Newsworthy:

We ordered a TV. Yes, to our close friends, you may need to read that again. It's true. After almost four years of marriage, we now have a television. The decision came easier for Rodney because I am a creature of habit. I love my quiet home. I love that Abigail is more interested in real people than cartoons. I love that Rodney and I play games, go for walks, and play with our sweet daughter in the evenings. The idea is that we don't want to change our current lifestyle....
But, we are looking forward to watching movies on a larger screen and having the flexibility to have people over for movies, sports, etc.

And we are going North for 10 days. Rodney actually has work in Peoria (so we get one free plane ticket out of the deal). As a result, we won't be sunning ourselves by a pool eating bon bons, but it will be good to see some friends and family all the same.

Rodney has been CRAZY busy with work. He has the big oil convention (the biggest event of the year) this week, so he's gone every night until we leave on Thursday. This leaves me tired, and it doesn't help that I haven't been sleeping well. We are sleeping on a different mattress, so I'm hoping that's why I've been waking up every couple of hours during the night. Regardless of how tired I've felt, the Lord has fit some extra prayer time into my life! So if you get a chance, please lift us up in prayers this week -- that I will have a joyful, servant heart and that Abigail will do well on the plane.

Lately, she's been responding with a very angry heart to correction (biting, on the floor tantrums...). She is her own person and likes her own way (aka...sinner...). But she is also fiercely affectionate and loves to express her joy. For example, on Sunday a friend stopped me after church and shared that Abigail was worshiping the Lord in the nursery during music time, bouncing and swaying to the music. She said, "She's a bit of a free spirit!" And so I pray that the Lord will continue to give me wisdom as I shepherd her little heart.