Tears and Laughter, Joy and Sorrow, PART II

December 17, 2007 NMMC Women's Center My doctor, husband and I decided to go ahead and have my baby on this day. As you read earlier, my father passed away this very morning, and that evening, came the tears of joy to replace the sorrow. God brought to us our precious baby girl, Sarah Grace (Gracie). She is named after my mom and Jimmy's grandmother. She arrived into this world one month early right at 5 lbs. I have never seen so many doctors and nurses in one room. Because of the medication, it was sort of all a blur. I do remember that one of my very best friends (Rachelle) and my mother in law were able to join us during this precious time. I don't know how my hubby was still standing. He had been running back and forth all day trying to take care of me and my mom. OH, by the way, in case I have never told you all, I have the BEST husband in the world, hands down!!!!! I love him so much!!!

Throughout the course of the day, my nurses and doctors took excellant care of me and were so kind. Actually, that was the most impressed I have ever been with NMMC staff. Everyone was great. Once again I give God the glory!! I could have never made it through saying goodbye to my daddy forever and hello to our new baby girl without His grace sustaining me!!! I was amazingly calm and at peace. Gracie was in NICU for a week, but most of that was to help us out during the funeral. We brought Gracie home right before Christmas. He used Gracie this past year to help my mom through. She always says, "God took away an old life and replaced it with a new one."

Again, right smack in the middle of the busiest season of the year, my friends and family came through for us. My mother in law had taken the other 3 children to Kentucky with her for the weekend before this time. As a matter of fact, they arrived home the day I had Gracie. It was so wonderful to know that they were being taken care of and not have to worry about them. Then they went to Lynn's and stayed and then to Lori's. You ladies will never know how much I appreciate your kindness and service. My family was blessed with so many baby gifts, meals and prayers during this time. I pray that God will make me and my family a blessing to others in the same way.

I feel like I have rambled through these two posts, but I hope my message was clear. God has sustained us!!!! He has blessed us with many wonderful friends, family and acquaintences.

Merry Christmas to All

Tears and Laughter, Joy and Sorrow, PART I

Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

I must say that the year of 2007 was packed full of events that spanned the range of emotions from Joy to Sorrow and everywhere in between. Christmas time last year was the culmination of all those events. On December 17, 2007, I got an emergency phone call from the nursing home about my daddy. He wasn't breathing well and they sent him to the hospital. By the time we reached the hospital with my mom, they had him on oxygen and said that he couldn't live without it. I left there and went to see my doctor because I was in the beginning stages of toxemia with my 4th child. He said that it was only getting worse and we needed to have a baby, a month early. I went back to the hospital to say goodbye to my daddy and then went to the Women's Center to have my baby girl. It was such a bittersweet day!!!

I say all of this as a background to Praise GOD! Because He has brought us through it all!!! He used new friends, old friends, family and strangers to bless my family during this time and in the previous months. Because of the wonderful husband and friends that He has blessed me with, I was able to spend many days and nights with my daddy in the hospital before he went to be with the Lord. My other 3 children were passed around from one friend to another. It was such a precious time and I loved being able to help take care of him. If I could have only given him some coffee and sausage and biscuits, he would have been happy!!!!! I love you and miss you Daddy!!! God, thank you so much for the blessing of family and friends and for Your love for me!!!

My Oldest Son's Birthday

Wow, this month has flown by with all the activities going on. The first of importance, that I can remember, was Ryan's birthday. He turned 12 on December 16!! He is almost a teenager!! I can remember when he was born. We had waited for several years to have children, so he was our miracle child. Doctors had told us we possibly would not have any and look at us now with 4 beautiful, healthy children. The Christmas holidays have been a little busier since he was born. It is so hard to have a birthday party this time of year.

His day began with his favorite breakfast food, what we call Sausage Stuff. Following is this very simple recipe:

Sausage Stuff

2 cans of crescent rolls

1 lb sausage

1 8oz cream cheese

Fry sausage and drain. Mix with cream cheese. Place one can of crescent rolls in bottom of 9 x 13 dish and work together to make bottom crust. Spread sausage and cream cheese mixture on top of that. Then make top crust with remaining can of crescent rolls. Bake on 350 until crescent rolls are done.

Daddy was off for 11 days in a row and we were so glad to have him here for Ryan's birthday. He enjoyed opening his presents!! He recieved 2 Lego sets, a shirt, Waldo book, and money! He used some of his money to buy the Prince Caspian movie that he has been wanting. We all enjoyed watching that together this past weekend while in Kentucky.

Supper was probably his favorite part of the day. His choice of food was steak, baked potatoes, and salad. Daddy grilled up the best steaks and it was a great meal. I topped it off with a banana cake.

Ryan has been such a blessing to our family and I thank God for him.

But grow in grace and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

II Peter 3:18a Amplified Version

Who's on the Throne?

We just finished our Advent reading and it was a familiar story from Genesis 22. God told Abraham to take his long awaited son and sacrifice him on the alter. As we know, Abraham obeyed God and headed out for the place. After reading the scriptures, I asked the children some questions. Then, they asked me. They asked me would I be willing to sacrifice my baby, Gracie, on an alter if God told me to. I had to be honest!!! I told them that I would be obedient to a certain point, but I don't think I would have made it to the point that Abraham did. OK, I am seeing even more as I am typing. God rewarded Abraham's total obedience, not partial obedience!! So, what is total obedience? Physical action, but not heart action? What about our mind and all the questions? Can you imagine the questions that Abraham must have had running through his mind that night? He obeyed before he got the answers though. How many times do I say and think that I am actually obeying God, when I am only doing so in part!?! How many times do I tell my children to obey me immediately and fully!?! God is so good!!! I really needed to hear this tonight! I love it when God speaks to me like this!!! Ok, back to the original story. We discussed how God had given the ultimate gift in His Son, Jesus. Then I asked them what they could give back to God. All three of them had the same answer and it seemed to be so easy to say, " I can give my life to Him". As they rattled off those words so nonchalantly, I could see that they didn't comprehend the full extent of what they were saying. So, I made a word picture. Their heart is their castle and they invite Jesus in to stay. But, are they willing to let Him sit on the throne, or do they reserve that privelege for themselves? What about on a daily basis? On pondering these questions, I began singing this praise song taken from Psalm 51:10-12:

Create in me a clean heart,

O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart,

O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence

O Lord;

Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of my salvation,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Good night to everyone and God Bless!

Holiday Festivities

The hustle and bustle of the holidays has begun. Last night was the first "Christmas" activity on our calendar. We went to the Shannon Christmas Parade for the first time. We enjoyed seeing several friends that we haven't seen in a while. It was quite cold, but we had Mimi and Gracie bundled up. I have pictures, but I have been trying to figure out how to post pics for a few days now to no avail. As soon as I learn how, there will be pics under mosts of my previous posts. The children had fun gathering candy, although, you would think they have never had a piece of candy in there lives.