hug | A Thankfully Imperfect Woman

Dec 14

Witnessing a Story of Faith, Love and Support

What child is this, who, laid to rest, On Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the son of Mary. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king, to own him. The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise a song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby : Joy, joy for Christ is born, The babe, the Son of Mary.

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In this season, this ‘Christ’mas time, may we all stop our fun preparations: the decorating, present buying, wrapping, and cookie making…to reflect on Christ’s birth. The gift God gave us on this day…His Son.

The babe that would grow into a 12 year old child who would sit amongst the elders speaking wisdom in the temple. The young man who, when baptized, was descended upon by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and a voice came from heaven, which said, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased”. The man who would die on the cross to save us from our sins.

And God, the Father, watched from above. He saw all the joy…He saw all the suffering. He was there through it all…beside His Son.

On our worst days, we may wonder ‘Where is God?’.

He’s watching. He’s waiting. He’s with us, just as He was with His Son.

We just need to have Faith.

I’ve witnessed this show of faith.

First, in my husband’s Grandpa, who passed 12 years ago: Frank was at home, having fought a good fight against cancer. He was in hospice care…and he had faith. In his last weeks he spoke about seeing Jesus there in the room with him. And we knew…He was there. He walked Grandpa home to Heaven…of that there is no doubt.

And in the past few months, an incredible story of courage, faith, and love has filled our small town – pulling it’s people together in a show of support for an incredible young man suffering from leukemia. Read more

Oct 4

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Prayers for Our Children

I pray…I praise…and I live a Christian life, or should I say I attempt to. Strength in my Christianity is something I struggle with at times, and yet at the same time, my faith in prayer is always strong.

Today I want to ask you to join me in prayer for two very special children who are going through challenges. One of these young people has become special to me even though we’ve never met, and the second is one who desperately needs the world’s prayers now, even though we haven’t even seen her face.

The first is a sweet little man whom I’ve only met through a video and yet I love him already. For those of you who read my blog post “Red Fred Project – Join Me”, you’ve met him too. This is the quote from Dallas Graham’s Facebook page today: (Dallas is the creative genius behind the Red Fred Project)… Guys: Our Nathan, from Red Fred Project, broke his back coming home from school today. His mom, Rachel Glad, says he seems in less pain as long as he’s on his back. Please send love, thoughts and prayers to our incredible little man, Nathan. We love you, Nathan. He has a Facebook page: Nathan Ryan Glad Foundation. Drop him a message! … Let’s all say a prayer for this little man and his family. And if you haven’t yet, join his foundation, and join the Red Fred Project so we can meet more young people like Nathan and can give them a voice too.

The second is a little girl who desperately needs our prayers at this very moment in time. She’s a little one year old who saw her Mom being killed by police officers in Washington D.C. yesterday. A little girl, innocent to this world’s troubles, innocent to her Mom’s troubles that caused this horrible situation…a little girl innocent. I pray that she be surrounded with love, I pray that she be safe, I pray that she have no memory of what happened yesterday, and I pray for her Momma…may God take her to Heaven and lay peace in her troubled heart and mind. And may she now be a special angel for her little girl.

Amen.

Patty O

Picture credit: Pinterest, Teresa Kogul

Sep 10

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My Daycare Baby Started Nursery School Today :'{

Is it just me?

Do other daycare providers get teary watching their little peanut march off to school?

Mind you, it’s just nursery school, but sheesh…how did she get this old? It seems like just yesterday that Elena, at 3 months old, came to stay with me.

{Sigh}

I love these little peanuts.

I am very excited for Elena – she is going to have such a great time! The one advantage for me is that I get to enjoy some one on one time with her little sister. I know we’ll both enjoy some quiet snuggle time!

I had to giggle this morning as we were working on Elena’s little person for school…Nicole needed one too. So here they are…Elena and Nicole working on these two cute little paper people…with button eyes, crayon clothes, and twine hair. I felt the twine hair was perfect as little Elena’s hair usually shows up at my door in the morning with a rat’s nest in the back…with Elena in tow, of course! Remember The Winner of the Worst Bed Head Competition?

We had it all set up on our coffee table and there we were…all sitting on the couch with our projects. Elena picked out blue buttons for her eyes and little red buttons for a smile. Longer twine hair on Elena’s and short little pieces for Nicole’s (since her hair is just starting to really grow). Both paper dolls came out pretty cute. I wish I would have taken a picture for you…but alas, we were running like crazy people this morning.

Now Nicole is napping and Elena is just getting off from school and will be back soon. I can’t wait to hear about her day!

{sniff, sniff}

Our baby is growing up Jen and Blake! I know, I know…your baby. But I still count you guys as extended family, and I’m pretty sure your girls think they have 3 older sisters…and trust me, Alex, Sam and Gabi love your girls! And don’t get me started on Tim…little fingers…wrapped around…sound familiar?

Happy Back to School everyone!

Patty O

ps…Gabi started 7th grade this year. {sigh} Same height as me. {sigh} Size 9.5 feet. {sigh} Our baby’s growing up too. {sniff, sniff} 🙂

pps…thanks to Pinterest and Dr. Seuss for the photo.

Aug 15

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My House is a Zoooooo!!!

Between this crazy, lovable puppy who seems to think he needs to go to the front of the house to go potty (when we need to go out the back door)…and two rather emotional babies…and cross country practice started for Gabi…and Tim, of course, is back at work with the beginning of the Fall sports.

My poor dear friends came into all this craziness Monday!

Lori stopped for a quick visit and while she was here, Susan came. Poor Lori…we were sitting here visiting, having a little lunch and all of a sudden I scream “AAAAAAHHHH SUSAN IS HERE!!!” I was supposed to be picking Susan up sometime in the afternoon so I didn’t expect to see her and my friend Dea walking up on our deck! Poor Lori…the look on her face was priceless! I’m usually a pretty calm person…randomly screaming is not my M.O. And I hadn’t told many that Susan was coming because it was an on again/off again trip so I wasn’t sure it was going to happen! The last time I’d seen her was 3 years ago, so of course I was very excited to see her again.

Susan is from Colorado but lived here before the move. She was also an owner of Secret Sisters. Susan is one of those creative, little (petite), artsy-fartsy, sweet (but don’t cross her), lovable dear friends that even if you don’t see each other for 3 years, you start right up where you left off. If you hadn’t guessed I love this little lady!

That was all on Monday.

Tuesday included just one baby…some shopping and lunch out for Susan and I…two eye appts for me…a really quick dinner…and—–Susan and I scored last-minute tickets to a concert which included: The Candles, Cory Chisel, Adriel Denae, and special guest Norah Jones! It was FANTASTIC!

Wednesday brought a rather fast trip to Duluth (after a breakfast out with Susan and a quick trip to the Crapola bakery). Gabi and I accomplished more in TJ Maxx than most ever could in one hour…school shopping now done! 2 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of yoga pants, 2 pair of running capris, 2 pair of shoes (and 2 flavored coffees for me) and done. Gabi had to try on about 20 pants before settling on these.

A funny thing happened in the dressing room…Gabi had some skinny jeans to try on. Have you seen those commercials where the lady jumps into the skinny jeans? Yeah…that wasn’t happening. Have I told you how big her feet are lately? She’s now a size 9/10. Those skinny little ankles just were NOT going over those big honkin’ feet!

A dr’s appt. for me and a stop at Target for a few last-minute school supplies and we were back home. Home to find Miss Samantha back from camp! Yippeeeeee! After a month away volunteering at the Young Life Camp – Castaway, it was so good to see her again!

Today, Thursday, was finally a little less eventful (except my forgetting a pt appt…oops!). Sam and I had a nice little lunch out and then Gabi joined us for a little bumming around some of the local stores. Tonight we’re enjoying movie night after some fantastic pizza…it’s so good to have Sam back home. And she loves little Motzy. Of course – why wouldn’t she?

I have high hopes for tomorrow…maybe we’ll get to just relax at home. Until 4 of us friends get together tomorrow evening for dinner…commence laughter!

It’s nice to be back online. I hope your week has been less crazy than mine! Crazy happy, crazy blessed.

Talk more soon…

Patty O

ps…thank you Pinterest for the photo.

Aug 7

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The Puppy Chronicles

We are now on Day 6…

We’ve tried out about 6 or 7 names on him…I know I told you Castle was it. Well, we changed our minds once again. I was hedging on Castle, and then Tim called him “Motza-ball” yesterday when he did something silly. That might sound silly, but it’s a term of endearment for dogs and little children when they’re being funny. And a new name was born. We’ll be calling him Motza or Motzy. It fits…he is all white like mozzarella, and quite silly.

I am happy to report that he has us (almost) fully trained. When he runs for the front of the house or bathroom, we know he has to go out to go potty (which is the other way). We’re down to one accident in the house today (don’t ask how many times we run him outside 🙂 )! Read more