Anybody thinking Christmas shopping yet?

Okay, okay, I know it is only October...but in case any of you are starting to think through Christmas gifts...I wanted to give you a link to a blogging buddies store. Her family is nearing the home stretch of their second adoption (they already adopted two sisters from India and they are adopting a little boy) but that does not necessarily mean that they are in the home stretch of what they need to raise!

Lori has been making jewelery and selling it online to help with their adoption and what could be better than taking care of some of your Christmas shopping and supporting a godly family in their adoption process all at the same time?!?:)So, if you have a couple of minutes to check out her store, just click on the name: Moss Lake Originals

In other news, we are working our way back up into the land of the living. Fevers are ebbing though the cough is a killer. I didn't think I could handle knowing the kids were watching another movie so we made them sit and do some school work. Not too much fun for any of us, but it was so nice to look at something other than a TV screen!:) Caleb slept most of the day...his surgery must have caught up with him...and Titus went on a coloring marathon - you should see our fridge! Bryan set up "office" in the living room and is still "at work" as I write!

These last few days of not feeling well has made it difficult to "feel" good about anything else, including my walk with Christ. My physical weakness has made me feel spiritually weak and struggling to have the "joy of the Lord be my strength". For lack of a better word, I have been struggling with feeling "blah". So, I was very thankful that a couple of days before I got sick I read this evening meditation by Spurgeon that has been helping me fight those feelings of "blah" with prayers to love my Savior more. Here is the last portion of it (talking about Christ, our Shepherd) that really blessed my heart:

"How gently did he gather me to himself, to his truth, to his blood, to his love, to his church! With what effectual grace did he compel me to come to himself! Since my first conversion, how frequently has he restored me from my wanderings, and once again folded me within the circle of his everlasting arm! The best of all is, that he does it all himself personally, not delegating the task of love, but condescending himself to rescue and preserve his most unworthy servant. How shall I love him enough or serve him worthily? I would fain make his name great unto the ends of the earth, but what can my feebleness do for him? Great Shepherd, add to thy mercies this one other, a heart to love thee more truly as I ought."