Choices, Choices

I know that exercise is going to be the key to my weight-loss goals this year. Sadly, I do have to work on motivation, but having somewhere to go and others to hold me accountible really helps.

Here are my choices,

a) Taking a Zumba class on Thursday nights at the College (where I work) and be around a bunch of young ladies 5-9 years younger than me that are probibaly 50+ lbs lighter than me. To add to it, the class is at 8 pm and I would have to drive 20 minutes each way to attend. On a side note: I have taken Zumba before and kept it up for 2 months (this is an accomplishment for me) and lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks. I REALLY enjoyed the dancing and fun we had.

b) Starting C25K with the ladies of my church. They are meeting Saturday afternoons at my high school track (5-7 minutes away from home) to help get us flabbies and couch-potatoes in shape. I have heard so many bloggers and friends on FB talk about their experience with C25K and I am interested. Maybe this is the encouragement and fellowship I have been needing to get my boo-hiney in gear.

I think I answered my own question, LOL!
So if I ask you to join me, please don't be offended. I just need some one to chat with and to help hold me accountible. I know there are a few of us that need something like this and have been talking about it. This is where we quit talking about losing weight and put our feet to the pavement. Who's with me?! Seriously, will you join me?

Don't you love when God smacks us around a little...

I have obviously not been so great at my daily devotional. My lack of posts since last week's is evidence of that. But God really reached me on a personal level this week and weekend. There was a wonderful outpouring of the Spirit during our church service and I was moved to tears. Then to see the love and support of those close to the Hubby and I that have been through so much in such a short time frame was amazing.
I have been in search of that reconnection with God. Ya know, that feeling you had when you returned from a youth retreat. I need that revived spirit that puts me in line with God. When you know you are in His will, and doing what He wants you to do, and there is a joy, a peace, an excitement about your relationship with the Lord. I have missed that feelings, that revival deep down.
I felt like Satan was putting every possible obstacle in my way to keep me from getting up on time and being able to have my morning time with God. This morning, I put forth a threat, If he continues to keep me from my devotional, I will double my efforts and double the time I spend in The Word and in active prayer. I want my time! I need that peace!
this morning, he wasn't willing to test me. I turned on my radio earlier than normal because I was able to get up and moving at the time I wanted. I hear this familiar tune playing and a peaceful female voice. Occasionally, I have caught the last few minuets of the radio program, Revive Our Hearts, but never really got to listen to more than a minute or two. This morning, the Lord knew what I needed. Don't you love it when He does that!

This is what I hear this morning:

I will tell you that I am often tempted in the course of walking with the Lord and serving the Lord to get discouraged, tempted to lose heart. There are some days when I just have no motivation to keep going. It's hard to persevere. You've been through seasons like that yourself. You may be in one right now.

So I've been drawn to the topic that we're discussing on Revive Our Hearts this week because it has addressed such an area of need in my own life. We're looking at 2 Corinthians chapter 4, and we're talking about how to keep from losing heart. The Lord has used this passage in a great way to encourage me. We are going to find in this passage eight principles that will help us keep from losing heart.

Paul says in verse 1 of 2 Corinthians chapter 4, "We do not lose heart." Then again in verse 16, as kind of a bookend to this chapter, he says once again, "We don't lose heart," although, as we saw that Paul had a lot of reasons why he could have lost heart. He faced a lot of hardships, physical hardships, spiritual hardships, relational hardships, financial hardships—all kinds of crises in his life and ministry that could have made him throw in the towel.

A lot of people do drop out. There aren’t a lot of people who keep running faithfully all the way to the finish line. My goal for myself and my goal for you is that we would be faithful all the way to the finish line, that we would not lose heart and jump out of the race or fall out of the race. So what can we do? Well, let's look at 2 Corinthians 4:1. Paul says, "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart."

Now, before we look at the first principle, let me just make a comment here. Paul says, "We have this ministry," and you may be thinking, "Well, I'm not in ministry, so this chapter doesn't really apply to me. This chapter obviously applies to people who are in vocational ministry."

When I first gave this message, I called it, "How to Keep from Losing Heart in the Ministry." I gave it to people who were in vocational ministry, but I began to realize as I studied further that this is a passage that applies to every believer.

Let me just point out something about the word ministry. In the original language it's the word diakonia. It's the word for "service," and it includes all kinds of service—any business, any vocation, any calling which requires labor that is for the benefit of others can be covered here.

That could include being a mother, being a wife, marriage, parenting, vocation, ministry through your local church, acts of compassion—any aspect of life where God has called you to serve and to be a blessing to others is a ministry.

We are all called to diakonia. We are all called to service. We are all called to ministry, and we are all tempted at times to lose heart. So how do we keep from losing heart in the sphere of service that God has entrusted to us?

Here is the first principle: Receive God's provision.

In verse 1 Paul says, "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart."

One translation says of that verse, "Therefore, having this ministry as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart" (NASB). As we have received mercy. Can I encourage your heart with this? Every form of ministry comes with the gift of God's mercy. Anything God calls you to do in serving Him or others comes with the gift of God's mercy. You see this all the way through Paul's writings.

In 1 Timothy 1:12-14, Paul says,

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost of sinners, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life (verses 12-14, 16).

All through the Scriptures, Ephesians chapter 3, Paul says, "I was made a minister [of this gospel] according to the gift of God's grace, which was given to me by the working of his power" (verse 7). 

When God calls you to serve Him in whatever He has called you to do, with that calling comes the gift of God's grace, the gift of God's enabling, the gift of God's mercy. The same mercy that saved you and called you, the same mercy that put you into that diakonia, service ministry, that same mercy will sustain you and preserve you in the ministry.

If God called you to be a wife, if God called you to be a mother, if God called you into the workplace to have a vocation, if God has called you to serve in your local church—whatever God has called you to do, He will supply His mercy to do that ministry. There's always a fresh supply of God's mercy. Aren't you glad? His mercies are new every morning. There is always a sufficient supply.

The Scripture talks about the exceeding great mercy of God. He is plenteous in mercy. He is abounding in mercy. Think about what God has called you to do—to love your husband, to mother your children, to teach your children, to lead a small group Bible study, to represent Him in the marketplace or the office or in your school, maybe where you are surrounded by unbelievers. There is mercy as a gift from God, a provision from God to do whatever He has called you to do. Receive it. Thank Him for it. Receive God's provision.

And then secondly, if you want to keep from losing heart in the ministry, Paul says we need to renounce ungodly practices.

Renounce ungodly practices. Determine to be pure. Determine to obey God and to do it His way regardless of what anyone else does.

Look at verse 2 of 2 Corinthians 4,

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's Word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

Paul says, "We are not going to take shortcuts and do this ministry in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord. We are going to follow God's rules for serving Him."

He refused to adopt any practices or any methods of serving God that were dishonest or that were not true to the Scripture. He said, "We operate in the sight of God recognizing that one day we will give account to Him."

So Paul is saying, "I am living a life of integrity, a life of authenticity, in private as well as in public." And so regardless of what your mate does, regardless of what your children do, regardless of what your boss does, regardless of what others in your church may do—renounce ungodly practices.

Say, "I am not going to take shortcuts. I'm going to determine to be pure, to be obedient, to do my ministry, my service in a way that is pleasing to the Lord."

So what does that mean? Well, it depends on what situation and service you are in. It may mean that you will not nag your husband—that's an ungodly practice. You will not criticize him. You will not gossip and speak evil of him.

It means you will not take matters into your own hands. You will not try to control or manipulate or fret or whine or pout or be bitter or lose your temper or say angry, hurtful things back to the person who has hurt you. It means in your marriage, you will not withhold sex from your husband.

We renounce ungodly practices. You will not initiate divorce. You will not give up on your marriage. You will not have an affair to get your “needs met.” It means you will not become deceptive in your marriage. It means you will not quit. Those are ungodly practices. You will not do those ungodly practices.

What it does mean is that you will do some things.

• You'll do the things that are pure.
• You will forgive again and again and again.
• You will love.
• You will give.
• You will serve.
• You will meet the needs of the other person.
• You will be self-controlled.
• You will guard your tongue.
• You will pray.
• You will wait on the Lord.
• You will trust Him to act.

See, there are plenty of right things we can do. And Paul says, "We are determined to live our lives as before God."

So your husband loses his temper. Paul says, "If you don't want to lose heart, make sure you do what's right regardless of what your mate does."

So your children are resisting authority. Are you going to be manipulative and controlling and pull rank, or are you going to keep a gentle and a quiet spirit.

Paul says, "We renounce ungodly practices." Others may take shortcuts. Others may do things that are not pleasing to the Lord. We are determined that we will please the Lord in how we live.

So if you want to keep from losing heart, first of all receive God's provision. Receive the mercy and the grace that He wants to give you and will give you if you receive it to do the service, the ministry He has entrusted to you. Then renounce ungodly practices. Determine to be pure regardless of what anyone else does.

We’ll look at the next principle in the next session, but let’s just take a few moments to personalize what God has said to us. As we bow our hearts before Him, let me just ask: If you are receiving the mercy, the grace that God wants to give you for however He has called you to serve Him, would you just in this moment thank the Lord for His enabling?

Then, is there some ungodly practice that you’ve been involved in? It may just seem like a little thing to you, but Paul said, “We don’t want to lose heart, so therefore, we will renounce those ungodly practices. We determine to be pure. We determine to live our lives as before God in His sight regardless of what anyone else does.”

Oh Lord, how we need Your protection and Your enabling to live that way. Sometimes we feel we’re all alone, we’re going against the flow. We feel like we’re the only one in our court, the only one who wants to do what’s right. Lord, give us the courage and the grace, by the power of Your Holy Spirit to do what is right.

And we know that as we do, You will encourage our hearts and keep us in the race. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

(find the full script at Revive Our Hearts)

So often, we think of ministry as being those called to a form of public service in the church. I haven't thought about my role as a wife and mother as my ministry. My place of work as my ministry. That because of God's mercy, I am able to have and maintain these roles. Two are so much more precious and priceless than the other. However, despite the stresses they all bring, I know that it is God's mercy that put me here, and God's mercy and provision that will get me through the stresses and difficulties. This is my ministry and God has put me here for a reason. God gave me the Hubby, the Girl, and the Job. God has called me, as part of my ministry, to love the Hubby, to mother and teach the Girl, and to represent Him at the Job. That is powerful to me. Even as simple as it is. God specifically gave me each of these this and I have to be a good steward with what he has given me.

The other thing that really hit me was, "I will not take matters into my own hands." Oh, so guilty here! I need to remember that I don't need to try to controll things at home and at work. I want to live my life with iintegrity and don't want to cut corners.

::Smack, smack:: I hear you Lord! And after all this, I still had the opportunity to do my morning devotion and he knew something else I needed. Apparently He decided to double up on me since I missed out last week. :)

New Years Resolutions... Lose weight

Like nearly everyone across the country, part of my New Years Resolutions is to lose weight. I am currently 10 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. That is without any real active attempt to lose weight. So, with the exception of the water-weight I dropped in the 2 weeks after the Girl was born last December I have lost another 20 lbs. I am pretty proud, however, it isn't enough! I have always been on the large size and am very determined to resolve this problem. In the past when I lost weight, I always felt so much better and had more energy. That is what I want, and to look less than gross in a bathing suit this summer. My goal for the year... to lose 50 lbs.

This is a rather daunting task, but as I have learned with most things, it is better to break it down into smaller goals. That means 25 lbs by June... which translates into 4.167 lbs per month. That feels like a much more managible goal! This means paying more attention to the amount I am eating and when I am eating it. It means being more active. As much as I want to do more, right now, the ridiculous cold weather in the South is keeping me inside. I really want to try C25K. Hopefully I can start working on that soon. I can see where that would be such a stress reliever as well.

So there it is! I have put it out there for the world to help hold me accountible. Now, that doesn't mean I want you knocking the cookie out of my hand when you see me in the cafe, but I do love encouragement and support. :) I am putting this in the Lord's hands. I want to be more healthy for me, for the Hubby, and for the Girl.

I will try to update once a month on my progress, one way or the other.

January 4th Devotional - Circle of Support

One thing I have contemplated with my blog (since I have so many readers, lol) is journaling my thoughts from my daily devotional. Maybe it will help me to A) make sure I am doing my daily devotional and B) to really make me think about it more than just a quick read through. Plus I got this great book, The One Year Devotions for Women on the Go, that really seems to be prompting a lot more thought than others I have looked at or attempted to read.
All I ask for is support. The Momma says, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." So I ask that negative comments not even be posted.

So here we go:

Romans 15

 ¹ We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^{[a] 4} For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
 ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 ⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

How many times in life through the struggles to we merely need a comrade in arms. When we are having a tough day, we need someone to encourage us. I can say I am certainly at a time in my life spiritually when this uplifting helps so much. It helps me to know that although that person isn't walking my path, they are encouraging every step I take. I think we all need that encouragement. To understand where I am going, I need to share where I have been. Because I am an over-sharer, I will do my best not to bore you with the little details. However, be prepared, this could get lengthy. So grab your cup of coffee, prop your feet up and take a stroll down memory lane with me. Some things are good, some are not.

I have been in church since 9 months before I was born. Not just any church, but a Southern Baptist church. I am not ashamed to say that I love the church i grew up in and all those that have followed. For my family, the only question asked on Sunday was what are you wearing to church, not are you going. Not to say that my parents forced us to go, but it was simply customary. It's what we did. During a presentation at my church on the night of April 14th, 1999, knelt in the pew of my church, I recognized that all my years in church and walking down front at the age of 9 because that is what my friends did, didn't keep me from hell and eternal separation from God. In those moments as I knelt during the invitation, I remember feeling that there was no one else in the room but me and the Holy Spirit.  I knew what to pray, I had heard it a thousand times. But this time, it meant something different to me. As I recognized my sinful nature before God, asked Him to forgive me for those sins, and to come into my heart and life and be my Lord and Savior, a rush of heat and them cool rushed all over my body. From the very tip of my head to the bottom of my feet. Kinda like the shivers, but heat followed by cool. As I opened my eyes, stood up, and remembered I was not the only one in the room, I couldn't keep myself from smiling! I had just been given the greatest gift this world had ever known through the death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection! I didn't say anything to anyone that night, or the next day; but 2 days later I told by best friend, "Je", and was so excited! Because of a parlayzing fear of being alone in public, she to the pastor with me the following Sunday as I made my decision public to the church. Through my fear, God gave me a peace.

That peace was so needed when the following year, my small world came crumbling down as I found out my parents would be divorcing. After 20 years of a marriage that never involved a raised voice, or a scornful look, but always gave each other a quick kiss when they left the others company; I was at a loss. Although for a while I did dive deeper into my involvement with the youth group. However, in this little world, they didn't understand the pain I was feeling. No one had been there, at least not that they were telling. They gave me hugs and help me when I needed someone to talk to, but it is different when they don't understand. Even though my boyfriend at the time had divorced parents, he didn't go to church, so he was no help either. He broke up with me the summer between Junior and Senior years of HS, which opened the doors for the Hubby! He and I began dating Senior year and I used him as an escape. I pushed away from my church friends who didn't understand the pain I was going through. The further away I got from them, the closer I got to another group of friends. Their scene was the party scene.  We partied after every football game (ok, maybe not every game) but it felt like it. Although I didn't get drunk, I did begin drinking to fit in. I knew I was an outsider in this world and was looking for acceptance and for something to take my mind off what was and wasn't happening at home.

This carried over into my college years. The Hubby and I went to the same residential school for a year and a half where I was instantly inducted into the cool crowd, because no one there knew my past. I always felt like the dork, so this acceptance was what I thought I was looking for.  Most of our friends from the party crowd were in school with us too, which just made things even more fun.

Skip to the summer before my transfer. I had been living with the Momma when I wasn't at school, because It just wasn't fair to make my twin 16-year-old brother's share the smallest room in the house. The hubby and I had been dating for 3 years, and we had every intention of getting married. During a very difficult week, I found out not only was I going to be getting a proposal, but that my Dad didn't approve. In fact, he said he "didn't see it coming." Yes, I can quote that because I remember seeing the words come out of this mouth and thinking "Are you ** kidding me!?"  The hubby wasn't a bad influence, nor did I feel that God didn't want me to marry him. You see, God and I had this conversation before we ever started dating. After the Hubby and I got engaged the day before my birthday, I remember having very few conversations with my Dad. Being  Daddy's little girl, and having him push you away is very hard. I transferred to an awesome school where I finished my degree 2 years later and graduated. The Hubby and I got married in October where my Dad was not in attendance. I didn't even get to tell him a date because he would not return my phone calls.

The Hubby and I have been married 5 1/2 years now and I know this is the path God had planned for me! Not to say by any means it has been an easy road. The Hubby has battled his own personal demons, losing his Dad, and job loss. We have both struggled to deal with his battles, in addition to the typical ups and downs that come with a marriage. The financial struggle on two free-spirits trying to maintain a household. And the Hubby has dealt with me through my pregnancy and the emotional roller-coaster that can be as well as a battle with irrational, unfounded fears once the Girl was born. He has stood by me as I have stood by him.

I forgave my Dad for leaving without attempting to contact me. I knew in my heart, I was hurting because of the anger and unforgiveness I harbored. God began dealing with me over a year ago for my Dad to return to my life this past October; the week of our 5 year anniversary. It had been 6 years since I had seen or spoken to my Dad. **typing through tears** As I hugged him that night in the back room of my grandfather's house that sits behind the home I grew up in, I could not contain myself. The comfort in a Daddy's hug is one a daughter never forgets. It was so familiar, and was the healing I had been needing for my broken heart for 10 years! That night, he met his grand-daughter for the first time at 10 months old. My heart was so full of joy that night as the day the Girl was born!

God had been using our new church to prepare me for this event. We joined another SB church in our area and have found a wonderful Sunday School class. This group has been a great encouragement and inspiration to me! Shout out to the Wooley Class!  When I feel like I have lost the excitement I felt when I first accepted Christ, they prop me up. When I am stressed from the craziness of the work week, i look forward to getting up Sunday morning and talking, studying, and fellowshiping with this group. Although I am not currently close to the ladies of the class enough to call them every night, I still feel a strong kinship with them. The few times we have been able to enjoy fellowships or just going out to dinner, I have had a blast. I want to be closer to these ladies and my class. I feel they are the "out-of-the-family" support group God has for me. I look forward to getting to know them better and them getting to know me. I want to strengthen my faith, and have a closer walk with the Lord and those in his service. I want to be a Godly role-model for the Girl, so she can grow up knowing the love the Lord has for her. I want her to grow up in this church with the children of these friends. I want her to be able to build the same Circle of Support in her faith that I am working to establish as her Mom.

I told you this would get to be long.  I look forward to the path God has before me and know that He is guiding my steps. Now, if only I can quit being stubborn long enough to follow those amazing steps and allow Him to carry me through the tough times...

"He's still workin on me; To make me what I outta be. Took Him just a week to make the Moon and the Stars; the Sun, and the Earth, and Jupiter, and Mars. How loving and patient He must be; He's still workin on me!"

Wet Pants

The Hubby was so gracious this year and gave me a sewing machinefor Christmas so I can learn to do basic mending and heming for him, but also learn to make clothes for the Girl.
So on Monday, while the Girl was at daycare, I scampered off to Hobby Lobby to get the necessary supplies needed. I finall got to sit down last night and play with it!

Notice the old table it is sitting on. Wooden top with the wrot-iron stand. This belonged to my great-great grandmother who bought in in 1921. She raised my grandmother and this is such a special piece to have. It even still has the old machine in it and the iron foot-pedal at the floor.  Also notice the stack of patterns! I got them at HL for 0.99! The Girl is going to have lots of cute outfits (if I can figure out how to read the patterns, lol)!

So, I am trying to start this New Year off right and today was my first day back at work for the new year. I got up earlier than I had been, put on a pot of coffee, threw the pants and top for work in the dryer, and hopped in the shower. I had a my morning planned. I was going to get ready, read my new devotional book for "Women On-the-Go" and then get the Girl up, dressed, and out the door.  I get out of the shower, and ready to get my coffee and grab the clothes from the dryer when I hear a small voice over the monitor. It's only 6:25! The Girl doesn't get up until 7:00! Are you kidding me?!  The stupid dryer was apparently so loud it woke her up prematurely. Grrr! I tipp-toe into the kitchen and laundry room, grab my stuff and procede to get ready. Unfortunatly, now because I had to get ready so much faster than anticipate, I didn't get to finish letting my pants dry. Thankfully, she like to play with the crib toy she got for her birthday. Thank you Aunt Debbie! So as I am getting my hair dried and make-up on, I hear the babblings of a happy, entergetic 1 year-old along with the sounds of a cow, dog, and bird. She was flipping the tabs to hear the sounds and trying to mimic them.  I finish getting ready, since she was so content playing in her bed, and when I got to get her, this is what I get:

This is why I came into work this morning with wet pants! But that face is worth it!

Southern Christmas...

With Christmas only a few days away, I flash back to being a kid again. Putting up the Christmas tree and wishing Mom would replace the decorations. They are so old! Looking out the window as I lye in bed staring at the beautiful colors flowing through my window from the large bulded lights that circled the house. Watching the stack of wrapped gifts under the tree grow because Dad finally got his stuff under there. Having a Sleep-in with my brothers under the Christmas tree, with the lights on! Going to my aunt's (or grandma's) Christmas Eve and spending time with my cousins. Looking for that red light in the sky as we drove home.  Those are such great memories!

I look forward to the yeard to come and the great memories I hope we make for the Girl for her Christmases.

I wanted to share a little bit of our Christmas fun so far this year.



Driving Santa



The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...



Mr. & Mrs. Claus are ready for bed. These are from my childhood.



This beautiful Angel sat atop my tree as a child. I am so happy to have her watching over the beautiful ceramic Christmas tree my mom made in the background.

 

Better picture of the tree. It is an iconic piece in my Christmas decorations.

Our Nativity scene this year. I had to dig Joseph out of the toy box and found Mary behind the tv.

It just isn't Christmas without Milk and a Little Debbie. :)

One of the Litte Sisters of the Angel above. She and her twin hung on each side of the tree growing up. This year they adorned the tree.

The tree...

Playing with the Christmas ornaments.

It's the little things...

Every day, we roll through life just working to move on to the next thing. A typical day starts,... get up and get ready, but I better hurry and get things done that I need to before it is time to get the Girl up, get her dressed and out the door so I can drop her off at daycare on time so I can get to work on time.

It leaves very little time for enjoying those first moments with her when I walk in her room to hear her awake and talking to herslf and playing. I call out to her. She hears my voice and quickly sits up with the biggest smile looking for me, and I get a giggle. HeHe! She is such a happy little girl and we sit in the rocking chair and cuddle for a few minutes as I get her out of her pajamas. Her hair is everywhere and there is sleep in her eyes, but as she looks at me with that grin, my heart melts. I just want to sit here an play with her all day. It is that grin that keeps me going through the day. That keeps me pushing towards my greater goals. To be able to work from home so I can be with her.

This morning, I dressed her for her first Christmas Party at daycare. Santa was even coming to visit this morning! Oh how I wish I could be there. She even kept the bow in her hair. It usually doesn't last more than 10 seconds. Although I am sure it is currently in the side pouch of her bag because she has yanked it out and either thrown it, or tried to eat it. At least she let Mommy get cute pictures. :D

Although when we got to meet Santa this weekend, we weren`t exactly a fan.

We sat on Santa's lap....

And then she realized who she was sitting with....

And said, "Forget this!"

But when I say "It's the little things," that is what makes your heart melt. The Hubby has been slightly disappointed because of the Girl's attachment to Mommy. When he gets home in the evenings, he kisses me, and goes in to give her a kiss. Like with nearly everyone right now, she turns away. However, this Saturday as he was keeping her entertained while I finished getting everything ready to head out to our first Christmas family gathering of the year, I hear him yell with glee from the other end of the house. I hurry back to the living room to see the two of them laying on the floor playing. The Hubby says, "Watch this" and puckers up to the Girl and makes the kissy sound. Without hesitation, she leans down and gives him her first kiss!

I think he is still on cloud nine! It truly is the little things...