It's been a while!

I guess it's time! Time to crawl out from the wood work and get back here!

Lots has been going on - and yet at the same time, if feels like nothing has changed too much!

On the very positive side, the boys have been totally healthy, and mostly happy(!) since Christmas. Their health, in itself, is such a huge blessing and relief. Nate continues to emerge from his protective shell, and is becoming more of the boy that we've missed. His vocabulary has taken off, which makes him much easier to understand and gives him the opportunity to communicate so much better with us. His comfort level with other people has also done a 180 degree change. He talks to people, happily goes to Sunday School and actually stays for the whole time without one of us in the room (this is HUGE!). Naps are hit and miss with him, but it's to be expected as Brady was also done with naps at 2 1/2 years old. As a whole, his nights are improving, he usually ends up spending at least half the night with me (but at least we both can sleep!).

I, too, feel like I've finally come back to the person I want to be. January left me feeling rather empty inside, with nothing much to give. It was more than just winter cabin fever; planning a winter holiday or a fun renovation was not what was needed to spark me on. I think I knew all along what I needed, and now that I'm back into doing devotions, reading my Bible and meditating on God's words, I don't feel like I'm running on "E" anymore.

Another bonus - Don and I actually went out on a date....together! Might not sound like much to you, but the last time the two of us went out, without kids, was a veeerrrrrrry long time ago. I can't even tell you when. I know we haven't taken any time to go out since coming home from Nate's surgery - and that was last March. Yikes! Isn't that ridiculous? To go over a year without any alone time with your spouse?!? So, on Saturday, we enjoyed a nice dinner together here in town. The boys were happy to go to Grandma and Grandpa's!

I also wanted to share a link with you. No one is immune to the pain or suffering that this life brings. And it seems that in the last few weeks, there have too many people that I know and love that have lost, are suffering or are dealing with hard circumstances. Last week, I listened to a meaningful message shared by Matt Hammitt. He talks about Pain and Purpose. How God uses this pain to draw us to Him....to realize that we can not put hope in the things of this world, but need to look to him. I found the words God gave him so encouraging. Take some time to listen. Just click here, and go down to the bottom of the post. He has a link to the message he gave at a church called The Grove.