Cold and Flu Season, Thou Art Mine Enemy

This stinks. Bridget was sick, then Bill, and now me. The good news is that it is relatively mild at this point. I am not grumbling about being sick because I don't physically feel good - I'm grumbling because it is such an inconvenience! I want to be able to watch Ellie for Ben and Mandy, and darnit, I can't do that when I'm sick! I'm grateful that minor colds are our only health issues right now. We really are blessed in that way. I just hope we get to feeling better so we can help with Ellie! (And for anyone who doesn't know Ellie, her blog is one of my links. I watch her while her Mommy and Daddy are working/at class.)

On a side note, I have lost 9 lbs.! Bill and I are counting calories with Fit Day, and it is going okay. I hope we can keep this motivation going!

Tears for Cora

I have never met this family (although they look strangely familiar to me), but my heart breaks for them today. Their sweet little 10-month-old daughter, Cora, died of cancer on Sunday. It is tough to look at the pictures of that adorable baby girl and know that her mom and dad will have to endure life without her. Please pray for them.

When I read their story this morning, I cried. I cried hard.

There is something about knowing that a mother is sorrowing over her child that pulls at any mother's heart. I knelt down to the floor and called for Bridget. I said, "Can you give Mama a hug? Mama needs a hug." And my sweet girl ran to me and laid her head on my shoulder. That made me cry even harder. I think of Cora's mom and dad who won't get to see her run to them and wrap her arms around them. I think of how they'll never see her blow them a kiss. My heart breaks. I wonder why God allows such pain. I wonder how I would survive without my baby.

Then I remember that Bridget isn't really MY baby. I can no more possess her than I could possess the stars or the sky. Bridget belongs to God - He is just loaning her to me to love. And someday He will call His child home.

Please pray with me today for all parents who have had to say goodbye to their children, especially for Jess and Joel McClenahan.

A really cool prayer

I read this last night, and it was such a beautiful prayer that I wanted to share it:

O Lord, I do not know what to ask You. You alone know my real needs, and You love me more than I even know how to love. Enable me to discern my true needs which are hidden from me. I ask for neither a cross nor a consolation, but simply wait in patience for You. My heart is open to You.

For Your great mercy's sake, come to me and help me. Put Your marr on me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up. I silently adore Your hold will and Your inscrutable ways. I offer myself in sacrifice to You and put all my trust in You. I desire only to do Your will. Teach me to pray.

Isn't that nice?

This One's For Sandy

Sandy says that I don't post enough. So here is a post.

But I don't have anything to say. That's a problem.

But I love Sandy, so here's my post. :-)

My, How Time Does Fly

Two years ago today, I saw something I never thought I'd see.

With shaking hands, I held a pregnancy test that had TWO unmistakable lines. In the spot where I had only seen one line for three years - there was that elusive second line. The line that meant we were pregnant. The line that meant that my body had functioned the way it was supposed to. The line that meant God had blessed us with new life.

I had a quiver in my voice as I showed the test to Bill and just repeated, "That's a line! That's a line!" My entire body was shaking. Then I started laughing and crying at the same time. I nearly passed out.

That was at about 8 p.m., and so we went to Mass at St. Isidore's at 10 p.m. I'll never forget that Mass. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

Now, that little embryo is a toddling 15-month-old who makes me smile everyday. Sometimes I get tired and frustrated with Bridget, but golly - she is just more than I deserve. She's so amazing. God is so good.

Thank you, Father, for so rich a blessing as our daughter. Thank you for keeping her safe and healthy. Thank you for every sweet smile, every hug, and every giggle that reminds us that life is precious. Holy Spirit, please come upon us to help give us the wisdom and patience to be the parents Bridget deserves. Amen.

Exhaustion

My daughter is convinced that sleep is of the devil, so she will have no part in it. This makes me just a little tired. (To illustrate how tired, in the previous sentence, I spelled the word "of" a little creatively - "ove" - and it took me two tries to fix it.)

My brain is not functioning at full throttle. But life is good anyway. Bridget is the cutest darn thing to ever walk on this earth. Really. I just marvel at her sweetness (especially when she actually does sleep). How did I get so lucky? I'd rather be up every night with her than sleep one night through without her.

And now she's trying to type...Bridget would like FOR ME TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS, 1APP1ARENTLY. sHE ALSO SEEMS TO LIKE THE NUMBER 1.

````````````````A`ND NOW` SHE'S SLOBBERING ON THE KEYS...MUST GO.

My, how time does fly...

Yeah...I need to get into the habit of posting more.

Bridget is now 7 months old and crawling all over. She also loves to stand up now, too. Baby proofing is probably not going as quickly as it should.

Maybe after Lent is over I'll back into my blogging game. Or not. We'll see.