home.

It's one day shy of 2 months that I've been an aunt.
Two months since my mom called with the wonderful but also terrifying news that my sister had her baby almost unthinkably early.
Two months of daily visits to the hospital for my sister and brother in law.
Two months of emotional highs and lows.
Two months of doctors, nurses and diagnoses.

Two months that we've seen God work in pretty incredible ways.


Today, Q is home. He got to leave the hospital this last weekend in the arms of his parents.

I've never had one of those moments that all hope was lost and someone prayed and things got better. I'm not sure this is that moment either.

I have experienced people caring and praying and over days, months, weeks or years seen God move and stay faithful to those who love Him and follow Him.

It's not what we expected and it's not the way we thought Q would come into the world, but these last two months, we've been privileged to see God - not in one incredible act, but in daily provision and goodness.

Truly, we can't say thank you enough for your prayers.
And I can't wait until Q is 18 and we show him this blog of baby pictures that went out to the world.

Valentine

I don't hate Valentine's Day the way I used to as a kid.

Elementary school simply meant too much work decorating the paper bag that would become a mailbox for valentines that all said some version of "Hey Valentine! I spent 99cents on this card!"

Middle school and high school meant another year of hoping that this one boy would send me a flower... and watching him send it to someone else instead. *sigh*

College meant the biggest day at the post office ever and waiting with baited breath to get the email that said "You have flowers waiting for you!"

And today?
Today one of my students was clearly trying to hide something behind her back - which could have been anything from a pie to chewed up piece of gum. She said, "Can I ask you something?" I answered, "What's up?" She whipped out a box of chocolates and a coloring page she had colored and written a poem comparing our friendship to Patrick and Spongebob.

Not sure any Valentine I've ever received compares.


Seems like every year people complain about Valentine's Day and someone posts something about having a day to tell people that you love them not being all that bad.

I think I have to agree. In a world that I see parents who forget to pick their kids up from church, siblings who do nothing but criticize, and friends who get in fights and can be downright mean... a day where we remember to tell the people most important to us that they matter and we love them, seems pretty okay.