Shattered Dreams

That is the book I am reading right now by Larry Crabb. So far it hasn’t been earth shattering but I have really liked it. The following I read today I really identified with after the death of Owen.

When Shaddai allows terrible pain to come into our lives, He is removing a satisfaction, often a legitimate one like the enjoyment of one’s spouse, that keeps us happy and content whether we know God well or not. He is taking away good food to make us hungry for better fare. But then He doesn’t seem to give it. The table stays bare. Those who claim otherwise most often are feeding on their own resources or on their remaining blessings, mistaking them for God. Those who, like C.S. Lewis after his wife died, find heaven’s door slammed shut, discover their desire for God but not God Himself. It’s at that point either we dismiss God and live to satisfy lesser desires or we wait. . . . It is the frustration of our desire for God that deepens it…. If your seeking God in the middle of shattered dreams, if you’ve become aware of your desire for Him but are having trouble finding Him, be encouraged that it bothers you. The more you’re bothered by not finding Him, the more aware you’re becoming of how badly you want Him.

A Sunny Day

A sunny day always helps lift spirits. I am thankful for the sunshine! It also helps to hear Lucy laughing as she runs all over the house being chased by Daddy.

Some dear friends of ours left for Ethiopia today to, God willing, get their children. Please pray for God to meet them richly and give them peace. We also pray for safe travel and that the kids would feel safe in their new mommy an daddy’s arms.

Thanks for praying.

Heaviness

I have been feeling very heavy the burdens of some friends. Life is hard. I am so glad Jesus walks through it all with us.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

A Tea Party

Lucy is into tea parties, especially now that Dustin picked up these little wicker chairs at a garage sale. I said are your babies going to pray for their food. She said, Da (I think she’s part Russian or something b/c that is how she always says yes!) She went over and held one babies hands together and said thank you Jesus. Then she went over and held the other baby’s hands together and said an emphatic Amen! It was pretty cute.

The Attendees

Lea, the Spa Master

Jen, the Fashion Guru

Heidi, the Navigator

Jaime, the Storyteller

Praying for Cooper

While Kellie is gone for the weekend with the girls in Chicago, Lucy and I have been having a great time together. Since Kellie gave me her password for the blog I thought I would post Lucy’s prayer from tonight.

Before I put her to bed we were praying and as we were praying she mentioned her cousin Ryan (otherwise known as Ry-Ry). So I prayed for him. Then she proceeded to name one by one all the members of the Conrad household. After she said their name I prayed. Of course, she didn’t forget Cooper (their dog). So I prayed for him too.

Lucy seemed to like this a lot so then she said, “I want to pray for Cooper,” about two or three times so we prayed for him again. May God bless Cooper!

Girl’s Weekend

I am so excited this morning my friend Heidi and I are taking off for St. Charkles, IL. There we will meet up with my life-long friend Jaime, from KY, and college friends, Jen (coming from WI) and Lea (living in Chicago area)! I am ready to laugh all weekend! Here is a couple old pics of us.

Flowers

Auntie took Lucy and I to get pedicures. She has a very nice auntie! Lucy just sort of looked shell shocked the whole time we were there. She watched them very carefully as they did our feet. Afterwards one of the ladies offered to do her feet. She wouldn’t let them paint them so I did. But then she did let the one gal paint these flowers on her toes. She was very into it and kept talking about her “powers”- she can’t say f’s very well. When we left, Auntie left in her car to her house, she cried and cried- she wanted to go to Auntie’s. And she kept saying something else that I couldn’t understand through her tears, finally I figured it out. “I want Pay, Pay (her oldest cousin) to see my powers.” It was so cute.

8 Random Things

I have been tagged “it” by Lea to post 8 random things about myself! After reading her list I am a little intimidated. I don’t think I am that interesting. Let’s see:

1. I like to bake – probably because I have a major sweet tooth.
2. Unlike lea I don’t like it when the blinds are banging from the wind. I have wierd panic attacks from things blowing in the wind, ceiling fans and some times just from random noises.
3. I like to exercise- especially walking outside. One of my lifetime dreams has been to be an aerobics instuctor.
4. One of my favorite memories from Syria was camping out in the desert and meeting Bedouin people. I think this is because it was so different from anything I have ever done. Although I didn’t really like the milk straight out of the goat!

5. I like to stay up late at night and sometimes feel like a little kid who just doesn’t want to go to bed.
6. I love Sara Groves (more than my sister-in-law who thinks she’s the number one fan! , but if you don’t know that then you have never read this blog!
7. Dustin and I play cribbage and the 2 year tally shows him womping me pretty good, which really bugs me because I am somewhat competitive.
8. I get scared at night when Dustin is gone.

I think I’ll tag my sister.

Alexander Hamilton

Dustin just finished his biography. So I thought I would post this special that is on PBS tonight. Maybe I’ll let Dustin share some of his thoughts about this man.

American Experience
Alexander Hamilton
Monday, May 14, 8:00pm
CHANNEL 2 (TPT 2)
A profile of Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first treasury secretary and a leading force in the post-Revolutionary War push for a Constitution and strong central government. Included: his role in writing the influential “Federalist Papers.”

CC, Stereo, Letterboxed TVPG