!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Emily, Martha, Christine, and me AAhhhh, what a great weekend! I got to have a girls' weekend at the beach sans husband and child. The above pictures are at the Red Bar for dinner on Sat. night. I don't know what happened to the camera in the second picture, but we thought a red pic was appropriate since we were at the Red Bar! I would love to say it was some artistic photo we shot, but it was a complete goof! We had a fantastic time together. Great fun, fellowship, and lots of laughs. It was so encouraging and refreshing. There is such a level of comfort and relaxation being with friends that I can completely be myself around. I have certainly been blessed with exceptional friendships, new and old. If only we all lived closer together instead of 10 hours away. Already looking forward to our next trip.

J survived the weekend with Av and thankfully the inflamed areas on her leg improved. Of course until I came home. She woke up with fever this am. Av is rarely sick-last week was actually the first time I have ever taken her to the Dr. for a sick visit. She had fever as high as 103. Called the Dr. and was instructed to alternate tylenol and motrin. Since her leg is improving it's hard to know if the fever is related to her leg or if it's a separate issue. I guess when it rains, it pours. She's so pitiful when she's sick-no energy (still and quiet are my first clues she doesn't feel well), dark circles under her eyes, no appetite, and she wants to cuddle and be held all day. I have to admit part of me enjoys the cuddling since it's almost the only time she still enough to that lay in my lap for that long. Most of the time she sits with me just long enough to read a story. She did seem to be feeling better when I put her to bed this evening. Hopefully there will be more improvement tomorrow.

Still no major news on the job front. A few possibilities, but nothing definite at this point. Please continue to pray!

Where to begin?

Today has been quite a rough day. This morning J's mom called to let us know that one his closest childhood friends, Brian, died yesterday. He was a civilian on his 3rd tour in Iraq and there was an explosion by the vehicle he was in at the time. He was supposed to come home next month. If you live in Bham you might have heard this mentioned on the news. Brian was married with 3 children-I believe they are 12, 9, and 5. I can't express how much my heart aches for this family. I can't begin to understand what his mom, siblings, wife, and children are experiencing. Please, please pray for them. I pray the children would continue to experience a father's love from God. I pray for Becky as she raises 3 children without Brian. There are so many questions of why and how that I know only God has the answer for now. It's hard to comprehend how much pain and suffering there is here on earth. How it makes me long for heaven. These words on suffering have been helpful.

A couple hours later I received a phone call that the company I work for is being dissolved tomorrow! I have only been with them a few months, and knew this was a risk since it's a start-up company, but it was still quite a shock today. I have spent much of the afternoon on the phone, looking into job possibilities. Which job? Where? Are we going to stay in Dothan? Do I look for jobs in Birmingham or elsewhere? I know there many jobs out there, this just isn't the way that I envisioned myself looking for my next job.

At first I thought "keep things in perspective." I could be dealing with far worse than a forced job change. That is true to an extent, but then I thought the answer isn't that the situations are different/easier. The answer is that my God is the same. In all of this God is good. He is always faithful and always sovereign. Only in Him will there be rest for your soul and peace that transcends understanding. He is our strength, stronghold, and a refuge in distress. He is our redeemer and sustainer. He gathers his flock in his arms and carries them close to his heart. This has certainly been a week of highs and lows, but I am thankful God is constant.

Psalm 62;5-8
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.