Lest the snow be wasted on lesser things...

Our own little snowglobe...

...is what we feel like in our house this morning.  Heavy, wet flakes are falling from they sky's womb today and the sun does not shine, it is too wet to play, so we sit in the house all this cold, cold, wet day.  But we like it.  Because it feels like we are in our own little snowglobe.  For just one day.

So we master Angry Birds...

...and play with our dolls...

(Thank you Vivian!  The outfits are darling!)

...and we deliver letters to loved ones.

Guess why Elaina's smiling...

The kids' science teacher from the co-op came over today and we brought out Sawyer's gecko ("Geico" but has recently been renamed "Mozzie" by all the kids at the homeschool co-op).  He's been a great little pet for the year.

"One person...

...was not ashamed of the Gospel, and now 30,000 people in Cameroon have the Word of God in their own language".  Sam couldn't contain his emotions as he recounted the faithfulness of a girl many years ago who had an influence on my dad surrendering his life to the Lord, and how that led to the Nooni Bible translation.  It was Sam's turn to do chapel at Moody and you could have heard a pin drop as Sam bared his heart.  The heart that, through the pain of waiting for years to return to Africa, has finally been shaped by God to understand that we are called to be faithful and unashamed of the Gospel HERE and NOW, rather than waiting for the "someday".  Our lives are the very testimonies of God's transforming power, of His joy in taking the grime and turning it into beauty through the blood of the cross.  Be not ashamed, declare with boldness and joy that you are declared "Not Guilty" by God's grace!  You never know the glories it may lead to!

Chapel with Moody Aviation students

Presenting the Nooni Bible to Cecil Bedford, Director of Moody's Aviation Program
*one of Moody Aviation's graduates drove the Nooni Bibles to the village of Lassin to be distributed

Click here for the Nooni Bible translation video.

"Mom, I think it's because we don't pray enough about it..."

...says my beautiful ballerina fairy girl on the way to school this morning.  We made a mad dash of the morning, and it really was mad on my part.  We were late and every glove, every water bottle, every shoe, took an eternity and time I did not have to spare.  I let it show with my sighs and groans and whip-like tongue.  We cram into the van and we drive like crazy people to the home school co-op, half an hour away.  "We don't need to get so frustrated when we're late, Mommy.  We're always late.  I'm used to it. Why aren't you used to it yet?  I think it's because we don't pray about it enough that you get so frustrated".  

Whoa.

 God slammed the brakes on my rushing heart and I heard His tender wisdom spoken through the lips of my girl.  I mull it over for a minute, though mind you, we're still going 7 over.  "You are right, Elaina.  I don't WANT to be used to being late because I shouldn't let it be a habit.  But I also shouldn't get so frustrated when I AM late.  You are right that we need to pray to ask God to help give peace and joy to my heart".  We prayed and though we were late, my heart was restored.  Sometimes the constraints, time constraints, of this life are hard to live by and I hope God will continue to use every means possible to reach my hard and immature heart in those moments, to bring me back to green pastures and still waters. Even the means of lips of a babe.

Chicken noddle soup and Duck Duck BRUCE!

Daddy, Mommy, and Babies Danforth are sick with achey bones, chills, and yuck.  Today, we are thankful for games, living room blanket nests, and chicken noodle soup!

Fantastic Weekend Getaway...

"They devoted themselves...to the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to prayer." Acts 2:42

The early church may have done this in huts or homes, or who knows what.  We happened to do it at the Davenport last weekend with friends, Dustin and Heidi.  What an incredibly uplifting time for each of us as we prayed, processed through family spiritual goals, and just delighted in the Word together.

Dustin and Sam inspect the Davenport lobby flowers to see if they were real or if the Davenport had skimped.
They were fake :)

Dustin and Heidi Greenup

Thank you, Traveling Nooni Team, for sending us on our weekend getaway!!!