Happy New Year

Well 2012 is coming to a close. As it ends I love thinking back on all that has happened in our lives. That could be a book in itself. 

Over the past year our family has grown stronger in The Lord & He has blessed us beyond measure. We have made new friends & rekindled some old friendships. He has given us time together as a family & carried us through some rough patches. 

Mike has continued to do an incredible job for our county while juggling school and family. I admire him so much for his continued diligence in getting his masters even though I know it has to be a challenge. He has won multiple tournaments on the Golf Channel Amatuer Tour and continues to use that as a way of witnessing to others. We are so very proud of him. He loves us and never fails to put our needs before his. 

Mary Elizabeth - WOW! Just look at her! You can not look at our amazing 19 year old and not know what a mighty God we serve. So thankful!

Michala is becoming more & more of a teenager each & everyday. Still our amazing God gives us the love & patience to care for her. 

Marlee Anne bless her old soul. The other day when we left my mom's her concern was how does she get her mail from the mailbox. Before we reached the top of the street she wanted to know what happens if she falls in the bathtub. Oh my! She is constantly keeping an eye and a heart out for someone in need or someone that she can help. What a beautiful child she is. My constant reminder that God's got this. 

Abe oh my sweet boy Abe. I know I have said it before but I never understood that love a mother has for her son. It's so incredibly powerful. Even in his most recent struggles we have caught glimpses of his precious personality. 

I look back over the year & right now I see all the incredible blessings that could only come from our loving God. Those blessing include so many of you that have helped brighten up our days with a text, an email, a visit, diapers, wipes, a CD, a coffee or a meal. You will never know how much each of you mean to us. 

My prayer for each of you for 2013 is that you know our awesome God & have a personal relationship with Him. I do not want to be in Heaven without a single one of you. I pray that it's filled with so many blessings. I pray any struggle that you endure you feel God's loving arms in some way. 

My wish for 2013 is to let Jesus shine in all I do. Bless others, create more smiles than frowns & have more happy tears than sad ones. 

However you bring in the New Year please do it safely. Please do not drink & drive. Let those you love know that you love them. Start the New Year off right. 

Our love to ya' ll!

While I'm Waiting

Tonight Marlee Anne was invited to a friend's home for her birthday party. In an effort for her to have a night of being a child I made 6 trips back & forth to Social Circle. It was a spend the night party but Marlee Anne doesn't spend the night away from home. Anytime she has tried she didn't make it all night. Just once at Aunt Staci but that's because she could stay up all night & do whatever thanks to Aunt Staci.

Tonight she decided she didn't want to but changed her mind a few times. That's what the multiple trips were for. Actually this post doesn't have much to do with that.

Because I made 6 trips, 5 of those all alone, I had a lot of time. I was in the van for 2 hours & 5 minutes with just me, just my thoughts, my heart feelings and a lot of God.

During one of my trips I heard the song While I'm Waiting. I don't know how many times I have heard that song before but tonight it really spoke to me. Remember that "peace that passeth all understanding" that I was talking about the other day? Well it found me. Boy did it find me.

I walked in our home & Mike had everyone settled. Abe is back on oxygen but instead of overwhelming me or getting me down I was reminded that God's got this. It was so incredibly peaceful.

I am not only thankful for the sweet friend that invited Marlee Anne over but also for the wonderful new friend I met tonight. I am so thankful for the time that God planned for me & that I didn't let it pass me by.

Update

I didn't think ya'll would want an update every time things change but my heart needs to share now if ya'll don't mind.

There seems to have been more damage to Abe's lungs than first thought when he had that bad seizure & aspirated. That seems to be why it is taking him longer to recover. Not like a virus or a bacteria he picked up. Another reason we are being so cautious with everyone so we don't put something else on top of his little body to fight.

He is back on oxygen. It happened right after I sent out the "Praise The Lord" email. He came off for a brief time & is now back on it.

This roller coaster ride is so very hard on our bodies, minds & spirits. A precious friend said 2 steps forward & 1 step backward. Then her daughter dropped off cookies in our mailbox. Don't tell Mike though because I ate them all. Yes the stress eater is back!

Thank you to those that sent emails yesterday letting us know you are praying. I don't like how going through this makes me feel & pulls me down. I try for it not to. I am thankful for those of you that let me feel this, talk & cry through it as I need to.

Lack of sleep and other daily stressors are making this harder. We know that this too shall pass & we will soon be able to catch our breath. Many have said they don't know how we do it. Well it's only by the grace of God. Dear family & friends who lift us up & help carry us through. Thank you so much!!!

Praising God

How many times do we (that means I) ask for prayers, have them answered then carry on. Well I am praising God this morning & wanted ya'll to praise Him with me.

This morning I am breathing a little lighter and the world looks brighter. Ok some of that could be because the sun is shining. Mostly it's because our sweet boy went all night without oxygen.

That little boy scared us so very bad. We are set up like an ICU unit basically but just not in the hospital. This has been a tough week in our home. I am sure it will continue but so thankful he had a night off oxygen. Not sure Mike or I slept at all so overlook us today if we are acting a little loopy. LOL! More so than usual I mean.

As we continue to work on getting Abe better & keep everyone else well please pray God's peace & protection over our home. Please pray for strength & grace for Mike & I. A little rest would be nice also.

We thank each of you for keeping our family in your prayers.

11 days before Christmas

I don't know who wrote this. If anyone does please share. 

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38 when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse. "this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear, but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same. then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring those children all flew into the arms of their King

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

And as if He could read all the questions she had He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

then He looked down on earth, the world far below He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe

then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand, "Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools" "I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound. "come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran. all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight, "in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Powerful Christmas prayer by Max Lucado

From Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-lucado/a-christmas-prayer_2_b_2302548.html