Soap Box

Well, I haven't made good on my promise to get back into writing more on here. Oopsies... :) I hope I can get better about that but I confess I don't feel bad about only having written once in the last month. I have been a busy bee. I have finally stopped getting sick so often and thus been able to go to my church. I am nearing the end of a Bible Study I've been doing for the the last fifteen months, I joined a gym here (finally), played with my kids more and really have put more effort into getting into God's word. I've also been enjoying journaling with a good old fashioned pen and a piece of paper. Oh and one little minor thing, COUPONING! I have taken up couponing and I have to say I find it challenging. There's a lot to learn.

Riley has just recently turned SIX! I can't believe he is six! He is just about the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes upon, with exception to his brother Raegan. Yes, boys can be beautiful. His soul sure is. He is so sweet and loving it amazes me everyday. Today he drew me a picture of the two of us watching fireworks together. It was so lovely I had to frame it. If I may stand up on my soap box for a moment, I do not know how it would be possible to grow a baby inside you and give life to him or her and not see for yourself that there is indeed a God, and he is truly good. When your five senses and every emotion inside you gets a hold of that baby for the first time, you cannot deny it is a miracle. There are so many Bible verses I'd love to share on the topic of children and babies and even being a mother. Just a couple for now:

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

John 16:21A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

I remember when I was pregnant with Riley being certainly afraid of the pain I'd endure during childbirth. It scared me that I had no choice, it wasn't something I could dodge. But now looking back the pain is not what I remember. I remember his first cry, I remember the first time I held him, how warm he was, how his tiny little hand grasped my finger. He was there, he was mine, and I had never lived before that moment. Everything else around me was silent, time stopped for a bit. Ramsey and I cried, held him, held each other. We kissed him, kissed each other. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I'll cherish it forever. One last verse: 

Psalm 113:9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

Clearly I am able to conceive children. But the definition of barren itself means too poor to produce much or any vegetation. That I was. I was poor in spirit, poor in heart, broken. My life was certainly not producing anything. I was so lost at that time. I was just 18. Ramsey and I found out we were pregnant the last week of high school.  I can say that with out shame because the Lord has redeemed me. And look at what he gave me out of it all! Riley. Not to mention a pretty rad husband and later on Raegan. What a precious gift a child is. A gift that certainly could not come from this world.

I will graciously step down from my soap box now and say that life has been good lately. It has it's ups and downs, its mountains to climb and it's low valleys to survive. But may I just say, walking with the Lord makes it all worth it. And having the blessing of a family like mine makes this life a gift.

That is all.  :)