26 Years...

Today is my parents' 26th wedding anniversary. I am so grateful for the blessing of marriage and for the example that they have set for me of making a marriage work. In a world where marriage seems to be more and more devalued I feel very blessed to have grown up in a home where my parents love each other and respect one another- I really think this is a blessing that I sometimes take for granted. I am so grateful for their examples and look forward to 26 years and an eternity with my sweetheart.

Lauren's Miracle

Today I can't help but feel blessed for the miracle that is our little Lauren Louise. She turned one year old today and this whole year has truly been a blessing with her in our lives. We have been so blessed with her... not only just as the sweet daughter that she is, but also as a reminder of the miracles that God can perform if we but put our faith in Him.

Lauren was diagnosed via several ultrasounds with a bilateral complete cleft lip and a cleft palate. We were devastated not to be having a 'perfect' baby because we just want only good things for her and want her to have a 'perfect' start to life. It's interesting how my perspective has changed on this, because now I truly believe that she was born perfect. None of us are of course literally perfect in our physical beings, but I mean that she was and is perfect because she is just how I would ever want her. She is perfect in that she is who she was meant to be, and understanding that has totally changed the way I think of my perfect baby. I don't know if that will make sense to anyone else, but I only need it to make sense to me.

Lauren is a miracle. I love the phrase, "What a big miracle for such a little girl" because she truly is. Lauren, despite her diagnosis and all of the confirming ultrasound images and prenatal reports, was born with a bilateral incomplete cleft lip and no cleft palate to speak of. I remember being so nervous about how I would feel when I first got to see her after her delivery, and the first thing I remember was Drew crying and saying that she's so beautiful and she has a palate... and he was so right. Lauren has always been beautiful. Her sweet spirit and personality shined through her, and despite all of my fears about how she might look she was and is so beautiful. She is perfect. She was born with a whole palate and her clefts her not complete; she had been healed.

She is a miracle. She was able to nurse from her first attempt though we had already prepared only to feed her by pumping and using special bottles. She responded well to her nasal alveolar molding device and her nose was reshaped in time for surgery. She did excellent through her surgery and her face has healed with a new smile that we love. She has learned how to roll over, crawl, and walk developmentally on time or even early despite her struggles. She is now a beautiful toddler who loves life and makes my life more worth loving just by being in it. She is a miracle.

Today I feel blessed for this year of miracles and blessings. Because Lauren has been blessed I have been blessed. I love her so much, and I love the Lord so much more for loving her and me so much. I love my Lauren Louise.

Sunshine!

I love sunshine! Today I am grateful for just the sweet, simple blessing of sunshine. I'm reminded of the saying that 'there is always sunshine after the rain,' and today I just realize how grateful I am for that simple truth. It was so good today to go out with my girls into the warm sun and play and work in the yard, and just enjoy being outside. After months of dreary rain that seem to take their toll, the sunshine just seems extra bright. I guess I've just been feeling similar with my life as Lauren turns one year old tomorrow. She had several months of soggy rain in her first year and now it's so great to see the sunshine that she experiences and radiates every day. I feel blessed today for both the sunshine outside and that in my life.

Grocery Store Patience

Today I feel blessed for just a little more patience and a teaching moment in the grocery store. Abbie and I did the shopping this morning while Lauren was at Grandmas, and it was a long trip at the end of many errands. I met an old friend as we were entering the store that I talked with for quite a while, so by the time we made it around to produce Abbie was losing patience with me and being strapped in the shopping cart. A minor meltdown insued, but I feel grateful that I was able to stay calm (amidst the stares) and help Abigail get her self-control and have her explain her needs so I could understand them. The more I think about all of the little ways that I make mistakes and am selfish and impatient, the more I realize how patient and loving Heavenly Father is with me, and the more I want to emulate that with the 'terrible twos' of Abbie.

Wanted: A Simple Sunday

Today I feel the kindness of the Lord through a reminder that sometimes less is more. I've been attending choir practice each Sunday after the block and it has been taking a toll on our family. I've been trying to find a solution to make it work better, but today I feel that my answer is just that this just isn't the time in my life to try and be involved in every little thing. Drew has meetings every Sunday hours before church starts and then I get the girls ready and bring them on my own, and then we juggle Lauren during the first two hours so each of us can fulfill our callings and then we have the final hour altogether as a family and by the end of it both girls are ready for naps and probably us too! With the schedule the way it is this year I'm just grateful to get the girls there on time, and I think trying to stay later with choir has just stressed out our day too much.

Today my solution attempt was to have Drew drive the already sleeping kiddos home in the van and have me drive his truck home after choir. But it was not to be. That truck and I just don't seem to agree, so after having it not go, knocking on several unsuspecting apartments for a phone, calling a rescuer, and finally getting home I think Heavenly Father is just trying to tell me to simply my Sundays so I can focus more on Him and less on logistics. I am grateful for this reminder. I will miss singing in the choir, but I think having a more sacred and simple sabbath will more than make up for it.