Love in Action Journey

Today was one of the hardest days my husband and I have shared. We had to say goodbye to our precious pets, Jessi and Sabie. They were our very first "children" when we first got married. For the last 13 years they have filled our lives and home with nothing but love and faithfulness. Today we and our children mourn their passing. Thank you Jessi and Sabie for all the love, faithfulness, joy, beautiful memories and protection you gave to each of us with unconditional love. Your little love affair together has taught us so many lessons that we could never forget. We miss you so much already. Oh how we love you. 

"Nails never held Christ to the cross ... love did."  quote by Pastor Ray McCauley

Today marks the start of my 9th week of pregnancy. It's been so long since I was pregnant that I've had to go back to finding out exactly where baby's growth is at. Thank goodness for Google ;0) It is so exciting to see my body beginning to change and show signs of being pregnant. I can honestly say that I am counting down the next 3 weeks so that the nausea will pass ... but thats just par for the course I guess. This time around I am loving being able to teach my girls how baby is developing. They cannot get over how small the little one still is. My 10 year old so often comes to rub my barely-there tummy and is already speaking words of love to her baby sibling. It melts my heart. My 6 years old daughter lay on my tummy singing to "the baby" as she calls him or her. It is such an exciting time for them. Handsomeness is convinced that its a boy ... but we met a new family in church this week that has 6 daughters. The look on his face was priceless ;0) Who knows...

Praying for all those in Japan today. The pictures of the tsunami and unbelievable damage is heart breaking. It is so hard to even imagine the loss. We have to pray for the survivors and those trapped in the rubble and the many families who have lost loved ones. My daughter was just telling me of one of her teachers that moved to Japan last week. We are praying that her and her family are safe today. Just when I thought I had a tough week, perspective shines through loud and clear. Life is so unpredictable to allow little things to become mountains. Let's rather look for the things that we can celebrate in one another and rejoice over. Life is precious.  Janine xxx

Last week my precious sister sent me this little story. You may have read it before ... but every time I read it, it makes me smile with perspective. When  things in your life seem almost too much to handle; when 24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of  coffee. The story ... A professor stood before his philosophy  class and  had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he  picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and started to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar....

Oh my goodness ... I have not been posting very much in the last few weeks. Truth be known ... all I feel like doing is sleeping!!! So sorry for slacking dear friends. It's been a long time since I was last pregnant and the tiredness and nausea has been quite intense, but then yesterday we got to meet baby for the first time via scan. It is such a surreal moment hearing the little ones heart beat and seeing that little "beanie" on the screen. Our hearts were so humbled and filled with overflowing joy! Our little one is all of 1.32cm big :0) I am nearing my 8th week now and definitely feeling rather hormonal which actually leads me to the thought on my heart today. In my emotional state I find myself laughing one moment, then so sensitive in the next moment. Ah the joys of womanhood hey! I am one of those people that is all heart - but, I think too deeply for my own good sometimes. You know what I mean? I have been asking the Lord to help me to be more even keeled in my e...