MIA

I cannot believe it has been so long!!! I've had many things I have wanted to blog about in the past weeks, but by the time I sat down to do so . . . I forgot or just ran out of time! But here I am . . . back!!

I've had a lot of things on my heart lately, one of which is our blessed Bible Study! We have a great Bible Study and through the course of the last year we have all (maybe not ALL, but a large majority of us) been going through some "various trials". On Friday, Dan Gallagher gave us an update on his condition (he has aplastic anemia - go here to read more about what he has/is going through) and shared about suffering. It was so encouraging and awesome to hear what God is doing in he and Pam's life through their present suffering, but also God's perspective on suffering.

He had two points:
I. Suffering is designed by God for us - Job 2:7&10, 42:11

• suffering is for my good and GOD'S glory - Romans 8:28
• It's good to consider life and death - do I really long for Heaven or am I too tied to this world?
• suffering should increase my longing for Heaven.

II. Suffering is a gift from God - it doesn't always seem that way as we are going through a trial and suffering, but it is!

• Phil 1:29 tells us that we've been given a gift of suffering
• I Peter 2:21 - suffering is a megaphone for God - we get an opportunity to tell others about our amazing God through suffering.
• Phil 3:8&10 suffering brings fellowship
• it is an opportunity to tell others about Christ!
• the Body of Christ is able to come together to support and love.
• God uses our suffering to conform us!
• through our suffering we are able to comfort others

It has been so amazing, comforting, challenging, & indescribable to watch each member of our Bible study go through their trials. It has been a little over three months since we met Jackson and, as hard as it has been, it has been so awesome to see God use our suffering to change our lives, to help us be more compassionate, to show us areas in which we needed to change in our lives, to help us see what is important and what isn't, to help us long for heaven in a way that we hadn't previously done. Suffering is HARD, but as painful as it has been, I wouldn't change it for what God has done to me and my heart! Yes, I wish with ALL of my heart that I could be anticipating the birth of my first son, but I will have to wait a little while longer!

Thank you to those of you who continue to uphold us in prayer - we so appreciate it! I so appreciate those of you who have come up to us and asked us how we are doing and not the typical - hey, how ya doin'? kinda thing, but the really sincere, making eye contact -"How are you doing?" - that means a lot to us! To answer that question - we are doing good, but as February 11th approaches I find that I am having a hard time. Jackson was due on or around February 11th - it is weird to have that date getting closer and closer and knowing that he won't be coming . . . I'm not pregnant and anticipating the birth of a sweet baby. Thankfully I have these two, busy little girls that don't allow my mind to stay on that thought too long - Praise the Lord for Ellie and Lily - they are wonderful distractions!!

I pray that you are doing well and that if you are suffering right now you are leaning upon God Almighty!

Happy New Year!!

Yeah, I know . . . we are 11 days in to the new year and I am already running behind!! So why should 2009 be any different than the last 10, 15, 20+ years??!?! We had a great Christmas - it was nice and relaxing! It was so wonderful to have Ellie girl home for two whole weeks!!! Loved the late nights of doing whatever and the late mornings sleeping in!! I didn't relish our time at home as much as I should of before she went off to Kindergarten!

Here are some random pictures from the last few weeks . . . can't wait for the next day off! That's Friday!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!

Our Impromptu Cookie Decorating Party

Oh Tate!!!! :o)

A Tagliere Christmas - I know - it's a little blurry - not sure why . . . gotta figure that one out!

Aren't they so cute!!!
And my sweet little niece on the way!! Can't wait to meet her!

Are we the greatest aunts and uncles ever???? We, meaning all of their aunts and uncles, got them a drum set, guitar, and set of fun little instruments!! We figure Parker will be on the drums, Alyssa on the guitar, Reagan on the cymbals, Laura on the piano, and Danny . . . Lead Vocals of course!!!

Ahh sweet!