Keeping Christmas - Dec. 14

Today we lost another tooth (and this time the T.F. even remembered before there was a cover - up needed).

Today was a rotten day of discipline when four of the five kids decided to fight nastily in the van.

Today was a wrenching day for those devastated by tragedy. I felt torn between disciplining the rotten behavior of my own children and grief for those who would never hold their babies again. Should I stand firm and address disobedience, or should I kneel and pray silently by their bedsides for God to watch over them and make me a better mother? I did both.

Today was a day of surprises when my Pilates class gave me a generous gift to help with our third and final adoption trip tomorrow.

Today was a day of field trips to the ballet, and friends and family day for third grade at the school.

Today was a day of laughter as white elephant gifts got passed around in the not-so-true spirit of giving.

Today was a day of I - can't - breathe anxiety where I wished I had a little vial of happy pills tucked away somewhere. Today was a day of gratitude for my husband who has planned and coordinated all the legwork for my legs to carry out tomorrow. Today was a day of gratitude for Christian girlfriends who could hug me and tell me that they would be praying for us, and I knew they meant it.

Do not fear. I am with you. I will not fail you or forsake you.

Thank you for coming, Lord Jesus. We don't understand our sinful broken world, but we do understand how much we need You.