Remembering....With Gratitude

We were invited to Chadd and Chelsea's for the Super Bowl

this evening.  This caught my eye and brought many thoughts.

First off, I was reminded that I'm so glad that my 

Grandbaby will come into a home where the candles 

frequently burned are clean soy candles.

Knowing how dirty candles CAN be, it is so important

to me that our sweet baby not be exposed to the toxins

in those kinds.

Secondly, I can't look at that figurine without remembering

one of the hardest days of our lives.

It was the day Chadd was taken in for emergency abdominal

surgery and then they did more procedures on him

without telling us so that it was hours and hours

instead of the hours we were expecting.

Chelsea had gone to the gift shop and purchased this 

Willow Tree piece as we waited.

She wrote a Facebook post that day,  July 17th, 2015 ....

"I've never been so covered in prayer. People all over the globe are praying for my sweet fiancé as he is being treated and operated on.

Today has been a harder day for me as the shock wears off and reality sets in. But I am so blessed to know that my brothers and sisters in Christ are lifting this up to our loving Father. My friend and I were talking this morning about how God is good. She mentioned that she had wondered if we would still be claiming this, even if the reports we'd been getting weren't as good as they have been. Shortly after this conversation, we found out that Chadd was being taken back in to the operating room. This was a surprise, as just this morning things seemed to be looking up.
As previously stated, it has been a difficult day. But I'd just like to say that God is still good, still sovereign, and I'm not intimidated by the enemy that is trying to break my faith, because my God is way bigger and stronger.
Thanks everyone for your prayers.
I just bought this little thing in the gift shop to forever remind me of His faithfulness, shown through His devoted children reaching out to us during this time."

And then Chelsea posted this photo:

I love that she keeps this reminder right by her kitchen sink.

God IS indeed good.

We are all older, wiser and a bit beat up after the events of the 

last two years.

But we are also closer to our Heavenly Father.

One time a very good friend told me she was glad she went through

a journey with cancer because it changed her life for the better. 

Honestly I just couldn't relate to what she was saying.

I heard her, but it wasn't my experience.

I'm not sure I could say yet that I'm glad for our journey.

Too many bad things happened to wonderful people.

But I think I understand that friend better.

These things either drive you closer to the Lord 

or farther away.

I'm thankful that our kids drew closer to Him.

As we begin a new journey together with the shop and look forward 

to the baby coming this summer, 

we remember.

And we are thankful for God's mercy and grace

in our lives.

He is there...

always.