8 Ways To Be A Happier Mom

8 Ways To Be A Happier Mom

Check out this link:

http://shine.yahoo.com/team-mom/8-ways-happier-mom-140600431.html

Celebration of Life & Vigilance for the Missing

Today is July 18th, 2012 and today we are celebrating our 4 year old, Ayden, who has brought so much joy and depth to our lives over the last 4 years. He all but came out smiling and has been smiling ever since. He is bright, spirited, entertaining and filled with love for his friends and family and always shows it with hugs and kisses. I can't imagine my life without him and feel so blessed that God allowed me to do this one more time. I cherish each new day and try not to take one single day with him for granted. 

At the same time I am writing this, there are two other families who are missing their little ones today and my heart aches for them to find a resolution to this mystery. I can't imagine what they must be feeling as today marks Day 6 of their intense searching. In a town way too close to our home here in Iowa, two little girls (cousins) are missing after taking an innocent summer bike ride last Friday, July 13th. Their bikes were found but no trace of the girls. I was there on the scene the next morning as only one of 200 initial volunteers searching cornfields and bean fields close to where the bikes were found. As I was driving into the small town from a major highway, I could see dark clouds. I turned down my radio and began to pray. I knew I was driving into a storm, literally and metaphorically. I can tell you that it is one of the most heart wrenching feelings to be trudging through a muddy cornfield with stalks taller than yourself and wondering what you might come upon as you walk.  After 2 full days of volunteer searches, the officials decided to drain a nearby lake turning up nothing. As I have watched this story transpire over the internet and national media, the one thing that amazes me above all, is the strength of the families through faith in God by their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Too many people have speculated about events of their past and slammed them for not being emotional "enough". Through all of it, they are not shaken. It breaks my heart to read these things but then I smile and think, THIS is the picture of what it means to turn it all over to God and to walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 

~1 Corinthians 2:5

Colossians 2:5

 2 Timothy 4

I'm praying that these children will be found and returned safely to their families and that God will wrap His arms around these families and comfort them through the worst of days and in the days to come.


I know that I'm squeezing my children a little tighter tonight. ~Dana