God Wanted Me To Tell You...

I received this in an email from a dear friend the other day, and while I am not big on forwards in my inbox, I love this one.  Hope you do too!  

"GOD WANTED ME TO TELL YOU, It shall be well  with you this coming year .

No matter how much  your enemies try this year, they will not  succeed .

You have been destined to make it and  you shall surely achieve all your
goals this year .

For all of 2011, all your agonies will be  diverted and victory and
prosperity will be incoming  in abundance . 
Today God has confirmed the end of your  sufferings, sorrows and pain because HE that sits on the  
throne has remembered you.  He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY . He will never let you  down . . ...

I knocked at heaven's door this morning,  God asked me . My child! What can
I do for you? And I  said,

'Father, please protect and bless the  person reading this message . . . '"

God bless all of you this coming year! 

My cute niece is 7 months old!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours

Photos courtesy of my talented hubby.

Sweetness...

There is nothing sweeter....

Than a sleeping baby on your shoulder...

My sister swears up and down (except she doesn't) that Lexi doesn't ever fall asleep while anyone is holding her on their shoulder, ever...

She was probably just completely exhausted, but I like to think she fell asleep on me because she just loves me so much or perhaps it is because she realizes how much alike we are, she could have been thinking, "finally someone that understands my nosiness and need for attention."

Regardless, there is nothing more precious than a sleeping baby.  They are like little angels sent from Heaven.  Don't you agree?

A Christmas Smile - Through the eyes of a child

What does this picture look like to you?  To me it looks like Christmas garland that is lined with lights and strung across the pillars.  But through the eyes of a 9 year old, it looks like a "Christmas Smile."  Oh, how I love the innocent and imaginary mind of a child.  What I would give to be a child again...

Happy 12th Birthday Macy!

My little princess dog turned 12 on Thanksgiving day this year!  I can't believe I have had her since I was in high school.  My how time flies!  Ever since Macy was diagnosed with a heart problem, celebrating her birthday is a BIG deal!  For its another year that I get with my dog.  I know, I know, I must sound completely crazy to some of you, but I just can't even begin to explain my love for this little furry creature and how much she has changed me in the last 12 years. 

I had to take Macy to the vet yesterday.  You may remember this post where I talked about her cardiology appointment last month.  The cardiologist she saw, who I loved, was just a moonlighter and had never seen her or listened to her heart before.  He told me her heart didn't sound that bad.  I was a little confused since her heart murmur has been sooo loud in the past, but I just figured he had listened to a ton of dog hearts and to him, her heart sounded ok.  Anyway, the vet that I took her to yesterday was the one that pretty much saved her life 3 years ago, as you may remember me talking about in this post.  She has heard her heart murmur for the past 3 years.  Yesterday, she listened and listened and listened.  She said her heart sounded great, that she could barely hear the murmur.  She asked what I was doing differently and if I was doing any holistic stuff.  I told her all I did was change her food to Royal Canine for Chihuahuas and their hearts and that I was feeding her carrots.  No more junk food and table scraps, well, not very often anymore...She let me listen to her heart and I couldn't believe my ears!  Comparatively speaking, her murmur that was once a 4/6 is now almost hard to hear!  Can you believe it?!?!!  Praise the Lord!!!  I think maybe He knows that if something ever happens to my way-to-spoiled princess of a dog that I will have to check myself into Laurette for a few days months.  God is awesome!!! 

Happy Birthday Macy Girl!  You are one of the most wonderful gifts in the whole entire world!    

Life or something like it...

Life isn't always fair and it sure as heck doesn't always go as planned.  Things happen, people change, and mistakes are made.  Of all the blessings and tragedies that make up this thing we call life, one thing remains a constant, no matter what, without any if, ands, or buts....that thing is God.

With God on your side, life does however, always go as it is supposed to.  I am a strong believer that everything in life happens for a reason.  I truly believe with every ounce of me that everything always works out the way it is supposed to.  And I think God's hand is in every little detail of life.  Could you imagine a life if you got everything you wanted?  Could you imagine a life where you didn't have to work hard for anything?  What about a life where you never had any heartache?  Sounds perfect, dontcha think?

While I know there is a lot more suffering that people have had to endure than I have, I still, along with all the wonderful blessings in my life, have had my share of heartache.  Who hasn't?  And while I would never wish my heartaches on anyone, hindsight 20/20 I wouldn't have had it any other way.  The things I have had to endure have made me the person I am today.  They have helped me to truly appreciate the little things in life and see things in a different light.  They have helped me strengthen my faith and trust in God.  I am not only a better wife, friend, & daughter, I am also a more compassionate physician because of the trials I have faced.

Going through trials and tribulations sure isn't fun, not even a little bit, and I can't reason my way through some of them no matter how hard I try. But, looking back now, the past sure makes a whole lot of sense. 

I know there are reasons for everything.  And as I get a little older, I am a tiny bit better at trying to figure out what the reasons are for certain life circumstances.  I know that I will eventually be thankful for certain heartaches and such, and I know that it will all make sense one of these days, but I tell you what, sometimes certain things in the present time just plain stink!  That is where faith in God comes in.  We have a saying hanging up on the wall in our house that says, "When life gets too hard to stand...kneel."  Prayer has gotten me through a lot these days and somehow even through rough times, my faith continues to get stronger. 

As Thanksgiving approaches I am reminded all too well of how much I have to be thankful for.  I am healthy, my family, friends, and dogs are healthy, and I have more blessings than I can count.  And I am so very thankful for a wonderful husband to have right by my side every step of the way.  This week, I hope that you will take time to count all your blessings and truly give thanks to the Great One Up Above for this wonderful thing called life.   

The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. Psalms 37:23-24.