Relishing in His Goodness

I had the pleasure of going to my fella's class reunion recently. It was the first for this Class of 95. His senior class consisted of approximately 70 students. Seventy, y'all! I was astonished by that meager number despite knowing how modestly compact his community is. Most of that student body had been together from kindergarten on to high school graduation and the familiarity among the group was palpable. As I joyfully soaked in all of the comedic memories and antics being shared over a feast of salmon, steaks, brussel sprouts, baked potatoes, and strawberry cheesecake, as a large screened tv displayed music videos from 95 on the wall, I relished in knowing that my sweet Luke grew up with such stability.

I LOVE this for him!!!

Taylor County High Class of 95

The contrast between my childhood and Luke's is quite vast. I am constantly reminded of this, but I couldn't be more thankful for it. Not to say that my childhood was unstable, mind you. I did, however, attend two different elementary schools as well as two middle schools. I also grew up in several different neighborhoods, where as my fella lived in the same home, the home his parents still reside in, the majority of his childhood. I have come to crave such stability in my adulthood, so I'm incredibly thankful for this aspect of his.

Luke enjoyed the night sat in between his cousin, who graduated with him, on one side of him and me on the other. He seldom took his hand off of my knee. That familiar warmth soothed my small storm of anxietal nerves as I watched those pretty blue eyes light up with each memory being shared aloud, by the group. I silently thanked God for giving him such a good life.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says:

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, and endures all things."

For years, I meditated on those verses. Each time selfishly praying for a love that existed, for me, in that capacity. I lost faith and was certain that it, indeed, did not. And then I began to simply pray for peace in our home. It was not given to me in the way that I could have ever imagined or wanted it to come to my children and I. But it was given just the same. And there's been a steady stream of healing that has flowed within the sanctity of our family unit....and I KNOW that Darrell has been healed, too, and made perfect through his salvation. He is NOT who he was here on this Earth and I can almost feel his spirit filled with an abounding sense of joy and freedom from the things that hurt him so deeply in this life. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this healing for Darrell. I'm thankful that our Father loved him so much that he freed him from those heavy chains and burdens. I'm thankful, too, that He gave His son to bring us new life and salvation. Praise you, Father for such mercy and grace.

Praise report and mush warning: For the first time, in my forty-four years, I no longer pray for a 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 kind of love. But, instead, I praise God for blessing me with it. Thank you, a million times over.

As a bonus, Luke makes/buys me coffee, gives me these teeny tiny little kisses on the tops of my fingers when he holds my hand that make my heart flutter, sends me funny reels that have easily increased my laughter lines ten fold, is an absolute spiritual leader/makes me want to be a better person, and literally makes the chaos of the world disappear with his presence alone.

My sister often tells me that all of her friends and coworkers keep mentioning the fact that "She looks so happy now!"

Well, folks...

She is indeed happy. :)

Photo dump from the past couple of months, because y'all know that's how I unapologetically roll:

Good Friday/Easter Egg hunt at our church

Son-Rise church service on Easter morn.

Mama's boys

Outdoor fun and exploration

My animal lovin, Ella.

I can't imagine a better way to spend Valentine's Day than with him in Bible study.

Love my sweet Jacob!

Pop's Farm makes us happy

Realism self-portrait collage art project

Unplanned hues of blue on Easter at our house.

Jacob LOVES being an uncle!

My girl is such a good mama to our precious baby grand.

Riding shotgun through North Georgia with my most handsome.

My movie watchin buddy.

A family who solar eclipses together...

Nights of oozy marshmallows and roasted hot dogs.

Spring has sprung

Great news!!! Luke's sister is a missionary in Bolivia, where she met her husband. She sent this photo to me with a caption that told of his U.S. visa acceptance!!! Woot! We are sooooo thrilled for Dana and Victor!

Our baby grand is six months old!!! How did that happen so quickly?! We thoroughly enjoy our roles as his Grammy and Pa. He is an absolute joyful addition to our family. What a blessing he's been to us all! Happy half-year birthday, sweet darling boy! We love you oodles!

When in the South!

Well, that's all she wrote, folks! Praying this week finds you blessed and being a blessing in return. So much love from us to you!

Relishing in HIS goodness...

Christy

IStndAmzd79@gmail.com

Oh happy Day! My second-born baby, my Gabriel, was Baptized today! What an honor and a privilege it was to watch as he proudly shared his testimony and professed his faith before he was immersed and washed by the water, in the name of our Father. To say that I am proud is an understatement.

And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." -Act 2:38

One of my most favorite memories of Gabriel is one from when he was just three years old. He sat perched in the front of my grocery cart with a Buzz LightYear in one hand and Woody in the other as he belted out the words to DC Talk's "In the Light" followed by "Word of God Speak" by Mercy Me, as I shopped for our groceries that morning. He sang as if he were in his own little world with this tiny little toddler voice. An elderly woman gently patted his head and said, "You keep singing, precious!" And he did. And God gave my boy a gift and a love for music that I pray never ends! When he was in middle school, he and a fellow percussionist came up with a plan to become music missionaries when they were older. They decided that they'd perform outside of stores with a hat to collect money from the store's patrons as a way to save up for mission trips. I remember how excited they were to share their plans. They spoke with such enthusiasm, as I silently prayed for God's will for the both of them.

My boy may not have become the things he hoped he'd become when he was making big plans, at just twelve years old. But he's living a life that exudes Christ, nonetheless. He's a beacon in a dark world. He is a gentle spirit, loving, giving, and so, so kind.

My Dearest Son Kabobs,

What a joy and a blessing to have witnessed your Baptism today! You conquered an old fear. One that kept you from being Baptized all those years ago. Nothing is too big for God! Today was a HUGE step! One that took a lot of courage and faith. I'm so proud of you for being able to publicly show the world that you've been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. As your mama, there isn't anything that could bring me greater joy than to know my child's salvation. My prayer for you is that you never grow tired of seeking or serving God. I pray that you sing songs for Him just like you did in that shopping cart, all those years ago. I pray that you grow in confidence of the man you are becoming because of Christ alone. You make me immensely proud.

To infinity and beyond...