life is hard

This past week was rather a downer.  I feel like I kept getting hit with bad news.  The sort of bad news that just leaves you feeling windless and sapped of all energy.  One of those "news" was finding out that my good friend and neighbor is diagnosed with stomach cancer.  She has a boy Bella's age and a daughter just born a month ago.  I remember sitting on my front lawn together last summer, both sweating over our pregnant bodies, dreaming of our girls' future playdates and the fun we would have this summer with our children.  Now, she is headed to Florida to have surgery and begin chemo.  I find myself crying quite often.  It just doesn't seem fair.

It's been one of those weeks when life seems so... BIG.  One of those weeks where the future looks like it's going to be hard.  And when I already feel tired and weak, life can seem so daunting.  One of those weeks where I realized I need to be in the Word.  Like, I really need to be in the Word.  To gain strength, to glean wisdom, to find peace and endurance, to find a love for other people.

So, if you think of little ol' me anytime in the near future, I'd be obliging your prayers.  Thanks, friends.

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And... just because I get asked this question a lot and I thought this picture answered it perfectly, I just had to share:
Question: Do you think Summer has Bella's beautiful skin?  It seems like Bella was born dark-skinned.  Does Summer seem that way to you?

Answer:

...and this is after the dead of winter.  No, I think Sums takes after her Daddy's side.  :-)