Several months back we had a lesson in Sunday School about joy. I never knew the difference between joy and happiness, but little did I know this was God preparing my heart for what was ahead!
Spending so much time in the NICU staring at our beautiful 4lb blessing I have pondered so much about that specific Sunday School lesson. It is so easy to pity your child, yourself, your family, your whole situation! But, being here is also very humbling and brings a new perspective to the word JOY!
Joy is finding goodness and happiness in every situation. This has been an INCREDIBLE struggle for me! Growing up I always believed God's purpose for us, as His children, is to be happy.. When in fact that is not the case at all. I have learned that God's purpose is for us to have joy in every circumstance! Having this sort of joy shows God our faith in Him, in any circumstance.. It shows Him we can be comforted by His grace alone!
Before my maternity leave I had been teaching my preschoolers Galatians 5:22.. The fruits of the Spirit... Here again, little did I know this was God preparing me for what was I was about to face! It has been so difficult finding joy while seeing an IV in the top of my babies head, or a feeding tube down her nose, or 10 wires going in 10 different directions, or having to leave my baby daughter day after day in a place that, while I know it's what is best for her, is not my arms! I have to search for a joy only God can give me.. A joy filled with His Grace and Mercy!
I totally believe this is why God's purpose for us isn't to be happy, but to be joyful, why?? Because HE is in control!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Who is your Hero?
I, along with every other woman in America, have become a huge fan of Pinterest. I love looking for ideas on crafts for my classroom, recipes, photography, decorating, etc.. Most of all I love finding new ideas to do with Sarah Catherine! We all can get caught up in our everyday life so much that we sometimes forget to sit back and enjoy our children (or any member of our family for that matter). Recently I came across a link called Pillow Talk Questions for you and your child. It has 20 simple questions, but I was surprised at the (almost adult) conversation it struck between me and my daughter.
I started with question 3 "Who is your hero and why?" When asking her this she looked at me in the rear view mirror puzzled (since this was not our typical after school conversation)... Which then shamed me that I didn't ask more leading questions to my 6 year old. Sarah Catherine sat there looking out of the window thinking about her answer.. Her first response "God." When I asked her why, her response was "because He loves me no matter how bad I act and I can talk to Him anytime I want to." You can call it hormones if you want, but I almost turned into a blubbering idiot driving down HWY 195. It warmed my heart to know that what takes most people a lifetime to figure out, my kindergartener already knew about God's unconditional love, His faithfulness to us and more importantly that His promises never go away. As she and I continued to talk she said "If I picked a human that lives on earth, I pick my Daddy as my hero." Anyone that knows these two well enough I am sure this does not come as a big surprise, seeing as they are attached at the hip. It was her conversation that followed her response that made me so overwhelmed with thankfulness that God placed Marc in my life not only as my husband, but as the earthly father for my girls! They are so blessed to have a daddy that loves them unconditionally and one who thrives on teaching them anything from swimming to hunting, but embraces her (them) for the girly girl that she (they) is(are)!
I hope that anyone who reads this will be encouraged to use these questions to talk more to your child(ren)! They are so creative and attentive, it may surprise you at the responses you receive!
I started with question 3 "Who is your hero and why?" When asking her this she looked at me in the rear view mirror puzzled (since this was not our typical after school conversation)... Which then shamed me that I didn't ask more leading questions to my 6 year old. Sarah Catherine sat there looking out of the window thinking about her answer.. Her first response "God." When I asked her why, her response was "because He loves me no matter how bad I act and I can talk to Him anytime I want to." You can call it hormones if you want, but I almost turned into a blubbering idiot driving down HWY 195. It warmed my heart to know that what takes most people a lifetime to figure out, my kindergartener already knew about God's unconditional love, His faithfulness to us and more importantly that His promises never go away. As she and I continued to talk she said "If I picked a human that lives on earth, I pick my Daddy as my hero." Anyone that knows these two well enough I am sure this does not come as a big surprise, seeing as they are attached at the hip. It was her conversation that followed her response that made me so overwhelmed with thankfulness that God placed Marc in my life not only as my husband, but as the earthly father for my girls! They are so blessed to have a daddy that loves them unconditionally and one who thrives on teaching them anything from swimming to hunting, but embraces her (them) for the girly girl that she (they) is(are)!
I hope that anyone who reads this will be encouraged to use these questions to talk more to your child(ren)! They are so creative and attentive, it may surprise you at the responses you receive!
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
IT'S A.....
Saturday Marc and I were given a blessing by a good friend from church to have a sonar in her home to find out the gender of our baby! When asked Friday night I, of course, was excited but nervousness soon followed! I knew that whatever that sonar revealed would change our lives either way!
Since this pregnancy was so different (and when I say "different" I mean SICK.. Very,very SICK) I was convinced that it must be a boy. Seeing as my pregnancy with Sarah Catherine was a breeze in comparison! I am totally convinced of what my sister in law, Staci, told me a couple of weeks ago.. "God gives you a great first pregnancy so you will want to have another baby later on." My mother was in total agreement and so truthfully stated (as mothers often do) "If you (me) had been first, I wouldn't have had another one." (Thank you for the sweet love Mom)
After the nervous feeling passed, anxiety set in.. I was ready to find out and start nesting!! We are proud to announce that we will be having another little girl! We are so excited and Sarah Catherine is nesting more than I am! She couldn't wait to get the baby things out of the attic and start cleaning and washing everything! She was upset that we decided to paint the nursery the week of Thanksgiving.. She wanted to do it all RIGHT THEN!!!
After finding out Marc really wanted to surprise Sarah Catherine, so we went to the mall and bought a sweet little gown and a matching bib and burp cloth wrapped in a pink bow! Her expression was priceless! We were able to tell her that her baby sister was stretched out on the sonar waving her little right hand and had her feet crossed at the ankles! We were able to see all 10 little toes perfectly and her heart and brain also looked great! God is continually blessing our family and I am so thankful we serve such a BIG God!
Since this pregnancy was so different (and when I say "different" I mean SICK.. Very,very SICK) I was convinced that it must be a boy. Seeing as my pregnancy with Sarah Catherine was a breeze in comparison! I am totally convinced of what my sister in law, Staci, told me a couple of weeks ago.. "God gives you a great first pregnancy so you will want to have another baby later on." My mother was in total agreement and so truthfully stated (as mothers often do) "If you (me) had been first, I wouldn't have had another one." (Thank you for the sweet love Mom)
After the nervous feeling passed, anxiety set in.. I was ready to find out and start nesting!! We are proud to announce that we will be having another little girl! We are so excited and Sarah Catherine is nesting more than I am! She couldn't wait to get the baby things out of the attic and start cleaning and washing everything! She was upset that we decided to paint the nursery the week of Thanksgiving.. She wanted to do it all RIGHT THEN!!!
After finding out Marc really wanted to surprise Sarah Catherine, so we went to the mall and bought a sweet little gown and a matching bib and burp cloth wrapped in a pink bow! Her expression was priceless! We were able to tell her that her baby sister was stretched out on the sonar waving her little right hand and had her feet crossed at the ankles! We were able to see all 10 little toes perfectly and her heart and brain also looked great! God is continually blessing our family and I am so thankful we serve such a BIG God!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Fish Anyone?
Marc took Sarah Catherine fishing today.. Who said fishing was a guy sport??? And she caught with a Hello Kitty bow.. What a girl!!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
6 Years Has Flown By
Last Friday was Sarah Catherine's 6th Birthday and with everything that had been going on in the month of September the 28th really snuck up on me! I laid in bed Thursday night watching Sarah Catherine sleep and could still see the resemblance of the baby she used to be. With the absolute madness that goes along with raising an almost six year old and plus Marc being out of town for three weeks I wished for that moment she could be a baby again.. No judgement, no arguing, no back talk, and last but not least NO attitude! I never realized how much of a Daddy's girl Sarah Catherine really is until he was in Georgia finishing his training for three weeks (which really felt like 3 months). Nevertheless, party day had arrived and she was so far past excited!! Not only was her party that evening, but she knew I was bringing cupcakes to her class for snack, but even more importantly, her DADDY was FINALLY coming home that day!
I have no idea what possessed me to make my doctors appointment for that morning (bad planning on my part), but Marc was able to meet me in Birmingham and see the baby's heartbeat (which made his day)! After rushing home, grabbing the cupcakes, I stayed up until 11 the night before baking, and rushing to MPS I saw my daughters face beam with joy and excitement (which of course made all the stress worth it)... After partying like it was 1999 with the Class of 2025 (ok figuring up that year scares me a little) we checked Sarah Catherine out of school early (per the request of the birthday girl) and rushed home to prepare for her party that night.
I am noticing hiding gifts is much harder than it used to be.. Buying things too far in advance is not always a good thing for me seeing as I forget about it or I can't remember where I hid it (aka the toys I hid in the storage under my trunk that will now be used for Christmas.. Lose/Win I guess)!
Choosing a painting party for Sarah Catherine was so much fun! The kids had a great time, everything was included, and the best part.. I didn't spend the week before the party cleaning and two days after cleaning either (WIN/WIN/WIN).. Ginny Robert has a great location for her painting parties and it was all Sarah Catherine could talk about.. That and the gifts! Overall it was a great day for the birthday girl and we are so proud God has blessed us with her (attitude and all.. Ok maybe I could do without the attitude ;) ). Just think this time next year Baby Rollins will be here to party hardy with us!
I have no idea what possessed me to make my doctors appointment for that morning (bad planning on my part), but Marc was able to meet me in Birmingham and see the baby's heartbeat (which made his day)! After rushing home, grabbing the cupcakes, I stayed up until 11 the night before baking, and rushing to MPS I saw my daughters face beam with joy and excitement (which of course made all the stress worth it)... After partying like it was 1999 with the Class of 2025 (ok figuring up that year scares me a little) we checked Sarah Catherine out of school early (per the request of the birthday girl) and rushed home to prepare for her party that night.
I am noticing hiding gifts is much harder than it used to be.. Buying things too far in advance is not always a good thing for me seeing as I forget about it or I can't remember where I hid it (aka the toys I hid in the storage under my trunk that will now be used for Christmas.. Lose/Win I guess)!
Choosing a painting party for Sarah Catherine was so much fun! The kids had a great time, everything was included, and the best part.. I didn't spend the week before the party cleaning and two days after cleaning either (WIN/WIN/WIN).. Ginny Robert has a great location for her painting parties and it was all Sarah Catherine could talk about.. That and the gifts! Overall it was a great day for the birthday girl and we are so proud God has blessed us with her (attitude and all.. Ok maybe I could do without the attitude ;) ). Just think this time next year Baby Rollins will be here to party hardy with us!
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