Romans 8:28

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the course life takes us on. I think of how unexpected things happened, how plans change, and mostly how looking back every year it is a mystery how I got where I am today. Within a year’s time I went from being dead set on attending Clemson University, to making the decision to go to the University of Georgia, where I came to a truer and richer understanding of the Gospel. Just over a year ago, I was one phone call away from accepting an internship in Savannah, GA. Literally minutes before I made that call, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta called, and I ended up staying in Atlanta. I look at my life, who I have met, who I have become great friends with, where I have been, what I have been involved in, and often poor decisions I have made. When I look at all of these things, I am utterly amazed at God’s Goodness!!! I am amazed that He cares for me. It blows me away that He has His hand on my life and that His plans always seem to work out. As I get older, and as more and more of “my plans” fail, I realize more and more the truth of Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” It’s a verse that most of us memorized when we were young, and it’s one that I always applied to “difficult” situations in the lives of others. But, it is becoming more real to me as I see the truth of His promises in my everyday life.

9 Months Old!!!

Caroline is on the top and Abby is on the bottom. I haven't posted about my beautiful nieces in awhile, so I thought I would tonight. On the 6th, they turned 9 months old!!! It's crazy to think that just 9 months ago, they were struggling to survive and now they are happy, playful little girls!!! As most of you know, they were born 2.5 months prematurely. The doctors usually say that premature babies will be "caught up" developmentally sometime in the first 18 months. And usually it's expected well after a year. On their 9 month day, they went to see an occupational therapist who evaluated them and declared that developmentally they were in fact 9 month olds!!!! What a blessing!!! God has been so faithful and so good to our family. The twins have definately brought me closer with my sister and brother-in-law, and although babies have a way of doing that when their birth is "normal", I think their dramatic entrance into the world has played a huge part in that! I am so much more thankful for every day, and I have such a bigger understanding of His mightly power! To see these two girls at a little more than 2.5 lbs fighting to live, and actually beat all of the odds against them in every possible way, is more awe inspiring than anything I think I have experienced thus far in my life. The only reason that I can look at these girls and hold them, and throw them up in the air to make them laugh is by the grace and goodness of God.

Now I may be biased, but I do believe they are the cutest babies I have ever seen!!!