Weathering the storms....

These last few weeks have been such a roller coaster of emotions for my family. My first cousin Hal has been diagnosed with melanoma. He has a large spot on his temple and had it removed last week. We will find out the results today to see if the cancer is in his lymph nodes. He is 36. Hal has the most beautiful family consisting of his wife, Kim, and his 3 precious little boys.

Please lift him up in prayer. We are all anxiously awaiting news from his doctor.

A very close friend of mine, Michelle, has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is also young, and one of the most spiritual women that I have the pleasure of knowing. She co-leads our Tuesday night bible study at Eastridge. She will undergo a lumpectomy the Monday after Easter. She has asked that we pray for wisdom, guidance and peace as she begins this process. I have full faith that God is using her for His glory, and that she will minister to many people as she fearlessly takes the path God has planned for her.

There are many, many more men and women going through heartache, sickness, and need. My heart literally breaks for those in such despair. My God is a mighty God, and I know that everything is in His control and in His power. My flesh wants to fall apart with worry, but my spirit knows better. The moans of my spirit are heard by my Father, and he comforts me like nothing else can. I will rest in the shadow of His wings, and know that He will deliver me through.

The world around me is different than it was even just 3 years ago. It is beginning to look foreign to me. Even as I write this, I am reminded of scripture that tells us that we are aliens in a foreign land. We were not created to be "comfortable" here on earth. Our hearts and minds should be set on our eternity with our Father. This is getting easier and easier for me as I see the changes in this world politically and spiritually. We shouldn't be surprised, though. It is all laid out in scripture, the Bible foretells what the world will become. Devastating, but our hope is in Him, not the world.

I am so thankful for every single blessing that God gives me. He meets my every need, and His word is faithful and true.

resting in the shadow of His wings~

Jill

Thirty something....

I feel like a new woman! My old computer died, and after a couple of months computer-less, I am the proud owner of a brand spanking, shiny, new, black laptop! My very first laptop! I am head over heels in love with my new friend. The only thing that I need to get used to is the keys being so close together. While typing this, I have already backspaced, deleted and accidentally hit the caps lock key about 150 times. Oh well, practice will make perfect, right?

This post is just a little "Jill" writing. My camera is dead, the battery needs charging, so I thought I would just write. Not sure what about yet, but it will come.

Hmmm...okay. Hmmm...well.

Okay, so I turned 35 in January. Not loving the sound of this age. Actually, I think thirty six sounds better, younger somehow. Something about the "five"...just drags on for too long. I like short sounding numbers, like "six", or "two". I think that now is the time that I may start flubbing a bit on my age when someone asks. Oh, hush all of you people that think that we should be proud of our ages and be proud of our ever deteriorating bodies. You people make me sick. Just being honest here.

I still love God, and am grateful to be alive, but I don't have to love aging. It's just not so fun. The funny thing is that i feel so young. Well...until I say.."I'm thirty-five". Somehow that brings me down a notch or two.

And, is it me, or does it seem like everyone is all the sudden younger than me? It's like, okay, where did all of my "older" friends go?? I like being the young one in the group. Lately, it seems that I am the oldest by a year or two. Hmmm...what's up with that?

Life is flying by, and each birthday seems to come a little earlier every year. I guess this is life. Doesn't mean that I have to like it though. I find myself wanting to be around little kids a lot. It makes me feel young and spry. Maybe I will open a daycare in my home. (I can hear Lem now...hell to the no.) Oh well, just a thought.

Presley told me that I didn't look a day under thirty five. She is a girl that keeps it real, for sure. Like it or not.

aging (not-so) gracefully,

Jill

Teddy Graham....

~playing a little chess together...or acting like it anyway.

~silly, silly in the bathtub

~presley with a bubble beard...Graham had one, but it fell off before i could grab my camera..

~i checked joseph out of school to enjoy this beautiful day...(i am not one for rules) :)

~cousins are the best!

~teddy graham, graham cracker, grahamy-poo (my personal fave)..love this kid!

~cheese~

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of keeping Graham...my 4 year old nephew. (Jason and Andrea's son). I decided to keep Presley home from school to play with Graham. She was thrilled, of course. On the other hand, poor Joseph was reminded daily by Presley that she would not have to go to school so that she could play with Graham all day on Friday. Joseph thought I was the worst mother in the world for not letting him stay home as well. Guilt trip galore!

Try explaining this to an 8 year old..... "Pre-K is different than 3 rd grade..it is not mandatory. ". Ha! He just wasn't buying that at all. So, about noon, I decided that the day was just too beautiful to stay at school. I drove to the elementary school and checked my darling out. He was ecstatic! I went from being worst mother of the year, to the best mother of the year in an instance.

We headed straight to the park and played the day away. Many memories, and much fun later, we were pooped. Presley and Joseph both fell asleep on the way home. Wish I could have snapped that picture.

I love my little ones, every one of them. My nieces and nephews feel just like my very own, and I am so blessed to be their Aunt. If I could, I would adopt every single one of them! Love those babies!

Being an Aunt is second only to being a Mommy.....it's heaven.

ready for the park again,

Aunt Jilly