Risen

I am thankful that even though the beginning of this week started off ROUGH, it got better and ended GLORIOUS!

Sawyer woke up Monday morning feeling bad.  Really bad.  His first words were, “Mama…my lungs hurt when I ‘breave.’”  Well I surely didn’t like the sound of that!  I laid hands on him and prayed over him right away, observed that he didn’t have fever, and encouraged him to eat some breakfast and drink some milk.  I knew he had coughed a lot over the night, and hoped he would feel better with some warm oatmeal in his throat.  But after just one bite, he laid his little curls down on the counter and said quietly, “Mama, I don’t sink I should go to school.”   That is completely out of character for Sawyer.  He absolutely LOVES school, and never wants to stay home.  So I tucked him back in bed.  He immediately fell fast asleep, and I immediately called for a pediatrician appointment, fearing a recurrence of pneumonia.  At his appointment, all appeared normal.  Still no fever, no breath sounds indicating pneumonia… but with every breath, Sawyer clutched his chest.  Even when Dr. Everett would distract him and get him giggling, he would double over and grab his chest, right over his heart.  This was enough concern to the doctor that he felt a chest X-ray was warranted to rule out pneumonia or pneumothorax (collapsed lung).  So from the pediatrician to the imaging facility we went.  That in itself was stressful enough, not to mention dragging a cranky five-year-old and an even crankier two-year-old from one waiting room to another, with no pre-prepared keep-busy activities or snacks….we were all stretched PRETTY THIN after 2 1/2 hours.  But the receptionist was very kind and brought out clipboards with paper and pens, and that got my grumpy loves over the hump until Sawyer got called back.  The X-ray itself was quick and easy, Sawyer had no anxiety at all, and it was a far more peaceful experience than his last X-ray years ago (having to be strapped down as a toddler).  Then came the agonizing WAIT for results.  BUT GOD.  We finally got a call after 5pm that the X-ray was clear (HALLELUJAH!) of pneumonia and pneumothorax, but that there was some irritation on the lung lining (pleurisy) in the area corresponding to his pain.  Long, stressful day, but so very thankful for excellent care and good news.  (And Sawyer is now feeling great!  Thank You Jesus for protection and speedy healing!)

~ for a fun but far-too-short visit from “Cousin” Jen (dear friend who has crossed the threshold and become family).  She came all the way from Dallas to watch Cooper and Carson Grace’s games this week!  So fun cramming in a visit and catching one another up on life. 

~ for an emotionally charged morning celebrating the GCS Senior class.  The Seniors walked the halls of the elementary school in their caps and gowns, with the young students lined up giving them all high-fives.  I can imagine how big and grown up the Seniors looked to the little kids, but to all the parents looking on, those were our babies.  Only yesterday, Carson Grace was in her kindergarten class, with a little custom stool under her tiny feet because she couldn’t reach the floor.  Now she is graduating in a few short weeks.  

~ for Gavin’s character quality award, Enthusiasm.   Such a fitting award, as G-Man is exactly that: bright, creative and overflowing with enthusiasm.  He is always questioning, always creating, always learning.  The Lord has an incredible future for this boy. 

~ that I intercepted the less-than-flattering time-lapse video that my darling Tatum K filmed of me in the dressing room at Old Navy before she texted it to someone!!!!!  

~ for a hopping week for Giddyup & Whoa!  Finished 2 custom orders and 7 more pieces for the Gresham Barn Sale!  Vintage & Co. even featured us on their page!  Busy sign week means not much progress on the beams…but I know they’re waiting for me, a project literally hanging over my head….

~ for a fun and tasty lunch with a friend.  So grateful for sisters to lean on and to do life with. 

~ that every bad day comes to an end.  Some days just stink.  Not life-or-death cancer days…just run of the mill, cranky, overtired kids + cranky, overwhelmed mama + a to-do list a mile long = YUCK.  You know when you park the car and each of the children exit the vehicle with an, “I’m sorry Mama,” that it’s been a rough day.  But thank You Lord for new mercies every morning!

~ for a fun-packed Easter weekend: school holiday, sleepovers, ice-cold swimming, a much-needed date night, yard work, egg hunts, Easter baskets, Resurrection rolls for breakfast, powerful worship service and message, lunch with all the cousins, cake! and pie! and WAAAAY too much candy! I am thankful for every single time I get to be with all our children together…even if it wasn’t until the very end of the day (Colton had to work).  I don’t take it for granted any more. 

~ most of all, I’m so thankful for the miracle of Easter.  That Jesus, pure and sinless, willingly chose the Cross for my sin and for yours.  Friday and Saturday we grieve for all He endured.  But Sunday.  Sunday!  Sunday morning is what it’s all about!  The stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and JESUS IS ALIVE!   Death couldn’t hold our Savior, and thanks to Him, it can’t hold me!   No matter what we endure on this earth, if we chose Jesus, we are promised to live in eternity with Him!  There is no day more worthy of celebrating, flipping over backwards with all-surpassing JOY than today!  HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!!

Please hold dear Georgia and the Crim family in your prayers.  She had her first brain surgery a few weeks ago, and she will begin her first round of chemotherapy this Tuesday.  

Thank You Jesus for New Life.  Thank You that the Light will ALWAYS overcome the darkness. 

And thank you all for giving thanks with me. 

“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.”  Luke 24:5-8

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””  Matthew 28:18-20