This is so cool... think about it.

Read in a comment box as I checked up on 22 Words this morning:

... Dreams, to me, help me grasp infinity.

How else could my brain have an hour-long dream that culminates in a plot point involving a noise that ends up being my alarm clock, the little device that is ringing after I hit snooze nine minutes ago?

How can an hour in my brain fit into nine minutes of "real time"? - reader, Rob Hulson

Handsome Boy

How can I love him SO much? And how is it that my love for him keeps growing??

James, Our Beauty Queen

He's such a pro at waving, that he just does it ALL THE TIME. Also, check out the clapping and the *sort of* pulling up!

Snugglin' with Poppa

Forgotten God

What the soul is in our body, the Holy Spirit is in the body of Christ, which is the church. - St. Augustine

In reading Chan's Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of The Holy Spirit, God has put into me a fresh and new yearning to be filled with His Spirit. Not just one time, but continually, day in and day out. With every diaper change and (unwanted) face-wipe of food gunk. With every stroke and sniff of his sweet head. With every desperate prayer that, "Oh God, draw his little heart to you." Every seemingly dull moment of my new and young motherhood is suddenly transformed in the light of living in the power of not my strength but His.

It's exciting. It's different. It's terrifying.

For some, it's going to a foreign country to daily risk life and limb to further God's kingdom and tell strangers about the Gospel. For all I know, that could be us in a few years. But for today, March 3, 2010, I need the same Spirit in order to love this little boy. To feed him green beans and peaches. And to feed him the truth that his Momma loves him no matter what.

It is easy to use the phrase "God's will for my life" as an excuse for inaction or even diobedience. It's much less demanding to think about God's will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next ten minutes. It's safer to commit to following him someday instead of this day. -Page 120

That's my prayer - that I would be desperate for the Holy Spirit's leading every minute of my day. Not for me, but for His Body. For His Church.

"So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church" 1 Cor. 14:12

Cut the Cut!

I'm not very politically savvy or as active as a responsible citizen probably should be, but this hits home directly affecting people that I love.

I emailed some representatives this morning for my small voice to be heard against these proposed budget cuts of the Dept. of Disabilities and Special Needs. I've linked you to a response letter from the DDSN that outlines why these cuts are so frightening.

Long story short, it would put thousands of South Carolinians without their crucial services. This includes children that receive essential therapies and services. Click here if you'd like to email SC reps, too.

James, at 8 months:

• is still ooching/inchworming around. Every once in a while, he'll fully extend his arms and hold the crawling position. He's taking his time and I'm totally fine with that!
• is still sleeping well. We had about a week where he was sleeping straight from 6:30 pm until 9:00 am. He's since gone back to waking up around 7:30, but MAN, that was crazy. I'd like to think that he was making up for his first 6 months of life.
• has started to squeal more and I absolutely love it. Even if he's whining, it's just so cute to me.
• thinks it's HILarious to 'raspberry' his food out of his mouth. If you're the lucky one feeding him, it's not always so funny.
• has added puff snacks to his diet. Also, graham crackers, but that was of his own volition: one of mine that dropped to the floor. Nice.
• has no thought or regard for Momma when Daddy gets home. The squeals, the jumping, the reaching, the grasping, the nuzzling. It's absolutely, positively, Daddy Time with no exceptions. I love it.
• has taken his first baths by himself in the tub and loves it!
• is slowly, but surely getting used to an apple juice bottle during meal times. It's been a long road, this bottle battle... but I'm pretty sure I'm winning. Gotta get some weight on this bod.

My precious boy. My sweet love. My 8 month Daymer-doo.