It's finally here!

SUN! Oh glorious beautiful sun! How I did miss you, never leave me again! Ok so yesterday was awesome because the sun finally emerged, giving my vegetable garden room to stretch finally. I let my duckies outside for the first time also. After they got past the initial shock that there was more to this world than the plastic tote I have been keeping them in, they LOVED it! Bugs and grass was eaten (not only by the ducks but my beautiful daughter). We found out the duckies just happen to love nail polish and toe toes as they were pecking at Makenzie's toes every chance they got. They would chase her, she would chase them, it was all so fun and funny! I also learned that my baby duckies think I am their momma, which thrilled me beyond belief actually :) They followed me everywhere and stopped every time I stopped and when I went inside the house they hid under the porch until I emerged only to have them at my heels. It was rather cute I must say. Other than that there was lots of playing outside and getting eaten by not only black flies but also the dreaded mosquitoes, which I am not sure which I like least since I seem to swell up like a balloon anywhere I get bitten by a nasty little mosquito. Oh and there were tumbles down the porch stairs as I watched in agony as Makenzie hit every one of them with her head. Don't worry she's ok, just a cut lip and some bumps and bruises, thank goodness! The lawn got mowed finally (it was horribly past due), my poor flower gardens got weeded (again I say, horribly past due) and for the most part I felt pretty darn good. Oh and on the upside the past few days I have begun to feel the little sprout in my belly wiggle around a bit, which is pretty darn cool in my opinion. I must say, days like yesterday really make me love Maine a lot. I think God knows how terrible our winters are so He makes up for it in the summer :)

Blessed Beyond Measure

Ever since I had my daughter it's like everything has been put into perspective for me (although believe me I still have a long ways to go). Before her I was enjoying life and loving my husband and just living, but that was the problem: I was just living. Of course I loved and believed in God with all my heart; however something was missing for me. It's like I couldn't make sense of the "love" aspect of Christ. How is it possible for God to love me or anyone the way Christians say He does? Then when I held my baby in my arms it clicked: if I love this little being as much as I do, well God loves me even more, and if this little being can break my heart so easily, well then how must God feel when I break his? It's an overwhelming feeling to love and know that you are loved that much. Through a parent child relationship I can glimpse what God feels for me, for you, for everyone. As heart-wrenching as it is to see your child fall after taking her first few steps alone, or watching your baby in pain from teeth that just wont break through, how much more is it painful for God to watch us live life and fall, or go through pain? Before I felt like God was punishing or just sitting by glaring at me through trials, but now I understand that as hard as those trials were for me, it must have broken our saviors heart to watch us endure that pain. On the other hand, I have learned of joy unspeakable through my daughter. To see her depend on me and need me for snuggles or boo boos brings me so much happiness, and to see her grow and learn new things is so joyful to watch. If I find that much joy in this world from her, how much more joy does God feel when He watches us fall into his arms and need him for snuggles or boo boos? It's such a simple illustration, yet I find it so profound the things He has created in this life to demonstrate his love for us, by simply letting us experiencing a portion of it ourselves. I feel blessed now to know that even in times of trials, God is there and wants to hold me, and even in times of celebration, God is there and wants to be a part of that. Blessings come in so many forms and to be able to say on a bad day that I still feel blessed is a huge step forward for me. The simple fact that no matter what God allows to be taken from me or given to me, He is still there is the greatest blessing of all.

Joshua 1:9 (New International Version)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”