It's been 10 years

I have so much to be thankful for on this Monday, November 12th that I hope I can articulate what I have to say and that you will understand my expression of gratitude and love on this day!!!

Psalm 136:1 says, "Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, His love endures forever!"

First of all....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!!!This is my 2nd born son and he is officially in double digits now....and might as well be driving a car soon because he thinks he's all that!! Something about turning 10 and thinking that 16 is right around the corner!! He is all grown up now.....according to him! I'll not ruin his party by telling him 16 is not as close as he thinks!





The day Tyler was born was N-U-T-S! He could have been born on the highway in Greenville SC because it.was.time! There was no dilly-daddlin around when it came to his arrival. I could not sit my bottom down in the car because this child was "COMING!!!!" It is an experience that I can bring back in my mind like it was yesterday.

When we got to the hospital, I had the slowest wheelchairpusher in the hospital. This boy had to be 14 and could have cared less that a baby was coming. After 2 days (not really), he got me upstairs and the nurse said "ma'am, you are at 9 cm I need you to not push and let me find the Dr." WHATEVER!!! That ain't gonna happen sweet nurse! There is no holding a baby back when they are ready.

By the grace of God and a complete miracle, I quickly got an epidural and within 30 minutes, this precious bundle of a baby boy...broken collar bone and all....arrived!! He was gorgeous! And, my heart grew by leaps and bounds. I now had the 2 most precious children on this planet. His older brother was every bit of 15 1/2 months old and oblivious for a very long time that he had a younger brother.

The next 1-2 years was completely stressful and crazy and nuts and depressing and scary and unsure and exhausting!! But, WAIT.ONE.MINUTE!!! It's time for Jesus to enter the picture!!!!! The heavenlies have to love it when they see a "revelation" about to take place. Because that is what was about to occur.

I had been a Christian for many years, but had no clue that Jesus could be real. When I was thinking I might run away or my husband might run away due to this stress of having 2 very young babies, Jesus came into my life and KNOCKED ME DOWN!!! A family member took me to Bible study for the 1st time and I literally saw 100's of moms who looked just like me....stressed, crazy, nuts, depressed, desperate, scared, unsure, and exhausted. That comforted me for a few minutes. But, then......

They became different people as soon as their Bibles opened and Word and Truth and love was spoken over them by such an anointed, God loving woman. I had no idea what was going on. Did you hear that? I had no idea what they were doing by opening their Bibles and underlining and all. I cracked open the only Bible I had ever known....the King James Version and then began to play along. Ahem. Ya know, act like you know what you are doing. I had no idea where these books of the Bible were found, much less why they were underlining, writing notes, and "amen-ing" every thing this teacher said. I was completely blown away.

From that day on, Jesus took a hold of my heart and mind and I have never turned back. He has become so real to me at times that I swear I felt His presence. I mean truly felt another human there with me. He has moved with such patience in my life that I just don't see how He doesn't throw His precious, loving arms up in the air and say, "she just isn't getting it!" But, He doesn't. He keeps on and keeps on and keeps on. We have been in such beautiful, forward motion, there is absolutely no going back to a life without a very real Jesus.

So, ya see. The birth of my 2nd son is significant for me. If he and his older brother wouldn't have been so close in age, I would not have encountered Jesus at the time I did. And, maybe not in the way I did. I can always quickly look back and see how much time has passed since Jesus and I began our personal journey together. It would be almost 10 years ago. I cannot believe that much time has passed. But, I look at how far we have come and yes, its been 10 GLORIOUS years.

I hope you know Jesus on a real and personal level and that you experience Him daily. He is everything to me. I love Him with all that I am. And, He loves me in spite of the mess I bring before Him!

Happy Birthday Tyler!! Your birth brought me closer to Jesus! I love you, son.
You are precious in the sight of this momma! I pray God's hand and favor over you as you seek His face and His will for your life. I love you, Tyler. I love you, Jesus! There is not enough gratitude adjectives to describle my feelings toward either of you. I'm most thankful for Tyler's birth and the real revelations that Jesus continues to show me every day!

And, now...a picture of my all grown up boy of 10! Funny thing is, he's crying under the sunglasses....they had just lost their last game at the World Series this past Summer....He'd die if he knew I said that!