Happy Birthday Gabriel

My little Gabriel is THREE years old today. The time has slipped away so quickly, and on his birthday I am reminded how thankful I am for him. Today was also his first day of school -- and, ryan said, he was very excited. I'm sure he will be the class clown. He absolutly loves life...and people. I pray that I appreciate this day, and every day, and not wish one second away hoping for the future. Before I know it ... these days will be past ...

Happy Birthday, Gabe. I love you!

It's Friday

I made it to Friday -- my first week back to full time. Every day gets a little easier, and, I am starting to believe I can do this. As a mom, my heart cries out to be with my kids. I know that some women feel they are called to a career, and there was a time I thought that as well. But, when I held Sierra for the first time, my whole life changed.

God is teaching me through every step of this process about sacrifice...humility...and trust. Anything you do, that is truly worth it, will not be easy. It will be a struggle, but in the end, the reward will be greater that you would ever imagine.

Fasting

I spoke to Ryan on the phone a few minutes ago. He said..."I was going to fast today ... but then I got hungry..."





** To Ryan's credit, he did exercise heavily in the morning and figured he needed food for energy to get through the day. Good point....

Full Time

This is my first week back to work full-time. This is a huge change for me, my kids are growing up, I will only see them for a few hours every night...but I have peace because I know they have daddy there for him. And, a wonderful daddy he is. This time in our lives is certainly a struggle, but each step of the way, I see God there, leading us, and picking us up when we fall.

Yesterday Ryan sent flowers to my office with a note that said, "Thank you for your sacrifice..."

My Favorite Song....

On A Corner In Memphis

Saturday on Beale St. with the drunk and the searching
I hear an old man playing guitar
I can't make out what he's saying
But I can tell you that he's suffered
And that he means every word from the bottom
Of what's left of his heart tonight
A few hours later, I slip into church
Singing songs about saving grace
One guy's nodding off and another hates to be here
And we all mouth the words to save face

It's 11:15 on Sunday morning
And I wish I wasOn a corner in Memphis listening to the old man
Singing out his sorrows and laying down his pride
He's telling me his story or at least his side
With no need to pretend and nowhere to hide'
Cause we are all broken here
We are all ashamed
I couldn't fool you if I wanted to
Our stories are too much the same

And what about this Jesus?
They say He drank with the poor and the blind and the lame
Do you think He'd like the songs that we sing?
Or would He feel the same as I do?
What if Sunday School was on Saturday night?
What if their heart-breaking cries of pain
Are the first hymns of tomorrow's saints?
On a corner in Memphis, we're singing with the old man
Crying for his sorrows and laying down our pride
He's telling us our story, or at least his side
With no need to pretend and nowhere to hide
On a corner in Memphis