I had to put this picture on the blog. This is Cleo, our very smelly outside only dog. Yesterday the high temp. was 27 degrees so I decided to put Cleo in the garage. When I got her in, I thought she might like to stay in our mudroom so I blocked off access to other rooms (I thought). Later, I checked on her and this is what I found. Not only is she lying on a couch pillow, but she is in front of the heater! Hilarious.

Here is Austin and his sweet girlfriend Lia after they ate out Valentine's day. Austin gave her a box of chocolates, roses, Nerd candies, and two tickets to see Eric Church and the Wildhorse Saloon. No comment on his face.

This is a picture of two college acceptances that Austin (age 18 and a senior)recently received. As of now, he plans to go to Tennessee instead of my alma mater - ALABAMA! No, I'm not bitter...
Anyway, he is getting excited and has several friends and a girl friend who will also be going there. We are excited for him even though it was tough at Christmas to purchase a Tennessee sweatshirt!

Valentines Day this year was bittersweet. Buddy was very thoughtful and kind and made sure the day was special for me. We ate out on Saturday night and then I woke up Sunday morning to breakfast in bed. French toast, strawberries, whipped cream, powdered sugar and coffee. Not a bad way to start the day. After church we took the boys out to eat with a gift card from our sweet neighbors who sent it as a way to thank Buddy for shoveling their driveway after the recent snow. Last night Buddy fixed a supper of thick pork chops with apples and carmelized onions. His desert was chocolate cake in ramekins. Spencer was here to help him. As much as anything, I was touched by the sacrifice and care Buddy took to make the night special for me. Thank you Buddy, you continue to be my hero, friend and true love.

The weekend was bittersweet because on Friday one of our friends died tragically and unexpectantly. He has two daughters, both in high school, one a senior and one a freshman. His wife is a friend and works at school. On Saturday their house was filled with teenagers and adults who came to show their concern and love. This friend died on the day another CPA dad, Bob Patton, was buried. Bob leaves a freshman daughter and a college freshman son.

Father, I pray that you cause these families who are left behind to seek you for comfort and peace. To feel your loving arms holding them. To know that you love them and to be able to trust that you are good. In your timing speak Romans 8:28 to their hearts - And we know that in all things you work for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose. Give them comfort by knowing that because these men knew You, Jesus, that they have not died but have only left from our sight. Nothing touches the life of a believer without first being filtered through your hands, and you say "are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Your will is perfect, your timing is perfect and you are perfect love, help us to gain the peace you promise from knowing and trusting that. Amen.

This morning as I started to pray I looked out the window at the snow and thought of some lines from an old hymn,
"whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow, wash me and I will be whiter than snow."
I prayed for God to purify my heart like the snow. Later, as I was reading scripture, I turned to Isaiah chapter 1. Here God is speaking to his people and says in vs. 11 "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals, Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me;I am weary of bearing them. Then in verse 16 he says: "wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing what is wrong. Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

vs. 18 Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD.
'Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.'

I had NO IDEA where the lines of that hymn had come from or the context of their use. God is saying that he wants our hearts. He doesn't want our sacrifices (for us this may be our money, time, or service). He is not interested in these things if we don't give him our heart. Otherwise it is all a show or a way to manipulate God into favoring or loving us. And what really blows my mind is that He says evidence that we have given him our hearts is that we will "seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." However, even doing these things to try to win God's love without giving him our heart does not please God. He wants our will surrendered to His, He wants us to desire Him above all else. Our hearts are thus transformed. When that happens, our love for God will flow out and manifest itself in loving others. The things that God has compassion for will become the things we have compassion for. My sin that was like scarlet is now as white as snow because on the cross Jesus became scarlet for me. Thank you, Jesus.