Ups and downs

This post has been rolling around in my brain for quite some time.

Funny how it works like that for me.

I am a contemplator.  I, typically, need to mull things over in my mind before really understanding them.  I mean big things... life things... hurts and disappointment things...

Last year was rocky for us.  We had our ups and downs but looking back... we had a lot of downs. 

I have Crohn's disease.  I've had it for over 20 years now and have managed it fairly well.

Until last year. 

My GI doctor is great but I'd be happier if I didn't need to see him quite so frequently.

We tried medicine and then had to totally change direction.

I got blood drawn and the results meant more medicine was added to my regimine.  And changed.  And added some more. 

I've never been great about taking medicine because I'd rather not.  But now, I don't really have a choice. 

One of the many lessons I've learned (loud and clear) is that my life is not mine. 

I don't have the option of taking medicine or not.  About going to the doctor or not.  About getting yet another colonoscopy or not. 

My life is not mine anymore. 

I have a wonderful, caring husband and a beautiful little girl.

My family needs me and I need to be healthy.  For me but also for them. 

This lesson has come with many tears because it has also meant decisions had to be made.  Hard decisions. 

Really hard.

But God is good and loving and faithful and I know that His plan is WAY better than my own. 

I cling tight to Habakkuk 3:17 - 18....

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will REJOICE in the Lord,

I will be JOYFUL in God my SAVIOR.

 

In the footnotes of my Bible it says about this passage that Habakkuk's feelings were not controlled by the events around him but by faith in God's ability to give him strength... Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God.

 

Learning lessons.  Certainly not lesson learned.  Yet.

 

Just last night during our community group it struck me that my relationship with God is a two way street. 

 

It isn't all about me getting closer to God but it's also about God drawing me closer to Him.

 

This isn't a new concept but last night it resonated with my soul.  With my heart. 

 

"... and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself.  Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession."  Exodus 19:4b - 5

 

I am God's treasured possession.  He carries me... even when it feels the weight of the world is on my shoulders.  He brings me to Himself... because He loves me and for no other reason.  I am His and He loves me.

 

Focus less on the downs and more on the ups... like God's love for me... the God of my salvation.

 

They are totally worth every pill, every procedure, every shot, every appointment.

Less of me... more of God.



Recap, Catch up, Rewind...

Whatever you want to call it... I am behind. 

I had grand plans of blogging about all of my birthday fun (which was over a month ago) and family Christmas get-togethers (again... over a month ago) and our family Christmas but December was not kind to us.

Our girl came home sick the first week and we spread it around, visited doctors on multiple occasions and my hubby even had to have minor surgery (not due to sickness - it was planned but still - surgery nonetheless).  Our house was a germy mess in December.  We had to cancel plans with loved ones.  We missed super cute birthday parties.  We stayed inside.  A lot.  We finally started to all feel better by Christmas Eve (huge blessing) but we still laid low through the New Year. 

Here's a little look back at the end of 2012...

 We bundled up and enjoyed a (kinda sickly) family Christmas day!  We had a yummy breakfast before seeing Santa and Pricilla, the Pink Pig!  We rode the Pink Pig twice because my girl loved it so much!  I got to ride with her this year because her daddy was still recovering from his surgery. 

 Even though we were inside a lot more than I would have liked, we made the most of our time with lots of the projects!  This girl likes to paint, color and craft as much as her mommy!  So cute!

 We also made Christmas cookies!  They were LOTS of messy fun to make and yummy too!

 Sickness made us miss out on one of our family Christmas parties but thankfully we were better for this one!  Love that Mer is reading the Christmas story and the other cousins are listening closely!  Our girl had a great time with her cousins and her new fun toys!

 Grammy and Papa gave this girl a grocery cart and lots of fun food... a hint at things to come?  ;-)

 We had a wonderful time on Christmas Eve with Meme and Papa at church and then home for dinner and presents!  It was a LOT of fun and great to be with them for Christmas!

 This Daddy loves this tradition of reading "Twas the Night before Christmas" to his girl!  Special memories!

 And Santa came to visit our girl!  Guess what he brought her?!?  A kitchen!  Perfect for my little chef!

 Even the furry kiddo had a good Christmas! 

Having fun with the Leslies!  This girl LOVES Papa P!

Love makes a family!

And our cute girl got ready to celebrate the New Year with our friends and neighbors!

 

So... goodbye 2012.  Overall, it was a difficult year for us.  We dealt with lots of health issues.  We had ups and downs.  Our girl started 2yr old PMO.  But through it all - God is good.  His mercies are new each morning and He knows the plan!

 

Hello 2013!





Merry Christmas!

Sorry this is a day late...

Hope you and your family enjoyed celebrating the birth of our Savior!

too much...

Sometimes I feel like life becomes a bit... too much. 

My whole family has been sick for nearly two weeks... 

too much sickness means too much laundry and too many tissues and too much coughing and too much medicine and too many trips to doctors and too much nastiness floating around my house.

My sweet hubby had (minor) surgery on top of our sickness...

seriously too much to handle.

But then things like the tragedy at a sweet elementary school happen...

too much sadness.

too much sorrow.

and I know that I have too much to be thankful for.

My heart and my prayers are with all the families affected.

Cookie Party

Earlier this week, we celebrated my birthday... sort of. 

I invited 5 cute little girls and their mommas over, along with Meme, to bake lots of Christmas cookies!  This is how I decided to celebrate my birthday this year.

I wanted to break my "rule" about mixing my birthday and Christmas! 

I wanted to invite sweet little friends over. 

I wanted to make a mess in my kitchen with love and sugar! 

I wanted to hear my girl giggle with little buddies as they took care of their "babies". 

I wanted to see icing all. over. their. faces.

I loved every minute of this sweet, fun time.

My girl was really excited about baking cookies!  She enjoyed these mint chocolate chips too!

 Little helpers!  They were so interested!

Miss Molly and her momma baked "reindeer" cookies for us!

Mary Cakes and her momma helped make "reindeer" cookies too!

 We made Christmas crafts... Snowmen and Santa Claus!

 Yay for Christmas fun with friends!

 Mint chocolate chip cookies... be still my heart!  These things are super simple and crazy, addictive good!  Bake at your own risk!

 Meme made each of the little girls (and big girls) Christmas tree shaped cakes!  They were delicious!

 The only "man" at our girls get-together!  Baby T is so sweet!

 Emma girl LOVES chocolate!  Maybe that's why she is such a sweetie?!

 Even our littlest friend was happy about the Christmas cookie chaos!

 A finished "reindeer" cookie!  No, reindeer do not have to have the same color eyes... nor do they need a red nose!  Creativity is beautiful!

 We were happy to have Miss Kate join the party after her school day was done!

 Sampling a reindeer... they clearly passed the inspection!

This little lady's smile makes all the mess worthwhile!

 

I was inspired by Laura's week of birthday kindness so on my birthday, we will be delivering all the cookies we made to local firemen, police officers, and other random people!  I can't wait!  

Family Game Day

Not too long ago, my hubby and I took our girl to Georgia Tech for a football game!  To say she was excited, is an understatement!  She was beside herself! 

 This little lady LOVES Buzz!  She was so excited to see Buzz everywhere!

 A very proud daddy with his little girl in front of the Wreck!

We were waiting for the band and cheerleaders to parade into the stadium.  Our girl was a BIG FAN of all this!

 We decided to forgo actual tailgating and walked to our girl's favorite place, The Varsity!

 She was anxiously awaiting her red dog (ketchup only), fries, and of course - frosted orange!  Healthy?  Not so much.  Crazy yummy?  Completely!

 Cheering on her daddy's beloved Yellow Jackets!

Even though this girl missed her nap, she had a GREAT day!

 

I pray that God allows her to remember these fun experiences with mommy and daddy as she grows up.  I pray that these times remind her of just how much she is loved.  Love isn't about stuff... it's about people... and I love these two people!  Such a memorable day!

Thankful

I am thankful for so much but especially for my sweet, little family. 

I love my husband more than I could ever really say and we are parents to the greatest little girl in the world. 

God has blessed us abundantly and we are very, very thankful.

Praying you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with those that mean the most to you!