Celebration

Today is a day of celebration...because today we have waited one year for a baby..a baby that we still do not have. We could have chosen today to be sullen or bratty that God has not seen fit to give us a "yes" yet, but where will that really get us anyway. Don't get me wrong, I will have a weepy day here shortly and run to my go-to people and whine and they'll make me feel better, but I choose to make this a great day..a day of thanksgiving and praise and celebration..for all the great things that have gone on this past year..things that may not have happened or been possible with a baby!

Do not misunderstand and think I have this down or that I am always this positive and optimistic..my real life friends are laughing right now because they know that is not a real issue!! But, you can choose how you want to be in the circumstances God gives you..I choose to be happy and grateful for what I do have..cause what I do have is pretty stinkin great!! If I had a baby in Feb 2010, I for sure would not have had the energy to bust out these cookies that ROCK!!! I know I made them and I should be humble and what not, but they are too fun!!
If God had given us a baby in Jan 2010, this date night would not have happened..and it was a great date night!!

I feel certain that if I had a baby in Dec 2009, I would not have been able to get crafty and bless sweet Brady's head with all these bows..not my Brady, my friend Bevin's baby girl!!

I love to paint..and paint in fun colors...and if I had a baby in Nov 2009, there is no way that I was painting 11 rooms in this new house....

and I really love our orange bathroom!!!
(just to clarify, its the guest bathroom and the above one is the kids)

Had I been mommy to a little one in October 2009 then I am thinking that this girls weekend may not have happened and that would have been a shame because I got recharged that weekend..and I was needing it!

My sweet Presley..had we had a baby before Presley, then that would mean that Charlie would have had to figure all this baby stuff out on ours, not Presley!!!!! Just teasing!!!!

Lets be honest..if we had a baby in September 2009..moving would have never crossed our minds...I have already sworn off moving again until all the kids are out of the house!! And I LOVE the new house and I am happy we are here!

I am happy that August of 2009 got to be ALL about our little 2 yr old and that we got more great family time in.....

and I am grateful that Bradley got suckered into this photo!

If we had a baby in July of 2009..there is a good chance Charlie would have been hospitalized for his excessive intake of paint.....I am certain I would have been so tired from the new baby that I would not have noticed the noises coming from his closet during nap time!!

and lets be real...no way would Bradley have been off to Wilderness Treck with the youth group for 13 days ..leaving me alone with 2 little ones..fat chance!!!

A new baby in June 2009 would have meant no lake trip..and that would not have been right!!! But to clarify..now that I know for sure how great it is..if we have a baby this summer I am still going back!!

it also would have meant no Minnesota trip with my girls..that would have also been down right WRONG!

I can say with 100% certainty that I would not have gotten to go to Caddo in May 2009..it was hard enough with one kid...let alone trying to make the sleeping work for us 3 and a baby!!

If I had a baby when Aric and Amber visited I would have been busy with it and would not have had so much great time with my sweet, sweet Kirkley!

(these are backwards from Feb-April)
If we had a baby in Feb 2009 then we would have missed out on precious time with our Charlie this last year..time that we so greatly appreciate!

If we had a baby in March 2009 then our Mexico vacation would have not happened...and we needed it!! We made memories for a lifetime and I am grateful we were able to be there with our friends!

..I never play cards without putting them on my head now!! Yes, even when the game doesn't call for it!!

If we had a baby in April 2009 we would have missed out on some good family time at the deer lease..we always have such a nice relaxing time there and I don't like to go with little ones, so this trip would have not happened!!

..I threw this one in cause Charlie looked like a weirdo in that picture above!!

It is not always easy to praise God when less then ideal circumstances come into our lives, but that is what He ask of us. I don't always do it..and that's okay cause He forgives us (thanks goodness, right!). But it does make it so much easier to walk through..when you can choose to focus on the good and positives.

I cannot help but think of the song "blessed be the name"..it was my anthem for those dark years and I still cannot hear it without going back there in some ways, but it has always made me feel peaceful and comforted...

Blessed be your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's all as it should be

Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,

I turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say.....

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord Blessed be your name

Hope this did not come off as preachy...just that we are a happy family of three who love and trust God and we choose to wait patiently and courageously in Him.