Heart Capacity

Do you know that feeling when you're almost overwhelmed by

how much you love someone or something?

When you feel so incredibly lucky... blessed ...

that you feel like your heart could burst?

It's often brought on by a person.

But it can even happen when you're looking out at

an incredibly gorgeous sunset over the ocean.

Or when you're hiking up in the mountains and it's so beautiful and magical

that you're pretty sure any minute you might meet up with

one of the elves from Middle Earth. :)

I get that feeling even more often now that I have grand kids.

I know I loved my own kids a lot when they were little

(and I still love them now!)

but there's just something about grand kids.

When I see them

or hold them

or even just see a picture of them

I honestly feel like my heart could burst!

I think when you're a parent

you're responsible for so many things related to your kids

well, everything actually

so there are a lot of other feelings mixed in with that incredible love.

But when you're a grand parent

you just get to love on 'em.

So these are my three incredible grand kids

that regularly expand my heart

close to its bursting point.

This is Camden.

I especially love him.

 

This is Andersen.

I especially love him.

And this is Kayley

our newest little Gudgel.

I especially love her.

Books That Have Shaped My Life

As I was unpacking box after box of books when we moved into our new home recently, I started making a special little stack. Now I love to read, so I have a lot of books that I love. But this particular stack ended up being books that at one time or another in my life were used to shape the person I am today. I now have them in between two very cute bookends on top of one of our bookshelves. When I walk by them I'm reminded of the journey that my life has been...so far. Each one came to my life at a time when it was just what I needed. Gifts from God. Helping me to grow in my understanding of who He is and what it means to walk with Him.

Here's the list. Not in any particular order.

• "What Is A Family?" by Edith Schaeffer
• "A Severe Mercy" by Sheldon Vanauken
• "Seasons of Life" by Chuck Swindoll
• "Inside Out" by Larry Crabb
• "Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman" by Anne Ortlund
• "Twelve Things I Want My Kids to Remember Forever" by Jerry Jenkins
• "The Hidden Art of Homemaking" by Edigth Schaeffer
• "L'Abri" by Edith Schaeffer
• "A Slow And Certain Light" by Elizabeth Elliot
• "So You're The Pastor's Wife" by Ruth Senter
• "Only a Prayer Away" by John Guest
• "Fire In Your Heart" by Sammy Tippit
• "High Call, High Privilege" by Gail MacDonald
• "The Fragrance of Beauty" by Joyce Landorf
• "Seizing Your Divine Moment" by Erwin McManus
• "Gifted to Lead" by Nancy Beach