Those Amazing Women!!

Wow, when you get extra busy the blog is the first to go. Sorry about that. Why is it that the Christmas holidays are designed to be most celebrative and enjoyable holiday of the year, yet it is such a stressful time?

I really don’t want to talk about that right now. I want to talk about single Moms. I have found over the years, that single Moms are amazing!! When I go out of town and leave my wife all alone with the kids, I know it is tough on her, but she seems to get through without any major disasters. When she goes away and leaves me alone, (which is not very often) it takes all of my energy and ability to make sure there are no disasters and we get everything accomplished on the schedule (which we usually do not).

Sometimes I can tell my wife is hoping that everything will fall apart while she is away, so I can experience first hand what she must overcome on a regular basis. (Can't say that I blame her.)

Lately, I’ve been reminded again of the stamina, perseverance, administrative skills, energy, devotion, dedication, and compassionate heart of women (in this case – single Moms). A single Mom in our East Oreland neighborhood volunteered to “adopt” a needy family of eight who live in North Philly for their Christmas wish list. She was willing to raise the money, shop for gifts, and wrap them. I helped in the fundraising, door to door in our neighborhood, but she did all the rest. Then her good friend, another single Mom in the neighborhood, jumped in and helped in the shopping and wrapping. They are already overloaded with families of their own, and yet they were able to give of themselves in such a way to provide Christmas for another family, all with a great attitude.

Single Moms are my heroes! Have you admired one lately? Be sure to encourage them and honor them as often as possible.

Have a Happy New Year! Stephen

Blogging at The Fountain

So this is Vivian again... I know it has been a while - life just happened. Surely you know what I mean. In a matter of one week we lost one of hte most precious men in our lives - Jesse's grandfather - only to get back from MS and find out that night that we were expecting one of the most precious gifts Jesus can give - a baby! Needless to say, with the ups and downs of pregnancy, holidays and continuing life as a wife, intake coordinator, friend and family member - I got lost on my blogs!

In the past couple of weeks some things have stood out to me... how much family means. It is hard being away from family with all of the events happening that have just happened in our lives. Death is hard, very hard, being away from family during that time is hard. On the other end of the spectrum, we have found that new life can be hard, very hard. And just like death, being away from family has proven to be difficult. Sometimes the thing I long for the most is just to cuddle with my mom - she knows how it is to be pregnant, she knows a lot of things.

In all of this, we have also learned the crazy mystery of God. We have a being that is living, already with a beating heart, inside of me. There is no way we could have done anything to deserve such a thing or even create such a thing... it is such a God thing. It also is a shock to your system. One suddenly realizes from about week 4 that it is no longer about you - NOTHING IS!! I can't keep up with things the way I long to, but it's not about me anymore - not that it ever was, it is just the reality I wake up to now though.

All of this to say, once again we are learning God in a new way... a very exciting, crazy new way. I feel as though there is so much to learn in life, I never want to quit... even though sometimes it can be tiring... sorry for all of the rambling thoughts - vc