This Little House

Confession:  Sometimes I want to sell this little house of ours.  We have no storage.  There are no walk-in closets, we do not have a garage, and our attic space is limited.  Our stroller has to be stored under our piano, along with Sprout's tricycle.  Bean's Pack-and-Play is in the middle of a room because we literally have no wall space.  Our porch is in desperate need of repair.  Someone even smashed the chicken mailbox that Andrew made me for Christmas one year.  And honestly, I do not know when we can afford to move. 

And then:  Christmastime came.  And I remembered.

• When Andrew found this house in the late spring of 2009, he drove me up our road to show it to me.  As soon as I saw it, I knew that it would be lovely with Christmas lights on it.  Yes, this house was made for green garland and bright red velvet bows.  Our house is darling, especially during this time of the year.  It is the kind of house that snow globes try to capture.
• When I was younger, I once visited a house that felt like love.  I will never forget that feeling.  I would silently pray that one day I would have a house that felt like love, too.   Years later, my dear friend Arlene visited our house and told me that our house felt like love.  I cannot tell you how much my heart glowed when she said those words.  She was right.  Our house really does feel like love.
•  Arlene adorned our childrens' bedroom walls with mountains and starlight, lunar moths and stately deer, crimson leaves and black-eyed Susans.  We made our kids a little fireplace and a cabin nook.  Their sub floors have scripture verses and love notes that we wrote for them before they were born. 
• Our house would be a palace to most people in this world.  We are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  We have clean water and a refrigerator that is full of food.  We have luxuries that are not necessities. 

And now: I realize that if we live in this house for the rest of our lives, that would be just fine. It has everything that we need.  It is beautiful.  It is full of love.  We made it ours.  Andrew carried me through our front door as his bride.  We brought both of our children home to this little cabin.  And you will never see a house as charming as this when it is adorned with Christmas lights.

on the stairs of our front porch

For My Grandma

Radiant, parties, fried chicken, elegance, spunk, leopard print, beauty, and family ... these are all words that make me think of my Grandma Mollie.  She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an aunt, a grandmother, a friend -- she touched the lives of everyone sitting here today.

She was a walking piece of history.  Grandma was her family's first American-born child.  With her siblings, she saw first hand how hard work and determination could turn a small deli into a booming and successful business.  She lived the American dream.

Grandma Mollie lived life to its fullest!  She loved traveling, exploring different cultures, and adventure.  Grandma swam in oceans, went on safaris, and stood on mountain peaks.  She loved sunshine ... perhaps just a little too much.  But most of all, Grandma loved her family.  We were her shining stars and she was our rock -- a foundation that made us all proud.

Grandma Mollie possessed the kindest heart anyone could ever have.  When she was sick, she knew that her earthly life was coming to an end.  However, she had a beautiful peace and calmness about her.  She talked about going to heaven and seeing her family members with the sweetest smile on her face.  Her biggest concern was not for herself -- it was for us.  She asked me, "Anna, do you think everyone will be okay?"  And I promised her, "Yes Grandma, everyone will be okay."

Isaiah 43:1-3 reads, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior..."

As we gather here today, we miss grandma. And the truth is, we will miss her our whole lives. She was one of those "once in a lifetime" people that we were blessed enough to know. However, we will be okay. Each of us will garner all of our love, strength, and determination -- attributes so characteristic of Grandma Mollie -- and we will live our lives to the fullest. We will follow her example.

True Love

*** A note to be read by my children when they are a bit older

Dear Sprout and Bean,

As a grown woman, I can easily reflect upon the pressures and challenges that I have faced in my life. Within the core of each of us, we have a desire to belong and to be loved. However, I learned quickly (and sadly, you have probably learned this already) that there will be those whom do not care for you ... and there will even be some whom detest the inner fibers and moral convictions that make you who you are. I am an adult now and although this reality is still hurtful, it has lost some of its sting. Unfortunately, that sting has been replaced with a greater pain ... and that is the knowledge that you are growing up in a world that is much harsher than the one that I experienced when I was a child.

America was founded as a Christian nation. I believe that as a result of this, our nation has been blessed. The United States, a relatively new country, has risen to be a world power. However, the truths that this nation was founded upon are now being trodden underfoot. Citizens want to take "One nation, under God" out of our pledge and "In God we trust" off of our currency. Congressional prayers no longer can mention the name Jesus. School children are being taught theories and the truth has been dismissed as folklore. The once high-esteemed principles that were so dear to our hearts are being attacked and those who strive to uphold them are being called bigots and haters.

Recently, a Christian named Dan Cathy was interviewed. He started the Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain. When asked if he supported gay marriage, he replied that he did not and that he believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. As a result of his proclamation of the Truth, he has been unjustly labeled as a hater and a discriminator. The mayors of Boston and Chicago have threatened to remove the restaurants from their cities. Masses have accused him of hatred and of infringing upon the civil rights of citizens. The fact that his restaurant does not discriminate against its employees or its clientele has been intentionally ignored.

It breaks my heart that the mainstream media is equating Christianity to a cult characterized by hatred. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus says that you will know a Christian by the love that he shows others.  John 13:34-35 states, “…Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  One of my favorite pastors says it so simply, “Love the sinner – not the sin.”  Christianity is NOT about hating anyone.  We love people of all nationalities, creeds, and orientations.  We believe that God knows what is best for all people and therefore we must obey Him. 

We are all born as sinners and sometimes it is difficult to be obedient.  Every single person has a hard time with sin – Your struggles may be different than mine … but they are struggles nonetheless.  Some people have a hard time with gossip.  Others may have issues with lust or gluttony or sex before marriage or drunkenness or corrupt language, etc.  Whatever your issue may be, God will help you to overcome your area of difficulty!  Call on Him, listen to Him, read His word, and follow the path He lays out for you.  As missionary Jim Elliot so aptly stated, “I may no longer depend on pleasant impulses to bring me before the Lord. I must rather respond to principles I know to be right, whether I feel them to be enjoyable or not.”  Remember, when you are a Christian, you are still a sinner … and you will still have sin in your life; the difference is that you will not want to sin anymore.  “Most laws condemn the soul and pronounce the sentence. The result of the law of my God is perfect. It condemns but forgives. It restores - more than abundantly - what it takes away” (Jim Elliot).

Anyway, I know that I may sound like I am rambling, but I am just so saddened that Christianity is so misunderstood.  Just remember Christ is love.  You will understand this more when you are a daddy or a mommy.  No matter what your kids do and no matter what choices they make, you will always love them.  With that being said, you will be praying with all of your heart and might that they make the right choices throughout their lives because you want what is best for them.  Jeremiah 29:11 sums it up perfectly:  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Love always,

Mommy

Super Excited!

Today we had another doctor's appointment.  And guess what!  It looks like we are going to be having a baby very soon!  What great news!  Andrew and I have a new skip in our step, I tell you.  Soon we'll get to hold our baby girl in our arms. We'll get to kiss her little head and hold her close and snuggle with her and tell her that we love her over and over again.  Parenthood is wonderful -- it's a blessing that I do not think I will ever be able to put into words.  Andrew and I are so thankful and grateful for the opportunity.  <3

Waiting

And so begins the waiting game...

Yep.  That's right!  These last several days have been characterized by me anticipating our little Bean's arrival.  I have been have lots of contractions and lots of pressure and lots of "is this it?" thoughts.  However, our little Bean is still cooking.  And as much as I want to hold her, in my heart I know that she's right where she needs to be.  (Random side note:  Sprout just pulled his sister's diaper cream out of the trunk of his tricycle and ran it to his daddy.  That boy is so funny and cute:  Note to self:  check tricycle trunk often).  I am praying for patience ... this is something that I really need to work on.  But I do know that God knows exactly when little Miss will be born and I also know that His timing and His plans are always best.

I stopped working.  I had planned on working until I gave birth.  However, it just got too hard.  My body is doing it's own thing at this point and last week I knew that I had to stop.  This was (still is) hard for me because I am used to making a plan and sticking with it.  Again, this is yet another example where I need to accept that I am not in control of everything ... nor should I be.

Right now, I will relish the time that I have with my family -- because family time is one of the most special things in the entire world.  These waiting days will not be spent in vain.  Rather, they will be filled with priceless memories made by me and my husband and our little boy and our sweet (and stubborn) little girl.

Well, that's it folks!  Thank you for reading!   Please keep our growing family in your thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Anna

5 Updates in 1 Post

1. Sprout is just a neat little kid. Andrew and I call him our little buddy ... and that's just what he is. We take him everywhere with us and he is included in just about everything that we do. We love seeing him explore the world. We love listening to him as he tries to find the words for everything he sees, hears, thinks, and feels. We adore how certain things just crack him up -- that laugh is so contagious, I tell you! I love that he is Daddy's best pal and my sweet little cuddle bug. And it melts my heart that he loves his little sister already ... (When looking at Mommy's tummy) "Hi baby! I you you! I you you!" (translation: "I love you!)

2. Speaking of Sprout, he is on his first camping trip without Mommy and Daddy. He has missed his Mawmaw and Pawpaw tremendously for the last few days and now he is with them! I bet he's gone hiking 10 times today and he has already splashed around in a creek or two. I bet he's on his "cycle" (tricycle) right now! Honestly, his bond with Mawmaw and Pawpaw is second to none. I am so blessed to have in-laws like them ... They are such an integral part of our family and of our lives and we all just love them.

 3. And guess what! In a mere couple of days I will be officially full term with our little Bean! Yep, that's right, 37 weeks! And Miss Bean, as long as you are ready, you can come out any time. I will be so so so SO happy to hold you and snuggle with you and kiss you on your little head. I am anxious to learn all about you! I wonder if you'll be just like your brother. Will you have your daddy's personality? Will you have your mommy's crazy bedhead? We are going to do so many fun things this summer. We will go hiking and watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. We'll take you on lots of walks and we'll sing to you and read you 100 million stories. It won't be too much longer now!

4. Believe it or not ... we are pretty much ready for our little Bean to make her arrival. The house is organized. I think that I have everything in order at school, too. Wow! Am I forgetting something? Eek! Hopefully not. :-) We do have some little things to do. We need to build Sprout's sandbox and we need to paint the trim in the upstairs bathroom. It is currently black (thanks to the previous homeowners). And while I am all for different styles ... black trim is not my personal favorite. And we have a couple of little fix-it projects that shouldn't take too long .... but I think we will always have little fix-it projects, they just come with owning a house!

 5. I am visiting the doctor every week now. We really like our doctor's office. They are a great bunch to be going through a pregnancy with! Andrew has gone to every appointment with me ... just like he did with Sprout. That's just how our family is. We are best friends and we just like doing everything together. And the more the merrier! We can't wait for Bean to join us in all of our outside world adventures!

 *** And I cannot post this without mentioning how grateful I am to God for every single blessing that has been listed above ... and every single blessing not listed ... and even for those that I am not even aware of and for those that I take for granted. Every good and perfect thing comes from Him. <3 ***

I love you! I love you! I love you!

Dear Sprout,

"I love you! I love you! I love you!" <-- This is what you proclaimed to me over and over again on our ride back home today. Well, guess what baby ... can I just say, "I love you! I love you! I love you, too!"? Because I really, really do! Did you know that not a day goes by when I don't reflect upon you and how much I absolutely adore you? You are so very special to me.

Last night, you fell asleep right by your daddy. The two of you were exhausted from the great time that you had at Finley's birthday party. I had the best time just smiling and looking at "my boys." You certainly are the spitting image of your daddy. It can be overwhelming to think about just how much you both mean to me. What blessings the two of you are!

You are learning new things every single day. You love the outdoors and you love naming the trees that you see on a daily basis ... holly, beech, oak, pine... Music has always been a love of yours and you currently aspire to be an old time fiddler, just like your pawpaw. Genetically, you have been predisposed to be an animal lover and you certainly are! You read animal books all day, every day. And ... you already love your baby sister and you talk to Mommy's belly on a daily basis! You are a great big brother already.

Baby Bean will be here in 6-9 weeks and we are so excited for her to arrive! However, we still cherish the here and now. Daddy and I love our special time with you and together we enjoy dreaming about what our little girl will be like. These are such special times and there is no one we'd rather share them with than you!

God bless, baby Sprout. I love you! I love you! I love you!
Mommy

Little Sprout Man

A Couple of Cute Sprout Moments

1. When I come home, Sprout runs up to me with a big grin and says: "Hi Mommy!" "Hi Baby!" Baby Bean and I love being greeted by such a happy big brother.

2. Sprout knows that I am pregnant -- but he's a little confused and he thinks that he is having a baby as well. He named his baby "Aunt Bee." (Like his dad, he is a big Andy Griffith fan.)

3. Sprout LOVES talking to Mawmaw and Pawpaw on the phone. He often talks about chickens, fishing on the peer (thanks, Pawpaw), and his baby sister. And sometimes he just likes to listen to their voices ... because he loves them.

4. Any time Sprout does not like his meal, he looks at us and emphatically says, "All done!" And then expects to be dismissed from the table ... sorry young man, you must eat.

5. The man loves books! He loves picture books, magazines, hymnals, phone books ... He licks his fingers as he proceeds to flip though each page. So studious and serious.

6. Sprout has a distinct, southern (almost mountain man-ish) accent. However, he does say the word "two" with a distinct, Floridian accent. :-) Ha! One for me!

7. Cowboy boots are always a must. He wants to wear them with everything ... even his pajamas. And when we wakes up in the morning, he looks at his shoeless feet, and then quickly asks for his "boops."

8. He refers to any and every type of dessert item as a "pie." And he would like to eat pie all day long.

9. Sprout loves trucks. He got a set of little yellow trucks as a Christmas gift and he adores them. I love listening to the sound effects that he makes as he makes them go!

10. Perhaps the best part of my day is when he wakes up in the morning, crawls on my lap, lays down, holds my hair, smiles and says "Mama, mama" in his sweet,dreamy voice over and over again.

I adore my little man. I simply adore him.

Tag! You're it!

The Rules:
You must post the rules
Post 11 fun facts about yourself
Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you; then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged
Tag 11 people and link them in your post
Let them know you have tagged them!

1. I love writing. I wish I had the time to write more than I do ... someday I will. I like playing with words until they are just the way I want them to be. Because of this, I never minded writing papers for school.

2. I used to show dogs. I thought that would be my forever hobby. Fast forward: I have not been to a single show in years! I can't justify spending the money or the time anymore. I still think it's a neat hobby and I would like to go to an occasional show once and awhile ... but for now, that's about it.

3. The first thing I ever remember asking God for was to be a mommy someday. I started praying for this when I was really little. And now that I am much older and a mommy, I am very humbled and grateful for this answer to prayer.

4. I really like Broadway musicals. When my dad was in college, he used to pay a quarter and stand in the back of a theater to watch a show every weekend. He told himself that if he was able, he would take his kids to shows all of the time. I grew up enjoying season passes to our local theaters. I am so glad that I had this special time with my dad. I can't wait to take my kids to see a show one day ... and I will be sure that grandpa is tagging along.

5. The heart necklace that I wear all the time is from my grandma. It was going to be my "something borrowed" at my wedding, but when I went to give it back she said she wanted me to keep it. She had always wanted to will it to me, but she said that it was much better for her to be able to see me in it. My grandpa had given it to her and she had worn it every single day for 65 years. My grandma is one of my favorite people on this earth and I love getting to wear her necklace every single day. (Side note: Andrew and I hold hands all of the time. Last summer, as he was helping grandma get around, he told me that her hand and my hand feel just alike. Best. Compliment. Ever.)

6. I would like to be a little more like Donna Reed. Don't get me wrong, I like being a 21st century woman, but I wish that I could be a tad more domesticated. I wish that I had the time and energy to make great, healthy meals. I wish I was more organized around the house and that it was always spic and span. I wish I was better with timely thank you notes. And I wish that I could sew Sprout a Sunday shirt and Bean a smocked dress. I'm just so tired sometimes ... but I could still do more than I do.

6. One day I would like to write children's' books and stay home with my kiddos. I love my job very much, but sometimes I miss being with my little Sprout. However, I am very blessed. I have my summers off and I can spend lots of uninterrupted time with the most special people in my life. So, in a way, I really do have the best of both words.

7. I really like the school system that I work for. It's small and because of this I have had a lot of opportunities for professional growth. There have been many TAs, teachers, principals, and district personnel that have taken the time to work with me and to teach me. And even when I am slightly overwhelmed, I can't help but remember how fortunate I am to work where I work.

8. By nature, I am a pretty spontaneous person. However, one of my very favorite things is just staying home and enjoying quality time with my family. Who would have every thought?!

9. I love our house. But someday, Andrew and I would love to build our own little cottage. We would like it to be one story and we would love a basement for storage space and for studio space. We also want to have land! We want a great big garden and lots of chickens(more than what we have room for now). We would like to live off of the food that we produce (or that Andrew hunts). We want to get a friend for our goat and I would like to get a reindeer. Andrew is still on the fence about that one.

10. Like Lynette, we are Dave Ramsey fans. However, I will say that I need to take his course again. There are lots of things that I have forgotten or that I did not pay enough attention to the first time around. That being said, the man really has impacted the way that our family lives.

11. I am very grateful for my "baby friends." By taking mommy/baby classes, I have met such great friends! Although we don't see each other too often, we stay connected. It has been a blessing to share the joys of motherhood with other mothers!

Now to answer Lynette's questions:

1. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would have to have as necessities?
I would need a Bible, a journal, and a pocket knife.

2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I think I would like to go to Venice, Italy. I've heard that place is amazingly romantic and beautiful!

3. What word would you use to best describe your husband? What word would he use you to describe you?
I think that both of us would describe each other as sincere.

4. What is your favorite holiday and why?
I love Christmas because I love my savior, Jesus Christ.

5. If you had three wishes, what would they be?
I would wish for more time with my family, a housekeeper :), and a Mayberry squad car for my husband.

6. What are you most proud of?
Andrew, Sprout, and Bean

7. Why do you choose to blog?
I like writing and I like to connect with other people. One day I would like to make this blog into a book and print it off for my children to keep. I want Sprout and Bean to have a record of my wishes, thoughts, and dreams for them.

8. What is your favorite food?
I love pizza!

9. If you could take someones place for the day, who would it be and why?
Hmmmm. I think I would like to take the place of a dolphin trainer ... Because I secretly want to be a dolphin trainer!

10. What would you do with a million dollars?
I would build that little cottage, start my garden, get Andrew a squad car, put money aside for the kids' education and houses, and put the rest in savings. I wouldn't want to blow it.

11. What is something weird about you that not many people know?
Honestly, I have lots of quirks to choose from! Ummmm... I guess that most people do not know that I am as flat footed as they come. I get that from my dad. I literally have no arches in my feet. And because of that, when I walk down the stairs I sound like a stomping elephant. :-)

And for people would like to be tagged, I am going to use the same exact questions that Lynette asked me! Here you go!
1. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would have to have as necessities?
2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
3. What word would you use to best describe your husband? What word would he use you to describe you?
4. What is your favorite holiday and why?
5. If you had three wishes, what would they be?
6. What are you most proud of?
7. Why do you choose to blog?
8. What is your favorite food?
9. If you could take someone's place for the day, who would it be and why?
10. What would you do with a million dollars?
11. What is something weird about you that not many people know?

Our Wishes for You

Dear Sprout and Bean,

Daddy and I love both of you very much. Everyday we pray for you, share big dreams about your futures, and wish on lots of stars on your behalves. Below you will find a simple scattering of hopes that we have for each of you.

1. Simply put, we hope that you follow your dreams. If you are passionate about something, always know that your something is special and not silly. Each one of us is blessed with gifts. Be sure to use yours as much as you can. Don't misunderstand us, "mainstream" hobbies and careers are fantastic choices. However, should you have a desire to have your life's work to be a little out of the ordinary, that's just fine with us. Always remember that our world needs beautiful, twirling ballerinas and super cowboy heroes as much as it needs lawyers and doctors. We need painters to inspire us, astronauts to explore the Milky Way, and preachers to teach us about the most important things in life. Dream your dreams and live them out.

2. Never ever tease anyone. Do not laugh at someone else's expense. Abhor mean games that have been developed to break another's heart. We were all made in God's image. The Creator of all things molded each of us in our mothers' wombs. Our Father loves each of his children and so should you. Should you ever be placed in a situation where you are tempted to taunt another with your words or condescending stares, flee immediately. Befriend the friendless, pray for them, and pray that the hearts of their tormentors would be softened. And should you ever be the ones who are teased, remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Always know that you were made specifically for God's purposes and plans for your lives. Nothing was a mistake. Not one person on this earth can negate that fact.

3. Be honest and truthful. Do not use others as scapegoats when you make mistakes. Listen to constructive criticism. Learn from each and every error that you make. Take responsibility for your actions. And do not blame others for your shortcomings. Each one of us will say things that we will regret. We will act foolishly. We will jump to conclusions and we will be judgmental. However, just because you messed up one day does not mean that you have to mess up the next day as well. Every moment we have a choice and we can change our paths that we are currently on. Be sure to watch your feet.

4. Your daddy and I are doing our very bests to lead by example. However, we fail in this area all of the time. And when occasions arise that we disappoint you, know
that although we love you with all of our hearts, we are still mere humans. Your daddy and I are sinners saved by grace -- nothing more and nothing less. You may look to us for guidance and direction; we will always do our bests for you. But when we are wrong and when we fall short, do not despair. Remember that God is the only One who is perfect. He is the only One who will never let you down. Always look to Him to lead you, to guide you, and to direct your paths. Daddy and I look to Him, too.

Know that these are just a few of our desires for you. However, each wish on this list is very important to us. As time passes, I am sure that we will have lots of discussions about all of our hopes and dreams and thoughts and actions. And we can't wait for you to share your insights and your aspirations as well.

Love always,
Mommy

Letters

Dear Sprout,

You are a very sweet and a rather observant little man. Two of your very favorite things are music (just like your dad) and books (just like me). Yesterday at church you did something too sweet not to mention. Sprout, you love praise and worship time -- you stand up and in all seriousness, you wave your arms like an acclaimed orchestra conductor. Last night, you took your love of music to the next level. After praise and worship concluded, you reached for a hymnal on the back of the pew in front of you and Daddy handed it to you. You opened it on your lap and started singing with your softest, sweetest voice, "Lalalalala." At home, we gave you a "retired" hymnal and you opened its pages and sang in that same sweet voice. You have a sizable collection of books, but that music book is now very special to you. Daddy and I are amazed that you can already tell the difference between a page filled with music and a page filled with the written word. You are still a tiny little man, but you always manage to fill us with enormous awe.

Love always,
Mommy



Dear Bean,

I am now 21 weeks pregnant with you. We recently found out that you are a baby girl! Somehow, we knew that's just what you would be. It is such an amazing experience to watch you during an ultrasound. You look a lot like your brother did at this age, except you are much longer. In fact, at this past doctor's visit, you were holding your little head with your feet while wiggling your toes (see picture above). It looks like you have quite a personality already! It has been so much fun anticipating your arrival and dreaming about you. This past weekend, Nana Twyla and Hannah bought you some of the most precious clothes -- what a joy it was to admire little dresses and imagine the precious little girl who would wear them one day. When I hold your big brother, you feel his warmth and your squirm around just for us. Sprout will look at my tummy, and say "Baby!" with the biggest grin that a boy could ever have. We all love you and you'll have plenty of hugs and kisses waiting for you when your arrive. Thank you for bring so much joy to our family already.

Love always,
Mommy

GS

I am not usually one to write posts this personal in nature, but I have been convicted to do so. Here it is:

Not long ago, a wonderful man named GS was called home to Heaven. GS was a kind and gentle-hearted, yet strong man. He loved his family and he loved his church ... and everyone loved him. GS was the custodian at our church. At his funeral service, Pastor Don reminded us that "custodian" is defined as "care taker." We could not have asked for a better care taker in God's house.

GS's passing hit Andrew and I hard. His death was not expected and we always anticipated seeing him every Sunday. We know that every man will die, but in a way that's always hard to believe and even harder to accept. However, GS's funeral was a beautiful and poignant reminder of the free gift the Jesus Christ wants to offer every single one of us.

Please take a moment to read the information presented in this link: http://evangelismexplosion.org/resources/steps-to-life/

Many people confuse Christianity with "religion." On more than one occasion, I have had people ask me if I was a "religious person." This is not about being this religion or that religion ... rather, it is about one's personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I am a sinner saved by grace ... nothing more, nothing less.

I did not become a Christian until I was an adult. To be completely honest and transparent with you, I remember waking up at night sweating with fear at the thought that I would die one day. The whole concept made me feel hopeless and at times I wondered what the point of life was in the first place. I was never a wild child, per se ... but my outlook on life and my view of the world in general was completely different. I went to church and I studied a lot before I accepted the free gift of salvation. For me, it was the realization that Jesus was present from the beginning of time that helped all of the loose pieces fall into place. The very first chapter in the very first book of the Bible has a scripture that reads, "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26).

Let me make this clear, I still fall short every single day. I still do not understand everything and I still have questions ... but this is expected, I am merely human and not God. I am sure that I will learn lots and lots when I am in Heaven one day.

Please know that I am sharing this information out of my love for you. I wish that I would have known this Truth since childhood ... I would have lived my young life a lot differently. And as a mother, my single most important desire that I have for my children is that they come to know Christ at an early age and that they walk with Him for a lifetime. I apologize for not sharing my faith with you sooner.

As a closing to this special blog, please keep GS's family in your prayers. We rejoice in knowing that GS is in heaven... but he is missed nonetheless. GS reminded me (and many others) just how important a saving faith is.