DWW 2010

Tomorrow, Mom, Casey, Kelli, Caitlyn, Rachel, and I head out for DeLille Women's Weekend 2010! My dad and Bo will have the kids all weekend, so please keep them in prayer.... :)

So far, the tentative plans include a Chris Tomlin concert, a trip to an apple orchard, wine tasting, and lots of goofing around. I can't wait!

I will definitely miss these faces though...

Fummer.

Faux Summer, that is.

The high today was 89! No humidity; just beautiful. We spent the morning at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, one of our favorite spots.

I love love love Virginia springs and falls. Summer is okay, and winter beats the heck out of any winters north of here. I love my home!

My Baby Girl is ONE!

On October 6, Lily Linda-Mae turned one year old. We celebrated with family and chocolate cake! She loved it.

Mommy and Daddy got her some cool toys and a bunch of books!

Aunts Rebekah and Temima gave her some sweet little trinkets, and Aunt Casey gave her a precious ballerina teddy bear.

Grandma and Grandpa gave her an awesome pink and purple tricycle!! They also gave her an adorable outfit. :)

A Snoodle's Tale

A Snoodle's Tale... (copyright 2004, Big Idea)

Far, far away in the land of Galoots

Where the Biggle-bag trees bear their Biggle-bag fruits

And Far-lilly bushes all blossom in yellow

And Thimbuttle plants squirt snooberry Jell-O

Here where the mountains of Rocky-ma-goo

Rise high o'er the meadows of Gilda-manjoo

Where sunsets are painted with purple and blue,

You'll find a small town, not much bigger than you.

Welcome to Snoodleburg!

Home of the Snoodles!

A curious folk who eat pancakes with noodles

And spend half their days making sketches and doodles

And cutting their hair into shapes like French poodles.

Now, right in the heart of this curious town,

Stood a curious building - the tallest around!

With a clock at its top and a chute at its bottom,

T'was pink in the spring and turned red in the autumn.

But weirder by far than its color or height

Was what happened there every fourth Tuesday night.

As strange as it seems, it has been demonstrated

That Snoodles aren't born, but rather, "created."

Every fourth Tuesday at quarter past nine,

The tower would shimmy and rattle and whine,

And as the town nibbled on Biggle-bag fruit,

A shiny young Snoodle would drop from the chute!

That's where they came from - though no one knew why

Nor who could have built the great tower so high.

These "mysteries of life" befuddled most Snoodles

-Who'd much rather focus on pancakes and noodles

And cutting their hair into shapes like French poodles.

Yes, most found the tower too noisy and strange

Until one small Snoodle made all of that change.

This little Snoodle was much like the others.

He came without parents or sisters or brothers.

He came without money, a mom or a dad.

The pack on his back was all that he had.

"This is peculiar," ...The little guy said.

"I came from a chute and I fell on my head."

"What do I look like? What am I for?"

He pondered those questions - and then thought of more.

"Checking my bag is a good place to start.

"He pulled out some paints. "Maybe I'm good at art!

"The next thing he found was a Snoodle-kazoo.

"Hey, what do you know! I can make music, too!"

Then back on his pack, he pulled a small string.

And out from the sides popped two little wings!

"Amazing!" ...he said, with a gleam in his eye.

"I can paint, play kazoo, and now I can fly!"

Wait 'til the others see all the great things

I can do with my paints, my kazoo and my wings!

So he packed up his paints and his Snoodle-kazoo

And hopped off to show them all what he could do.

There from atop a short, stubby wall,

The big Snoodles heard the new small Snoodle call...

"Come watch me, you guys, as I head for the sky!"

He straightened his wings with a gleam in his eye

Then he jumped and he flapped like the Red-Snootered Finches

That fly from the plains to the peak of Mt. Ginchez.

His flight - unlike theirs - ...covered only 12 inches.

"You call that flying? You think you're a bird?!?"

"We've never seen anything quite so absurd!"

The old Snoodle snorted - he sniggered, he shook.

"I'll paint you a picture to show how you looked!"

The brushstrokes were skillful; the colors were coolish.

The story they told made the young one feel foolish.

"Take it from us," ...Said a Snoodle named Lou,

"Flying just isn't what you're meant to do!"

The young Snoodle drooped. He felt his heart sag.

The painting, the old Snoodle placed in his bag.

"Carry this with you," The old Snoodle said,

"So visions of flying don't go to your head."

The weight on his back was as heavy as lead.

So under the weight of the picture he bore,

He hobbled along, feeling lonely and sore.

'Til up far ahead on a bench near the tower,

He spied a bright bundle of Far-lilly flowers.

His heart started lifting."What beautiful things!"

Then he remembered,"I've got more than wings!"

So quickly, he dug the paints out of his pack.

And hoped that with art maybe he'd have the knack.

"I did it!" ...he yelled to the Snoodles in town.

Then held up his picture as they gathered round.

"You did it, alright," ...said the Snoodles replying,

"You showed you're no better at painting than flying!"

Then one of them laughed, and, while eating a waffle,

Painted a picture that made him feel awful.

"You're puny. You're silly. You're not all that smart."

"You can't use your wings and you're no good at art."

That picture, too, was placed in his pack

And made his heart slump just as low as his back.

"I'm ugly - I'm foolish - and so very small.

I don't think I should be with people at all."

And so he decided to get out of town.

His wings hung so low that they dragged on the ground.

He walked past the tower, and out of the city.

He walked through the fields and thought, "My, this is pretty."

The Far-lilly bushes all blooming in yellow,"

And Thimbuttle plants squirting snooberry Jell-O."

"I might like it here," Said the small Snoodle fellow.

Then feeling some warmth coming back in his chest,

He thought he would sit for a moment and rest.

But try as he might to sit down with grace,

The weight on his back knocked him flat on his face!

"Ha! That's a hoot!" Said a voice from behind.

A farmer stood up with a Thimbuttle vine.

"Why, you need a picture, my Snoodleberg bud,

"Lest you forget how you look in the mud!"

And so in an instant, the picture was done

-And placed in his backpack, which now weighed a ton!

The poor Snoodle struggled, he wobbled, he groaned,

He stood to his feet and he said with a moan,

"Is there anywhere I can be truly alone?!?"

Just then overhead, flew two red-snootered finches,

Winging their way toward the peak of Mt. Ginchez.

"I see," Said the Snoodle,"Then that's what I'll do."

"The home for those finches will be my home, too."

So painfully, struggling under his pack,

The small Snoodle inched up the big mountain's back.

He crawled over boulders in rain and in lightning.

He trudged on and on though the journey was frightening.

'Til finally, Sunday at quarter past two

He spied all the meadows of Gilda-manjoo

And realized he was on top of Mt. Ginchez.

Alone with the wind, and his thoughts, and the finches.

He thought of the Snoodles. He thought of the tower.

He thought of the bell that would chime on the hour.

He thought of his pack and his very long walk.

He thought it so loudly, he heard his thoughts talk!

"Hello," ...said his thoughts,"You've made quite a climb!"

"That voice," He remarked,"doesn't sound much like mine…

"Then he turned and he noticed he wasn't alone,

For a man stood behind near a cave in the stone.

He looked like a Snoodle, though quite a bit bigger.

"Maybe a giant," The small Snoodle figured.

"I'm going!" The Snoodle boy said with a huff.

"And don't paint a picture - I've got quite enough!"

"But first come inside," The man said,"Have some tea!

I'm so very pleased that you're visiting me!"

The Snoodle boy stopped, though he'd only gone inches,

And stared at the stranger he'd found on Mt. Ginchez.

He didn't seem angry, in fact, he looked kind.

The poor little boy was confused, "Are you blind?"

"I'm puny! I'm silly! I'm not all that smart!"

"I can't use my wings and I'm no good at art!"

The stranger leaned down with a pain in his heart.

"Who told you these things?" He asked,"How do you know?"

"These pictures I have in my pack tell me so."

The small Snoodle sniffled, and started to go.

"First, if you please, let me look at this art

That makes your pack heavy and weighs down your heart."

And picture by picture he unpacked the bag

That bent the poor Snoodle and made his wings sag.

"Dear boy," ...Said the man,"these looks nothing like you!"

Then into the fire the pictures he threw

And rose from his chair, saying, "Wait there - you'll see

That what you need most is a picture from me!"

The Snoodle sat patiently, sipping his tea.

Then from a room in the back he returned

-And said, "Little Snoodle, it's time that you learned

What you really look like!" And he threw off the sheet.

What the boy saw warmed him right to his feet.

The boy in the portrait looked older and strong.

With wings on his back that were sturdy and long

And a look in his eye, both courageous and free.

"Sir," Asked the boy,"Are you saying that's - me?

I'd like to believe it, but, sir, I'm afraid to."

"I know who you are," ...He replied,"for I made you."

"I built the tower and set it in motion.

I planted the meadow - put fish in the ocean.

And I feed the finches, though most Snoodles doubt it,

Not one of them falls that I don't know about it."

"I've seen you fall down in the mud and the goo.

I've seen all you've done, and all you will do.

I gave you your pack, and your paints and your wings.

I chose them for you. They're your special things."

"The Snoodle-kazoo is so you can sing

About colors in Autumn or flowers in Spring.

I gave you your brushes in hopes that you'd see

How using them, you could make pictures for me."

"Most of the Snoodles," The old one said sadly,

"Just use their paints to make others feel badly."

The young Snoodle pondered the things he'd been told.

Then wondering something, grew suddenly bold

-"But sir, if you made this incredible land,

Can't you make Snoodles obey your command?"

The big one smiled warmly, then said to the small,

"A gift that's demanded is no gift at all."

With that the small Snoodle reached into his pack,

And pulled out the picture he'd made 10 miles back.

"They're Far-lillies, sir, from over the bridge."

The old one beamed bright and said,"That's for my fridge!"

After the small Snoodle's picture was hung,

The old one bent down to the face of the young

And said,"Here's what you look like; Here's how I see you.

Keep this in your pack and you'll find it will free you

From all of the pictures and all of the lies

That others make up just to cut down your size."

"And lastly, your wings. You know what they're for!

But not just to fly, son, I want you to soar!"

"But sir," ...Said the Snoodle,"how can I fly?

This picture's so big, I won't get very high!"

"But this picture's special - it's bigger, it's brighter.

Carry it close and I think you'll feel lighter."

As soon as he heard it, the Snoodle looked down

And noticed his feet were an inch off the ground!

He laughed and he leaped, and he ran from the cave

All at once older and stronger and brave

And he flew through the clouds and he flew with the finches

And soared up and down 'round the peak of Mt. Ginchez.

He flew over Far-lilly bushes in yellow,

And Thimbuttle plants squirting snooberry Jell-O.

He flew over Biggle-Bag trees and their fruits

In big, lazy loops o'er the land of Galoots.

Then hurried back home to the center of town

Where the Snoodles all stood with their wings on the ground,

And starting precisely at quarter past two,

...He told them the story that I just told you.

I am NOT ready.

I just realized that when we get back from the beach next Saturday, I will have only 4 days left with Jack before he starts preschool.

This may not seem like that big a deal, and up until this point I had convinced myself of that as well--but the fact is that this is the last week and a half I will ever have with him before he starts school.

After preschool is kindergarten. Then the rest of elementary school. Then middle school. Then high school. Etc.

I can't bear it. My little guy is growing up so fast it makes my heart hurt.

27.

My birthday is in 5 days. I will be 27.

26 was a rough year. I won't say "bad," because we did get our sweet little Lilybug out of it, but for some reason God allowed a lot of pain in my life at 26.

The Cobbs have been to hell and back in the last year. And I can say with confidence that we are "back" indeed! We have been on our knees in proverbial sackcloth and ashes for a good 11 months, and you know what? There's nowhere I would rather be.

God is more real to me now than He has ever been. I truly believe and feel with all my heart that He is is ALL I NEED. HE IS ALL THAT MATTERS. He's it. Period.

There have been times over the last year when He literally has been all I could count on, and you know what? If you're going to count on someone, He's the one--even through the darkest of times, He has never left my side.

As 27 approaches and a new year is on the horizon, things are looking up for the Cobbs. I am so beyond grateful for that; when I think about it I literally weep. Not just a few tears, but actual weeping. But I am also cautiously optimistic.

I don't want to lose the utter dependence I have come to. I don't want to stop talking to God, praying continually, trusting Him fully. It is so, SO easy to slip back into the wrong mindset. I already find myself doing it--thinking of the things we were be able to do and buy in the next year. So my prayer is this:

"Lord, you have led me through some insanely difficult times this year. You have led me to complete dependence on You, and You have been so faithful to me. Not only have you been faithfully encouraging, you have also provided for every material need, AND given us a daughter. My love for You has grown so much and my understanding of Your perfect love and perfect plan is expanding (although Your wisdom is infinite and I am only human!). As we see the "light at the end of the tunnel," so to speak, my fervent prayer is that I would not slip back into my old ways. That I would trust ONLY IN YOU. Whatever that means--even if it means we will have to give everything up--please help me to keep my focus in the right place: on Your glorious face. Thank you for your faithfulness, God. You blow my mind. Amen."

Oh, and one more thing. God has really reached out to me through song this year. One song He has carefully placed in my life at all the right times is "How He Loves." Check it out; it is worth your time. Either version (John Mark McMillan or David Crowder Band).

The other is "Saviour King," specifically this lyric:

"Let the poor stand and confess

That my portion is Him

and I'm more than blessed."

It's true.

Family Photos!

Enjoy it while you can...

Rumor has it that there is a decent chance our beaches will soon be oil slicks. So this weekend, we enjoyed Virginia Beach while it was still beautiful!

Jack had so much fun, he is convinced we are going back today....poor kid is in for some disappointment.... ;-)

Merely 10 of the Many Reasons my Mom is a SuperMom!

Please vote for my mom, Carrie DeLille, as Richmondmom.com's SuperMom! She is so deserving!

10. She has listened to God's call for her life: adoption. 7 (8 if you count Isaac, who is not home yet) of my siblings are adopted. My mom never thought she would have more than 3 children, but God wanted her to be an instrumental part of His plan for taking care of the widows and orphans of the world. When God called her name, she said "Here I am."

9. She shows me how to be a good wife to my husband. She has shown me what it means when 2 become one flesh, and what it means for a wife to be submissive to her husband while still being equal as a human being.

8. She is an awesome grandma! Every week, Jack spends a night at her house, and he LOVES it. He loves his "gwamma."

7. She let us live at their house for 10 months, rent-free, so that we could get on our feet financially.

6. When I was on bed rest with Lily, she helped me in some way every single day (for 4 weeks!). She brought over food, took Jack out for fun outings, brought my brothers and sisters over to play with Jack, and cleaned my house. I don't know what I would have done without her.

5. She is so encouraging. She periodically will tell me verbally or send me a note saying that I am a good mother and that she is proud of me. Her encouragement always comes at just the right times.

4. When I found out less than 24 hours in advance that I would be induced to deliver Jackson, she was on a plane from Virginia early the next morning and arrived in Austin before his birth. She stayed with me and helped me figure out the newborn thing as a first-time mommy with a preemie.

3. When Lily was first born, she spend a week at my house helping with Jack and taking some of the middle of the night feedings so that I could get some rest. She made sure I was able to take some down-time, even when I thought I was okay, so that I could let my body heal.

2. When I got the stomach flu a couple of months ago, she brought me popsicles and took care of Jack.

1. My teen years. 'Nuff said.

Love Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

I have decided that I'm done apologizing.

That's right. No more apologies.

No, I'm not talking about life in general; I'm talking about the Gospel.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, [fn] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. [Romans 1:16]

For a long time I have worried too much about whom I may offend when I talk about Jesus. Not anymore. I asked myself this question: Which is more important: to not offend anyone in this life, or to do everything I can to make sure those I love are saved in the next life?

The answer is pretty obvious. So, as long as I am "speaking the truth in *love*, I have nothing to apologize for [Ephesians 4:15].

This does NOT mean that I am going to go around, intentionally offending people and spewing doctrine all day long--THAT IS NOT LOVE.

But I will no longer apologize for loving my Lord, and I will no longer shy away from sharing His love with everyone I know. If people are offended by Love, that just means they need it all the more. So, I will keep sharing, and hopefully they will eventually be ready to hear it. When they are, I [and GOD!!!] will be ready and waiting.

Life is too short to waste time mincing words. What if that person you love is in a fatal accident tomorrow, and you never shared with them because you were too afraid of offending them? Is that worth it? No way.

Of course I'm not going to be in peoples' faces all the time. I'm not going to be some sort of preachy weirdo. But I'm going to do my best to live for Christ and show His love to everyone [as best I can]. I'm going to love Jesus and talk about Him the way I always want to. Uncensored.

It's an emergency! People are dying!

**Note: Due to my incredibly IMPERFECT nature, my ability to live out this statement is...well, limited. But I am going to do my best. To all reading this: Please feel free to hold me accountable. I need it.

Getaway

The Cobbs had a nice getaway to my parents' Wintergreen house this past week. I don't know what it is about the mountains (honestly, I never have been that big a fan until now), but it was so peaceful. So quiet, so beautiful, so serene, so the way God intended it to be. It was exactly what we needed.

He is risen indeed!

JESUS IS ALIVE!!!!! He has overcome death and the grave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, my kids are cute. Enjoy.

Also, Lily will be 6 months old tomorrow????!!!!!

BRIDE!

Yes, Kelli is still a bride, and Casey and I threw her an AMAZINGLY EXCELLENT bridal shower this past weekend. In case you're confused, Kelli's wedding reception occurs in June, so she shall remain a bride until that day has passed.