But What I Do Have

I was just telling my sister how much Mike and I love to help people out financially. We love giving money to help people out, because we know what it is like to be helped out in that way, and it feels so good. This isn't to sound all great, but some people love making dinners for people, or babysitting for free, or any other type of service. But we really love being able to get people out of a little financial stress. Well, that has not been super easy for us since the race. A few Sundays ago I was asking God why we just can't have the means to serve in that way right now. And of course, a few minutes later, the pastor shares the story about when Peter and John came across a crippled man who was begging for money, and this is what they said.  

But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”     Aha. and the man was healed!

Well heck! I mean. I will always have the power of Jesus in me to give to others! Pretty great to remember that! Love My God!

Proof

Here is proof, we just got back from out of town a few days ago, I have been starting my new job which has been longer days due to orientations, my brother in-law is in the hospital and my sister is home from LA. And the funny thing is, this doesn't even bother me one bit.

What does bother me just a tad, is how much change this is for me to even just add a few hours of work in, even when Mike is home with Matthew. It is totally not bad, but Mike and I basically gave high fives and a quick kiss the second he got home from work as I got in my car to leave for work. We NEVER go a day without seeing each other hardly at all. I got home late tonight and I just had to hug my husband forever. I just missed him so much. It is an interesting transition being back and work and feeling super motivated with my career again. I don't want to work much at all, but I feel very much like before I had a family since it was the job I had right of college. I want to challenge myself and become much better at what I do, and in the process I feel like I am living split lives. I know this must be normal after being home with Matthew ALL the time to even going working a few afternoons, but it sure is strange. I haven't quite figured out yet how to not box it all and still realize I am living one life and not two. As my husband pouts off to bed because I can't come with him because I need to review some stuff for a health care class I have to take tomorrow, I'm feeling a bit split. It is good, just not used to it yet. I love my job a lot a lot a lot, but I love my family way much more and I have to realize its OK to love both at the same time. But Im still thankful to be a stay at home mommy for a huge part of the time and that is what I hope to be for a long time!

Happy Notes

Eric is getting better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had the perfect morning with Matthew and my two nephews.

Matthew and Zechariah can play outside by themselves (with a fence) together, happy, for a few hours now. I didn't know it could get this easy.

My bump is a real bump now. I look like I did when I was about 7 or 8 months pregnant with Matthew here at only 21 weeks. And pants that fit me all through my time with Matthew in my belly, are out the window now.  But that is totally great, because this little guy in here is moving all around, and Im starting to get elbows and knees pushing out. Its the happy time of pregnancy where I can feel him with my hand. And hopefully the fact that some pants won't get over my hips means my hips are getting WIDE. Get as WIDE as you want hips, whatever it takes to get this baby out smooth. Boy does perspective change.

Work is going great. Even though Mike had to use all his time off so I can do mandatory hospital orientations. Hmmm. Hopefully he will accumulate enough just in time to take a week off with the baby. And since Matthew is in TOTAL daddy world right now, he hardly even notices the few hours I am gone here and there.

I got to share my story of my time in the Red Light District in Thailand at a safe house for trafficked girls in Toledo this weekend. I have to say, walking into a safe house that is going to house girls that go through everything they do, is overwhelming to say the least. They have a healing oasis there, that's for sure.

My son is rocking my world right now. I guess he always has, but boy oh boy is he my little love. I am loving seeing him grow into a very sweet and affectionate boy to us, family, and his little friends.Oh and his stuffed animals. The stuffed animals in our house receive tons of love and affection.

Strength

I think everyone in my family is trying to find strength just about now.  My brother-in-law has an infection creeping up his leg with nothing stopping it. And while my sister is trying to stick with him as much as possible at the hospital because he is off and on alert because of meds, their three very little children are just wanting their parents so terribly. She runs back and forth to see them and nurse her baby, exhausted. And while Mike and I can't be there every second or do over nights because we work and have a kid, my AMAZING family is taking over. My parents came up for a few days, and my little sister is flying home from LA to stay with the kids so they can have someone consistent with them. I love them. So great knowing my family would do anything, like spending all that money to come all that way to watch her niece and nephews that she would do anything for. But we are all a bit just trying to keep it together I think. In the midst of it all we find strength to claim Victory over Eric's leg. Cuz it just has to get better.