For Nothing is Impossible

"For nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:37-38

Every December, as I read the Christmas story in Luke, I find myself savoring these verses. Mary had just been told that she, a virgin, would 1)conceive a child, and 2)that this child would be the son of GOD! Wow! Talk about impossible! But the truth that lies in this verse is so profound, so deep, so hope-giving....NOTHING is impossible with God.

All throughout my life I've had struggles with my own "impossibles". Would I ever meet a man I'd want to marry...and have him like me? Will my bills always be met? Would hard relationships be reconciled? Could those deep hurts and patterns in my life be healed and forgotten?

Over and over again God has continued to answer: "I can do it, believe me", "I can do it, look to me", "I can do it, follow me!"

Just last year at this time I sat in our quaint one-bedroom apartment, with a baby in my belly, wondering how we'd EVER be able to afford to rent a two-bedroom in West LA. I felt God asking me to trust Him, to believe Him to work something glorious. And here I sit today, in the most beautiful four-bedroom home...which we attained by miraculous measures! Praise God!

And Mary? Well Mary was on the front-end of the most awesome and perfect miracle of all time, with no ability to see into the future. She had only the truth told her by an angel...for nothing is impossible with God. And she believed! She laid down everything and let God do to her and with her whatever He pleased. What humility! What trust! So beautiful.

Lord, I long for a heart like Mary's. You are the God of the impossible. May it be done to me as you please!

As we decorate our beautiful tree, hang lights, shop for presents, loudly sing our favorite Christmas carols, and enjoy delicious treats, I'm so thankful for the most cherished part of all...His birth. God sending his only Son to save us! Each December as I plod through the book of Luke in the Bible, I eagerly anticipate reading and remembering how Jesus came, lived, died and rose again to save us.

I'll be there soon, but for today, I'm observant of Mary's attitude...and prompted to follow her example. Will you help me Lord?

A Tooth!

Ah Ha! Those nights of tears, the endless drooling, and the rubbing of gums have finally paid off. Noelle popped out her first tooth on Friday! She is, however, still very private when it comes to her gums. We tried to snap a pic to show off her pearly white, but ended up with these. Alas, you'll just have to blindly celebrate with us...

Sweet like candy

Our sweet little bunny. She was ready for bed by 6:45....but I bet she still enjoyed her first Halloween.

shrieks and giggles

like music to our ears....

generations

"...future generations will be told about the Lord" Psalm 22:30

"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." Psalm 145:13

What an thought-provoking experience to birth, mother, and love future generations by mothering my tiny Noelle. My future generations will, Lord willing, be birthed through my Noey. Joe and I have been given the weighty responsibility to love, guide, and set the stage for our future generations. What will we leave them? I long to leave a legacy of loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul, mind, and strength, and loving others more than ourselves. What does it look like to pass this on to a five-month old? As I sat rocking in a dark room tonight, holding Noelle to my body and feeding her for the seventh time today, stroking her soft head, and whispering a prayer over her, I thought, this is it. This is the beginning.

God speaks often and boldly regarding his protection, blessing, provision, and fulfillment of promises for generations after a family lives righteously. Lord, might I live in a manner that will someday bless my great-great-great grandchildren!

This summer we were able to introduce Noelle to her great-grandparents. They held our baby and prayed a blessing over her. Tears streamed down my face as I imagined the Lord's joy at this prayer. Marilyn and Ray Riihilouma gave their lives to the Savior and gave their lives to blessing others many, many years ago. Their lives forever marked my mother's. My mother's mine. And mine, I pray, Noey's. I hope to someday sit, hold, and pray a blessing over my great-granddaughter. I hope to see the joy of the Lord on her parents' (my grandchildren) faces. I hope their mother, my Noey, will be living boldly with a heart for her Savior and a heart for people.

"There is no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 4

Times flies when you're changing diapers, and feeding, and bathing, and......

When did it happen? When did my baby go from this....























to this....







I kissed Noey goodnight a few moments ago and realized...I've never experienced such joy as watching my little one change, grow, and develop daily. It's like slowly unwrapping the best present of all. Thank you Lord for this blossoming life!

Not So Sleepless In Seattle

Last week Joe traveled to Seattle for some meetings. Noelle and I flew to meet him and spend a couple days with some of our co-workers there. I was nervous about traveling alone with Noey...driving to and parking our car in LA, flying out of LAX, and being the sole comforter should she have a mid-flight melt down. And what would I do if I had to sit next to some weird man and needed to nurse??!! (smile). Having already 'survived' sleeping alone at home the night before...no murderers arrived with Joe gone (hee!), I knew who to turn to as I drove off that morning. I prayed to our big God that he would be our "man", our protector, and my companion today. He answered!! I don't know if I've ever had such a smooth travel as I did that day. I found the long-term parking with ease, had to pay no extra for my baggage, flew through security, ended up with whole row to myself on the flight, and Noey slept the whole time. Praise God!

Once in Seattle, we had fun taking in all the sights. Seattle was everything I imagined it to be...beautiful, cool, misty, and grey. I loved the rolling hills, the water that surrounded the city, and especially the Pike Place Market! Pike Place Market is home to the very first Starbucks, many eccentric shops and restaurants, and the fish market. The fish market was truly a sight to see. Scruffy-looking men in plastic aprons hollered, cheered, and threw fish around. Crowds gathered to watch these men work, and people would buy seafood just to see their routine.

Sometimes the customers would even get into the act.

Every now and then, the men would surprise the newcomers in the crowd by throwing a giant fish at them! I shrieked the first time this happened...and then realized the giant fish was a fish pillow. Hee! It was still sick, however, as it was covered with fish juice from the floor. ugh!

Noey, was not so impressed with all the antics. In fact, she would cry every time they started up their chant. Not cut out for life as a sea fisherman I guess...