Lots of new posts :)

I have gotten way behind on blogging lately so make sure you see all 7 new posts that I just put up. :)

Closure

Ben and I went to a John Piper conference, in Austin, the weekend of Oct 18. The conference was titled Job: Why the righteous suffer which couldn't have come at a better time for me. The Tuesday before the conference I had a meltdown that brought me to my knees and before the throne of God. I never struggled with why God allowed Daddy to have cancer, but I have wrestled with why He didn't heal him and allowed him to pass away at age 54. The road to healing for me has been difficult. It has been 17 months but the hurt it still very real.

That Tuesday night I was doing fine and Ben and I had just said good night to one another. All of a sudden I realized that 3 years ago that day my dad was fine and life was normal, but four days later on the 18th Daddy would be diagnosed with a brain tumor and my life would be forever changed. I began to sob uncontrollably. I went upstairs to our guest room to be near to the only tangible thing I had of Daddy which was my hope chest that he made for me when I was in college. I sat on the chest and looked outside and voiced my frustration to the Lord. I am so thankful that we have a God that allows us to share our feelings with Him, because He already knows them anyways. I told Him that I was hurt that He didn't heal Daddy and that I felt He let me down. As I prayed I sensed His peace and closeness and His grace swept over me as I slowly turned back to His promise that He is in control and He has the greater picture in mind.

That Friday, the boys were at my mom's, Ben and I headed to Austin. The conference was terrific and solidified what I knew that God is sovereign!. Piper asked this question; "Is God supreme in your life or sin/self?" If God truly is supreme in my life then He has to be more important to me than anything or anyone else. I also learned that through sufferring the taste of Heaven becomes even more sweeter. The over arching theme is the supremacy of God. At all times He is in control and nothing happens that He doesn't have control over. He allowed Dad to have cancer and He allowed him to pass away. He could've healed him, but He had a greater plan that I can't understand this side of Heaven. It was so neat to for Ben and I to experience this conference together as a couple. I loved talking with him and sharing what I was learning.

I encourage you to visit the link I have provided and listen/watch the podcasts of the Job conference. It will encourage you if you have experienced sufferring and it will prepare you if you haven't. Thank you all for supporting me and my family through our journey.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/42/

The Reading Tub

Some days require lots of inventive play! On this particular day, I decided to put pillows in our bathtub with lots of books and Hudson loved it. :)

The Singin' Bunny

Hudson was given this bunny that sings Jesus Loves Me and now Landon has discovered how great it is! He loves to press his tummy and hear the music and then hug the bunny. Thanks Aunt Jan for a priceless gift!!

Sandbox Fun

Landon has recently become very interested in the sandbox. He crawls in and has so much fun with the toys and sand. He doesn't even mind sand in his mouth in fact he eats it voluntarily! :)

5+ years at PBK = Tiffany's box!!!

I had know idea that when I took the position at Pottery Barn Kids in October 02 (in Denver)that I would still be working for them today. I have LOVED working for this company in a manager position and a part time associate. The company values its employees and the discount is awesome!! I reached my 5 year mark last October, but I was on maternity leave. After Landon was born, I transfered to the Houston store but didn't start working until this past summer. Anyways, my old manager in Kansas sent me my Tiffany's pen a few weeks ago. I now have 2 turquoise boxes!! (Ben bought me a heart bracelet for my 1st mother's day)

How the Cookie Crumbles

I had eaten a cookie and decided it wasn't good enough to keep eating so I threw it in the trash. The trash was getting ready to be taken out so it was sitting beside the trash can and that is when Landon formed a plan. :) I turned around for a second and he had gotten into the trash and was successfully shoving cookie into his mouth - look at those cheeks. :)

Hudson's Homework

Hudson had his first assignment from school. :) He had to find things that started with L and put everything in a bag his teacher gave him. Ben and I helped him go through the house and find lots of great things.

Pumpkins and Parties

This has been the first year that Hudson has somewhat understood Halloween. He was very insistent that he be a football player, even though I wanted him to be a tool man since we had everything for the costume. :)

My Grandmommy (Dad's mom) and Aunt Vicki were coming to visit Grandmommy's brother, who is battling cancer, and had dinner with us and spent the night. Hudson was on pins and needles until they got here - even waiting by the door. :) We went Trick or Treating just on our cul de sac and then came home. The kids had so much fun and were both in bed by 8:30 and us "old folks" were in bed by 9:00pm. :)

Check out all of the fun pics from carving our pumpking, Hudson's school party and the Big night on our Picassa website. Go to http://picasaweb.google.com/brothermclain