ALMOST TO SINGLE DIGITS

Well, 10 days to go! It seems surreal to think that I am almost done with this pregnancy. It truly has felt like my life had been altered with no end in sight. This has been a very difficult and challenging journey. Not only for me...but for my wonderful husband and two beautiful little girls as well.

And, in reflecting on this experience...I have come up with a few thoughts to share:

1. I'm so grateful for God to have blessed me with such a healthy life. Yes, I have had my share of painful moments. But, nothing that altered my permanent state of being.

2. There is so much credit and admiration to be given to people who are constantly living in pain. Just in my brief experience (several months) from this pregnancy...it has become absolutely amazing to me, the strength and perseverance that must be required to live with an ailment that keeps one in constant pain for a lifetime.

3. I have truly realized the gift of friendship. Not that I haven't had friends before...but, I have taken the meaning and value of friendship for granted. Honestly, I don't know how I would have gotten through this experience without all of you! Thank you for all of the support and love that has been shown to me and my family throughout this experience.

4. I'm also very thankful for my children's ability to cope through a difficult situation. For months, I have heard, "I miss my old mommy". (Me too, to be honest!) But, now...the girls seem focused on welcoming this new little one into our family. I only pray that the lack of "mommy attention" doesn't cost us at the therapy office later on :)

5. There is just something about Moms! The older I get the more I realize the gift God has given in Moms (Dads, too...please, don't get me wrong! I think of all the experiences with my Dad as well as watching Scott as "Daddy" to our kiddos....and, it melts my heart! I am a very blessed lady, indeed!) But, in thinking about my Mom...her faith, her love, her strength, her kindness, her guidance, her nurturing ways, her humor, her wrestling ability :), her honesty, her ability to preserver though challenges, her mental toughness, her commitment to family, her overly giving nature, her ability to convince me that I can get through tough times...even if it is by threatening me and trying to convince me stand on my head, her willingness to listen, and just her "mom-ness" inspire me to want to be a better mom. I hope that on some level I will be able to do these things for my own children. Thank you, Mom for all that you do for me & the rest of our family!

6. THERE IS ALWAYS MUCH TO CELEBRATE!!!
I've heard people say "this is their life verse"...and although, there are many favorite verses...never had one stick as my life verse. But, through this experience, I now have one!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus". I Thessalonians 5:16-18

AMEN!!!