Emma Grace… And More
Here she is, friends.
And may I just say this trip was one. of. the. best. EVER. I ended 2008 with Beth, started 2009 with Monica, and visited friends and family in between. It really was so wonderful that I have no way to describe it other than with thankful bits of our week.
279. Logging over 2000 miles on our van. That’s 30 hours in the car together.
280. Only three, count them, THREE fights between the kids in those 30 hours of close quarters. (And zero for Bri and me! Guest Blogger Joe kindly informed me that means we weren’t going deep enough.)
281. Hours to talk, read to each other, listen to music, sing, and just sit in companionable silence.
282. Holding Emma. Bathing Emma. Changing Emma.
283. Talking, sharing and crying with Beth.
284. Watching Beth & Dale be enraptured with their baby girl.
285. Visiting Aunt Chloe and her girls Janie & Missy. Chloe is the consummate hostess and my kindred southern spirit in Bri’s family.
286. Catching up with old friends and making new ones.
287. Long chats with those old friends late into the night.
288. iPod Genius. Masterful, I tell you!
289. New Year’s Eve with B’s sister, Sam & Alan & Edison. And yes, I am embarrassed to admit, watching High School Musical (Sam is highly addicted to this, so we caved and discovered what all the hooplah is about.)
290. Piano playing cousins.
291. New Year’s Day with Monica & family. It’s amazing to me how comfortable it is with intimate friends.
292. Watching Laney and Asher play games.
293. Danica’s smile.
294. Celebrating Bear’s birthday.
295. Knowing that we have a Jedi in the family to protect us.
296. Guitar Hero. I’m not sure whether I’m thankful for it or not. Bri and Sam were OUT. OF. CON. TROL.
297. Hugs and snuggling.
298. Safe travels. God’s hand was so evidently there watching over us every step of the way.
299. I have left pieces of my heart all over Ohio and St. Louis, but the beauty of friendship is that I brought pieces of each of them home with me to fill the emptiness.
As Winnie the Pooh would say, “Perhaps the place where you are isn’t on a map. It’s in my heart.” My heart is very, very full.
Elyse said:
Nathan just interupted my reading…and he informed me that he still misses your boys :-)….and now he’s asking to buy a porcupine! BOYS!!
Monica said:
We look like sisters! I call dibs on the Davis family every new years! Love you!
Rebecca said:
So beautiful - may these Gifts guide you through your weeks of treatment.
Carol Fortner said:
What wonderful blessings from God’s good hand! Thanking Him with you for these concrete reminders that He will never leave nor forsake His own!
PSALM 121: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (What stronger or more adequate source could there be?) “He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” THANKS FOR YOUR CONSTANT REMINDERS TO US OF THIS, ANGIE!
“The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is you shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” THANKING HIM, WITH YOU, FOR THIS REMINDER TO US ALL OF HIS UNCEASING SPIRITUAL CARE AND FAITHFUL PROMISES TO HIS CHILDREN!
LOVING YOU AND YOURS,
CAROL
Los said:
Beautiful.