Everybody always likes the 4th of July holiday. After all, we are celebrating the Independence of our country…right? Some people have birthdays on this day so that gives them something extra special to celebrate. By the way, happy birthday Nancy! I love you!
The 4th of July holiday holds something different for me. Fifteen years ago today, John and I were at Pitt Memorial Hospital with Nicholas. We had been agonizing for months; wondering what was wrong with our precious little baby. Due to my suspicions as a mother of what he may have, we had been through several doctors and were feeling helplessly at the end of our ropes. We could see that Nicholas was getting worse and no one would listen to us. We were not in a relationship with Jesus Christ at the time so we had no peace…no comfort.
After 6 months of trying to get a doctor that would test Nicholas for cystic fibrosis (cf), Dr. Taylor came in the room at 1pm on July 4th, 1994 and told us what I knew all along. Nicholas had cystic fibrosis. See what I didn’t realize was that even though we were not acknowledging that God was in our lives, He was there all along. He had been with me my whole life preparing me for what we were about to go through as a family.
Most of you know that my mama and daddy had been foster parents while I was growing up and we had Amie with us for a while. She had cf and we learned all about the disease, medications, and physical therapy with her. You can read more here (You should start at the bottom and work your way up. Later, as an adult, one of my first jobs was with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. God had been preparing me for this day. He had been with me through all of it and He is still with me today.
As I look back and see the steps along the roads of my life so far, I feel blessed to be able to see the proof of what my mama and my grandmother had always told me – “everything happens for a reason.” For whatever reason, God has chosen me and my family to fulfill a task for him. We may never know what it is. We may never know who it is for. We may be doing it now. It may take years, months, a day, an hour, a moment…All I know is that where ever we go He is with us. Whatever we go through, He is carrying us. Whatever is in store for us tomorrow, He has it under control.
As you celebrate this 4th of July, be thankful that we have an independent country. Pray that our country can stay this way and recover from its burdens. Be thankful for your family. Be thankful for your health. Celebrate your life. I thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon our family. Things could always be worse than what it is. We are thankful for the time we have been given. Tell your family you love them today. Reach out to the ones you don’t see everyday and tell them you love them too. Celebrate every moment.
Happy 4th of July everybody. Thanks for checking in today.
Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.
He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.
Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.
He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn’t know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor.. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.
And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!
That’s how God deals with us… We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour.
Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to ‘make pancakes’ for God or for others. Sooner or later we’ll get it right, and then they’ll be glad we tried…
This is my beautiful, talented daughter, Miranda. This is the second song for which she has written the lyrics and the music. We are very proud of her. Share it with your family and friends. You can find this and other pieces of her work as they are created at www.myspace.com/mirandagriffinmusic
Sunday, May 24, 2009, eight and a half years after I began my collegiate journey, I graduated from Barton College. It still doesn’t seem all that real to me and it would probably be less real if we hadn’t got rained on during commencement. I guess I should re-phrase that. We didn’t just get rained on – we were soaked clear through to the undergarments, we were dripping once we stood up, and our caps were curved under where the cardboard in them was drenched by the downpours of rain. The good things about the rain – if there would be any – is that we were no longer hot, no longer nervous, we were more light-hearted. It was hilarious. We laughed the whole time it rained. It was a welcome distraction to the speakers. Sorry. And the best part was that it stopped raining just in time for the presentations of degrees and diplomas. I don’t think any of us were happy to have our pictures made looking like we did, but we were thankful that it stopped when it did. And we weren’t really concerned with how we looked because everybody looked the same – hung out to dry – literally.
So now that all that drama is over, I find myself at a new threshold. For the first time in almost 9 years, I am looking for a different job. I have to say that it is a little unnerving, but I have let the whole thing go. I do hope that I can say I will find one soon so I don’t have to go through the whole summer not knowing what the future holds for next school year, but I know that God has my hands in his future in His hands and I will be where I am meant to be. I would love it if you guys would join me in praying for me about this whole job thing. I have got to keep my head on straight about the whole thing.
So that’s what’s going on right now. When I get pictures, I will post them for you guys to see. John couldn’t take pictures with my camera because it got soaked, so I have to wait for copies from others.
With everything our family goes through, it is not hard to count and be thankful for our blessings. I’m not perfect so obviously there are days when I don’t think about my blessings as much as I should. When Nicholas is in the hospital up at UNC, like he is now, those blessings are more prominant in my mind than ever.
I struggle with leaving Nicholas alone in the hospital for long lengths of time. Our time is so precious with him and I am very over protective. I also know that things can happen unexpectedly and I am too anal to want to miss it.
I was supposed to leave here on Tuesday night so I could go to work on Wednesday and return Friday afternoon. The teacher and my supervisor told me I shouldn’t worry; that I needed to be here with Nick, so I stayed. I do have to go home Thursday for a doctors appointment that I cannot miss so I will be leaving him Thursday and will return on Friday. UGH!!! But I feel better that it will only be a day.
I say all this because of what I see up here. I am so blessed that I have the option to be able to stay. There is a little baby here that has had to stay without her mom. She is an only child. Her mom is alone because her husband is in Iraq. The mom works fulltime and she is going to school.
Over the years, there have been children, and babies, that have been left here alone, but it was the choice of the parent. Some parents choose to leave and stay at the Ronald McDonald House. I just don’t understand. You have parents here – like Christian – who would love to be able to stay with her baby all night, and then you have those parents that don’t seem to care.
People, please, if you have a healthy child, be thankful. If they have an illness, like Nicholas and Lily, be thankful that it is not worse than it is. It could ALWAYS be worse. Count your blessings. Be thankful for what the Lord has given you.
There is a reason for everything I always say, so I guess there is a reason why I have to see these things. Maybe I have to see these things to be able to remember that I need to count my blessings – to be thankful for what I have been given. I am who I am because of the life I am living. I would hate to see what my life would be like if I didn’t have the trials that I have. It is because of the trials in my life, and the fact I know that I have my Savior to hold me along the way that I am able to endure. Just my thoughts for the day…
After months away from the blogging world, I find myself stuck in the hospital with Nicholas and bored to death. I am hard at work trying to avoid doing my homework, so I thought I would post to let you guys know what has been going on since JANUARY…I know I should be ashamed of myself.
I have been student teaching social studies in the 7th grade. It has been wonderful. I have 3 days left before I can legally be released to accept a job. I am so excited that I can see the end of the road. Graduation is coming up on May 24th and my wonderful husband and the “moms” are planning this big to-do to celebrate. It hasn’t really hit me yet. After 81/2 years of school, I guess I didn’t think I would ever finish. I do plan to go ahead and begin work towards my masters degree. It is all online and I am really scared that if I stop I won’t want to start back.
So, at least for now, I’ll be around the blogosphere. Hope to see ya around.
9 And He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.” Paul’s response followed with saying “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
getting ready to call it a night. John has to work first shift this week. What a change that will be. 4 days ago
is so excited that Roger won Wimbledon, but so sad that Andy came so far and played so great just to lose the match. He'll get'em next year! 4 days ago
still trying to get the house straight after being away for three weeks. Ready for burgers, homemade ice cream, and fireworks tomorrow. 6 days ago
Sorry. And the best part was that it stopped raining just in time for the presentations of degrees and diplomas. I don’t think any of us were happy to have our pictures made looking like we did, but we were thankful that it stopped when it did. And we weren’t really concerned with how we looked because everybody looked the same – hung out to dry – literally.
