Wednesday, May 29, 2013

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth Genesis 1:1

In my Bible study I am participating in we are focusing on prayer.  Today was praising God through prayer. Ironically, my verse today was Genesis 1:1 which I think flows perfectly with my Bible study passage Psalms 8. 
 

God is the Creator (Gen.1:1), the Master Craftsman (Proverbs 8:22-31), the Gardener (John 15:1-2), and He is worthy of praise (1 Chronicles 16:34).  Ashamedly, I fail to acknowledge this on a daily basis.  Like my friend, Paula, that is leading this Bible study, I often don't pay any attention to God's beautiful creation when I open my blinds and curtains. I don't even look outside.  And when I do I notice all the flaws and imperfections of our yardwork.   

How often it is that I take His beautiful handiwork for granted.  I just assume that it is always going to be there.  I even feel silly talking to God about His creation.   But it is beautiful and if He rejoices in it, then shouldn't I?   The green, lush trees that are gently swaying in the breeze, the colorful palette that He uses in the beautiful roses outside my window, the different shades of green in the grass, leaves and trees, the tickle on my feet from the grass, the perfect blue sky and the white puffy clouds.  I can't believe that God controls all of this and He has allowed us to enjoy all of  it.  Today, after reading the passage and devotional, I tried to remember these glorious wonders.  I tried to tell my little baby girl about them and how blessed we are to be here, breathing the air that God has given us, and to look at his artwork everyday. 

Father, forgive me for not treasuring your creation.  Forgive me for taking these beautiful plants and animals for granted.  You are so creative.  Father, give me eyes to see Your wonders and Your majesty everyday.  Thank you for trusting us with Your creation.

Psalms 8
"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and avenger.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man t: all flockshat you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.  You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (NIV)

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Ava Elizabeth 
 5 months
 on May 5, 2013
 
Time flies!  Ava is getting so big.  This has been a month of many new discoveries.  Ava is very alert and giggles a lot!  She is a very happy baby and so laid back.  She will placate herself for an hour and sometimes more on the floor playing with her toys.  She loves her toys and she loves to grab at anything and everything.  Her babydoll, elephant, balls, stacking rings, jingling elephant and butterfly and her linking rings are her favorites right now.  She has several more toys waiting to be introduced to her.  I am sure she will find those to be great fun too!
 
 
Ava is eating rice cereal and prunes, pears, apples and applesauce and squash so far. The girl loves to eat.  We are getting the hang of eating from a spoon now.  She gets excited when I put her in the BUMBO because she instantly thinks its feeding time. She eats her prunes the messiest!
Ava is holding her own bottle now.  At first I was excited because I kind of have my hands back, but then that was soon replaced with some sadness because it also means she is growing up.  It is still cute, though. 
Ava is also rolling from both back to belly and belly to back. 
She will often roll herself around whatever room she is in.  I have quickly come to realize I am not ready for her to be mobile. 
 
We have also discovered our feet.  I have been waiting on her to notice those.  It is so cute to watch her pull and suck on those toesies! They provide instant entertainment for her and us!
 
 
The month of April we were priviledged to be able to go to a memorial service for a dear young man who passed away a year ago from cancer.  If Ava was a boy, we were going to name her after him.  While we were there, we finally met Wendy.  She is a therapy dog that daddy has told us a lot about.  He knows her from working at Levine's Children's Hospital.  Wendy spent a lot of time with Josh while he was sick.  We got to love on her and thank her for being a dog who brings such joy those precious children in the hospital. 
Some of my favorite things about Ava this month are:
~cuddling before naps and bedtime
~smiling when she sees me and getting excited when I am about to pick her up
~her sweet smile at daddy when he gets home from work
~playing with her toesies
~her giggles when her mommy is being silly
~the way she talks herself to sleep
~getting her mind set on grabbing whatever she sees
~watching her bounce in her exersaucer
~when she makes excited noises when I feed her and smacks on her food