Life

Over the past year, the subject of life has been a huge part of my life. A year ago, I was preparing to leave Athens. I was excited about graduation, and scared of where my life would take me. I was sad to leave a "life" that I loved, and even more sad to miss out on the everyday lives of those that I love. Whether it be children I babysat for, or friends I fellowshipped with, I felt like leaving would mean that I was leaving their lives forever. Then the summer came, and that brought the first wedding of a best friend. Brian and Gail joined their lives together to make one life, and promised that it would be one life for the rest of their individual lives. When I got home from the wedding, my sister and brother-in-law were waiting for me to tell me the news of the life that they had created, that was living and growing and forming inside my sister's tummy. Then about a week or two later, I met my sister and brother-in-law for lunch to see an ultrasound picture of this small life only to find out that it was two small lives that were beginning. An amazing miracle to be expecting twins and wondering what gender they would be. Because so much of what their lives would look like depended on what their gender was, how was their room to be decorated, would they share a room. Then, I began my life in Atlanta or Lilburn. And I began investing my life in the lives of children at my church, children in the hospital, and wondering if I would ever have a life outside of those two places. We soon found out that the twins were girls, so the planning of their lives began. In December, they were born 2.5 months premature, and their lives literally hung in the hands of the doctors, and ultimately in the hands of God. Two human beings under 3 lbs, completely helpless and completely unready to be outside of the womb. Two babies who have now changed my life forever. To think back on when we found out about Abby and Caroline, we never would have thought that they would enter the world the way they did. Life happens or is orchestrated upon us, and so often our plans aren't the way it really happens. Holding my nieces now, as they are over 8 lbs, it's hard to believe that they were once as fragile as they were. It's hard to believe that one or both of them could have died at any moment and every minute that they lived for the first month and half of their lives was truly miraculous. Then, this past week, the subject of life came upon me once again. My grandfather passed away. Looking at birth and death right next to each other, is truly humbling. These precious babies, and my 88 year old grandfather. Luckily, he did meet them and hold them before he died. But these three individuals are a perfect example of what life really entails. You live, and then one day you die. You come into the world helpless and completely dependent on others and often, you leave the world in the same state. It's almost like a reversal once you get to a certain age. But see with all of that, it makes me think of the ultimate life. The eternal life that is promised to all who believe and call upon the name of Jesus Christ. My grandfather called upon the name of Jesus just 4 days before he died. He is now basking in the glory of our Savior, and for the first time, he really knows what life is all about and what living really feels like. He lived a great life on earth, and he experienced many incredible things. He was a WWII veteran, received many awards for his service in the army, he was a bowler who bowled a perfect game during a tournament, and he lived a great, happy, and for the most part healthy life. But now, he is experiencing something greater than anything I can imagine. Life, it's a word with many meanings and many implications, but I think all that I have known and experienced in the past year and over the course of my life has taught me that life as we know it is unpredictable, but to God, it is all planned perfectly. And most of all, if we know Him, our eternal life is the most certain thing of all.

New Job, or well First real job!

To appease the masses, I decided to write a quick post. First and foremost, my apologies for the lack of posting these past few weeks. I am living with my sister during the week, and caring for her 7 lb twins! They are getting so big! I really feel like a mom, except I luckily get a break on the weekends. They are precious little girls, and we are so amazed that God has kept them healthy and growing! (For those that read this and don't know the history, the twins were born 2.5 months premature on December 6th, they were 2lbs 9 oz and 2 lbs 14 oz at birth). So because I am getting between 4 and 6 hours of sleep at night, and feeding or holding babies almost all the time, I have had little energy to think about things in depth, much less type it all out. So, this post will be short, and will be more of an update on my life.

I got a job last Friday!!!!!! Yeah!!! I interviewed several weeks ago at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Egleston campus) for a part time Emergency Dept position as a Child Life Specialist. I will be working Fridays and Saturdays for 10-12 hours. Basically, I will be helping children who come to the ER cope with their ailment, injury, or trauma. I will distract them and talk to them during procedures, and when there is time, I will prepare them for procedures. I will also have the opportunity some nights to do some work up in the ICU and Cardiology units. This job is such a blessing because I will be available most days of the week to continue helping my sister with the twins, and I get health and dental insurance, AND I will gain a lot of well rounded experience and will in turn be more marketable as a Child Life Specialist. It is a great opportunity for me and I am so thankful to God that His plan was to keep me in Atlanta for the time being. I start orientation and training in a little over a week!

That's all for now, I hope to have something deep and profound soon!