Life is so precious. I think we take it for granted most days because that is how we are wired. If we thought every waking second about the meaning of life we would be wound so tight we couldn't enjoy it. Yet, sometimes there are bumps along our "normal" path and these bumps force us to take a look at why we value what we value and why we do what we do.
I have seen several close friends hit those bumps these past few weeks. Even today I heard of a loved one going through tremendous life change that is not pretty, not good, and completely unjust. Why? I can't say I know that answer. Why people suffer, why people go through times of tremendous stress is something people have been debating for centuries. I'm not going to even try and touch that question in a blog. But here is what has struck me hard...in a moment's time, your life can go from "normal" to completely crazy, and it is basically out of your control.
Ok, so that doesn't sound comforting or encouraging. I can imagine you're thinking, "Why are you blogging about this? You want us all depressed?"
Absolutely not! Why I am blogging is to encourage you as long as you have today, live it to its fullest! Are you doing what you want? Are you living for something bigger than yourself...or your bank account? I mean, with the economy the way it is, our dollar could be useless tomorrow. Are you using it today in a way that maximizes its potential?
Last night I went to a dinner honoring our ministry partners at church who live all over the world, using their time, money, and talents to help those who have no hope for a better future. They are sharing Christ. They are sharing access to health care. They are sharing their very lives.
Today may be all I have. So today I plan to sniff my sweet baby's head as much as possible. I plan to take him outside and let him play (his favorite), even if that means I don't get to finish the project I had planned. I am going to cook dinner and make sure I plan time to hang out and chat with Sander. And, as we make decisions about what to buy, what to save, and all the little life things we do - I want to be sure we have no regrets. No regrets that we didn't celebrate life and all the little phases. No regrets that we didn't do more to help others. No regrets that we bought a lot of stuff we threw away.
I know I don't share a lot from the Bible on here, but this section from the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians is so applicable to what I am thinking this week....I have to share:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Basically it says: figure out what God wants from your life and then be smart enough to do it once you know. Don't waste your time on stuff that just makes you feel bad the next morning and you regret, but instead sing, be thankful, and do it all because Jesus Christ has made your life meaningful.
Dexter loves the mirror, he loves himself, and he loves to practice "kisses". This is so adorable! Just click the picture above to watch.
Check out the full post here - worth the jump!
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/02/sneak-peek-emily-hensen.html
Soooo - I uploaded pictures about 2 weeks ago as I kept aluding to in my previous posts. I kept saying "see our album for more." Well, I uploaded them, but to my email address, not our joint email. I kept seeing them when I clicked but it was because I was signed into my email address, and not our joint email which would enable you to see them here. Anyway - won't get technical, but they are up where the world can see them now.
I added a lot of the ones my sister took to the end of the album. If any Ray is out there reading and has any extras, please send them my way and I can add them too. I know you took a lot!
I didn't think we'd make it to Richardson for Christmas. If Sander wasn't such an expert driver (thank you College Station ISD bus driving program) we would have been in a ditch or hit for sure. There were so many wrecks along the highway and I was a little freaked out. Sander told me I wasn't allowed to talk as I went a little overboard (who, me?) on the possible outcomes along the way. When we got to downtown Dallas it was "chock a block", so we cut through a frozen downtown, and finally made our way up 75. I started to calm down them. Whew. I am so glad we made it so Dexter could have his first Christmas with lots of loving Rays around.
Requests have been flying for more Christmas pics. I have been flying solo here with Dexter a lot this week as meetings and work have kicked into high gear for Sander. Right now he is on a STEALTH (its an acronym, but I can't remember what it stands for...) retreat for a committee he serves on at Church. Our church is sending a relief and development team to the Republic of Georgia (remember, Sander went there last March). The retreat seems like it will be very informative - I can't wait to hear what he learns. I am sad it takes up all of tonight and all day tomorrow, but I'll survive by meeting friends at Lupe's tomorrow.
Ok, but we're talking about Christmas.
On the Andrews side of the family, we traditionally open gifts and celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve (which works out well as the Ray's celebrate on Christmas Day). Sander and I woke up at the crack of dawn Christmas Eve (5:45am) and hit the road for Ft Worth. By the time we got there it was snowing, and it only got worse as the day wore on. We made it to my aunt and uncle's house despite the icy conditions and really enjoyed our time there. I have many more pics in the album, but here are a few with my sisters and babies.
We went to the first little Christmas get together last Saturday. It was a white elephant exchange and one of the gifts was this adorable headband. Isn't he so cute. After about 2 min though he was sick of it and trying to get it off. 
Adorable! But see how he is trying to swipe it off?
Sorry for the delay in blogging. Our old computer started to have some issues and it took about 14 hours to upload pictures, so I took a mini-blogging break. I'm back with lots of pictures and lots of semi-pointless info.
For those of you who don't really get all the pics of babies, its ok. He is mine and so I love every cute little thing he does. Now...his whiny things, not so much. In fact, I slept half the night in the Honda in the garage yesterday just to get a little sleep. Sander was great and was on "Dexter duty" so I took a little vacation from the teething wake-up cries. Oh my. We get reflux behind us and then it is just one more thing. Last week was a cold with a fever, this week it's his two front teeth to be.
Here he is being adorable and trying out his first off-brand cheerios. Mmmmm!
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