One Year of Joy

     Yesterday Colin turned ONE. And boy did the memories flood back to us. And for me the tears came as well. But that's nothing new. Brandon can attest to that. ;)  Because I often recall the deep, deep valleys we have been through, and now I can literally see God's goodness to us through Colin's face each day.

     It was so fitting that on such a special day yesterday that I was reminded -- no, actually I was hit hard -- of how the Lord has walked with us through our mountaintops and valleys.  You see, He did a miraculous thing in my heart because He restored my joy and peace in HIM even before we knew we were expecting Colin.  And that's just plain amazing to me. God knew that He could glorify Himself through our story by using our sorrow and the love of another very special family to even more show His goodness and grace. We have had the very unique privilege of getting to see His plan unfolded before our eyes.

     We know many of you prayed for us over the past years, and we thank you.  I just have to say that looking back I KNOW that prayers have carried us. Just a few examples...This frame (in the picture above) was given to me years ago by a friend who prayed truly believing that God would fill that frame with a beautiful picture one day. And He did. Another sweet friend showed me yesterday in her Bible where she had written down her prayer for us, trusting God to do something great for us. My heart overflows with thankfulness for the love of others.

 Of course we would have loved Colin no matter when he had come, but I must say that every moment, even the things like losing sleep, are truly so much sweeter because of this journey. (Yes, this sleep-loving mommy just said that!)    

     
     Colin is our icing on the cake of life. And speaking of icing...and cake...we had such a special time celebrating this precious little's guy's first year. 

     

                Colin ate his cake in the same highchair that Mommy ate her one year birthday cake in.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." 

Psalm 126:3

A Momma's Thoughts

     This week I barely made it out of Walmart without bursting into tears. Of course. It's right before Mother's Day. I'm usually in tears this week. But this was different. A sweet older lady had asked to see my baby, who was sound asleep in his stroller.  Not unusual...I almost never go through a store anymore without someone wanting to see and talk to my precious sidekick. (Which I absolutely love by the way.) But as we were parting, this lady wished me a Happy Mother's Day. And all the emotions of those words hit me.

     Though I've been a mother for years, this is the first time someone has said those words to me because they actually recognized me as such. A mommy. It's an unspeakably hard thing to know you have a child (in my case children), but they aren't here on earth...so the general public doesn't know to recognize you in the Mother group that you know you belong in. Or even worse, people know but still don't give you recognition as a mom.

     So --  Happy Mother's Day to my friends who have children in heaven with mine. What a celebration we will all have when we are together one day!  And I truly pray you can still find some celebration this weekend because of their precious lives.   

 

I think it has taken me by surprise how much having Colin here has made me miss Dani Grace so deeply. I can compare their faces, and I talk to him about his sissy...especially when he tries to pull on the commemorative chain I wear. :) This weekend I will be celebrating what God has done for us and each life He loaned to us...whether that be for weeks or months.

 

 

Oh. And speaking of what He has done...my own sweet mom gets to celebrate this year holding her grandson. A complete, true miracle when last year at this time we didn't know if she would get to experience being a Grammy to Colin.  To HIM be the glory! 

 

 

 We recently stood before our family and friends at church and dedicated our son to the Lord. This was really more for Brandon and me than Colin...we were simply expressing to others what we had told God long before Colin was born. We will seek to raise him in a way that honors the One Who created him.

And I pray that Colin will come to know the same God Who has brought JOY to my heart this Mother's Day.

 

Colin's first snow!!

One year ago today...

It's amazing what a year can bring forth.  Last year at this time I was totally exhausted from driving the 2 hour stretch to Charlottesville almost every day after teaching. My mom was in the hospital at UVA in the middle of serious health issues. (Brandon spent his January birthday with her in the hospital just like we had done for Christmas.)  And in the midst of all this, we were going through the process to have our dream of parenthood fulfilled. Admittedly, there were times that I would question the timing, but we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God had orchestrated everything to happen exactly at that time. And we are so glad He did.  A year has passed and we are so thankful for our little gift who is currently filling our house with his rather loud squeals. :)