My son-in-law, Michael’s Dad, "Grandpa Jim" has been keeping us in pictures as we wait impatiently to get to go see our grandson.  He just sent these to us including the first picture they were able to capture of Ellington smiling.

Ariane, Michael and the baby have been trying to catch up on the sleep they lost in the past week (good luck :-)!)  It seems that parenthood is an exercise in sleepless nights!

This second picture is of his other two grandmothers.  Grandma Pardubsky (Gloria) on the left and Grandma Byrd (Cheryl) on the left.  Cheryl is Ariane’s mom and Gloria is Michael’s mom.   They both are blessed to live in the same city so they will get to love on Ellington frequently.

The black hair is definitely from Michael who affectionately refers to himself as a "Chech’s Mex."  Gloria was born and raised in Mexico and Jim is of Chechoslavakian ancestory.

Steve is feeling better but still not well.  He’s scheduled to finish up his tests tomorrow (fingers crossed!)  If he passes, and maybe even if he doesn’t, we might make a short dash to San Diego so we can see everyone before we head out on our cruise Saturday.

 I read Spurgeon’s Daily Devotional on my PC Study Bible program almost ever day and today’s reading was so awesome I wanted to share it with you.  The writing is old English as it was written probably in the 1800’s (I’m not exactly sure when Spurgeon was alive) but it is still quite easy to understand.  I hope youll enjoy the selection.

February 18 PM 

"Father, I have sinned." –Luke 15:18

It is quite certain that those whom Christ has washed in His precious blood need not make a confession of sin, as culprits or criminals, before God the Judge, for Christ has for ever taken away all their sins in a legal sense, so that they no longer stand where they can be condemned, but are once for all accepted in the Beloved; but having become children, and offending as children, ought they not every day to go before their heavenly Father and confess their sin, and acknowledge their iniquity in that character? Nature teaches that it is the duty of erring children to make a confession to their earthly father, and the grace of God in the heart teaches us that we, as Christians, owe the same duty to our heavenly father. We daily offend, and ought not to rest without daily pardon. For, supposing that my trespasses against my Father are not at once taken to Him to be washed away by the cleansing power of the Lord Jesus, what will be the consequence? If I have not sought forgiveness and been washed from these offences against my Father, I shall feel at a distance from Him; I shall doubt His love to me; I shall tremble at Him; I shall be afraid to pray to Him: I shall grow like the prodigal, who, although still a child, was yet far off from his father. But if, with a child’s sorrow at offending so gracious and loving a Parent, I go to Him and tell Him all, and rest not till I realize that I am forgiven, then I shall feel a holy love to my Father, and shall go through my Christian career, not only as saved, but as one enjoying present peace in God through Jesus Christ my Lord. There is a wide distinction between confessing sin as a culprit, and confessing sin as a child. The Father’s bosom is the place for penitent confessions. We have been cleansed once for all, but our feet still need to be washed from the defilement of our daily walk as children of God.