So Blessed

We traveled all the way from California to Arkansas on Friday to see our wonderful family and friends that live here. We have been very much looking forward to some time away from the crazy life we have been leading these last few weeks and just resting our weary little feet, hands and heads ;)

Flying is such a great time to reflect. You see the world so differently when you are looking at it from so many thousands of feet up. It's amazing to think about how incredibly small we are. Little people living in our own little worlds. We often forget to gaze upward and see things from a broader perspective as we go about our day to day affairs. We get so ingrained in our own lives, our families, our friends, that we see only a small portion of what I believe the Lord is often whispering for us to see.

It's also amazing to me that the God who formed and fashioned the earth, who breathed life into all living things, who is all knowing and all powerful, desires to know the ins and outs of each of our lives. It's such a simple fact and truth, yet such a profound one.

I'm so glad He knows my anxious heart and desires to see peace in my life. I'm so glad that He sees my often discontent heart and desires to bring about an eternal contentment. I'm so glad He sees my sin and covers it with Himself. I'm so glad He sees my aching heart and rather than overlooking it, He comes in to mend it in the places it's broken. I'm so glad HE IS!

As tomorrow marks six months since Tyler made his new home in Heaven with the Lord, I also reflect on the very hope and wonder and significance of celebrating Christ birth in two days. We often focus on the baby in the manger, but sometimes we have to remind ourselves that that precious baby was the Lord over all creation and the King of Kings. That baby would grow to be a sinless man that would die for you and me. He is so much more than a baby laying in the hay.

I am so blessed in so many ways, but I especially see with much more clarity than years past, the preciousness of Christmas. I am so grateful to a God who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but He humbled Himself to the position of a slave, becoming like men. He was and is God, but just as He came to live among mankind 2,000 years ago, He longs to dwell in each of our hearts and be invited in to each of our lives today and everyday.

Come Lord Jesus, come! Come dwell among us today and fills the gaps where our hearts ache, come make us whole where we are empty, come provide peace where we are restless.

I am so thankful that because of Jesus and His work on the cross, none of our stories end in death. I am so glad that Tyler's story does not end in death, but in life. What a hope it is we have! So this year, I celebrate not only Jesus' birth, but the life we all can freely partake in because of Him. May we all feel richly blessed because of this truth!

Clinging to Hope

Today I cling to HOPE. Hopeful that I will see Jesus face to face. Hopeful that our lives on earth are so brief, but that we have eternity with the Lord. Hopeful that my reunion with Tyler will be sweet. Hopeful that Cooper will grow in understanding of God's character and grow to be a man like his Daddy that loves the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength and mind. Hopeful that God will grant us more children. Hopeful that He will bless with abundance and blow our socks off. Hopeful that He will be faithful to reveal Himself to me. Hopeful that God knows each hurt and cares deeply about each thought and worry I have. Hopeful that He is not done with me yet. Will you be hopeful with me....with you be hopeful FOR me??

Lord Jesus, help me to cling to HOPE tonight.....help me to cling to YOU.....

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Today Jerrod and I went to approve Tyler's headstone. As hard as it was, it was beautiful. It was just what we wanted for him and does his sweet little face so much justice. I wanted to share a picture of it because we have waited so long to see it. We will take more pictures once it is in place, and we are looking forward to visiting him so very soon.

As I ran my fingers across his picture, the places where his eyes and mouth are are so smooth and shiny. It was soft and the details vivid. I would give anything to run my finger across his cheek once more or to gaze into his big brown eyes. At church tonight, we sang a song that is close to my heart....How Deep the Father's Love for Us.....Here are the words:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom