Cinderella

I have been a HUGE fan of contemporary Christian artist, Steven Curtis Chapman, for years, and have been enormously blessed by his music. Today, I join the Chapman family, and millions of other all over the world, in grieving the tragic death of the Chapman's youngest child, Maria. A young life cut short by an accident, and a moment when God doesn't make sense. We simply rest in the hope that He knows what He's doing.

The following song was written by Steven about the relationship between a father and daughter. A reminder of how important it is it savour each moment... because before you know it the moment is gone:

Just "Love Them Like Jesus"

I've been thinking a lot about this song, "Love Them Like Jesus," by Casting Crowns lately. Mostly because my husband, a fairly new pastor, is in the midst of his first experience in walking someone through the impending death of a loved one.

He asked me the other day, "what do I say to her?" "Nothing," I replied. "Just love her through it."

There are times, as Dr. James Dobson puts it so well, when God just doesn't make sense. But that doesn't mean He doesn't care. Nor does it mean that we, in our human finiteness, need to feel obligated to have all the answers. In my husband's role as pastor in this instance, but applicable to all of us with friends or family going through a time of trial, his only job is to love them, to carry them through it, and to remind them that God is there.

Things I Love List

I'm stealing this idea from a friend, who faithfully writes a "Friday Love List" of things that make her smile. (Thanks Sharon!) It's a great way to lift your spirits, remember all the good things in your life and count your blessings. It's also a great way to start a weekend.... So, I love...

1. Sunny days
2. Cozy evenings with my hubby
3. New episodes of my favorite shows (Battlestar Galactica, CSI (Vegas), Criminal Minds, etc.)
4. Mexican food -- bring on the corn tortillas!
5. Hits from the 80s to keep me humming while I work...
6. Shopping
7. redecorating my house
8. Coffee -- sniff sniff... with the baby on the way I just can't indulge like I used to! :-)
9. pics of my nephews and notes from home
10. surprise love notes/emails from my hubby
11. the smell and feel of clean sheets as you cozy in to bed...
12. the relaxed sign you let out as you crawl into bed after a busy day
13. Funky candles
14. tulips
15. playing with my Nikon
16. daydreaming ;-)
17. Sunday mornings on the way to church -- a great time to prepare, calm ourselves and munch on some McD's egg mcmuffins with my hubby before the chaos of SUndays
18. leading worship at church
19. dreaming and planning for this baby on the way...
20. watching my husband's joy in spending a few hours playing with his Nintendo Wii!