ENCOURAGED IN HEART

LOOK WHAT I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS…
A BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL!!!

Yup, she’s all MINE!  Well, that’s not completely accurate as the low-jack attached to her prohibited me from running past the nursery security guard and back home to Virginia! Yeah, that combined with knowing the strong maternal instincts of a mother who just gave birth – I decided to gently hand her back to my sister – her Momma – who continues to beam with pride!

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PRAYERS!

Yup, that’s my new home-slice and her Aunt Dink (don’t ask me…ask my sister, Mary, who forged the name!).

Since my beautiful niece, Winter, aka: Winnie (or “Winnie-Who-Poos” as her siblings appear to be fond of calling her… was born – it’s time to get back in to the swing of more Shack-Attacks! Anyone in?!?

The next The Shack book discussion is on Tuesday, 6 Jan from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at the South Riding Panera Bread long table! Whether you liked, loved, hated or don’t know what you think, come and talk about it!

I HOPE TO SEE YOU THEN! And, feel free to invite a friend too!

My weekly weigh-in revealed a four ounce gain; still five pounds to go. Seriously…when placed in proper perspective, to the enormity of this week, I don’t want to come off indifferent (cause you know for the last 51 weeks, I’ve been anyting BUT indifferent!) – but compared to the B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L eight pound and seven ounce I gained this week,

my newest niece, Winter!  Drool away…she’s a cutie! Along with the celebration of Jesus’ birth…just three days later, my weight just seems so…whatever!

The hope of new life is what Christmas is all about! God used my little sweet Winnie to re-reveal His promise of hope in new life!

All because of Jesus, I have the hope of new life…a clean slate and another shot at doing it right!  Through this lifestyle change to true physical, spiritual and emotional health, I too have a chance at new life and it was made possible because of Jesus Christ!

I hope your Christmas was special and that the gift of New Life because of His Life is the main thing for you!

For your viewing pleasure, I’ve added the first ever videos here – they are entertaining and adorable! I couldn’t resist!

Cal was a Shepherd in his school performance, here’s a post-performance slice of the entertainment:

Immediately after, Jake decided to get his Jingle Bell groove on:

From my Solid Gold dancers, to yours – WE WISH YOU A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I really enjoyed the second round of The Shack book discussion last night!  The wild women that we were, we closed Panera down (pretty nutty, huh!?) – heck, that’s practically my bedtime!

Very few things in life rate more enjoyable to me than lively, honest discussions with intelligent and fun women!  And since they lost the thumb war, I get to post their pretty faces, for your viewing pleasure, right here on my blog!

(From left to right) Front row: Levinia and Kathy, the back row: me, Kathy and Lynn
(the gal who’s responsible for getting me into The Shack to begin with!)

The next book discussion will be posted here at a later date – after my niece, Winter, is born (who does not appear to be complaining about her current home!)!

It would mean so much to me if you’d say a prayer for my sister, Mary, and niece, Winter, that they have the labor and birth they desire!  I hope to be in the delivery room with them on the big day, so after the big day, I’ll post the next discussion date.

Have I mentioned lately how much I dig this book?!?