Home Again

Going away for a few days was definitely the right decision! It was so nice to get away from the routine and go at a slower pace. We drove down to Michigan City and went shopping and just hung out at the hotel. It was the first time Bob and I have had fun together in a while.

Unfortunately, Bob woke up Saturday morning with the stomach flu (coming out of both ends :(  So we headed home early. He was such a champ on the way home. We had to stop 5-6 times for him, but he never complained about it. Saturday, Sunday, and now today have been spent with him on the couch. Thankfully the rest of us haven't gotten sick!

If  you've never been to Michigan City, IN, they have a very nice outlet mall! But for those of us that aren't teeny-boppers, spring and summer clothing shopping isn't exactly fun; so Beth and I shopped for our husbands and homes instead :) We also went to the casino on Friday night. (Please don't post comments about how awful casinos are. We chose to spend our entertainment money on a casino instead of a movie, and we don't have an addiction.)

Despite Bob being sick, we came home feeling refreshed and re-energized with a renewed sense of hope. Life doesn't seem quite so terrible. And we were able to enjoy where we are in life. That doesn't stop the yearning and longing for a baby, but it helps to know that even if it never happens, we are incredibly blessed and God has already given us so much. I'm choosing to be thankful for what I do have, instead of resentful over what I don't have.

My wonderful sister-in-law sent me an email recently to encourage me. And she reminded me of how important being thankful is. She said, "Satan likes to keep us spiraling downward in these moments of defeat. He wants us to pity ourselves and feel justified in doing it, but the truth is we really do have more to be thankful for than not. Once we start thanking God, Satan loses his grip. When you feel down, look up. Look into the face of your Savior and thank Him for anything albeit as small as "thank you for my fuzzy socks", whatever comes to mind thank Him for it. Thankfulness is a powerful tool."

So Heavenly Father, thank you for my wonderful husband, my loving family, and my dear friends. Thank you for sunshine and the wild turkey's in my backyard. Thank you for my sweat pants and peanut butter cups. And thank you for being You! For being in control and knowing the bigger picture. For loving me when I'm unlovable and holding my future in the palm of Your hand. Thank You for giving me hope and for carrying me through these trials.