A little side note...

Today was my cousin Jeff's 27th birthday. As usual, we all gathered at my aunts house for a big dinner and to just hang out with each other, including my 1 1/2 year old cousin Carter and his big brother Byron (3 years old) who comes complete with a Montana-sized imagination.

So in the midst of dinner, Byron looks at me with his big blues and flash light in hand saying, "Hey laina, wanta go hunting?" No girl could resist. Me and the little poacher "caught" 3 deers.

As the night drew to a close with many laughs at this child's stories and vivid imagination, as well as watching him get clobbered in an argument by his substantially younger sibling, I ended up with a fishing date tomorrow as well as 5 minutes worth of "I LOVE YOU! OK, Bye!"'s...

Needless to say it was much needed (and very refreshing) to see a simple blessing that shows us just how much God designed us for joy, even in the midst of confusion, stress, sadness, and insecurity...