Wow! He's four! How incredibly time flies, how quickly our little ones are growing up!

Ben's birthday was fun. We spent the weekend at Home Depot building a butterfly house, at the YMCA playing on their playground, on a safari at the Rainforest Cafe, and in the garden planting new herbs and vegetables.

And the birthday party this weekend was a blast. So many of our favorite friends and family were here to share in the fun. And with a pirate theme this year, a treasure hunt was on the bill, complete with a treasure chest filled with pirate hats, eye patches, and other pirate goodies. What a great time! Thanks to everyone that was able to attend and share the special day with us.

In the time since my last article, we were busy with a few unique things in addition to our usual appointments and errands... I attended the annual Children and Family Photographers of America conference and came away with so much information that I have spent weeks changing things here in the office; I gave up my crown as the reigning Woman of the Year for the Hill Country Women in Business; Nathan and Ben made a trip to Ft. Worth to visit Larry and Debbie, complete with a trip to watch the longhorns at the stockyard and to ride the Grapevine train; we created a new garden, had the exterior of the house painted, and celebrated Valentine's Day with a nice dinner out.

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please...

My favorite song right now, by Nichole Nordeman