One year ago today . . .

on January 14, 2009 we sat in a doctor's office with my increasingly big belly and learned that our little Addyson was not only small but really tiny. This was the day we learned that we were most likely going to deliver very early. Looking back I remember how scared and overwhelmed we were at processing what that meant. Over the next few weeks I spent teary eyed moments staring at our new cribs and the few little girl clothes we had started to accumulate and praying that our little girl would get a chance to use them. I remember saying over and over, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. We were so happy that God had given us two babies but now we wondered if we would ever get to hold them both. We didn't know how Braden would handle early delivery either. Had we known all the things we know now about preemies we would have been completely terrified - I don't think I had any idea of what we could have faced and I'm so thankful that I didn't.

In my younger days I used to wish that God would just give me a glimpse of what life would look like down the road. I would wonder who my husband would be, what career I would choose, and just what my life would look like in general. Over the years God has shown me that I would never be able to handle facing those things all at once - tomorrow is more than I can handle today. Sometimes today seems more than I can handle today - and it would be without God's help!! If I would have known what all would take place over the past year I would have been SO overwhelmed. But God has given us the strength and peace to face each day and trial. And to enjoy the laughter, messes, and craziness along the way. There's a reason we didn't know all the scary stuff preemies face and what horrible chances our babies would have had if Addyson's umbilical cord would have had the problems she had at 24 or 25 weeks instead of 29 and 30 and how that would have affected Braden. They were born at just the time God had planned and he took care of all of us and has blessed us WAY beyond what we deserve.

So over the next weeks and months as I think back to a year ago I get to hug and kiss my healthy babies and thank God for his faithfulness and how much He's taught us in the last year. These verses have been running through my mind lately.

"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things, Who, O God, is like you?" from Psalm 71

May I always remember to share with others all the wonderful things that God has done for me and continue to proclaim his righteousness through good times and bad.

Here is what I get to enjoy every day!!!