God-given Moments...

I can remember the first time that I got a glimpse of God. I was standing in the hallway listening to my parents sharing the plan of salvation with my little sister. I was moved...God showed up. He revealed a bit of Himself to me. I didn't know just how grand He would become but I knew that I wanted Him in my life. I understood that He sent His Son to die for my sins so that I can live eternally with Him in Paradise. At that time, that's all I needed to know. His seed was planted...it was up to me to blossom. Just a few weeks later, my Daddy took my hand and led me into the baptistry to join my sister. He baptized us together in front of our family (trust me, my mother had the entire family there) and church family at our small yet beautiful stained-glass church.

Throughout my life, I can look back and see distinct moments where God was working in me. Moments that are God-given and life-changing. Moments where I knew that I was on His Path and He was directing my steps. In each moment, He was revealed to me piece by piece and in different ways. There have also been moments where I am far from the person He created me to be. I was running from Him and, on occasion, still do. It's only through His forgiveness and restoration that I can share my heart with you today and those moments that He has given to me so that I may see Him.

July 27, 2002...God revealed Himself as a God of Love. I stood at the altar surrounded by several hundred family and friends and promised in Jesus' name to love my husband for the rest of my life...the promise was first to God and then to Scott. I couldn't believe that I was marrying the man of my dreams...yes, the tall and handsome part was definitely there and still is, but I knew that the Lord held greatness in this man. He had placed us together for His purposes. It was God working in two people's lives who didn't have a clue where they were headed but were in love and knew that the two of them together was right. We trusted our future to Him and were ready to jump in feet first!

April 28, 2004...God revealed Himself as the Giver of Life and God of Compassion. Wyatt was a huge surprise to us...one year and two months into our marriage we learned God had a different plan for our lives that we did. He was going to make us parents. It took a couple months of fighting God on it until I finally gave in. This baby was coming whether it was my plan or not. Once trusting Him, we were thrilled! We didn't have a clue, once again, what the future held for us but we trusted Him with it. 25 hours of labor and an emergency c-section later, our 9 lb 2 oz beautiful baby boy was here! I had never felt so much for someone as I felt for him the first moment that he was placed in my arms. I laughed when he laughed, cried when he cried and haven't stopped since. God has also taught me so much about myself through Wyatt...who may have a slightly harder head than I do (at least I think so, although Scott and my Daddy may disagree). I am so blessed by him!

January 28, 2008...God revealed Himself as the God of all Peace. I was able to walk into the hospital knowing that as soon as my daughter was taken from my womb she would face my worst fears for any child. I didn't know when I would be able to hold her. I didn't know how I would bond with her. In spite of it all, God gave me complete peace in His plan. He guided my steps and gave me joy in the midst of pain. He proved it even more so on February 1st as our four day old daughter underwent the riskiest procedure performed on newborns, not to mention that it's open heart surgery, too. Our pastor asked us how we were doing that morning as her almost 10 hour operation began...we were at peace. God had given us scripture throughout my pregnancy that was plastered all over our home. We took it with us and Scott and I took turns reading each scripture aloud before her surgery. We began that morning shaking and trembling and finished with peace. His Word had provided unspeakable peace for us and it carried us through one of the hardest days of our life.

March 27, 2008...God became the God of Comfort. Holding my daughter in the emergency room at Lexington Medical Center, I rocked her, talked to her, fixed her bow and wrapped her in the hospital blanket snuggly. She was gone and had been for over an hour. The Holy Spirit was there and He filled that room with comfort. Her living grandparents held her, some for the first time, but I was certain that her grandmother in Heaven was holding her, too. The room was warm and healing and God was there. His comfort surrounded us and filled us to the brim where we didn't need anything else. He was enough...His comfort held us up and gave us strength to let go.

December 16, 2008...God is a God of Hope. This day has been sacred to my family for 13 years...it's the day that I held my mother's hand as she closed her eyes to this fallen world and woke up in Heaven finally able to worship Him at His feet. I felt differently this year. I had been there twice before and despite Scott's best efforts to keep me from further pain on this day, I still took a test. I called my doctor to make an appointment later that afternoon and on January 5, 2009 a small black and white screen gave witness to hope that only comes from God Himself.

Each and every time another piece of God's grandness is revealed, I fall more and more in love with Him...thanking Him that there is only One and that He is all I need.

Sweet family & friends, meet our 3rd Gift from Above...