Saturday

Went on a beautiful date-hike with my hubzbind along the creek and through the woods behind our house. I’m so glad we did that. We can’t wait to all go down as a family once the weather figures out that it is actually March and not January!! We’ve got the Baby Björn carrier dusted off and all ready for Norns!

The trees along the edge of the creek are incredibly beautiful.

I am reminded to be like these trees:

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
(Jeremiah 17:7, 8 NIV)

Earlier in the day William and I went to Target to get new bottles for Nora and a couple of other things. Yes, Nora seems to be outgrowing her little bottles and needs the next size up!!! She’s eating a TON lately, so we are following her lead and giving her more volume. (“Pump up the volume! Pump up the volume! Dance, dance!” she says.) She takes it down like it’s nobody’s business! Anyway, as we were checking out, the cashier handed me a $10 register coupon for milkies. I was reminded that we needed more milkies!! William offered to go get the car while I went back in to make another purchase. I also remembered that we needed more diapers so I grabbed those too. I did a quick assessment of the checkout lanes and chose the one that seemed fastest. A couple I had seen earlier in the store happened to be in front of me. I recognized her from Facebook and know we must have met somewhere before! We said hello again. Marlene reintroduced herself and her husband and asked how Nora was doing. We talked a little bit about Nora and the blog before it was my turn to check out. It was then that Marlene and her husband told me that they wanted to pay for my (Nornor’s) things. (!!!!!) I smiled and graciously allowed them to bless me. I’ve seen how God has put me in the right place at the right time to be a blessing to others, but now here He was putting me in the ideal place and time to be on the receiving end and it all started with a register coupon! I got a little teary and emotional over that thought and also because there was no way Marlene could have known about my little random, anonymous act of kindness toward a stranger just the day before!! I was nudged so “loudly” by the Holy Spirit that there was no way I could ignore it. The only reason I even bring that up is to prove:

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
(Luke 6:38 NIV)

God is absolutely completely amazing and that is just that. Thank you, Marlene and Dan for listening to your nudge. You too will be blessed!!!

Sunday

We have an 11 month old little leprechaun on our hands today! I’m so incredibly thankful for the gift of this perfect little girl. To think there was a time when we weren’t sure if we’d even get to bring her home. Wow, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
(2 Corinthians 9:15)

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
(Psalm 28:7)

Nora is having an upper G.I. done tomorrow morning. It’s just exploratory to ensure everything is working as it should be. Please pray that goes well and that Nora tolerates her barium bottle as well as she did for her swallow study way back when! 🙂 (I think that’s how they’re doing this — ?)