Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968)

A few years ago, Graycen (my oldest) was trying to tell me about a little girl in her preschool class that has become a good friend of hers. She told me everything she could THINK of to describe her: always wears pigtails with pretty bows, her favorite color, sits beside so and so, taller than her other friends, wore a pink shirt on such and such day when I was there, etc.. FINALLY, a few days later the class photo came home and Graycen came running to me to show me who this little girl was that she had been talking about. Guess what? She was the only non-Caucasian in the class. Graycen never thought to describe her that way, because she just doesn't see the difference.

I couldn't think of a better tribute to the work of MLK, Jr. if I tried.

Isn't she luh-valeeeee? Isn't she wuuunderfu-ul...

Grace, my Grandmother and where my oldest daughter gets her name.

Nathan sent me away this weekend to Charleston to spend some time with my Grandmother. She is 84 and still full of spunk. Her health, however, is declining and she went under hospice care on Monday. I enjoyed being able to spend some time with her and serve her some. I wish that there wasn't 300+ miles between us, so I could be with her more. I am so grateful to Nathan, who not only took care of the children solo, but also wrote a 4 page paper for his Jterm class that started on Monday.

All In A Decade!

Since Y2K, I have: (not necessarily in order)
- spent 41 months pregnant
- spent 45 hours in labor
- had 3 surgeries (including 2 C-sections)
- surrendered my gall bladder, with gratitude
- came very close to dying (during 4th delivery and, in turn, first C-section)
- spent 43 months nursing babies
- successfully potty-trained FIVE children!!!
- watched my vehicle evolve from a cute, white 2dr Honda Accord to a not-as-cute, charcoal, 8 passenger Suburban, filled to the brim with car seats and boosters
- lived in 3 different states
- built a house from dirt up
- sold a house
- learned that the words "house" and "home" have very distinct meanings and learned to place appropriate value on each of them accordingly
- witnessed my husband and two children surrender their lives to the Lord and turn to Jesus as their Savior!
- witnessed my husband and oldest daughter be baptized, in obedience of God's Word.
- wept over and also celebrated the home-going of a much loved Grandmother
- (with Nathan) affirmed a call to devote our lives, full-time, to the ministry of furthering God's Word and Kingdom
- packed up 4 kids (4 & under) into a minivan and loaded everything we couldn't sell, donate, or throw away into a 32 ft UHAUL and left all familiarity behind us to pursue the above mentioned call.
- became an UNDERGRAD student's wife
- typed more papers than I could have ever IMAGINED
- witnessed Nathan earn his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies
- became a GRAD student's wife
- spent 4 years (combined)working as a portrait and event photographer
- made more than a few friends that I am CERTAIN will be in my life forever, regardless of where the Lord sends us.
- OH! I began blogging to journal my thoughts and experiences for my children!

Whew! The list grows and grows the more you think about it! I wonder what this next decade will bring with it? It is amazing to think about.

What did YOU do since Y2K?