Night with Daddy

Glenn took the kids one night and they went to get a special prize. Sugar got herself some new shades and D got some action figures.

Tea Party

Sugar got to go to her first tea party and she was so excited. She kept saying over and over; "No boys allowed, only girls." I fixed her hair and painted her nails and we were ready to go. It was fun getting to spend the day just the two of us. I look forward to many more tea parties with my girl!

Happy Anniversary (a couple months late)

This year as we celebrated our anniversary I thought about how much has changed since we have been married. I never would have dreamed that we would have three little peeps to adore or how much more I would be in love.

I have told our "love story" so many times and each time I tell it I find it hard to believe how crazy that time of life was. I do not know too many people who have a history of date, break-up, date, break-up, date, break-up, date, get engaged, break up, get engaged, get married. It was worth every bit of the craziness--mostly my fault--to be married to such an amazing man.

This past year has brought the most trials since we have been married--mostly health issues--all mine. There have been days when I feel that I have no more strength. Glenn sits besides me and listens to me cry, holds me and then kneels beside me as we pray. There have been days when he thinks I am sleeping but I see him kneeling beside me praying for me. He has been beside me I needed him most. He has pointed me to Christ over and over again.

The day that we said "I do" was the beginning of our adventure--and adventure it has been-- that I have loved every minute of. I am blessed to be married to the man of my dreams and look forward to spending the rest of my life with. I love you Glenn--with all my heart.

Friends

“Share each other’s burdens…” Galatians 6:2a (NLT)

There are times all of us find ourselves in the trenches in life — those deep places we can’t seem to climb our way out of.
Sometimes those places involve decisions of our own, where we made a conscious choice to do something that wound up hurting us. Other times, someone made a decision for us that put us there, without our permission.
Either way, there is a great need — a need for someone to understand, someone to listen, someone to be available for us, to grieve with us and cry with us — no matter how dark it may get.
I’ve been in the trenches at different times in my own life. I found myself there when I was in college and my pastor-father was facing potential prison. I wound up there, again, when I partied hard to numb the pain, causing even more for myself. Years later, I found myself in a trench when my husband lost his job and was out of work for an extended period of time.
It was in those moments that I longed for someone to say to me, “I’m here with you. I won’t leave you. You will get through this, and I will love you no matter what.” Because at the end of the day, all of us want to know that there is someone who won’t walk away from us, even when they see how ugly things can get in our biggest moments of struggle.
It is the mark of a true friend. It is a rare find.
I once heard a speaker say how in her community, it was not unusual for people to sit with one another for up to seven days during times of loss and grief. As I listened to her speak, I thought about how amazing and important that aspect of community could be to us in our greatest moments of pain — those moments we find ourselves in a deep trench from which we won’t easily emerge.
Our key verse refers to this beautiful aspect of friendship when it says, simply, “Share each other’s burdens…” For the believer, this is not a suggestion. It is something Jesus expects us to do as we represent Him.
One of the best ways we spread the love of Christ is through our selfless acts of love and serving another. It’s not easy to share in someone’s burden, especially when that burden is great. But it is right. It is good. It is what Jesus does for us.
Many of us have been in the trenches, so we understand this hard position. It is where some of us are even now. Some of the greatest ministry Jesus will ever do in our lives is when we find ourselves in a place we can’t maneuver, claw, or dig our way out of. It is the place He meets us because our desperation finally drives us to Him — a place we most need to be.
Friends, let’s keep our eyes and ears open for the opportunity to get in the trenches and share in the burdens of another. Let’s be willing to be there with our friends who find themselves in a position they don’t want to handle alone. Let’s remember the One who is always present in the trenches with us.
And let’s thank Him for His care, presence and faithfulness in the midst of our needs…the trench moments of our life.

My friend Linsey sent this to me and all I can say is thank you. As I was reading it today and I sat in tears. So thankful for the friendship that He has blessed me with. A wise man once told me--"don't let that friendship go--you never know when you'll need each other." How true. Today Linsey--I say thank you for being one of the best friends I have ever had! You are a blessing to me and to my family.

David's Logic

D: Mama, you know why I wear boxers and no shirt to bed?

Me: Why?

D: Because that's what guys do.

Thanks for clarifying that.

D: Mama, when I get big I ain't wearing a tuxedo (he is looking at our wedding picture). because I ain't getting married.

Me: Really?

D: Yea, cuz I'm not going to cowllege (how he pronounces it). I am just going to live with you and daddy. Sugar can get married though.

This makes me laugh for two reasons:

1. He is always trying to tell me Sugar can get married like he is trying to get her out of the house.

2. His logic about college and getting married.

Happy Birthday (a month late)

Happy Birthday to my dream come true--you.

I know it is a month late but with all the chaos I am just sitting down and reflecting on the past year of your life. What a blessing you are to our family. You have completed the Robinson family in so many ways and we love you to pieces.

You are walking--nearly running everywhere.

You love to climb--especially the stairs. It makes me nervous but I know that you must accomplish these skills if you want to keep up with David and Annabelle.

You love your brother and sister and squeal every morning when you see them.

At bed time you open your mouth wide and lean your head in when I say kisses. Then you get the biggest grin.

You are sporting 8 teeth.

You love broccoli and brussel sprouts--you and Annabelle are two peas in a pod.

When I say we are going bye-bye or for a walk you go to the door and start grunting.

Speaking of grunting--that is your preferred method of communication. I have been trying to get you to do signs but grunting seems to suit you fine.

You love the pool. You don't even seem to mind when David or Annabelle splash you. You just think it is a game and squeal.

You have made all the trials of this past year a lot more bearable because every time I see your grin and your soon to be afro I smile and can't help but to thank God for you.

Happy Birthday to the little man of the house--we love you!!

Scared

Tonight it is 3:00 am and most people are sound asleep yet I sit here wide awake. Yesterday the dr. discovered a mass on the pineal gland in my brain. They diagnosed it as a probable pineal cyst. Sounds simple right. Only thing is that the pineal gland is so far in the brain and so far to get to that it is one of the most difficult surgeries to perform. Do they know for sure that it is a cyst--no. Does the One who made me and place every hair on my head know--yes.

I had a pretty good day. Amazing worship at church today. Our church family gathered together--we cried, we prayed, we hugged. I saw christian love in action. I am so thankful for the body of believers the Lord has brought our way. We had friends over for dinner. My mind was occupied so I didn't have time to think about the constant pressure in my head. Then I went to bed.

Going to bed is taking on a whole new meaning to me. When I lie down the pressure in my head becomes so intense I can barely stand the pain. Glenn, David, and I knelt at the foot of the bed and prayed asking God to grant me sleep. He did--for a couple hours. After a couple hours I woke up covered in sweat and my head feeling as if it was going to explode. I tried to pretend my way out of it and go back to sleep--no such luck. Now I sit here.

I have so many thoughts about what is going on right now. I am not really sure what to think or how to react. Not really sure how to deal with what is going on. I feel scared yet comforted. Anxious yet calm. Depressed yet encouraged. It is so weird.

I do know that no matter what happens I will continue to serve the Lord and bring glory to His name. I believe that He is a God of miracles and that He alone can grant a miracle in this situation. Please join with me in praying for a miracle.