Christmas 2011, Past

This Christmas was wonderful.  I decided to have a BIG "Griswald" family Christmas.  My brother, his wife, (Rhianna) and daughter (Lela Lynn) came on Christmas Eve and then my father and step-mother came on Christmas Day to have a big dinner.  My brother, Rhianna, and I cooked all night and most of the day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It was surreal to be cooking with my brother.  We got to talk and laugh about old memories and made some new ones.  He devained, washed, and cut collards for two hours!  It was hilarious!  The food turned out to be outstanding, I was pleasantly surprised!  It actually turned out really nice...it's just passed by me so fast, much like my life has seemed to.  I have purposely taken time lately to breath in the air slower and look at my life longer, taking in more "mental photos" of all the wonderful blessings in my life.  I know we're probably not supposed to talk about bad things that could happen, but they could and do.  I just want to face Christ knowing I loved as much as I could every day and that I appreciate all the really good and beautiful things he made on this earth.  There is so much bad that it's really hard to see those things sometimes but I have found the closer I get to God, the clearer His glory becomes.  It starts in my children's eyes and the unconditional love I have in my heart.  What a gift God gave me!  Twice!  How much He loves me....really awesome because if life were fair I would be burning in eternal fire, along with every other human.  His mercy does set us free!

Learning to Celebrate

This is the first post of something great.  I've needed to write to feel "normal" again.  Life has been a roller coaster for many years but it seems that God has been trying to build me into the person I always wanted to be, that can handle the toughest of curves and mountains.  I stress that none of this would be possible without Christ and seeking Him.  My family is whole with God leading the way and it's the best feeling I have ever experienced.  There have been some unexpected barriers but with God we are learning to change our hearts and thoughts about what is most important and how to manage and even celebrate the life we have.  Hunter turned 4 back on July 31st and on November 10th of this year we were told that he has moderate autism.  It was very difficult to swallow at first but now we are starting to see that God has an amazing plan in place, not sure what that is, but that's the beauty of it.  Hunter might not be like the other children his age but he is so smart and has the most beautiful soul and heart.  He is creative and I just know that God has something very special for him.  It sometimes feels like a hurricane with all of the doctors and therapists and lists of what to do, what not to do, what to buy, what to say, how to say it, call this person, go here, go there, and so much more.  Finances seem to always come in to play, especially now with a new baby.  All of this was unexpected but it's been such a blessing, in fact this life that God has given me is EVERYTHING to me.  I am starting to see how awesome and glorious God is even more every single day.  His never ending mercy is remarkable.  I know that this post might be a little preachy, but it's the only way I can explain my life at this point right now.  I have these two beautiful sons and a husband that I always dreamed I would have.  I often wonder why God gave me all this after the way I've acted in the past, but now I see he led me through that to get to this.  It's made me appreciate every single smile, laugh, and cry...every good time and bad.  I wouldn't change the way I got here or how this life is, for a temporary life Lord, it's perfect and I praise You and thank You for all of this.