"For He Will Command His Angels!"

 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty..."

Monkey see, Monkey do!  Mommy loves when it is something good he is copying his big sister in!

"He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart..."

Doing "homework"!

 "For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

Psalm 91:1, 4, 11

I continue to wonder why we spend money for beds for our kids.  He loves the rocker and they both love the mattress on the living room floor more than their own beds.  Sigh!

Bedtime stories...

Christmas Display at our local mall.  I braved the Mall alone (like I never have the nerve to do that...the Mall alone is daunting, imagine with two very BUSY children!) and we had a fun outing one afternoon when we could not stand our tiny apartment for another hour.  

This year's decorations really are something.  We enjoyed them so much. 

Wishing Well

Chloe trying to keep brother from scaling the fence!

Brother NOT appreciating her help...of course.

Most of the larger animals are all moving animals. 

Decorating our itsy bitsy tree.  We will continue with this tiny tree we can put way up on the bookshelf out of a little someone's reach for this year.  Maybe next year we can have a little bigger one that sits on the floor!  We can always hope!!

He loves to help.  He unpacked the decorations while Sister placed them all by herself!

This was one evening helping his daddy fix the couch cushion cover for mommy.

Last week was one of those weeks where I experienced almost every emotion known to mankind within about a two day span.  The Scriptures I shared above are not random.  These Scriptures ran through my head Wednesday morning as we received news FINALLY about where the city was going to transfer Chloe to study next year.  February will be the start of our new school year and we were trying very hard to not be anxious about where she would be transferred.  Our preference was to stay at her current school but of the 170 children entering first grade in February, there was space for only 84.  Knowing she did not meet any of the four criteria points for staying, we have been fervently praying for a good alternative.  We have been most pleased with her city school the two years she has been there.  BUT, we know God cares more than we do...so we waited.

And she will transfer to another city school, not state as we feared and we are so so relieved and GRATEFUL!  Her new school is literally on the other side of the road and she can continue with the same transport van and driver...one less change for our little girl who struggles with big changes. God does take care of His own.

Wednesday afternoon, once again, these same verses ran through my head as I watched my two year old running out in the middle of a very busy street downtown.  Knowing I could never reach him before he was hit, I only had time to scream "NO!!!!" before I saw the dreaded scene of a car headed straight towards him.  The security guard of the clinic where we were was closer and grabbed him before what my heart knew was his certain death.  Oh God is good and in command of His angels. Noah's angels work overtime, we know and he must have legions of them.  The child is faster and stronger than I am and though I feel I care for him very well, really.  It is only God who guards his life.  My mother sent me a message the next day saying she woke up in the middle of the night and was praying for Noah.  "Jama, God certainly does have plans for that boy!" AMEN!  He should not be alive today for all his near tragedies or at the very least permanently injured.  But God has been very, very gracious.

Thursday as I waited on news about my dad's heart surgery 8000 miles away, I once again meditated on these verses, trusting He was covering my precious father with His feathers and protective wings. Seven and a half hours later, my dad came out of surgery well and is recuperating just as well.  We are so so grateful.  We are just so blessed.

This picture says REST to me.  After a tough Spring of the sickies for our little family, this was my breakfast one morning before facing another long day of cleaning up body fluids, heating up and applying hot water bottles, rocking sick babies, caring for a sick husband and trying to get well myself.  Nothing like a cup of french pressed coffee to bring comfort on "those kinds of days." I sat for a moment and just rested.  Reflected that in spite of everything, He is good!

This picture says PEACE to me.  Fresh flowers and a candle.  Can't get much better in my opinion!

It is Christmas Time!  Unlike the pictures flooding Facebook of my home country, here in good ol' tropical Brazil, we are headed into summer time!  We are still having some cool, rainy days were I light the candle and turn on the Christmas music and it feels almost like California in December!

May this holiday season be merry, not because of the food and lights and gifts, but because JESUS came and will COME again!  Praise be His Name!  May His peace, joy and love reign in your home and heart this Christmas Time.