My dear friends

My dear friends, can I just share with you from my heart for a moment? I've been cleaning my house all day, feeding my kids, wiping faces... and rear ends, doing laundry, dishes... I've been on and off the phone with my mom and my husband- making plans for the week and the weekend. I've been checking my email and Dad's site, keeping it updated and forwarding on sweet emails from friends and family to my mom so she can read them to Dad.

And I can't help but think- I should be so stressed out right now. And don't get me wrong- I'm exhausted. And I'm worried. But I can 100% honestly say... I feel so covered. I feel a strength within that I almost find surprising. I'm able to deal with the day to day stuff. And I'm able to think clearly (as clear as possible for me- you guys know me). I keep telling people that I feel numb... but that doesn't really accurately describe it. That sounds like a negative thing, but actually, it's not.

My relationship with my God gives me perfect peace. Not that I am perfect, but that He is. I can feel my God carrying me through this. My life verse has always been John 10:10 "The thief comes to steel, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you would have life and have it more abundantly." (Jesus speaking.) He IS giving me abundant life. This- what I'm going through right now- is the difference between the life of a born again Christian and an unbeliever. The hope and the peace and the (dare I say it) joy that I feel can only be from my Lord. He loves me so much and I'm choosing to walk in His blessings.

And I'm also well aware that so much of it has to do with the prayers of those closest to me. I have received so many encouraging emails and phone calls in the last week... I KNOW that I'm loved and supported and it makes me want to cry because I keep thinking about the service at church this past Sunday (I wasn't able to be there, but I watched it live online while I mopped my kitchen floor, haha). I feel like I'm living the life of relationships with other believers that Christ wants me to live. We aren't afraid to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. To really show sacrificial commitment.

We won't be able to make it to our Cheers group tonight because Jake and I realized on the phone today that we won't be able to stay home any other nights this week and our family needs to come first. So we're gonna hang out with our kids tonight. But, I want you each to know how much I love you. And I don't intend on my goofy Internet blog being the only way to let you know that. I want to show you. I want to be the friend that you all are being to me right now. Words don't really express the gratitude in my heart. I love you girls.