Welcome to the World!

Ever have those days that you know you'll remember all the parts of-not just what happened-but the smells, the sights, the emotions??

Today was one of those days.

After years of prayers Lana welcomed baby Lydia to their family today-

she is a beautiful blessing.

Mackaylan became a big sister-

I think everyone involved could say that their

"heart(s) grew three sizes that day".

Lana was tired-but glowing

her eyes were weak-but full of the spark that new life and love create

Mickey was exhausted-nervous and proud-

and Mackaylan of course-all grins when she left

even cousin Eli, couldn't get enough snuggling with the perfect birthday girl

and Lydia-

with her sweet chunky legs, perfectly round head, rosy cheeks, and precious feet-

was the picture of love-of answered prayers, and God's most precious gift of life.

And so-

I came home...

with a full heart,

a renewed sense of God's love, His creation & His timing,

and a reminder of how special each of God's precious gifts are...

Happy Birth-day Lydia!

Praying for Friends

My sweet friend Lana is enduring some horrendous back pain this week. She went for an MRI and they found 2 herniated disks. It is so tough to lay back and let go even when you are in pain! I am lifting her up as she struggles to find a comfy position in her bed and waits to here the doctor's plan :) You can go here to give her some encouraging words!

I have another sweet family that we are friends with that are enduring a layoff. This family has been through this several times now and I know they are growing weary! Pray for their strength and that God will continue to lead the way for them.

A sweet little boy in my class lost his grandmother this week. Praying for his family as they mourn this loss, but celebrate knowing she is with the LORD.

Prayers

WOW! How thankful I am for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are lifting us up in prayer through this struggle! I appreciate so much the hugs, love, and thoughts, but most of all your commitment to pray for us. I have said before how I feel God's hand in so many ways. This is a chance for me to share it and profess it! God is our everpresent help. He is right with us as we undertake this scary journey. He might not make it go away, but he's there to see us through it. I read The Shack this summer. And I keep thinking back to some of the encounters the main character had with Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. I was reminded of so many profound things from this story. I think I just might read it again.

Again-for those of you that are praying thank you for taking your time to bring our petition before our most Holy God. I thank God for each of you!

Also, I would love to know that you are praying and keeping up with the blog here-I hope for it to be a witness of God's amazing power and presence in our lives! Please leave a comment and let us know that you've been here! You don't have to be a blogger to comment!

PS_I promise an afternoon update when we get back from the doctor!

Update

After a really looooooooooooooooooooong weekend filled with prayer, tears, and time with friends and family, Russell and I awoke this morning and trudged back to the outpatient center for my CT scan. I was nervous, but had the sweetest radiologist, who walked me through everything and was very low-key and patient. I had to have an IV to administer the contrast-and the contrast made me feel a little funny, but the feeling faded quickly. It didn't take more than 30 minutes, which was great, and they got all the shots they needed. I shook the whole time, prayed myself through everytime the machine coached me to breath, and made it to the car. Then as we prepared to call our friends and let them know this step was over, I lost all composure I had struggled so hard to keep. The tears came quickly and it was too late to turn them off. We tried to busy ourselves in Spartanburg, praying for quick results like those we received on Friday. But, by 1:00 we were done, and weary from hours of anticipation. We spent the afternoon at home playing with Isaac, knowing that we were much better off if we didn't get a phone call. Then, at 5:00 the phone rang. My doctor, not his nurse, called to let us know that they definetly saw a mass. He has decided instead of jumping straight to a biopsy, that I will go to a GI doctor, hopefully quickly, and then we will move from their.

I feel God's hand everywhere in this! This mass was found because of God's amazing power, and whatever needs to be done will be done. I have truly felt the power of each prayer as we have muddled through these days and nights. Of course I deepest hope and prayer for today was that there would be nothing there, but I had also prayed another prayer. I have prayed that the doctors would see what they need to see and we would continue to cling to God's promises. My new issue of HomeLife pointed out a verse I have clung to
"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorius hand." Isaiah 41:10

He is holding me up no matter what. This is beyond my control, I can't do anything to change it, but God is ready and waiting to help. It might not be in the form of removing the mass, but more in the form of providing doctors with the ability to find and do what they need to do. I am resting in the promise that I am in his hands!

We are so blessed with friends, family, and church family who have gathered around us and showered us with love and prayer! This is such a scary place to be, it makes it so much better to have a God who is in control and friends who are lifting us up in prayer!

Pray for us as we wait for this next step and try to keep our eyes fixed on our Lord!

A New Adventure

Well, I'm starting a new adventure. One I've never been on before: Weight Watchers. Thankfully I'm taking this journey with two great friends who are going to hold my hands the entire way, they promised. We were supposed to take before pictures last night after our first meeting and the last supper, but we forgot in our silly stupor!! We will get to it, I definitely want to be able to document the change together!!! I am so excited to start something and have people to support me along the way :) So here goes week 1 my first goal is 21 pounds, I'm going to see if I can find a ticker!!