The night before my surgery my sweet Paisley asked if I could still hug her the day after my surgery. And I said “of course, maybe not tomorrow but the next day for sure.” My surgery was March 23rd and here it is April 2nd and I haven’t seen my babies once. Because of COVID-19 the kids aren’t allowed to be in the hospital. Today my husband came to visit and brought me outside for some fresh air. He surprised me with my sweet kids. It did my heart so good to spend these precious moments with my kids
My little Preston didn’t want to let go. I wanted to hug him so badly with both arms.It just feels so amazing to have them with me
Merry Merry Christmas! Prayers that you have had a blessed day with your family. As a nurse I have worked many Christmas’, but this year I was off until tonight so I was able to enjoy our birthday party for Jesus last night, a Christmas Eve service as well as waking up with my family this morning. I so enjoy the kids excitement for all things Christmas. My kiddos get all excited about Jesus’ birthday cake, reading the Christmas story (I love Christmas books, and so every year I try to buy a new book that is about Jesus’s birth and then we read them throughout the month of December) as well as the actual story of His birth in the Bible. I love the traditions that my family began, I love that my kids know it is Jesus’ birthday first. Tonight I head back to the hospital for work…..
In years past there have been times when we needed help for Christmas, when I couldn’t do what I wanted to for my kids. There have been times where I was so sad that I couldn’t get that one special thing that one of them wanted. This year, was very different for us in the fact the kids were very specific about their desires for Christmas. They actually didn’t ask for tons of stuff, and just had a couple very specific things. I know this is probably a touchy subject, but we never made santa a big deal in our house. We have always said that it was Jesus’s birthday but that we get the kids some presents. I don’t believe Sam and Sophia ever really even thought about Santa. And now with Preston and Paisley things are totally different. And even though we have never promoted Santa, never told them that he was coming, the world has told them that he was. And in that it has brought a different sense of Christmas in our house. Preston and Paisley realize that their gifts are from us…… but they also wanted to leave out cookies and milk for Santa, and we let them. It felt very strange to me…… but they had a blast with the thought of it. And they still know that it was Jesus’ birthday today.
We had a Christmas musical at our church this past sunday. I am so proud of my children. I will share the link for the service from YouTube. Samuel did an instrumental solo playing my grandfather’s over 100 year old trumpet! He is very hard on himself and doesn’t feel he did a good job, but I think he did amazing! Sophia has been feeling sick for several weeks, and hasn’t actually been practicing her song with the choir, but she blew me away with how wonderful she did singing her solo “Mary did you know?”. Their musical talent is truly a God given gift, and I am so thankful that I get to enjoy it. My sweet Preston was Joseph, and Paisley was a Wiseman. The cool thing about this musical was that Santa actually came…. So the amazing thing was that Santa told the story of Jesus, and at the end he bowed to Jesus…… It was certainly an interesting spin on it, but I think it was cool to point out that all will bow to our KING of KINGS.
Have you heard the song “It’s about the cross” by the Ball Brothers? This song wow! This season is so crazy, the hustle and bustle and visiting and planning and prepping….. When you think of the manger do you also think of the cross? Do you think of His whole life here on earth? Do you think of what His birth did for us? Do you think about the fact that without the manger there would be no cross? Do you think of where you would be without the gift of Jesus?
This year there were so many around us that were going through some painful things, the loss of parents, the loss of a job, or finances, or health. A dear friend of mine is constantly approached by members of the community when there is a family in need. The needs were so great this year. Even just for basics. A 6 year old child with holes in her shoes and her toes sticking out, a family whose entire house burned to the ground, and only the people got out, not their pets, nor anything else, and several more families that were really struggling this year. People we know were struggling with severe illness as well. This year it has felt like the devil really is upping his anti and fighting harder against God’s people. I am so thankful to be surrounded by people who love and serve God however they are called. I am thankful that I was able to help some struggling families, and thankful that it isn’t necessarily financial needs that are always needed, and that God uses whatever we can offer to help others. Helping/giving is the best!
Merry Christmas again! May you be surrounded by His love, your family, and wonderful happy memories of this Christmas and those in the past.
This weekend we had the amazing opportunity to celebrate my parents 40th wedding anniversary. Their story is amazing, and has God woven through it. I can’t tell you that things were always pretty, and I certainly can’t tell you that they were always happy, or gushing with each other. But I can tell you that, when things were hard they didn’t give up. When finances were bad they worked harder, when dad was deployed mom held it together. When kids were sick they figured it out.
As the oldest of six kids, I was witness to so much of my parents story. They had me a year after they got married, and very quickly added 3 more children right behind me LOL. Those early years were years when my dad was deployed ALOT. Those years were years when my mom bought and sold vehicles, houses, enrolled us in schools, in churches, in sports, in everything alone. My dad would come home and we would have those few moments all together, and then he would be deployed again.
When I was 10 and living in Germany during Dessert Storm, my mom became pregnant with twins. Her pregnancy was very difficult and she ended up delivering them very early. My father was told that my mother most likely wouldn’t survive, and if she did she would need a heart transplant soon….
Fast forward to now nearly 30 years later, through my dad’s retirement from the military, to him going to school to become a pharmacist, to so many family crisis…. sick children, grandchildren, dad having numerous medical issues including heart attacks, quadruple bypass, hip replacements etc….. through it all they have stayed true to the vows they made to each other in front of God and all of their family and friends.
In this current world we live in so many people don’t stick with something if it is hard, they give up, they quit. They just don’t want to do it any more. My parents? They have been through so much, I can’t even begin to explain to you all that they have been through. There has been fighting and anger, hurt and fear. But there has been so much love, and even more laughter. I think the lives they have led, the example they have set for us is truly incredible. I will be honest, sometimes I look at my life and I ask God so many questions about where we are at and what we are going through, and if we weren’t in His will and if that is the reason why we are struggling. And I hear His still small voice, encouraging me to keep on going, to keep the faith, to keep praying and believing. The testimony that my parents have, is the one I want to have. The testimony of God bringing us through all the struggles of life. The testimony of a marriage that has stood the test of this crazy world we live in. This world, the devil, it seems to attack on every front possible. It makes every attempt to discourage and break you. But God! God can move any obstacle, God can tear down any mountain, God can heal the broken, heal the sick, give joy that makes no sense to this world.
Do you remember where you were on 9/11/01? Do you remember what you were wearing? Who you were with? What you were doing? I remember it vividly. I was in nursing school preparing for one of my first exams that morning. I remember we got the notification as soon as our exam was finished. I remember hearing my class mates wailing, weeping, and hysterical as we watched the news. I remember them saying over and over which family member or friend worked in the twin towers….
But more than that I remember the days that followed, the days of incredible sadness as we learned the horrific unimaginable loss that we had experienced. I remember the stories of the heros of that day. The stories of the first responders and the American citizens who did whatever they could to help. I remember the way our country united. I remember driving down the streets and seeing American flags flying everywhere as tears rolled down my cheeks. I remember the songs that were played on the radio, I remember how the national anthem began to get played on many radio stations every day at a specific time, and how I would change the station just so I could hear it.
I remember the solidarity of sports teams, and celebrities, who were coming together for the good of our country. I remember that politics, economic status, education, race, NONE of it mattered. All that mattered was that we were AMERICANS, and that we were strong and that we would get through this.
As I remember that day I am thinking about the countless families that were shattered, without notice, without warning, without a chance to say good bye. And it makes me think….. What if today is my last day? What if it is your last day?
Have we accomplished what God created us to do? Have we impacted the world for HIS GLORY? Have we been the hands and feet of Christ to a dying world? Have we allowed the world to see Jesus’ love through us?
Have we left things unsaid? Not forgiven those that hurt us? Have we held grudges for so long we don’t know what was even the beginning of the problem? Have we judged others when we are not to judge, only God is? Have we told the ones that we love that we love them and appreciate them? Have we appreciated our friends and family for the incredible gifts that they are? Have we thanked God for His provision in our lives?
Today as I ponder 9/11/01 and the way it changed the world, I also am reminded of the love that God poured out on me that day and all the days since. I am reminded that He has called me, to share that love with others and that we are not promised another minute on this earth outside of His plan. Are you ready? Are you fulfilling His calling on your life? Knowing that today could be the last chance you have?
1 PETER 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
I was blessed to grow up in a large family. My mom has 7 siblings, 6 brothers and 1 sister. I have 19 first cousins, many of whom are married and have children of their own. We are spread around the world and it isn’t too often that we get together. We were so blessed this year, by two of my uncles who organized the family reunion. We were all staying at different resorts, but they were in close proximity to one another. We had such a great week. I remember as a child playing with all my cousins and making so many memories. I am so glad that my children are beginning to build those friendships with their cousins. SO MUCH FUN!
Beautifully Blessed 