Just found these...

...older photos from the last few months.  Julia took some, Lily took some, and I'm finally getting to them.  Here we are!

 Hanna and I watch Maggie climbing oaks.

 Carl and I found the best position for watching her climb way up high!

 Julia took some spinning in the sunshine shots.  I love these!

Maggie

 Hanna

 Lily

  

Hanna

 

Maggie

 Trey and Grandpa

 Thanksgiving--Lily took this one of Hanna, Georg, and me playing together.

Sunset

I've been down with the sniffles.  Just now, as I'm cooking some leftovers and Lily is helping set the table, she looked out the window in our kitchen and said, "Wow, look at that sunset.  God must have painted that just for you as a get well wish!"

We just started Trey in soccer...

...can you tell?  Trey LOVES soccer!  He's always talking about it, always asking when can he go again!

I Need YOU!

I've been listening to this song a bunch lately.  It actually made me cry today.  I think it's because I feel it so strongly--I NEED to know my God is here with me.  I NEED Him.  I've been reading Job (reading through the Bible chronologically this year) and I think that the lack of God's presence in his life was the hardest part of his suffering.  He lost all his possessions, riches, animals, house, barns, children, and he was in physical agony.  His wife mocked him and his friends blathered on in foolishness...but the kicker was...God was utterly silent for a while and Job did not have the Holy Spirit.  That must have been excruciating!

I really like the part of the song that says, 
"If Your presence goes I don't want to stay
If Your presence stays I don't want to go
If Your presence goes I don't want to stay
If Your presence stays I don't want to go
I need You!"

That makes me think of Joshua hanging out in the tabernacle in the Presence of God:
Exodus 33:11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. 

Then there's this verse to confirm that God would be with Joshua, even as he went on in life to serve God so differently with all the leadership of Israel and wars:

 Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 

Jesus is God, and He says in Hebrews 13:5:  
I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

And right before Jesus went back to Heaven temporarily, He said,  
"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). 
 

Without You

by Shane & Shane

I can walk through the storm
I can walk by faith when my sight is gone
Just as long as you are here with me
And I can gain everything
But what do I have if I don't have the king
Oh I need to know you're here with me

Here I am calling out Father
Can you hear me, can you hear me
I don't want to go without you
Here I am, can You talk a little louder
So I can hear You, I want to hear You
I don't want to move without You

Even though I believe
You've taken up a home inside me
And you'll never leave
I still need to know You'll never leave

Here I am calling out Father
Can you hear me, can you hear me
I don't want to go without you
Here I am, can You talk a little louder
So I can hear You, I want to hear You
I don't want to move without You

If Your presence goes I don't want to stay
If Your presence stays I don't want to go
If Your presence goes I don't want to stay
If Your presence stays I don't want to go
I need You

Here I am calling out Father
Can you hear me, can you hear me
I don't want to go without you
Here I am, can You talk a little louder
So I can hear You, I want to hear You
I don't want to move without You

If you want to hear this song, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eun34_2EmaQ&noredirect=1

Psalm 90:14 is still a favorite of mine...

...to contemplate. 

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

I think of how in the morning I tend to be tired, and sometimes grumpy.  Not satisfied.  But this verse tells me to ask God to satisfy me at the beginning of the day with His steadfast love.  Why?  So that I can rejoice and be glad all of my days.  Not just certain times.  And not just sort of coasting.  Rejoicing!  And being GLAD!  ALL of my days!

Funny Kids

My kids say such funny things.  Maggie just said, "We have a warranty for Trey's arrest!"

When Lily, Trey, and I were at Home Depot buying a plant, Lily commented while I was checking out, "Those succulents are so lovely, and look so healthy!"  Guess she hears a bit about plants. 

Then, when we were walking away, Trey pipes up, "Mama, don't look at the plants."  He knows how much I love plants!

Cowboy/girls & Coast

 We got to dress up for a western party--aren't we super cute?!  (Mom thinks so!)

Out the the coast for a couple hours of beach time in January, and a picnic lunch with friends...and for some reason Trey thought getting in the hole would be warmer :)

 Beautiful seaweed!

 And beautiful ice plant!

 This tree was next to the picnic table and so full of character...and so I put my 4 funny characters in in to snap this shot!