This video was made for Grandma and Grandpa Marshall and Campbell and any other assorted family out there. :)

He's starting to learn songs. It's so stinkin' cute!

Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love - Twin Falls, Idaho - 2011, originally uploaded by The Shutterbugette.

What to do with a cute, but crappy point-and-shoot image? Photoshop the heck out of it, of course! :)

Friday Funny

Happy Friday everyone!

The Hubby Returns

Well, I survived the week without Matt; shaken, but unscathed. Half the week was like detox and the other was like spiritual bootcamp. I spent the first few days a total trainwreck and the rest facing some sin areas that I had somehow managed to tuck deep inside for a long time. You can only run from God for so long. I learned quite a bit - far more than just the realization that I stink at being a single parent. I learned that I am capable of more on my own that I thought or even dared imagined - only with and by God's grace. But I also realized that I hadn't been trusting Him as much as I should. Sensing a pattern with me, yet? I was forced to trust Him at every turn, it seemed, especially in the times when I was weak and wanted Matt to come straight home. I don't think I would have made it otherwise.

Matt had a blessed time fellowshipping and soaking in as much knowledge as he could take. He related it greatly to drinking from a firehose - lots and lots of information to try to take in all at once. It was an immense blessing that I was able to watch the conference streamed live over the Shepherds' Conference website. It was almost like being able to be there together and we were able to discuss and comment after each session. It also made three days go by quickly, which was nice.

It was a hard week, but needed. We both benefited greatly. Our reunion was very sweet. :)

Matt took Rebbie along (yes, I named my camera) and was able to capture some pretty awesome shots during his time in Vegas and L.A. Please take some time to go wander through his Photostream.

Taken off the Santa Monica Pier.

The Narrow Gate

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." -Matthew 7:13-14

Reverse

This is wonderfully awesome.

Are You Really Saved?

Let's face it - we live in a fake world. A world filled with hypocrisy. Proclaiming Christians are no different. If you claim to be a Christian, are you 100% certain, without-a-doubt, stake your eternity on it sure that you're saved? The Bible tells us that it's dire for believers to examine themselves to be very sure they are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Here's a list that comes from 1 John. How will you fare?

10 Signs of Salvation

You Fellowship

1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

You Recognize Your True Sinful State

John 1:8 – “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

You Are Obedient to His Commandments

1 John 2:3 – “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

You Do Not Love the World

1 John 2:15 – “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

You Have Knowledge of Who Jesus Christ Is

1 John 2:23 – “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

You Look Forward to His Coming

1 John 3:2 – “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

You Do Not Practice Sin

1 John 3:8-10 – “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

You Love Your Brothers

1 John 3:14 – “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

You Love Preaching, Teaching and Hearing God’s Word

1 John 4:6 – “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

You Proclaim Jesus Christ

1 John 4:15 – “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”

How'd you do? Not so hot? Jesus makes it very clear to us that many will come claiming to be Christians, but many will not enter Heaven and will be cast into Hell for all eternity (Matthew 7:21-23). I don't know about you, but that's a frightening thought to me. I want to be 110% sure of where I'm going, especially if it's the difference between Heaven and Hell. If you failed at any of these, you may want to check out the links below. Whether you're new to the faith or have been going to church all your life, your eternity depends on knowing. Be sure.

10 Marks of a False Convert
Examine Yourself
Are You Really a Christian?

I Can't Handle This!

I found this to be very, very encouraging - especially in light of my day yesterday. Please read and be encouraged, too.

I Can't Handle This!

Random Photos

This is our Daddy countdown. Each day, we'll rip off a ring - just like we all used to do at Christmastime. I'd like to say I made it for Rob's sake, but really it's for mine. Last night was incredibly hard, but today is a little easier. Sleep helped; although, I had to take Benedryl to knock myself out. I did a little Bible study and a lot of praying this morning and now I'm just trying to keep my thoughts captive and my hands busy. This is so hard.

A sweet photo of the boys. Proof that sometimes they like each other. Sometimes.

I built the boys a cave by flipping the playpen on it's side and then throwing a blanket over it. They loved it. Yes, that's my pink blanket. No, I'm not proud of that.

Drewser watching TV. Probably Sesame Street, judging by his enamored expression.

Rob wanted me to snap a picture of Buzz. Tada?

I see a coy little smile under that pacifier...

Always willing to take a silly picture. What a goof.

Can you tell I cleaned off my memory card recently?

Christ is Risen

I adore this song.

Rough Start

We said "goodbye" to Matt this morning, as he starts his journey towards the Shepherd's Conference in Sun Valley, California. It was incredibly difficult to let him go. I feel silly to admit that I've bawled my eyes out off and on for the past 24 hours and I barely slept last night - especially since he'll only be gone a week. But dang - it's hard to let someone go when you've never been apart in eight years. You kind of get attached to someone in that time. And boy - do I rely on him! But mostly, I'll miss him dearly. Please pray for travel mercies for the group to and from.

I got another bombshell dropped on me this morning, shortly after Matt left. My second cousin, Laurie, lost her several-year-battle with cancer last night. This came as a shock to me and my family, but it wasn't a surprise. She went into the hospital a week or so ago because of a bad headache and a scan revealed that her cancer had spread everywhere. Hospice was called in to ease her pain at home, but that was on Friday or Saturday. Prayers for my family are greatly appreciated. We're a pretty tight-knit group and Laurie was the hub of us all.

My heart is heavy. Resting in His loving grace today.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9