Good Girrrrl

has been a LONG week of being sick with the stomach flu. I won't go into detail about how awful it was, but it was the worst sickness Ross and I have ever had for sure. Ila did get it but only threw up for about 5 hours and then was her happy self again. On a happier note, I know I haven't posted all week so here are some pics I took of Ila and Sydney on Monday, the day before our house got plagued.

The Most Wonderful Fairy Tale That Has Come True in Real Life!

It's hard to find a good children's Bible that isn't full of moralistic overtones and cheesy illustrations. The last thing I want our children to think is that the Bible is a book of rules that we can choose to follow or not. I want them to be captivated by the love story of Jesus coming to rescue us. I want them to know that they are not just reading a story about people who lived a long time ago, but they are reading about us; that it is our story. I have really enjoyed reading "The Jesus Storybook Bible" and highly recommend it for all ages. Every story points to the Gospel and the illustrations are unique and beautiful. Here are some excerpts from the first few pages:

Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you'll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne - everything - to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is - it's true. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling on Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle - the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.

Ad this is no ordinary baby. This is the Child upon whom everything would depend. This is the Child who would one day- but wait. Our story starts where all good stories start. Right at the very beginning . . .

White As Snizzo

We have gotten a LOT of snow here in Charlottesville. . . Around the third time it had snowed over a foot, ILa finally decided she would try touching it (with her mitten) and see what that white stuff that Sydney loves so much is all about. . .

Weekend at Rockbridge

Last weekend Ross and I took our high school youth group to Rockbridge for a retreat with the Falls Church. It was our first weekend away from Ila (both of us at the same time) and it went very well. My mom (Grammie) and Jake came up and spent the weekend being bossed around by a little person who came up to their knees, and they loved it. Here are some pics from the weekend!

Beans and Cheese

I copied a friend and bought a big pan and some kidney beans for her to play with and she LOVED it. Now when I want to her smile for a picture she will say "CHEEESE" and give me a big grin!

"cheeeese!"

Will You Be My Valentine?

Here are some adorable shots I took of Ila in her Valentines Day Outfit. She was a very good sport!

One Winter's Night

Here is the song Ross wrote for Christmas this year.

How wilt thou ever find us, Love

When we will not be seen

How wilt thou find us from above

As we still hide from thee

How wilt thou save us from ourselves

When we will not let go

How wilt thou ever find us well

Unless thou make us so

If only that which is assumed

Could ever be redeemed

Then come to us within a womb

Be born and wash our feet

And not our feet alone we pray

But everything we know

That thou O Love would come and stay

And all our sorrows go

O Love, make a way

Come and find us

Search the darkness light the way

Come and guide us home

Yet thou will not be welcomed here

Still Love, please come and be

Our refuge, wipe away our tears

Though we will murder thee

For darkness only turns to day

If you become the night

And we on you our darkness lay

That it be swallowed in light

Blessed One, born today

Come and find us

Search our darkness light the way

Come and guide us home

O the sunrise seems so far away

Find us, Child of Bethlehem

Find us here the Son of Man

One winter’s night

Begins eternal summer morn

If only you are born

The gods we trusted and became

Will find no solace here

Beside his creatures low and lame

The Son of God appears

A thousand years of “progress” past

A million hearts beguiled

Now Love alone will reign and last

Within one little child

Blessed One, born today

Come and find us

Search our darkness light the way

Come and guide us home

One winter’s night

Begins eternal summer morn

If only you are born