JUST KEEP SWIMMING

Have I told you about my baby? 
A few days ago I was lucky enough to become his adopted mother.
In his mind, he looks like this:



But in real life, he looks like this:




Naming him was a challenge. It was very much like naming a child.
Names are important!
They carry a great deal of meaning.

When you name a child, there are many things to consider. Names of ex-boyfriends, celebrities with bad reputations, bratty children already in your life, and certain family members are out of the question. Names that rhyme with swear words are not an option. Names that bear heavy associations should be carefully considered. For example, its a bad idea to name your kid Santa, Ginger, or Hitler. Names that destine the child for mocking are cruel and should be eliminated. I met a child named Alone the other day. Really?? Names that have six ways of pronouncing them (bre-ANNA, bre-AWNA...lets call the whole thing off) are off limits. In the Bible, names give you a clue into the person's whole character. Names are clearly significant to God.

I know in my heart it was no accident that I was named Hannah. Hannah is a Hebrew name that means "GRACE". My life is a testimony of God's grace. Grace has saved me, shaped me, and now sustains me. Before my encounter with God, I didn't like my name. I didn't think it sounded very pretty when you said it and I wanted to go by my middle name Elizabeth. But my name means so much to me now when I realize that the Lord gave it to me to remind me of all that he has done and will do for me. And ironically, Elizabeth means "CONSECRATED TO GOD".
There was just no escaping it...
=]

When it came to naming my baby, I knew that I had to pick something significant. I originally named him "Sushi" but he didn't really care for it too much.
To be honest, after I thought about it, I didn't care for it too much either. I wanted to name him something special; something that would mean more then his inevitable fate.
(I didn't exactly tell my mom before I brought him home and she keeps threatening to eat him)

Then the perfect name came to me.
The morning before he came into my life, I read Hebrews 1:14 which says:
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

Gabriel it is.
To remind me and encourage me.

Plus, perhaps bearing an angel's name will extend his life...
I don't think my mom was joking about eating him.

CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR

I love Christmas.

However, being the "blogger" that I am with the brain that I have I simply can't let the Christmas season just go by without tossing out a few thoughts.

Why is Frosty the Snowman a smoker? I would think if you were made of snow and ice you wouldn't deal with things that smoke. I also think its a terrible influence on all the children he seems to enjoy hanging out with. Wait...why does he only hang out with children? Thats suspicious.

Why is Mary always dressed in blue? Blue is for boys. If I was designing the manger scene and I had to pick a color with which to dress Mary (Let be real. She was most likely wearing brown.) I would dress her in pink!
Or perhaps a sunny yellow...
Minty green if all else fails.

Why is baby Jesus always smiling? If I was a baby and you put my baby butt on a bed of straw swaddled with nothing but some strips of cloth you bet your tacky poinsettia I would be bawling.

Why do we hang a stocking? If the goal is to get a bunch of presents, you would think you would hang your largest article of clothing. For me, it would be my one piece pajamas with the feet. The whole thing. Thats right. Fill 'er up.


What happens when you roast a chestnut?






What is a chestnut?


And I could be wrong about this but...I don't think its that cold outside. I think that guy with the deep voice just wants that girl to stay overnight.
Hmmm...








Merry Christmas
=]

MAMAS DONT LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS

The female heart and the hard boiled egg. 

Once upon the beginning of time, the Creator designed the egg. Flawless. Beautiful. Purposed to give life.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

Then the egg fell. The egg fell into a pot of
scalding
searing
boiling
water.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

But all was not lost. Even though the egg could no longer reach the perfection of its original purpose, it still had so much value. It still contained life-giving nutrients and a richness that could nourish and sustain.

...she would become the mother of all the living

But there was a catch.

The goodness of the egg was surrounded by a shell.
The Creator purposely designed that shell. Strong enough to hold the beauty of life yet weak enough to be completely removed... the Creator intended one to come to free the egg for its true purpose.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife...

It would be a delicate process. Sometimes the shell would stick. Sometimes it would slide off without the deserved effort and sometimes it would only come off bit by bit. The egg itself could crack if one was not careful and if dropped the egg would be of no further use.

Then the one intended to be the intended came along...

A long glance,
a moment,
and the pursuit began - a small crack appeared.

A confession from the heart,
a sweet kiss,
and quality time spent - a piece fell to the ground.

A promise made,
intent declared,
and trust was given - the crack in the shell branched and multiplied into ten.

And then intended and the intention were gone. And the egg was left with the broken pieces.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! 
   Though I have fallen, I will rise. 
Though I sit in darkness, 
   the LORD will be my light.







Someday, as I am running with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength towards the Lord, I will look to my right or to my left and see someone running next to me.

Glorify the LORD with me; 
   let us exalt his name together.


Take my hand. Lets run this race together.