Hi Friends (:
Where have we been!? Honestly, I have no idea. This time of year just FLIES by! It has been so much fun buying gifts with the girls, and talking to them about Jesus' birth. Lyla is slowly getting it... like I'll say "Lyla what is Christmas?"
Lyla - "Jesus Birthday!"
me - "Why did Jesus come to live on earth?"
Lyla - "to sleep in the hay!"
me - "and he came to save us so we can go to heaven!"
Lyla - "now?"
me - "no, when we die"
Lyla - "when?"
me - "probably when we get old"
Lyla - "Is Santa dying? He's old"
me - "I don't think so."
Lyla - "okay." (:
In the spirit of Christmas my dad and I went to Lincoln this past weekend to sing in a Flash Mob! It was super fun to get together with people from Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding areas to sing Praises to God and celebrate the Reason for the Season. I will post a link below if you want to watch the video... There's a little footage of us at the very beginning eating lunch and pretending like we're not going to bust out in song (: The echo is pretty bad on the video but it sounded marvelous in person! Super fun!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gif7QD5_yc8
And tomorrow is the one year anniversary of our hospitalization to put Evie on oxygen. On one hand, WOW that went fast! On the other... SHEESH it feels like she's been on oxygen forever! Just a blessed reminder of how much we were hospitalized last year, and how blessed we are that she has been stable for a few months, and so close to being off O2 (: Merry Christmas to us!
I've also been thinking a lot about how many comments I get from people who say things along the lines of 'you know, I have given my life to Jesus, but I have such a hard time letting go of my kids, and giving them to Him also' or 'I just can't seem to put my worry for my kid's in God's hands, I don't know how you do it.' Friends, I know you genuinely love your kids, just like we genuinely love ours... and the past few weeks I have been overwhelmed with reminders of how many times God has healed Evie.... birth, seizures, oxygen needs, stopping breathing, RSV, brain surgery, and more seizures here there and everywhere. Things that I, as a mom, couldn't have fixed on my own.
What I have learned in this past year is that I shouldn't only trust in God's will for the lives of my kids, but hand them over willingly to the only One who can knit a body together in the womb of her mother. Who can keep her breathing when she's struggling, and to keep ME breathing when she's struggling. I know there were times when God alone was keeping Evie alive. I have watched her oxygen level drop to 7%. Yes 7 out of 100... and she, with God's help, got back into the 90s and made it.
I have been blessed this year and a half by the most amazing parent of them all, God himself, as he looks over all four of us. I am so humbled and eager to go into this Christmas season full of thankfulness and joy, to celebrate the birth of God's son, who he sent to LOVE us, and pay the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, death... so that we can live with him forever. Is life hard sometimes? Yes. But we can have the ultimate JOY of knowing Jesus himself has been here... and now, unseen, still is. Thank you Lord!
Merry Christmas Everyone! Praying God's many blessings for all YOU! May all Glory be to Him this coming week and beyond (:
Love you friends!
What a fabulous post. You always manage to bring tears to my eyes, you have such a way with words! I remember when I was in hospital and Maddy had just been born and I was praying for her - and I remember praying "Lord, I dedicate her to you, she's in YOUR hands, I trust you with her health, with her life" - it was so deep and powerful, and I felt like I HAD to do that for my own sanity. I know that I couldn't carry all of her issues on my own, but knowing that ultimately, she's God's child and He put her in our family for a reason gives me so much strength to face whatever medical issues that will come our way :)
ReplyDeleteAppreciate you and this blog!! xox
Lindsey, I love reading your blog. I am so inspired by your strength and what a fabulous mom you are!! Thanks for sharing your experiences :) Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLindsey, I used to come to your blog weekly just to see how little Evie was doing and the rest of your family of course. I worked with John when he worked at QLI and had the pleasure of meeting you. I now come to your blog just read your inspirational words. You write so beautifully and it is all from your heart. You have helped me to become a better Christian. I wish you and the family a blessed Christmas and may the "One" and only continue to bless Evie and the rest of us throughout the year to come.
ReplyDeleteThank you foor sharing
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