Ranting, Raving and Renewing

I haven't felt well for my birthday in YEARS and today was actually a good day! :) Since my b-day fell on the same day as Mother's Day we had many things to celebrate. My mom is sick with a horrible cold and since my immune system is especially compromised as I go through these IV treatments, I couldn't be with her today. We did however take her some flowers and I saw her through her storm door. We'll celebrate later when we both feel better. She saw me and said that me actually being out and looking so much better was the best Mother's Day present she could have gotten. We went to Jeff's parents for lunch and celebrated my birthday and Mother's Day there. It was good to be out and feel "okay" for a few hours. Considering walking around the house, getting out of bed and just bathing has been hard, I did GREAT today!!! I am tired now but that's okay. I am rejoicing that this Mother's Day wasn't sad, as it usually is. People have been praying and it worked!!!! I still wasn't able to attend church this morning but overall, I am blessed and thankful. There are so many people who love me and have wished me sweet birthday blessings on Facebook, twitter, through cards, calls, in person and I had a LOVELY song sung to me by my friend JoAnn from NC, with sweet Mackenzie and Brigman in the background yelling "Happy Birthday KIIIIIM!" GOODNESS, I LOVE those kids!!!!!!! I have some great friends and family. I am blessed to have parents (mom, dad, and mom and dad stilwell) who love me!! AND....This is my amazing sister's first Mother's Day to my precious 8 yr. old nephew. The adoption isn't final but he has been with our family for 9 months. He has something for me today but wanted to give it to me in person. Since he was with my mom all day yesterday, we felt it would be best if I saw him after we make sure he's not sick too. I MISS HIM and am so thankful he is a part of our family. I can't imagine life without him!!! SO....HAPPY Mother's Day to my mom's, my sweet sister & my beautiful friends! For those of us hoping to one day be a mom too, we are holding on to HOPE that God's timing is perfect and He will either give us the desires of our hearts or change our desires. I beleive that! For my many friends who have lost their mom's.....I hope you are able to celebrate the life she once lived and the legacy she left. Let's all take some time today to just be thankful for the little things we have been given....the BIG stuff is great too :) but it's ALLLLL a blessing from God!! "For I know the plans I have for you" says the Lord..."plans to prosper you, not to harm you; plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE" (Jeremiah 29:11) Yeah...you'll see it a lot b/c I BELIEVE it!!!! :) Oh, and thanks friends for reminding me that Jeff and I have had many "children" over the years....not only in our youth groups, but our animals, our friends' children who have brought us joy and the sweet children in our family. I love love love children and there are MANY special ones in my life!!!! They have blessed my heart and brought more joy to me than I could ever express. So, yeah.....GOOD day!!!!