Psalm 34

I just started reading a new book, The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd...yes, a book for ME not because I have to for class, but because I want to read it. The first chapter, Influence Beyond Measure, really puts a price on motherhood, if you could actually do that. As mothers, we have an influence over our children that is unbelievable. What we do with it, is how our child will develop. And how motherhood isn't always looked upon as a real job. No, we don't get paid but we put in many long hours and hard work every day. Our job is beyond what any congressman, athlete or super star does, but our pay is much less. Yet, it has more rewards than any of those careers.
The end of the chapter gives a scripture to read and reflect on, I thought I would share it:
Psalm 34 (from the Good News Bible, New English Version)
"I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him. I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness; let us praise his name together! I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears. The oppressed look to him and are glad; they will never be disappointed. The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles. His angel guards those who have reverence for the Lord and rescues them from danger. Find out for yourself how good the Lord is. Happy are those who find safety with him. Have reverence for the Lord, all his people; those who obey him have all they need. Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good. Come, my young friends, and listen to me, and I will teach you to have reverence for the Lord. Would you like to enjoy life? Do you want long life and happiness? Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. The Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; but he opposes those who do evil, so that when they die, they are soon forgotten. The righteous call to the Lord, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. The good man suffers many troubles, but the Lord saves him from them all; the Lord preserves him completely; not one of his bones is broken. Evil will kill the wicked; those who hate the righteous will be punsihed. The Lord will save his people; those who go to him for protection will be spared."

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

Every year we go up in the woods and pick out our Christmas tree. It's not a perfectly trimmed tree, it's a natural straight-from-the-woods tree. It is my favorite thing to do. We've done it since before Joy was born. She loves going too. She helped Daddy drag the tree out of the woods...and she had fun in the deep snow.

Wow..it's almost February

Where has the time gone? Christmas was great. Joy had so much fun this year talking about baby Jesus, Santa, decorating the Christmas tree, everything was such fun for her. It brought back to me how much fun it was as a child. To see everything through her eyes is so wonderful.

We had the week off between Christmas and New Year's. The day after Christmas, we took the girls (Joy and her 2 cousins) to Stuff It in the mall. It's like Build-a-Bear. They all had gift certificates and were able to make their own animals. Joy picked out a pink bunny and named her Puppy. Then they played on the playground in the mall.

We had a couple snow days off as well. The weather here has just been COLD. We've gone for a week not hitting much higher than 10 degrees. The wind chill is below zero, and snow is coming. I have all the Christmas decorations to put back in the barn, but I can't get to the barn through the snow drifts! I'm ready for Spring!

I'll try to post pictures at another time. I never seem to be able to size them so that they fit. But I have tons of pictures to share. I'll try to do that this week sometime.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and this year brings you much happiness.
God Bless.