Toddler Princess

Lately the Lord has been showing me (again) that he loves me because I am his and not because of my performance. One time recently I was in a large meeting where there was a father following his 18 month old daughter around. She had become bored or loud or just felt like walking. It wasn't distracting or out of place, but she also wasn't "doing what she was supposed to do". He was so proud of her and thought she was so cute. It was written all over his face. I sensed the Lord saying "that's how I feel about you." From that came this poem:

I am your toddler princess
running to your court
with abandon and assurance
that you love me with all your heart.
You stretch your arms to catch me
swing me 'round with great delight.
We gaze at one another
in wonder at our mutual sight.

I am your toddler princess.
We laugh in fields of green.
You watch over me protectively
and murmur healing to wounds unseen.
You place me on your shoulders
and I exult in my new height.
If I run too far You catch me
and my squirming hand is held tight.

I am your toddler princess
dancing before you in new clothes
that you purchased at great peril
but gave to me for my repose.
With great joy I recompense you
with kisses and with love
that you receive as though I brought you
the stars from up above.

I am your toddler princess.
I learn of your secret ways
walking through majestic gardens
in the early morning haze.
You show me hidden pathways
and the beautiful displays
of bird songs and of perfumes
the world brings my Daddy praise.

I am your toddler princess.
Someday I will wear a crown.
This curly head will rule with you
in queenly wise renown.
You sing to me sweet lullabies
of blessing and destiny
and tuck me into knowing that
my Daddy is King of kings.

A Little Secret

Okay, I feel relatively safe telling you a little secret, dear reader (otherwise known as Cindy).  Okay Jackie, I'll let you in on it too.  Here it is - I have actually reactivated my facebook account.  I deactivated it last week because I apparently have an addictive personality and it was a HUGE distraction to me everytime I got on the computer.  Then I reactivated it because I remembered that I didn't know how to contact any of my old friends and wanted to give 'everyone' a chance to give me their contact information.  After a week and two (2) people contacting me with their contact information, I re-deactivated.  Then I needed to contact a friend about a meeting and didn't have any other way to contact him so I re-reactivated and I think I'm going to see if I can handle it. 

I might be able to stay off facebook though because I have a new addiction!  I spent about 2 hours last night net surfing and found all kinds of WONDERFUL sites out there!  Wow!  Some people are really talented! 

I found this gorgeous, refinished chair at www.centsationalgirl.com, complete with really good instructions.  This is probably my new favorite site!  If you love diy projects you will love it too.

 And at redletterwords.typepad.com/ I found about ten things I want to buy.  I love, love, love this:

And I'm going to buy something from this site THIS WEEK.   I just have to.  http://leenthegraphicsqueen.com/index.html.  I'm leaning toward this for my laundry room:

Or maybe this for my guest room.  Wouldn't this be a nice thing to sleep beneath when you are away from home?

Well, the fam would like for me to quit asking them questions about what people are saying at the Oscars so I think I'll stop blogging and let Micayla have the computer.

Ahh, Monday!

I know some people hate Mondays but I love them.  Monday is my paperwork-laundry-housecleaning day and the only day of the week that I can sleep in and stay home if I want to.  On the weeks that I go into the office or schedule lots of appointments on Monday I feel out of sorts all week.  And things like this happen: 

Today, though I am home and I am so happy.  I have laundry going and I made my grandmother's tuna salad recipe.

I love being home.  I love caring for my home.  I love making things pretty and taking care of my family.

Thank you Lord for Mondays.  And for all you Monday haters out there, I feel your pain if you have to go to the office.   Maybe you should just take Mondays off.  Go ahead.  I give you my permission.

Blessed, Blessed, Blessed

Well, it's Valentine's Day and my husband's birthday.  It has been a wonderful day.  We celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday and have hardly seen each other today but it is such a blessing to love and be loved on this day.  I remember my single days and Valentine's Days without a date that were no fun.   (How many times did I use the word "day" in that paragraph? No prizes for the right answer, sorry.)

The big news today though is that Bennet is officially a member of the family!  His adoption was finalized today in Texas and tonight he is in Alabama with his new mommy and daddy.  I am just so happy for them! I am really looking forward to kissing his sweet cheeks soon.

A much less exciting but still exciting news item is that I finished a hat for my mom tonight.  I finished it on Friday but it was too small for her so it was turned back into a ball of yarn and remade yesterday and today.  I hope she enjoys it.  I found the pattern on Ravelry.com.  If you haven't discovered that site yet and you enjoy knitting and crochet, you ought to check it out.  Since my sister is the only person who actually reads my blog though (Hi Sis!), that little piece of info is very unneccessary. 

I Finished!! :)

I finished the baby blanket I've been working on for my new grand-nephew!  I am so proud of myself!  I love finishing something because it allows me to say "so there!" to that voice in my head that says I never finish anything.  Yeah.  I know that's twisted.

In other news, doesn't 'grand-nephew' make me sound old?  Somehow being a great-aunt sounds older than being a grandmother.  I don't know why.  Anyway, my grand nephews and grand nieces are so adorable that it doesn't matter at all.  And anyway, I kind of like getting older.  It makes me feel wise.  Here is that adorable little boy.  My nephew and his wife are adopting him and we are all so excited!  I can't wait to kiss that baby!  But until I can get to him, my blanket will just have to hug him.  sigh.

Home Alone

We have had a wonderful week off thanks to the blizzard of 2011.  Tonight both teenagers are spending the night with friends and the hubby comes back tomorrow from a week long business trip so I am here with the dogs and the cat. 



This was forced relaxation.  After all he's a hunting dog so he only has one speed - CRAZY.  The old guy has just moved his main activity inside from the back yard but I think he could get used to this.



Yesterday my daughter and her friend cleared the driveway so that we could get out of the house.  She made her dad a happy man by LOVING the leather coat he has never allowed me to get rid of because it was a "classic".  I pulled it out because it's warm and she has worn it every time she has gone out since.  I think she has officially adopted it.  He is so happy.

So tonight I'm washing sheets in hot water to get rid of last week's flu germs, remaking beds and looking forward to seeing my family again tomorrow!   Who knew all I needed was a week of snow days?!