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.

Finding the Joy!

I have the winter blues! There, I said it! No, I am not going through a 'Great Depression' or anything close, but I do have the blahs. I get them every year around this time. I am tired of being cold, I am tired of wearing heavy clothes, and my feet are screaming for flip-flops.

I think the one thing I have noticed for the first time this year, is how I am wishing the days away. I keep looking at the calendar, longing for the days to hurry up, so I can flip to the month of June. I realize that I have failed to savor these days...find the joy in them. I am barely going through the motions, doing only the necessary.

I read recently a quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Think that this day will never dawn again."

After reading that, I felt conviction settle in. I have not been making the most out of each individual day. I have been letting the chill in the air, steal the joy from my heart!
I want to once again, find that joy that comes because as a child of God, my Father orchastrates each day for me. I want to celebrate each day as if it will never come again!

This next week will be very much about restoring the joy into my days!

Psalms 16: 8, 9, 11....

"I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure.
You have made known to me the path of life; and you fill me with joy in Your presence..."

Merry Christmas from The Taylor's!

It is officially Christmas here on Dew Mist Dr.!!

The gifts are wrapped and under the tree, the children are filled with anticipation, and we are looking forward to being intentional in showing our love to others!

2009 has been a wonderful year for our family!

We are no longer a family with little kids...we are full swing into raising two teenagers, and one who is still somewhat little in our eyes!

Ashley turned 16 this year, and is looking forward to getting her drivers license in January. She is a sophomore at Nampa High School, and is one smart cookie! Just a few weeks ago, we watched her preform in her Theater Showcase, and were blown away at her ability! That girl can act! She spends much time reading, talking to friends, and thinking about where and what she is going to do with her life!

Alex turned 13 this year, and is on a quest to play/try every sport there is, before he graduates High School. He is a brilliant 7th grader at Lone Star Middle, and played tennis last spring, and football and wrestling this year! He was named the school's Ping Pong Champion a couple of months ago. Just a week ago, he and two other boys entered the school's Talent Show. Their talent....drinking a Strange Concoction (eggs, ketchup, salsa and pickles)! Yep, that's Alex!!

Nichole turned 9 this year, and is busy being a little girl! She started going to Nampa Classical Academy this fall, and is loving school! When she isn't at school, she is here, playing school! She managed to go all this year, without breaking any bones! She has been quite proud of herself. :)

In May, Duane sold his landscaping business, retired for two months, and became an owner of another business in Boise. He has been very busy this year! Retirment was not his "cup of tea"!

My life, this year, has been filled with all the usual things that come with being a mom, and in addition to that, I have been persuing my dream to become a Doula. I shadowed a Doula Mentor for several months, and then went on my own in August. Hopefully in a few months, I will have completed my certification process. I love what I am doing, and find it very fulfilling!

Our family enjoyed a trip to Seattle and the Oregon Coast this year, and have played a lot together! We are watching the years race by, and we are so aware that we must live in the moments we have!

God has blessed us abundantly with Family, Friends, Salvation, Health & Provision. It is with hearts full of gratitude, we praise Him!

God is in us, God is for us, God is with us....Emmanuel!

May you find your hearts and home full of Peace, Love and Joy in 2010!

Duane, Sheila, Ashley, Alex and Nichole