Our almost-Christmas baby is two already.  Oh, what fun to introduce a toddler to her second birthday!  From many, many attempts to get two fingers in the air instead of one, to listening to her Daddy drill her repeatedly on “How old are you?” 

“I’mmm one … TWO!”  It’s great.

Due to our travels to and from her mama’s family on and around her birthday, and then much more socializing with Daddy’s family in NC as soon as we got back (the disadvantage of being born between Christmas and New Year’s), I don’t have the typical pictures of blowing candles and messy face that I would like to post.  But I just wanted to acknowledge the fact that we are truly grateful for our little daughter’s entrance to the world two years ago.  She is very appropriately named ‘Megan Joy’ as she has filled our world with literal delight.  She hasn’t struggled with living life yet.  It is all a grand adventure to her.  She wakes up with a bright smile of anticipation and plenty of love to reach around.  About the only time her amiability is hampered is when little cousins come around that she didn’t know share her Daudy!  We’ll have to work on that one.  :)  Hurray for Megan!

Try having a picnic in December.  You can get by with it in NC … just so!!  This was a really fun time.  PD’s cousin, Dora and her husband were here with their very special daughters, Autumn and Amy.  Dora and I were bosom friends between about the ages of 10 and 14, and have always maintained  the kind of friendship that never disconnects.  We had four wonderful days of deep, stirring discussions as well as many giggles and belly laughs, as we caught up after many years.  Mary was with us much of the time.  They say three is a crowd … well, I have to say these three were the good kind of crowd.  We all have so many beautiful things in common, the main one being an earnest desire to walk with God.  Then, God has blessed each of us with a wonderful marriage, and all of us have little girls to raise.  God is so good.  All of those things, coupled with a very intense nature in all three of us … let’s just say, we traveled far and deep in conversation!  Thanks to all of you for a great visit.  The memories of this hike to the top of Stone Mountain are really precious, not to mention the little shiver that goes through me as I remember the cold.  Have you ever grilled hamburgers and tried in vain to warm your hands over the charcoal as you waited?

 All our girls!!

Awesome view after a very strenuous hike.

Joyful Megan, even tho’ she was so cold!

At least our hearts were warm … nothing else was …

exept maybe the van, as the little girls soon discovered!

The road is narrow, the road to You.

It’s not just the road of life, as some see,

But the way between my heart and Yours.

That way is opened by faith alone,

The Spirit of God  keeps it alive,

Myself only turns it back to stone …

How the way to Your Heart can be lost!

So, Lord, how can I make sure my way?

 Just give Me your heart, by tempests tossed,

And I will transform it  like Mine today.

Your way will be sure to the heart of God,

Your faith unshaken, your will like Mine;

And out of your broken heart will flow,

LOVE unlike any you ever will find.

Oh, to be like You, Lord!  I cry …

Tho’ inhibited by my flesh and blood,

Let all of self be condemned to die!

My heart by Your Spirit and Love be filled.

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes. 5: 17.) There is a great difference between prayer and the life of prayer. Almost everyone prays, but very few pray without ceasing. This is the habit of devotion. This is the altar of incense ever burning in the Holy Place. This is the fragrance of a heart that lives in the presence of the Holy One, and breathes the very life of God. This is the deep undertone of a sanctified life. It is from this that the sweetness, the gladness, the holiness, and the helpfulness come. Lord, teach us the habit of prayer, the prayer that springs spontaneously from the heart, and which neither secular duty, satanic temptation, nor the waves of sorrow, can interrupt, but which is only stimulated by the things that try us, until every experience becomes transformed into an occasion for communion and fellowship with God.”

I love the above quote by A.B. Simpson.  I don’t know that man, but I think he understood something that we have a hard time getting sometimes.

God has been doing a new sanctifying work in my heart, and I have been absolutely overwhelmed by His grace and love.  I am rejoicing, and at the same time, deeply sobered by the heart of God.  I have never seen so clearly how easy it is for every human being, no matter what they profess, to simply miss walking in the reality of God’s grace.  The heart of man within himself is truly evil.  If every man or woman is not willing to consider his own heart in these days, what havoc will be wrought.  We Christians say Amen to a statement like that readily, but I wonder if we have done it ourselves.  Have we asked God to show us our own heart?  Have we truly received His grace into our hearts and been filled with His Spirit?  Do we realize how serious it is for us to profess Christ if we have not?  Souls are being devoured by the enemy.  If we only see what a person does or hear what he says and don’t fight for his soul with true faith in God, do we realize that we can thoughtlessly shove him right over the brink?   Are we willing to stop and consider our own hearts before God?  Are we willing to rally for the sake of His kingdom, believe God and realize that there is no power in our own hand?  I’m convinced that if I fail to understand how helplessly dependant my soul is on God, and receive His Divine nature into my heart by His Spirit, I will never make it.  This is a true war.

No, no, it wasn’t us. My sister gave birth to a child recently, and we’re working on a tactful way of letting her friends know about it. Below is what we have accomplished. Actually, below is one of the many drafts we produced in the process. See what you think. 

 p.s. The vitals were just a guess at this stage, so don’t take them too seriously.

Here are some links for you to pursue.

http://www.mwphotographics.blogspot.com/

http://www.mwphotographics.com

http://www.buseweaver.blogspot.com/

                 

                                      

                                                              

This is just a little spill of happiness.  I want to thank God for allowing me to be mother to three of the sweetest girlies ever.  Circumstances have forced me to slow down lately, and I’m so glad.  The three little faces that dance around me daily have become my greatest priority throughout the day, along with walking with God and loving my hubby.  I am learning to focus on them more, not just in a surface way, but to see them for who they are, and appreciate their individuality and amazing beauty.  God is truly amazing when He creates children.  I thank Him for letting us experience them daily.

After almost a year of waiting, Esther has finally gotten herself some bunnies. Yes, they are both females, and no, they shall not be fruitful and multiply. At least not yet. The picture is living proof that not all of our animals die. In fact they are loved, cherished, nourished, pampered, petted, and tenderly cared for most of the time. The weaver zoo currently consists of a pony, a dog, a LARGE cat, some smaller cats, 2 rabbits, a flock [herd? gaggle? school?] of goldfish, and a stray mouse or two. Our mice seem to be suffering from Bromadiolone right now, and I fear they won’t make it much longer. You may wish to observe a moment of silence in their honor right now. Thank you.