Through the tears

Yesterday was a very emotional day. As we were driving to see my sister, Lauren was listening to a CD of music for a Christmas program she is in at church. She was singing every song with such joy and enthusiasm and I loved listening to her. I started crying while I was driving just thinking about the love she already has for Jesus. It makes me so proud of her and makes me think we are at least doing one thing right as parents.

After that emotional drive and after spending time with my sister I was on the road again to my grandmother's house for a Thanksgiving celebration with my family. Jason called me (he was unfortunately not with us) and told me that Nanny, his grandmother who has been ill, was not doing well. As soon as I got off the phone with him, the song "The Dance" by Garth Brooks started playing on the radio. At that moment I once again started to cry and I knew in my heart that Nanny had passed and had gone to be with the Lord in his kingdom. When I talked to Jason later, I found out that she had passed just 5 minutes earlier. We will truly miss her, but we know she is in a better place and we will be with her again.

Lauren always says a special prayer for Nanny when we say her bedtime prayers. She always asks God to help Nanny and take away her pain. She also often asks us if Nanny is with Jesus yet. When I told her yesterday that Nanny had gone to be with Jesus, she said "I am sad that I can't see Nanny anymore." My sentiments exactly. Nanny truly loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The first time Jason brought me to meet her, she welcomed me as a part of her family as she did to so many others. I feel so blessed to have had her in our lives. There is much comfort in the fact that she is now watching over us and one day we will be with her again. She lived her life to serve the Lord and she has anxiously been waiting to join him. Yesterday was a glorious day for Nanny.

John 14:1-3
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

It All Happened in the Country

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for all of our blessings this year. We have amazing family and friends. Have safe travels and enjoy your Thanksgiving meals!

Wheee!

Fearless

I can't believe we are already two weeks into November. The last 3 months of the year always seem to go so fast. Except for today, when it rained all day (which we needed), the weather has been great. It just makes me want to be outside all day. The kids love it too. We have been spending more time outside recently and Justin has discovered slides. It first happened at Chucky Cheese where they have a slide just his size. He started diving down it head first and would try to climb back up. Every time I sat him at the top of the slide he just dove down it. He has continued to do that with all other slides. He just loves it! He is such a boy.


At Chucky Cheese, In the backyard getting into position to slide, Lauren and Justin

Lauren on the other hand is such a girly girl. She also loves playing outside and going headfirst down the slide, but as you can see, she follows it up with a super bubbly bath. And as she illustrates in her painting, her world is all flowers under rainbows with a bright sun in a blue sky. Just as I want it to be for her!


Lauren in bath, Lauren's painting