Defining moments

 I ask that you join me in praying for all those families in Ct. who lost their precious children today.

There are moments that define our lives. Times that mark beginnings and endings. Times that divide our lives into before and afters. Sometimes these events are so small and insignificant that we fail to recognize their magnitude when they occur. Other times, they are so obvious we cannot help but see their importance. Good or bad. Right or wrong. This is the substance of life. The dots we connect when we look back at our past.  Right now, our little family is experiencing one of those big life changes. A change that will impact us all. Thankfully, this is a good wonderful change that Kevin and I are so incredibly excited about.
Looking back, I can easily spot the moments that have defined my life to this point....

Spring 1997- Gave my heart to Christ. Did I still screw up after this? Yes. Did I still make unfortunate mistakes that directly disobeyed God's commandments? Yes. Did I lay in bed at night begging God to forgive me? Yes. Did God's grace cover my sins and did I repent? YES.

June 1, 1997- Baptized.

September 1999- My sweet momma woke me up to tell me she had breast cancer. At the time, I had no clue what this meant for her or us, as a family.

Tuesday, October 5th 2004- I had a first kiss with a man and knew I would NEVER kiss another.

Tuesday, November 1, 2004- I agreed to marry that same man.

Saturday, May 21, 2005 @ 5:00- I became Kevin's bride.

March 2006- I got a call at work to come straight home. I walked into my parents house and perched on the arm of the couch. (I will never forget these details because what happened next forever changed me.) Daddy and momma gently explained that mom's cancer was in her brain. She had 3 months at best. I no longer had a sick momma. I had a dying momma. What a difference one word makes.

April 14th, 2006 @ 1-ish am- She did not make it 3 months. She lasted 6 weeks and early that Good Friday morning my momma met Jesus. I was lost. I felt like my heart had been removed from my body and died right there beside her in that bed my parents had shared for the last 32 years.

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 @1:55 pm- After 22 hours of  hard labor, God handed me my heart back in the form of a cone-headed (sorry, buddy- but it is the truth) baby boy. Manning Ryan changed me. He made me a momma and I will forever be grateful for that boy. I became assertive, protective, and nurturing in an instant. I would give up my life for this 7lbs of joy.

Wednesday, April 14th 2010 @ 12:30pm- I realized that God can replace sadness with happiness. My second precious baby boy was born on the date of my mother's death (4 years later.) When they handed me that chunky newborn my heart literally doubled. Anyone who has more than one child will agree with me. You find room to love this one JUST as much as the first one. The same fierce intensity. It's amazing. I have a favorite pair of shoes, a favorite food, and a favorite pair of jeans. But I could never have a favorite child. God just did not make us mommas that way. Myers Wilson has brought so much laughter into our house. I cannot imagine anyone more hilarious than this tiny little guy.

Friday, February 3rd, 2012 @ 1:08pm- Arriving with complete urgency, with a decreasing heart rate, and vacuum delivery, McCann Riggs proved again that our GOD knows what HE is doing. Looking in Kevin's teary eyes, as the machines beeped, and nurses rushed in, I knew this baby was going to be so special. I mean, seriously, what an entrance. This kid is the happiest, mellow, momma-loving baby. Again, my heart just embraces this precious baby. I hold onto him, loving him so much.

And here we are nearly 11 months later.

In August, I agreed to "facilitate" a women's Bible Study at my church. It was the study of Jonah written by Priscilla Shirer. She focosed on changing our perspective on the we view interruptions in our life. "Priscilla redefines interruption and shows that interruption is actually God's invitation to do something beyond our wildest dreams. When Jonah was willing to allow God to interrupt his life, the result was revival in an entire city." She challenged us to see God's movement in our lives as a "divine intervention" rather than an interruption.

Although my schedule was already busy and I knew I might should decline, something compelled me to lead this group (even before I knew about the topic) . Little did I know God was preparing my heart and gearing me up for a huge "divine intervention."

Early November 2012

As a family, we have been called to full-time ministry. Kevin will be attending seminary in the fall of next year and we will seek to follow God as he leads us down HIS perfect path.  This decision has changed us, already redefining the way we approach life. We thank you, in advance, for your prayers and support.