Hanging In...

My blogging skills have been even beyond lacking. It's been a bit of a rough go for me lately and I am working to start bouncing back. As always, the one bright light in my life is my Savior, Jesus Christ and, coming in a very close second is my precious Benjamin. Take a look at this picture and just TRY to wonder why!

Sorry about the red eye...I used to be able to edit these but for the life of me, can not get to wherever I was that let me do that! Here are the highlights of what we have been up to...

Benjamin took his first plane ride in mid-January to visit his grandma and grandpa. It was a really nice break for us, even though the weather wasn't ideal. We left Minnesota just at the right time too. We have been enjoying a very unseasonable winter, with mild temperatures and very little snow. While we were gone we missed cold temperatures and a huge snowstorm! Here are a few pictures from the trip.

We've been back for a few weeks now and are just settling in and looking forward to spring. We took advantage of a warmer than average Saturday this past weekend and took a trip to a favorite outlet mall. Benjamin fared much better than mommy when it came to our purchases...I had no luck, but it was worth it just to see the smiles on his face! Sunday we were able to get together with Benjamin's favorite uncle for lunch.

It was a nice weekend. I hope to be back with some more pictures and updates soon!

God bless you all!

Unseen Things

There is no question that 2011 was a tough year for me. While there were so many blessings (#1 blessing pictured below), it was heavily wrought with loss as well. Earlier today, I was having a very difficult time and found myself turning to all of the loss experienced, as opposed to focusing on all that God has for me to gain right here, right now. I was in the midst of my moment of grief and praying that God would take this cup from me, when He reminded me that this is temporary. I have heard this a lot from God in the past year, and found myself sighing and telling God that YES, I know this is temporary, but it happens to be my temporary REALITY right now and I think it sucks! And then...God broke through and said no THIS is temporary... ALL of this is temporary. Only I am eternal. God told me to stop looking at my circumstances as if THEY were eternal, meaning that when this particular set of 'temporary' circumstances falls away and I find myself back on the mountaintop, the things of this world will STILL be temporary. Then He gave me this verse from the Bible:
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
I am so thankful to have a God who loves me so much, that He is willing to break through those moments I would rather spend wallowing in self pity, to bring me such a humbling, transforming and ETERNAL truth!
I am thankful to know that when my eyes, once again, become focused on my less than perfect circumstances...I am as close to the truth as closing them and remembering that which is unseen, unchanging and everlasting.

Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Happy New Year from our house to yours!

Uncluttered Hearts

As we are approaching yet another Christmas in celebration of the coming of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, I am aware of a new heart condition. No, this is not a bad thing...we have enjoyed good health in 2011. In so many ways, Benjamin and I have had a very prosperous year. We have received an outpouring of love and support from friends and family, whom God has chosen to use in ways that have touched our hearts remarkably. While my heart still so often hurts...in other ways it has become most uncluttered. While decorating and trimming the Christmas tree this weekend, an old, familiar carol struck a new chord with me. Consider this lyric from "Joy To The World"...

Let every heart prepare Him room.

It was as though I were hearing the lyrics for the first time as I prepared our 'rooms' for Christmas. I have not been lamenting over how I am unable to wrap more and more presents for Benjamin this year. While hanging a special ornament from the tree, however, I found myself thinking a bit about what 'might have been'. As a single tear rolled down my face, God stopped me short as this lyric jumped out, reminding me of the reason for this season once again. It is my prayer that amidst the busyness of the holiday shopping, parties and celebrations, you will stop to remember to prepare Him room within all of your hearts.

God bless you all and have a very Merry Christmas.

Trudy, Benjamin (and Santa and Mrs. Claus too!)