Friends of a Feather

This week I have been helping my buddy Ginny Corbett host a photography workshop. Ginny is an awesome photographer, she does this full-time, and a while back God laid it on her heart to do a workshop for other Christian photographers.

Ginny brought me on board to help her administrate this and has decided to keep me around to help her in her day to day business. I have to say that it has been a blast working with her. It is an automatic bonus when you get to work with one of your best friends. Don't you love the kind of friends who finish your sentences for you. Or you can loose your train of thought mid sentence and they still totally get what you are trying to say! And, it is always a plus when you can talk business one minute and Jesus the next! Anyway....

Ginny and I became good friends right after we were both married. She got married in October two months before Tim and me were married. Our hubbies were college roommates and so that is how we all became friends.

Now, this brings me to my point. I thank God for Shane and Ginny because we are all friends. You, know how rare that is for two couples to feel completely comfortable around each other. Not one single friendship between the four of us is "forced". It is just as natural for Tim and Ginny to carry on a conversation as it is for Ginny and I (now we may not discuss the same topics, but you get my point.) I really do believe that our friendship is from God.

I know that Shane & Ginny will always be there for us and vise-versa. It truly is a blessing to have friends that will stand with you in Life's Great Adventure! Check Ginny's blog later this week for some super sweet pictures from this week!

This week has been really CRAZY for us and we have had several computer/Internet complications. But, a laptop and wireless router later...we are back up and running. Just in time to post this sweet picture of the girls. Last night I let the Bear give Lily her bedtime bottle and she LOVED it. She was so cute "mothering" Lily. Isn't it funny how that nurturing nature comes so easily ;)

Well tomorrow, Bella will go off to grandma's house and Lily will ride on her first airplane! Lily and I are joining my friend Ginny for a workshop is putting together for christian photographers. Hopefully, I will be able to keep you posted on our adventures while we are away. If not, there will be plenty to update you on when we return!

Look what we woke up to....

When I woke up this morning I found the cutest little two year old girl, in pink footed pj's, peeking out her window to see the snow! In the sweetest voice she asked "Please, play in snow please!!!!" followed by wild clapping in excitement! So, I disregarded my maternal memory bank that had just head the weather man say that the current temp was 12 degrees with the wind chill and that he advised against getting out in this "wintry mix."

This picture is for Pop...."PIRATES ARRRGGGGGG!!!!" (Not - "GO HEELS")

Helping Daddy get the paper and Ava "doing her business".

What else make the morning complete then whole wheat blueberry/walnut pancakes! We also stocked up on some games and movies to keep this little one entertained!

Thoughtful Thursday...

We have been studying Genesis in the Bible study I am apart of. This past week we read the chapter that notes Abraham's passing. Which made me reflect on both Abraham and Sarah's lives. They served God faithfully throughout their lives but neither were perfect. Needless to say they were flawed. Abraham, lied TWICE about Sarah being his sister instead of his wife. Sarah LAUGHED at God when he said that she would be with child; in her "old age".

Oh, and we can't forget about the time they took matter's into their own hands concerning their offspring. Yes, the time Sarah mentioned to Abraham to take her maid Hagar in hopes of bearing a son. (And fulfill God's promise to them.)

During studying this chapter it hit me that God still used them despite their flaws. Abraham and Sarah were "leading characters", in God's redemptive story. More than that they are the characters used to lay the ground work for the rest of the story to unfold! How awesome is God!

How many times do you think Abraham wondered, "God, remember me? Remember the promise you made me "Your descendant's will be as numerous as the stars..." My wife is barren..."Did I hear God wrong?" Just an assumption but given the culture, I am sure she was insecure about her inability to produce offspring; then add on top of that the promise from God to have several children. I bet that only lead to rumor and speculation of her moral compass among the villagers.

Sarah and Abraham remained faithful to God; despite their flaws they had along the journey. In return God remained faithful to them, Sarah bore Isaac! I believe that the only reason Sarah was able to carry and give birth to her son Isaac at her age is because God ordained it. Through Sarah's story I learned how imperishable we are to God's purpose for our lives.

Each of us has a role to play in God's story of life and we only have a few short years here on earth to fulfill our purpose. During our time on earth we are not indispensable but we are imperishable to God's story and it is our choice how our role is told; did we remain faithful?

if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself

~ 2 Timothy 2:12-14

When I'm in heaven one day flipping through God's scrapbook of my time here on earth. I hope it is full of memorial stones where I turned to Jesus and overcame. I pray the legacy I leave is one of faithful obedience in following my Lord where ever he leads.