It is a tradition that on Saturday mornings when we all wake up, we cuddle in bed together for a little bit before we start the day.

The Pip, being a daddy's girl, snuggles in close to Nate and plays a game of "Hiding Under the Covers" from mommy.

One morning, she said, "Daddy, you need to stop breathing." Since this was a rather bold statement, Nate asked her the question, "Why?"

She paused for a moment and then said,

"Because your breath stinks."

A Matter of Perspective

Nate and I got knock-down-drag-out sick last week but with the help of medication, our bodies were able to heal.

We made it to the nurse practitioner in time and were given an antibiotic before Emmelia's eardrums ruptured.

Larry made it to the ER with chest pain only...in time to diagnose that he needed bypass surgery before he had a heart attack.

My mom fell but it could have been so much worse. Thankfully, Sue, a close family friend who happens to be a doctor, was at her office and able to come quickly to assess and treat the injuries.

The lady in the car noticed Emmelia directing traffic at the end of the driveway and drove carefully past her. Emmelia later asked me, "Why did that lady point at me?", which got her another round of mommy lecturing.

Coincidences? No way!

God is intervening. It was said today in our Bible study discussion that the safest place to be is in God's will. Is God a giver or a taker? God is a giver. When I look around at my life, I can't see a place where He hasn't touched, provided, or worked. I can identify those moments. I am blessed.

The more I see God intervene, the more I know I am incredibly protected. God will see us through this season of our lives.

However, there are moments when I would love to take a break from the chaos, curl up in a big fat squishy chair, snuggle underneath a fuzzy blanket, sip a warm Creme Brulee Latte and read for days. Total relaxation would include a massage...oh the possibilities are endless once the dreaming begins...

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Larry's quadruple bypass surgery was scheduled for today at 12:30p.m. but the surgeon's first surgery was complicated and took longer than expected. Larry's surgery has been postponed until tomorrow morning. Please keep our family covered in your prayers.

We are still standing.

Following my dad's memorial we have been pummeled with...

3 viruses
1 case of pneumonia
1 bacterial infection
1 UTI
a serious double ear infection
1 sinus infection
2 migraines

We were finally ready to pull the "caution tape" from around our house on Sunday and then...

Larry, Nate's dad, went to the ER due to chest pain. He was admitted to the hospital and will have bypass surgery today.

We left the kids with mom so we could go to the ER. On our way to pick up the kids, my mom calls and in a frantic voice tells us that she has fallen in the garage and blood is everywhere. She has a good gash above her left eyebrow, a possible sprained wrist, a black and blue left eye, a badly bruised or possibly broken thumb, and a swollen lip.

And finally, on Monday...

I put Emmelia and Eli in the van. We were going to pick up my mom and get lunch to take to the hospital. I didn't strap her in because the routine is that she gets in her seat and waits for me. I went back in the house to put Vader in his crate and grab the diaper bag. When I came out of the house, I noticed a gray car driving very slowly past our house. It was then that I noticed Emmelia was standing at the bottom of the driveway directing traffic with her fake red carnation!

Please cover us in your prayers. We do see God intervening! Today, please ask that God would keep Larry in His hands, guide the hands of the surgeon, Dr. Savage, and give him wisdom, and that a hedge of protection would fall around our family.

We are still standing.

Psalm 91 came to mind...

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Memorial

James Wilson Snow 1939-2009

James W. “Jim” Snow, 70, of Peoria, passed away at 4:08 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2009, at Rosewood Care Center in Peoria, with his family by his side.

Jim was born on August 17, 1939 in Amsterdam, NY, a son of Merrill and Ethel (Wilson) Snow. When Jim was three years old, his father passed away and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, John Brown. They also preceded him in death.

Jim married Judith A. Rieken on July 12, 1969 in St. Louis. She survives.

He is also survived by his daughter, Jennifer L. (Nathan) Edwards of Peoria; son, Christopher J. (Lauren) Snow of St. Peters, MO; and grandchildren, Emmelia Edwards, Luchas Snow and Elijah Edwards, all at home.

Jim earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering, both from the University of Missouri at Rolla.

In 2003, he retired from Caterpillar after serving in a variety of positions, most notably Packaging and Process Control Manager in the Global Planning Services Division. Early in his career at Caterpillar, he served the company both in East Peoria and the General Office building in downtown Peoria.

He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church and attended Northwoods Community Church, both in Peoria.

Jim enjoyed fishing and bird hunting and was a member of the Little John Conservation Club. He also volunteered at Peoria Rescue Mission and Great Oaks Camp.

A service to celebrate Jim’s life will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at Grace Presbyterian Church of Peoria, with the Rev. Steve Shaffer and Rev. Bob Donaldson officiating. After the service, the family will host a luncheon and receive friends at Avantis North Peoria.

Friends and family are asked to RSVP for the luncheon at jimsnowmemorial@gmail.com or to Clary Funeral Home (309) 689-0166.

A private family graveside and interment will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to Grace Presbyterian Church, Northwoods Community Church, the Peoria Rescue Mission or to Methodist Hospice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Clary Funeral Home, 428 West McClure Avenue, in Peoria.