Wheeler's birthday...

Well we pulled off a casual party... I think I guilted myself over my decision not to do anything for his birthday but regardless, the party was fun. He had a blast and maybe even enjoyed his cake as much as  I did (each year growing up I got a cookie cake and bless my mom she still gets me one each year :). We just had a really small party but he had lots of fun.
I can hardly believe he is two (until he is laying out on the floor in full trantrum- that jogs the memory). But overall, Wheeler is quiet, mischevious, but a talker once you get him one on one, compassionate, loves to share, concerned, silly, loves to laugh and tickle, loves anything with Wheels, balls, and loves to be outside. He is such a joy and I can't wait to see the man God shapes him into!

What's in the name?

Matthew 5:16 (message translation)
Now that I have put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep an open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven...
This verse is really speaking to a lot going on in my life right now. First off, we are in transition, living in a two bedroom apartment while our "house on a hilltop" is being built.  I am so so blessed and beyond full of gratitude for the blessing of this house.  In another way, I have felt God saying to me, look at all I have given you, a platform of influence, dozens of employees in our care, a small group we lead, and limitless impact I can have if i just Shine! Staying generous and being open with our lives.  This is an area John and I have been praying through for over a year now. So the blog is another way to be open with my life and I pray God will speak to you with what he speaks to me or stories from our life. I am imperfect at best, but I have a perfect Savior who lives in me, so there are moments of Glory in my life that I want to grab a hold of. So that is what the name is about...  as well as what I am learning these days...