Like a Child

Isn't it amazing just when you think you have someone figured out, or think you know them, you are hit with the unexpected?  When Sweet Hubby and I first moved to Tennessee, we joined a young married bible study.  We have spent nearly every Wednesday evening for 3 years with these couples.  We have seen a few couples come and go, endured pregnancies between us, prayed for one another and have really developed a great bond.  I can tell you a special God given gift for everyone in our group. 

As I sat in our study this past Wednesday night, I realized that we really didn't know each other all that well.  It's almost like we know each other on a level and then it stops.  We don't know our history, our struggles both past and present, our miracles, our true testimonies.  Don't get me wrong, we have cried before one another and showed some of our vulnerabilities but some of us have stopped at certain levels.  I love the ones that can be so open and honest and really show all of their layers.  That's what makes a testimony so powerful. 

While I am probably considered the "truth teller," I have some major walls and there are not a lot of people that can break them down.  I am not sure at what point these walls were put up either or if it is just in my genetic makeup.  I come from a family of strong women.  We don't cry at the big stuff but show us a humane society commercial and we all have to get a box of tissue.  Women!?!  Maybe, it's not that we are strong but that we are broken somewhere so deep that our walls keep us from falling apart. 

When I was 14, my dad was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes and Hepatitis C.  Over the next year, he lost a lot of weight and some days could barely muster up enough strength to lift his head off the pillow.  I asked Jesus in my heart at the age of 7.  Long story short -- I really didn't become actively involved in church until I was 14.  I went to church camp between my freshman and sophomore years of high school and my life completely changed.  I rededicated my life to Christ.  I joined a church and was there every time the doors were open.  It was my escape from the reality of home, of a dying parent. 

During this time, I really had the joy of experiencing God's peace that goes beyond all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)  At the time, I didn't know that's what it was.  Some would say it was naivety or the unknowing of what was truly going on.  I really believe that I had a childlike faith that my dad was going to beat this and get a second chance at life.  I didn't believe he would actually die.  Nearly 2 years after being diagnosed, my dad was put on the liver transplant list.  This was our only hope.  Once you are placed on a transplant list, you are given a pager.  Before he could even get his pager, we got "the call."  It was 12:30am.  I had just hung up the phone (yes I know it was too late to be talking).  As I placed the phone back on the receiver, it rang.  My first thought was, "Oh crap, I am in big trouble if this is for me."  It wasn't.  It was Baylor Medical letting us know that they had a liver for my dad.  My mom was on the other line listening.  Talk about a freak out moment she was not ready for.  Peace overwhelmed my soul.  I hugged her and told her that everything would be fine and for them to go on, I would take care of any necessary phone calls.  I called my sister and had her take one side of the family and I would take the other.  Family was called, prayer chains were started.

My sister and I arrived at Baylor Medical Center right as they were taking my dad to surgery.  I told him that I loved him and would see him soon.  Never goodbye.  I went to sleep in the room and woke up to the doctor's voice telling us he had made it through. 

It's been 13 years since my dad's surgery.  He never thought he would see me graduate high school and God has blessed us with so much more.  He not only saw me graduate, but he was able to walk me down the aisle, meet all 4 of his grandchildren (soon to be 5) and have a second chance at life.  I am so thankful for the years God has blessed us with.

Miracles are not a thing of the Bible.  They are all around us, we just have to open our hearts and listen.

Romans 5:1-5(NLT)  Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

Doni

Catching up

It has been a busy few weeks.  Sweet Hubby finished painting our living room last night.  Next up, the kid's rooms.  Last night we found a soft water stain on the ceiling in our guest room, so the joys of owning a home have kicked into full gear.

We are officially, for the time being, a 1 car family.  We sold our Jeep Tuesday and will be purchasing a bigger vehicle in our near future.

Babbling Brook had some major bad hives a few weeks ago due to (we are thinking) a virus.  At one point, she was basically one big hive.  She handled it like a pro and it didn't slow her down much.

Last week we had a sonogram and everything still looks great!  Praise God.  Oh, and it snowed and lasted 5 days!  It was beautiful and cold. Babbling Brook asked to go outside from the time she woke up to the time she went to sleep.  Whew, I think we are all caught up!

Baby Bump 22 weeks (taken from my phone)

Never a dull moment

As I walk through this pregnancy, I find myself always looking over my shoulder wondering when we are going to be hit with the unexpected.  This has been a relatively smooth pregnancy -- something we are definitely not used to. 

Nothing we do is dull.  We always have a little bit of excitement added to everything we do, sometimes, not by choice.  During these exciting times we never lose sight at who is really in control.  God.  He controls every aspect of our lives.  We know this and have faith in Him.  We have asked ourselves, how will we handle bed rest this time?  There are a few that are a little more stressed than I am about it.  I know that it is something we cannot control and I have faith that God will not give us something we cannot handle.  Sometimes it is easier said than done, but ultimately you (me) have to let go and give it to Him.  Stress and worry will not change the situation. 

Take for example last Friday night.  It was late, Sweet Hubby's concerts for the weekend had been cancelled due to weather.  We were just settling in to bed when a BLARING beeping sound filled our house.  All 6 of our fire alarms were going off.  No smoke, no fire.  We opened up the doors thinking, maybe, it was our carbon monoxide detector.  Nope.  Sweet Hubby disconnected 4 of the 6 detectors.  I had Babbling Brook in my arms with one ear against my body and my hand covering her other ear.  Jaxson (our Chihuahua) was howling in his kennel.  Sweet Hubby is frantic, trying to figure out how he is going to get to the unreachable detectors.  We don't have a ladder taller than 4'.  He calls 911.  They advise us to get out of the house.  By the time I put on some warmer clothes (it was snowing out) an ambulance was pulling up.  A couple of minutes later, 6 firefighters were entering our house.  They replaced all of our batteries and connected our detectors.  BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.  I can see 3 of the men in our garage shrugging their shoulders.  Why are they still going off?  Verdict:  bad detector in the garage.  They are all on one circuit, so when one goes off, they all go off. 

Never a dull moment.

God bless,
Doni

Elvis My brain has left the building

I was telling my husband that you all probably think I am a bit scatter-brained or even ditzy at times. I'm really not. I am a planner to a T, very detailed and probably a little OCD. However, during both of my pregnancies, my brain has chosen to leave my body.

Wednesday, I took a trip to our local grocery store. While checking out, my sister called. I am a 1) female and 2) a mom, so multi-tasking is something that just comes natural. That is, until I am pregnant. I check out and place my coupon pouch with phone inside in the buggy/shopping cart. <---what do you call it? I am still talking to my sister using my bluetooth. I walk to my car, press the trunk button on the remote and cannot for the life of me figure out why it won't open! Two people in the parking lot help point me in the right direction. I was at the wrong car. Same make, model and color - different license plate and owner. All the while, I am still talking to my sister (or so I thought.) Turns out - I dropped my phone back in the store and we were disconnected shortly after leaving the store. I am sure the people around me thought I was crazy for talking and laughing to myself (can't really see my bluetooth under my hair). Oh, the joys of pregnancy!

On a medical note - so far the pregnancy is going great. We had our routine growth sonogram yesterday and should know the results within a few days. Baby Boy weighs 8 ounces and is currently on target for his growth--except his legs are a little short. Not abnormally short - just a week or so behind. Somehow it doesn't surprise me that he has short legs. Have you seen Babbling Brook? Sweet Hubby? My dad? Short legs are not uncommon in this family!

We are asking, please, to keep us in your prayers as we move further along in the pregnancy. At my growth sonogram with Babbling Brook, everything was perfect. 4 weeks later (23 weeks) I was put on bed rest for preterm labor. We are praying that this does not happen with Baby Boy.

God bless,
Doni