Getting (Running) Away

While normal people are ticking off items on their long Christmas to-do list, I've run away from home.
Or, I've run away from my to-do list.
Either way, I needed a break.
This is where I am for 2 weeks...

I took the family with me though.  I didn't need a break from them.  Can anyone find Gideon?  (It's like Where's Waldo)

We are loving life right now in Sedona and I refuse to think about what is waiting for me when I get back home.  I left without doing any Christmas cards, I haven't finished my shopping, and I have no idea what I'm wearing to Tony's Christmas party for work.
And, you know what...
I'm okay with that.
Look at this view from my patio.

My husband is so sweet to do this for me.  I was in pretty sad shape and I think he recognized the need to do this before I went off the deep end.  I'm taking this time to pray about my priorities and change some old habits and thinking patterns and hopefully that will help me to handle things better when we get back home.
Tomorrow, we are heading out for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Say Cheeeeese!

It's Christmas card time.

Typing that just made me {sigh} and kinda slump down in my chair.

Not because I don't love Christmas cards. I do. I line them up all over my living room and love looking at all of our friends and their smiling children.

It's the smiling children part that's killing me.

I can get my children to all smile...just not at the same time. So. I end up with a roll of pictures with 4 smiling children aaaand one that's looking away...or scratching his back...or looking like he's in pain.

But, they're having fun.






And yes, Gid's eating a lollipop. It's the only way I could keep him with everyone else instead of chasing the cat across the yard.

Joy

After our referral for Gid, we couldn't wait to hold him and get to know this little boy God had chosen to be our son. We wondered what his little personality would be like. He seemed very serious in every picture we saw. Then, we heard from people who met him that he was very cautious about new people and wouldn't smile for them. As our meeting got closer, we received updates that he cried a lot with tummy aches and was hard to console.

I started praying.

Not praying for an easy peasy baby.

But, praying for a baby filled with joy.

Who would find joy in our family.

Who would bring joy to others.





Now, what comes to mind when I think of Gid is...Joy.

In every area, he is filled with joy.

That doesn't mean he never cries.
And he has certainly won every stare down he has faced.

But, who he is, what he has shared with our family and everyone he meets.

Joy.

Thank you, Lord!