A sure fire way to feel old......

You know those moments, they are plentiful....but it seems that you notice them even more when you have kids. For instance, there is something I know about myself, something that I know I just shouldn't EVER do, I pay for it everytime.....and still I do it.

I twirl and twirl with Soph as if I am 3 again. I get such pleasure in hearing her giggle. She absolutely loves to fall to the ground in a dizzy stuper.....Me? Well, after two turns, I fall to the ground with great nausea and develope the lovely headache that comes shortly after, leaving me the rest of the day exhausted. What is up with that?

Children, while incredibly wonderful and such gifts, are life's sure way to remind you of your limitations. I think my husband can even attest to this; just ask him about the time he challenged Bella to a headstand competition!!! LOL!

Ambassadors.....

My husband and I were asked to speak to a congretation at our church's Wentzville location tomorrow. We know the minister; he and his wife have been so loving and wonderful to us in our transition and in our reconcilliation. I don't know exactly what to expect tomorrow, although I know that Rick said he will call us up at some point so we can share our story. He talked about how fantastic our experience is and thought it would really benefit some of his members.

Wow, what an opportunity! I am so pleased to be able to share our hardships and victories so that others can see the work God does. How marvelous it is, to explain that God is so able and that it is so important to turn our attention to Him, to allow Him to work. To share that the good Lord saw us through the many rough spots in our marriage and seperations. That it is only because of Him that we are united as a family under one roof now. Sure, there are moments, in our story that can be uncomfortable for the two of us, if we choose to look at it in an earthly way. There are many points to our story alone, that I know as a woman, some have thought of me as "weak". Most women would have chosen to walk away, they wouldn't have looked back, in fact, I've been told that, many times!! BUT it doesn't concern me, instead how fantastic is it to be able to say "See, see what God can do!"

The least my husband and I can do is give glory to Him and let everyone we meet know that He deserves our praises, that He deserves our daily attention, that He deserves the best we have to give everyday, that because of what He has done there is no limit to what we should do.

Nervous? Yes. Deliriously delighted? Absolutely!

~2 Corinthians 5:20 - We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.~

Even the dreariest of days...

I woke today to the sound of little footsteps. The size 9er's wandered to my bedside and as I pulled the comforter over to make room, I noticed my husband was already up. I pulled my sweet Sophie Grace in bed to cuddle a couple of minutes when I recalled a promise to Bella that I would curl her hair for school pictures. Which is beyond comprehension, since she already has incredible wavy locks, and the thought of them alone make me chuckle. It's interesting, human nature is most often to want what we don't have; more money, smaller thighs, a better car, and yes even curls! But as the thoughts and images rolled briefly through my head I was reminded one more time that God has blessed me abundantly. I smiled, grabbed Soph and meandered downstairs to find my wonderful husband trying to hush the two canine maniacs, otherwise known as Zeke and Dory.

As soon as I saw him, my Marty, there was a hush in my soul. The Good Lord placed it there for good reason. It is one year ago this month that my husband and I seperated for one final time, with the intention of divorce. The girls and I packed and left our home in New Orleans on way to Louisville, Ky. God has blessed me to overcome many things over the years, but that was a time that tried even the strongest part of my heart. I silenced my mind and diligently worked to see everyone off this morning and run a couple of errands. All the while, listening to complaints about the dreariness of the day.

Shortly after coming back home, I sat for a few minutes of reflection. I remembered a scripture God brought to my attention over and over the past year; Mark 10:27 NIV "...With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." All these years, married, I had hoped and prayed for my husand's salvation. I have seen God allow miracles in my life in so many ways. For starters the rescue of my youngest child's life, twice, and through my father's death. I have known Him personally for many years and known the possibilities, but after so long, I began to doubt that my husband's salvation would be something I would see as his wife. I wanted to, with all my heart, but it didn't seem to be in the cards and for the first time I began to accept it. I was ready to turn over my marriage and admit defeat. While God comforted me in my decision and calmed my soul, He had other plans. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." So in typical divine fashion and unbeknownest to me, the Good Lord was preparing my groom. God was calling his name with great clarity and on a cold, winter day, my beloved finally answered.

It is in simple moments each day, even in grey, wet form like this one that my heart waits with every beat, the Lord by my side, for my new husband to come home. Days like this remind me of Psalm 37:4 NIV "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

With every drop of rain I am reminded that He has not forsaken me or you, that with God all things are possible; doors open and mountains move!

~Psalm 145: 1-3 NIV "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." ~

Pins and needles - okay, just needles!

Saturday was a great day! Mart and I had plans to go to a fundraiser and I had been looking forward to our time out all week. The sitter came and we were off. We attended the function where we had great food, listened to a fabulous musician and had a table with the best view of the arch! Afterwards, we went to a chocolate bar where we both had two amazing desserts and then we were off to Mart's hotel to check out the live jazz in the restaurant, it was a terrific time.

Shortly after getting home, Mart locked up the house and I went upstairs to kiss the girls. I wandered back in to Bella's room a second time to close the window and as I was passing through my foot met something that left an amazing ache. I dropped to the floor and asked Marty to turn the light on, Bella had woken. I explained that I didn't know what I stepped on but thought part of it was in my foot. In an instant, Mart found the culprit....a sewing needle that must have fallen out of a box we had been unpacking. My first thought was that I was so thankful it didn't get one of the girls or dogs, or even Mart. I hobbled into the bathroom where Marty attempted to take it out...gotta tell you strange sound and feeling when you hear steel being scraped in your own foot. Despite his effort we were unsuccessful and I opted to sleep on it for the night...hoping by some miracle it would be better in the morning. By the time I woke it was worse and with one touch realized it was best to head to the ER. After much time, xrays, meds, and needles, including a tetanis shot, the doctor performed minor foot surgery on me and removed the needle. It was larger than we thought, just over a centimeter and had gone into my foot about an inch and a half. The doctor told me that she takes injuries like that very seriously, which I greatly appreciate, but when she told me she was considering keeping me overnight to get a great number of IV meds in I was shocked. She was really concerned about infection, due to the many layers of tissue the needle passed through, but after determining that she had gotten all of it and feeling like I had received a significant amount of meds already, she agreed to let me go home under alot of promises and conditions - not to mention the horse size 500 mg pill I need to take three times a day.

Marty and the girls were amazing. The girls weren't allowed in the back so Bella took care of Sophie in the waiting room and after awhile, Marty and I decided it best if he take them home and try to find someone that could look after them. Eventually he did and by the time he made it back to the hospital it was done and over and was only a short time until I was discharged. I was plum worn out by the time we got home around 4 PM yesterday, between the actual incident and the percocet it didn't surprise me.

I'll tell ya though, I think my time in the ER was more peaceful than what Mart experienced that afternoon! LOL! What could have been a yucky experience turned into some nice peaceful moments......nearly like that in a spa......I said NEARLY!!!!

So today, I am just tired, and my shoulder is really sore from my tetanis shot. My foot is definitely tender, but well on it's way....looking forward to the stiches coming out in 9 days!! I plan to take full advantage of the doctor's advice and enjoy bathing this week. Wonder if the 5 day "work release" she gave me applies to laundry and dinners......hmmmmmmmm??!!