Under the Weather!

I guess it was my turn to catch whatever "bug" is floating around. Honestly, I thought I would have caught it already since I am in and out of doctor offices all day and Richie has been sick for a few weeks now. I trudged out yesterday and made my calls and did some office work, but today I am just miserable. I think I am worn out! So, I'll take a day, rest and then back to the grind!
I just have to share Sunday's sermon--what a great message it was. And the pastor (we have rotating pastors) who shared did an amazing job! Richie was hanging on every word! I can't do the lesson nearly the justice that Kevin T. did, but here's what resonated with me. The lesson was out of Colossians 3:12-14 which says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." The pastor used an orange as his example and how our lives are like the pieces of an orange--work, marriage, children, friends, family, etc and that we compartmentalize ourselves and our actions by saying, "well, I am holy in my marriage, or I am serving God by the way I raise my kids, or I am a good worker, or I am a great friend, etc" however God wants ALL of the pieces of our orange. We should strive to please him in all areas, not just the easy ones or the convenient ones. I am so guilty of this--I forget to be an example at work, or I forget to show forgiveness to those who hurt me, or I forget to show compassion to family, or I speak ill toward someone, etc. And at the end of the day, when we look at our pieces of our orange, we haven't achieved perfection in ANY of them. That's where Jesus comes in--he is there to help us and guide us, but he wants all of the pieces of our orange. What an awesome message!!
Also, today is exactly one year to the day I found out I was pregnant with Landen. So, the rest of this post is kind of a letter to him.
Landen,
One year ago today, God answered a prayer that had been on our hearts for months. He took your Dad and I down a journey teaching us patience, what it feels like to lose a baby, and the joy of being pregnant, all the while preparing us for you. He taught us that life's greatest blessings aren't just immediately given out--they are earned. We learned that life isn't going to always go according to our plan--he's in charge. We learned that he knows what's best for us, and sometimes that isn't what we want to hear. Yet, in the end, he showed us that he trusts us with you--he gave you to us to love, cherish, and teach His ways, knowing that you are truly His and we are simply the vessels He will use to guide you while you are here with us. I sincerely pray I can be the parent to you that He wants and expects me to be and I know your Dad feels the same. Thank you Landen for coming into our lives and blessing us--you are a truly a Godsend! We LOVE YOU!