Babies!

I have been busy with births and babies in the last month! I was asked recently, if I still have the 'wonder' that comes with watching a baby breathe it's first breath? The answer is, "YES!"
That is just one of the reasons, I love my job! It never grows old!

Baby #18

Love this picture of a hungry little guy!!

Baby #20...A Valentine's Baby!

Baby # 21...She is the one who decided to create a little excitement, and came very fast!

My friend, Kim's baby...#19

"It is no small thing, when those who are so fresh from God, love us." Charles Dickens

Forgiven!

As I was wiping my counters down this morning, I was mindlessly listening to the radio. A new song was on, that I haven't heard before. I sorta listened, but not really, until I heard a string of lyrics, that stopped me dead in my tracks...in a good way!

"In this life, I know what I've been, but here in Your arms, I know who I am...I'm forgiven...."

I ran across the kitchen to turn it up, and listened closely. I then ran to my computer, and googled the song; found it on Youtube, and listened to it in it's entirety.

In looking for something to find joy in today....this is it! I AM FORGIVEN! It doesn't matter what I know about myself, and my regrets, mistakes...I AM FORGIVEN!

I've included the lyrics here, and will include the link to the video at the end of this post.

FORGIVEN (Sanctus Real)

Well the past is playing with my head

And failure knocks me down again

I’m reminded of the wrong

That I have said and done

And that devil just won't let me forget

In this lifeI know what I’ve been

But here in your arms

I know what I am

I’m forgiven!

I’m forgiven!

And I don’t have to carry

The weight of who I’ve been

Cause I’m forgiven

My mistakes are running through my mind

And I’ll relive my days, in the middle of the night

When I wrestle with my pain, struggle with my pride

Sometimes I feel alone, and I cry

When I don't fit in and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere

When I don’t measure up to much in this life

Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ ‘cause

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flT5aIN-XqU

The Mirror

I saw something this week, that bothered me down to the core!

The Today Show has now reported that there is a new test, that will determine if you are 'skinny' or if you are really 'skinny-fat'. The consensus was that being considered skinny, is being thin and tone, with a very small percentage of body fat. Skinny-fat means that you may be just as skinny, but you are not toned, and you have a higher percentage of body fat. It all has to do with how you get skinny, and if you have exercised or not. Despite the fact that I agree that we need to model healthy living and eating for our children, I am bothered BIG TIME by the message this will send to girls!

As a mother of two girls, and being a girl myself, this made me MAD! I am mad enough, that I am determined to do something about it. If I thought this was just a problem with media (radio or TV) we would just shut it off. And if it was just an issue in printed material (newspaper and magazines), then we would never pick another one up! But I believe that this is a big issue EVERYWHERE we turn, and for about EVERY girl and woman I know!! We base the image we have of ourselves on societies opinions...and those seem to be ever changing and contradictory!

I am not naive enough to think that this is new, but it has just hit an all time high on my Richter scale!

I am fed up with my 9 yr. old little girl, who is beautiful, thinking that her legs are fat, because someone told her they are! Oh, the lies of the enemy start so early!!

I am also aware that there is the theory of 'monkey-see, monkey-do'. If my girls hear me obsess about my body fat, or my hips...they are going to obsessively see those things in themselves. If I throw a fit, because I am having a bad-hair day, then how can I expect my girls to see true beauty in the hair God blessed them with?

I want to stop my rant right here to clarify again, this is not a discussion about whether or not we should live healthy lives., If we do need to shed some weight, or become more active, I believe there is a healthy way to do that!

But what this is about is...If I obsess over how I look; what I wear; if my skin is clear today.... Then why would I expect anything different from those who share this house with me, and watch my every move? If those things appear to determine true beauty for me, I can expect them to feel likewise!

I don't think there is anything I can do on a national or global level, but there is something I can do right in my own home. I intend to remind my girls what God's Word has to say to them...daily, purposefully!!

God's Word says:

"He will take great delight in you....and rejoice over you with singing!" (Zeph. 3:17)

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit me together in my mother's womb!" (Ps. 139:13)

"Your beauty should not come from the outside.....instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and calm spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

"I give thanks to You, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very well!" (Ps. 139:14)

By the way...this is called "Replacing the Lies of Babylon, With the Truth That God Speaks!!" So, whatever you see in the mirror...fat, skinny, skinny-fat, fat-skinny......remember being healthy is important, and that God loves you and is more concerned with the condition of your heart.