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I have 4 loads of laundry to fold, clothes to iron, a test to study for, and a house to straighten, but I have something on my heart that I just have to get off because it won't leave me alone until I do.  As I was putting Julianne to bed tonight, I was struck by how unbelievably, undeservedly blessed I am...and how much I take for granted all that I've been blessed with.  Usually, I put my baby girl to bed with a kiss and an "I love you", shut the door and she goes on to sleep pretty fast.  Tonight, I sat by her bed and stroked her red hair and prayed over her, thanking God for this feisty, smart, independent, fearless, beautiful gift He has given me.  I don't do that nearly often enough.  Shame on me for that.  How dare I be so quick to forget how fortunate and blessed I am.  My children are HEALTHY.  Thank You, Lord.  My children are WHOLE.  Thank You, Lord.  My children are HERE.  Oh, Thank You, Lord.  Thank You.  Please forgive me for taking this for granted for so long.  I promise to try and do better.  If you are reading this, please pray with me for Michelle and James, DeAndrea and Aaron, and Kayla and Jason.  Within the last year, they have all suffered a loss that no one should ever have to bear, and my heart is so heavy for each of them tonight. There are other friends and family that have suffered this same loss, or a similar one, and I hurt for them as well.  May I never get so caught up in the stress and busyness of every day life that I forget how incredibly blessed I am.  

Precious Memories

I have really been missing Grannie Doris lately.  I just love that lady.  I still catch myself picking up the phone to call and check on her, or wanting to fix her a plate or bring her supper.  It's hard to believe she's gone, but she's still with us in so many ways.  Grannie loved ALL of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren so much.  She loved to love on those babies, big and small, and they all loved her back.  Grannie was one of the few people that Julianne would tolerate kissing and loving on her.  Julianne never once fussed when Grannie would hold her, which made Grannie so proud!  They had a special bond, as did she and Abigail.

The sweetest thing happened this morning on the way to church.

We were cruising along listening to the radio, and the girls were talking and playing in the back seat.  "Precious Memories" came on, which always makes me think of Grannie.  I started to sing along but had to stop and wipe my eyes when I heard Julianne singing loudly from the back seat.  I turned to look at her and she just smiled so sweet and kept singing and swaying.  She was singing for her Grannie.  My heart filled up so much it started running out of my eyes.  She may be too little to remember much about Grannie, but she has her in her heart, which is the most important thing.