THE WEEKEND ENDED and all is well...

I know, I know -- Oh Von, how you go on!  Well, yeah ... I guess! 

But let me tell you something.  Life has a lot of things in it you would rather would not be in it.  Sometimes you wonder if there is ANY good around.  And you wonder 'what next'?  And then God slips in something fun and wonderful as a reminder that HE is in control and gives us blessings all the time.  We have to recognize them.


And for me.  My family is the biggest BEST blessing on this earth.  The time we got to spend this weekend with our littlest addition was/is cherished time.  A first!  Noteworthy, for me anyway!  Every soft little hair on her head.  Every chubby roll.  Every drop of sputtered cereal or vegetable.  Every giant toothless grin.  Each a reward and a gift.  Thank you Jesus!

One of the most fun times of the weekend was last night. I was (admittedly) tired.  It was nearing bedtime.  I pulled out a video that Rhiannon had sent.  The intention was Jaimee would watch her video and Gram(me) would have some "down time".  I plugged in the Baby Einstein "Baby Beethoven" video.  Twenty eight minutes it said.  And thus began some of the cutest minutes of time I got to spend.  Needless to say, my down time turned into 28 minutes of me watching Jaimee watch her video.


Jaimee loves her video.  It is simple photography/graphics all set to Beethoven's music.  Colorful, bright, active (but not in an overly stimulating manner) - a mixture of images, objects, children and hand puppets crossing the screen now and again.  I had her sit in her jumper.  She squealed.  She giggled.  She jumped.  Her arms stretched out in excitement.  It was so much fun.

This morning as we packed things up to get ready for her return to Iowa City - Nick came down.  I told him to watch - and I put the video in again.  Again, she was in the jumper.  I think Uncle Nick would agree with me on a very cute/sweet time watching her watch her show.  Grandpa wanted to turn on the Viking's game and Nick said NO!!  He was enjoying her so much.

I know life is tough for everyone.  Remember that this world is only temporary.  God intends for us to experience joy here and provides gorgeous children, pretty fall colors and ... you can fill in the blank.  But more than these things he wants us to experience the joy of eternity.  So don't ever forget - in those tough times - that He WILL see you through to the 'better life ahead'.  Interpret each joyful blessing you see as a reminder that He loves you and is with you until then.