Thankful Thursday

Even in light of recent events in our family, there are so many things to be thankful for. God never gives us more than we can handle.


1) My Wonderful Husband and Adorable Son-
Actually, I could put them at the top of my list every time, but these two boys are especially important to me right now. God gave them to me for a reason, and I am forever thankful. It's nice to be absolutely adored by two guys!

2) My Parents and In Laws-
Both sets of parents live within 15 minutes of us, and they are always there when we need them, even if it means their plans sometimes have to change at the last minute. They love all of us unconditionally, and I am forever grateful for the love and support they have shown us, not just in the last few days, but always. Chandler is very blessed to have four wonderful grandparents.

3) My Doctor-
Just when I needed him most, he took time out of his busy schedule to speak to me directly on the phone Tuesday afternoon. Not all doctors will do that. Although there was nothing he could do to change the circumstance I was facing, I could hear the sorrow in his voice as I told him what was happening. Then, on Wednesday, he spent the biggest part of an hour just talking with me and then with both Brent and me about our options for next steps. He's been there with us every time we've been in this situation, and it makes a difference to have a doctor who not only cares, but who prays for us when we are going through a difficult time. We were also blessed that this same doctor was on call the weekend that Chandler was born, which just happens to be two years ago this weekend. Although he wasn't the one to deliver, we got to see him much of the weekend, and he rejoiced with us over the birth of our son.

4) Sweet Friends and Family-
So many of them have sent some wonderful words of encouragement my way in the last few days, and even some who haven't said a word to me are praying fervently because they don't know what to say. Those prayers are being heard and felt, and they are very much appreciated.

Jake

While some people are totally against little boys having dolls, I believe that it's just as important for boys to have dolls as it is for girls to have dolls. Boys need to learn how to be Daddies and how to be gentle with others, so what better way to help them practice than to give them dolls?

Now, I'm not saying I am going to go buy him a Barbie, or even a frilly doll in a pink dress, but one of the items on Chandler's Christmas wish list was this adorable Jake doll, affectionately called "Dake". His Nana obliged to his wish, and he loves it!

Sunday, Sunday

This past Sunday, I decided to go all out and dress Chandler up in this adorable outfit that his Grandmama got him. Isn't he handsome?

Believe me, though. It didn't take long for him to look like this. He's still handsome, though, if I say so myself!

Miscellany Monday

Since today was a school holiday, I got to spend the day with my sweet little baby boy, or should I say my sweet little toddler boy. I have to remind myself that he's not a baby anymore. It's hard to believe that almost two years have passed since we first welcomed him into our family!

The first thing we both enjoyed was sleeping late. 8:20 a.m. may not sound all that late, but that's a full three hours later than I usually get to sleep and about an hour and a half later than Chandler usually gets to sleep, so it was nice to say the least. Then we had oatmeal and yogurt for breakfast, and we even shared our favorite fruit- a clementine orange!

We made a brief stop at Granny and Papa's house, where Chandler enjoyed "cleaning" their furniture with an empty spray bottle he found, and then we headed to Target. We even had our lunch there, and for dessert we shared a yogurt parfait. (Chandler loved the strawberries, but decided that the blueberries and raspberries were too tart for him!) The gift cards I got for Christmas really came in handy, and we bought several cute things as well as some necessities.

On the way home, little man had all he could take, and with every mile, his eyelids became heavier. By the time we reached home, he was fast asleep, so I took advantage of the time and decided to take a nap myself. I mean, this is a rarity for me, especially during the week!

The nap was just what I needed to get re-energized to play some more with my sweet little man, prepare supper for both of my boys, and get ready for Monday night Bible study. I am thankful for this day off, and I am ready to head back into the game tomorrow!

"Derbe" Days

I've read and heard the story of Paul and Barnabas and their missionary journey all my life, but not until recently have I begun to understand the impact these two followers of Christ had on our world even today. Because they followed Christ, even in the difficult times, many people who would not have heard the gospel were able to hear it up close and personal.

In the days of Paul and Barnabas, they had no cars, trains, buses, or planes to travel in. They had to travel on foot, and if you've ever taken a look at the map of where they went, it wasn't just a walk in the park. They had to climb and hike in dangerous areas just to get to some people groups. What made it worse was that many of the people groups rejected them once they got to them, and the rejections were not usually just verbal, either. They were beaten, stoned, stripped of their clothes, and much more. I dare say most of us would have given up and gone back home.
However, Paul and Barnabas kept going on with the gospel of Jesus.

There was one town they went to called Derbe. God really showed out here. No one rejected the gospel or the men who preached it. In fact, the people of Derbe welcomed them with open arms. This gave Paul and Barnabas the courage they needed to keep going.

My life has been a lot like Paul and Barnabas's lately. No, I haven't necessarily been out on a missionary journey, but I have been on a journey of sorts, and it seems like I have been beaten down in many different directions, no matter what I do. For me, though, the last few days have been Derbe days- days of peace, rest, and acceptance, and I have welcomed them with open arms. It has given me the courage I need to move forward, and hopefully I will move forward refreshed and with a better outlook on things. After all, God is in control of all things.

Two Peas in a Pod

Aren't they cute? And guess what? They are both mine! I am very blessed to have these silly boys in my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

In My.....Socks?

I've posted here several times about how quickly my little man is growing. Every time I turn around he is doing something new, and it simply amazes me. This afternoon, we all took a 3-hour nap after church. I guess we were all worn out from New Years Eve, even though we were in bed well before midnight. After our nap, I was emptying the dishwasher and tidying up the kitchen when I heard Brent say, "Look, mama!". I turned around, and this is what I saw...

This cute little guy wearing my socks! I just pray that I always walk the walk that I need to in front of him so that he grows up knowing that not only I love him, but Jesus does, too.