Resting in God's Care

These past few months have been stressful, to say the least. Despite the fact that I "KNOW" God is in control and knows where we're at, stress and depression still have a way of sneaking in and robbing me of joy, peace, and a sense of security.

I've been having constant headaches/migraines, pains in my neck and shoulders, dizziness... and depression. As in -- "not wanting to get out of bed" depression. I haven't wanted to do anything that required any thought whatsoever (writing my book, blogging, facebook, church stuff, family stuff, etc.).

Yesterday, I experienced an emotion that I haven't experienced since I got laid off in December. I broke down and cried. I was talking to a sweet friend, and the stress just exploded and bubbled out of me. Fortunately for me, I was on the phone with a friend I trust implicitly, and I'm so grateful that she had the presence of mind to pray for me and my family and to pray for PEACE... which I thought I had ... and maybe I did ... but like I said earlier, stress and depression have robbed me of that without my realizing it. God used my friend in a mighty way yesterday! I'm so thankful that God puts the right people in our paths when we need them for comfort and strength!

Today, I was reading Psalm 46, and I was reminded of some important things in a time of stress, trial and difficulties:

1. God is a safe place to hide, helping me when we need him. I'm telling you, I needed that.

2. It doesn't matter what's going on around me... I don't have to fear! He is BIGGER than everything going on around me, and he takes care of me!

3. I just need to stop struggling and fighting against life's current, and remember that HE is God. No one else is. He is the authority and power around me, and no matter what happens, he's completely in charge. HE IS, and I am WITH HIM.

Even though life may be full of confusion and stress, when we are in God's presence there is peace. There is rest.

What is it about boys and socks?

Does this picture (below) bother anyone else but me?

I mean... what is it about little boys and their socks? Why can't they keep them on? And... why don't they care if they are missing one? It's almost like they don't notice it! Actually, it's EXACTLY like they don't notice it. It's so annoying to a type-A personality... it really, REALLY is!

I guess my son doesn't have a type-A personality, because he could care less.

I, on the other hand, have a new nervous tick I have to deal with.

Being snowed in...

It has a lot of disadvantages... like one four year old in particular, who just loves the movie Up, and has watched it no less than 15 gazillion times. In a row. The entire week we've been cooped in this house because of the snow. Ugh. Actually, it is a pretty good movie with a good theme and ending. But after the gazillionth time, it just wore on us old foggie adults!

The other day, out of the blue, Hunter quoted a line from the movie Up... almost flawlessly. So I thought I'd quiz him...

Me: Hunter, what does Kevin say? (Kevin is the beautiful bird that "finds" them.)

Hunter: Kaw!

Me: Very good! What does Russel say? (the little boy)

Hunter: With my [Wilderness Explorer] GPS, we'll never be lost! (then Hunter imitates Russell throwing his hand sideways and the GPS flying out window) Oops!!!

Me: That was awesome, Hunter! What does Mr. Fredrickson say all the time? (grouchy old man that just lost his beloved wife, Ellie)

Hunter: All the time he says "Baah!"

Me: (laughing) What does Doug the dog say? (a dog who wears a translator collar)

Hunter: My master is very intelligent. My master is good and smart. I have just met you and I love you! SQUIRREL!!

Me: Wow! You remember all that in a scary kind of way! Does Kevin say anything else?

Hunter: Yes, KAW!

He's so much like his daddy. He'll remember at least one quote from any movie he's ever seen. I think we have a prodigy on our hands, because Hunter remembers WAY MORE than ONE line! And he's only four!

We're ever so proud!

KAW!

Just a little bit of snow!

So we've been just a little bit busy these past few days. Well, since last Friday, really. Can you say... "Snow, snow, snow"???????

This first picture was a "little" snow from last week... they were predicting one inch. We got seven. What a surprise.

The second picture was this past Friday and Saturday ... when we got 29 inches of snow. YES. TWENTY NINE. I measured it with a yard stick.

Then we helped all our neighbors, including digging out the sheriff's car. The last picture is today... in which we are under blizzard conditions and are set to accumulate another 20 inches of snow. It's been snowing since last night, but the wind is howling so hard that it was blowing snow in our front door through the cracks. Lovely.

So as we hunker down and stay warm, we are finding that Wii can be boring after 4 hours straight... there isn't much on TV during the day, and I'm getting pretty tired of the food we have on hand.

And you can bet we're not going out until the wind stops blowing and howling.

Why is it that children LOVE SNOW SO MUCH? I mean... I do love snow ... but I DONT like being wet and cold. Kids DO! Weird.

Can anyone say... Pina Colada???