I Pray You Enough - this is an e-mail I have received a few times over the years. I thought it was worth posting on the blog to share with all the readers out there.
Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, 'I love you, and I pray you enough.'
The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough too, Mom.'
They kissed, and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'
Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'
'Well...I'm not as young as I once was, she lives so far away and has her own busy life. I have some challenges ahead, and the reality is - her next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.
'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I pray you enough.' May I ask what that means?'
She began to smile. 'That's a prayer that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I pray you enough,' we wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'
Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.
I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I pray you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
Then, she began to cry, and walked away.
They say, it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire life to forget them.
TAKE TIME TO LIVE..... To all my friends and loved ones, I PRAY YOU ENOUGH....
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Faith Will Pay
God is always there. He is always there for us no matter what we do, where we have been, or what our past actions have been. He is and always wants to be our rock. We just have to let him be our rock we lean on when times are hard or our life isn't going quite how we want it. We must have FAITH in Him. That can be easier said than done many times.
Have you ever noticed when life is good and we are floating on our own little cloud, we tend to pull away from God and not lean on him so much? It's true if you think about it. When we are content with our life or current situation, we don't need to pray as much and ask for guidance because we think we know where we are going. Just remember that God brought us to those happy and content times so even though we are at a happy patch in life, we should never stop praying and thanking Him for the many blessings he gives each and every one of us.
Think about this ~ when times are tough, or we find ourselves in a situation with no one else to turn to, where do we often go? Or let me rephrase the question ~ where SHOULD we go when we are backed into a corner with no one to talk to or no where else to turn? You know the answer without the words leaving your mouth. Yes, God is the right answer ladies and gentleman. He is the one we should lean on and have faith in when times are tough. Only He can bring us out of a hole we get ourselves in.
It's FAITH in HIM that will lead us where we need to be. It's FAITH that will help us reach our destination in life as to where He wants us to be. It's FAITH that will show us where we are meant to be if we just BELIEVE with our entire heart and soul. When we lose faith, we lose trust in the Lord. We must always keep the faith going even when it's difficult to do.
We must stop relying on ourselves to accomplish whatever it is we are trying to complete in this world. We have to ask for direction and guidance or we will always end up in the same place over and over again. We will not be able to move forward and live happily ever after if we stay stuck in the same place forever.
So remember 'Faith Will Pay.' Faith in Him will lead us to His plan for our lives. And the sooner we have FAITH in God, the sooner we will receive word for our direction and where we are meant to be on this earth. He loves each and every person on this earth because He created YOU. Even before you were born, God created YOUR life for a purpose. And you will soon find out that purpose if you keep the FAITH. So even if it's hard to do, have faith starting right now. And I can promise you in the long run you will be glad you did. Because FAITH will lead you to your life's destiny!
Have you ever noticed when life is good and we are floating on our own little cloud, we tend to pull away from God and not lean on him so much? It's true if you think about it. When we are content with our life or current situation, we don't need to pray as much and ask for guidance because we think we know where we are going. Just remember that God brought us to those happy and content times so even though we are at a happy patch in life, we should never stop praying and thanking Him for the many blessings he gives each and every one of us.
Think about this ~ when times are tough, or we find ourselves in a situation with no one else to turn to, where do we often go? Or let me rephrase the question ~ where SHOULD we go when we are backed into a corner with no one to talk to or no where else to turn? You know the answer without the words leaving your mouth. Yes, God is the right answer ladies and gentleman. He is the one we should lean on and have faith in when times are tough. Only He can bring us out of a hole we get ourselves in.
It's FAITH in HIM that will lead us where we need to be. It's FAITH that will help us reach our destination in life as to where He wants us to be. It's FAITH that will show us where we are meant to be if we just BELIEVE with our entire heart and soul. When we lose faith, we lose trust in the Lord. We must always keep the faith going even when it's difficult to do.
We must stop relying on ourselves to accomplish whatever it is we are trying to complete in this world. We have to ask for direction and guidance or we will always end up in the same place over and over again. We will not be able to move forward and live happily ever after if we stay stuck in the same place forever.
So remember 'Faith Will Pay.' Faith in Him will lead us to His plan for our lives. And the sooner we have FAITH in God, the sooner we will receive word for our direction and where we are meant to be on this earth. He loves each and every person on this earth because He created YOU. Even before you were born, God created YOUR life for a purpose. And you will soon find out that purpose if you keep the FAITH. So even if it's hard to do, have faith starting right now. And I can promise you in the long run you will be glad you did. Because FAITH will lead you to your life's destiny!
Monday, April 27, 2009
6 Years Ago Today...
It all began in September 2002. I found out I was pregnant with my second child. Then we went for the exciting ultrasound in January 2003 to hopefully find out what the gender would be and to see the baby on the screen for the first time. The ultrasound tech did not indicate there was any problem of any kind. Then my doctor walked into the exam room with a strange look on her face and asked me if the ultrasound technician had said anything to me. My response was "no, and is something wrong?" Then I received news that no parent ever wants to hear. My daughter (we at least knew it was another girl by this point) had a diaphragmatic hernia and I was to be sent to the specialist the very next morning.
My first response was a "diaph.... what?!?!" The doctor than repeated it and little did I know by the next day, I would be able to pronounce it and explain what those terms meant. So I thought to myself, no big deal. Things with babies are irregular all the time, so it couldn't be anything of great concern. What I found out on January 7, 2003 changed and permanently altered my life. We arrived at the specialist's office the next morning and had another ultrasound. I was just laying there in my own little world wishing they would hurry up so I could get back to work until I heard the words I can still hear him say today "Only about 50% of these babies survive." "WHAT??" was my only response. Then my tune quickly changed and I immediately realized how serious her condition was.
In my own terms, this is what I learned a diaphragmatic hernia to be. The diaphragm is supposed to close up when a fetus is approximately 10 weeks old. Well, for some reason our baby's did not close up and there was a hole in the diaphragm. This made all of her inside organs and intestines move into places they should not be. Basically all of her intestines and organs were pushed up into her chest and her heart was positioned into her right chest instead of in the center.
So we were then escorted into a room with a counselor. We basically had two options ~ carry on the pregnancy and take the 50% chance that our daughter would survive or do the unthinkable and abort the pregnancy and not deal with the consequences that were slammed in our faces within 24 hours. Well, there was NO decision to be made. My child had a 50% chance to live and I could not live with myself if I didn't give her a fair fighting chance. Statistically her condition was a fluke thing (nothing genetic) and only happened in 1 out of every 2500 babies. Oh, and we were the 4th case of it to be seen in that office in the last few months. Like the old saying goes, "when it rains, it pours" and even though her condition was rare, it must have been the chosen one that year.
The counselor also told us a little bit about what would happen the next few months. Then the doctor informed us that when the day came and our baby was born, she would immediately be put in the newborn intensive care unit and would require surgery within a week or so of being born. The surgery was necessary so that her intestines could be moved into their proper places so that she could survive on her own. So not only would our daughter have a 50% chance of surviving, she would require surgery to even give her a fighting chance at life.
So the next 4 months presented a series of tests, finger pricks, amniocentesis procedures (which was excruciatingly painful), and several more ultrasounds. Plus knowing 4 months of ahead of time that our daughter only had a 50% chance to live gave us time to prepare for the inevitable, even though deep down in my heart, I believed heart and soul that she would live and be a normal child someday.
We told my oldest daughter who was 3 at the time that she had a baby sister who would be born, but that she was sick and had to stay in the hospital for awhile after she was born. Even though my oldest didn't fully understand, she was fully aware of the fact she was going to be a big sister and she was excited no matter what.
We were trying to pick out a name for our daughter. We really liked the name Mindy, but we had no idea what middle name could work with Mindy. I liked the name Anna because I had a great grandmother with that name but "Mindy Anna" just didn't work for my taste. So I was walking through my kitchen one night and it hit me like a ton of bricks. The word grace just flowed out of my mouth. I put the two words together and now my daughter had a name ~ Mindy Grace. It was an instant agreement with my husband at the time, and big sister who we allowed to have a vote too.
Then fast forward to April. We decided the big day to induce labor should be May 20. So it was set, written on the calendar and all. Little did I know, God had other plans for my child. He chose this day, 6 years ago, for Mindy Grace to make her entrance into the world. It was a Sunday morning about 6:00 a.m. I was laying in bed and all of a sudden I thought I peed my pants. Lord almighty, it was something that can happen to pregnant women but I was annoyed! So after doing some investigating, something was different. I ran and got my What to Expect When You're Expecting pregnancy book and read the signs of labor. Yes, I had been through labor once before, but they broke my water at the hospital so this was all new to me. I quickly realized I had signs of labor so I called my doctor and he said it sounded like my water had broke and I'd better get to the hospital. So off we went to the hospital, not completely sure I was in labor, but had a feeling I might be. I think it was more of the fact I was in denial because I knew it was too soon for Mindy Grace to be born because she was already going to have a rocky start into the world. And being born 3 weeks earlier than originally planned made her chances even slimmer.
So we arrived at the hospital and the nurse checked and said I was dilated to 7 and I would be delivering my daughter that day. I had a moment of panic breakdown reaction and started screaming "no, no, no, it's too early." But I had no choice and ready or not, I was going to help bring Mindy Grace into the world that day. One thing I always think about, even looking back, was that Mindy Grace was safe and alive while she was still inside me. And reality told me I could not stay pregnant with her forever. But once she was no longer inside of me, safe and secure in the womb, the battle began for her tiny little body to keep herself alive. I could no longer protect her, she was in God's hands at the point she entered the world. So at 11:48 a.m. Mindy Grace made her grand entrance on this earth only to be whisked away 2 seconds later off to the NICU (newborn intensive care unit). I was then taken from high risk pregnancy unit and moved to a normal maternity room. A regular maternity room that normally housed a mother and her healthy baby; not a mother who had to walk downstairs to visit her daughter in the NICU. But that was ok because I knew it was up to God at that point what plans he had for Mindy.
I stayed in my room for about 4 hours before I was permitted to go to the NICU to meet Mindy. I remember they made me ride in a wheelchair and I hated that. I am so independent and could walk on my own but I had to follow the hospital's procedures and be a good little patient and ride in the darn wheelchair. I remember my mom was there at that point. So she went with me and Mindy's dad to meet her. I took one look at her and knew she was mine. She looked so much like her daddy. Even through all the tubes and needles and wires, it was clear who she belonged to. She was beautiful and had a full head of brown hair. No wonder I had so much heartburn during the pregancy with the amount of hair she had!
The next couple days we had a few visitors that came to the hospital to see us. We were allowed to bring one visitor at a time and her dad or I had to be with the person. Life was a roller coaster ride from hour to hour with a newborn baby in the NICU. One minute she was doing fine, and the next minute changes were made to keep her more stable. Well on Tuesday morning, or day 2 of her life, we received a call in my hospital room at 9 a.m. They told us to come down to the NICU immediately. We ran downstairs only to hear devastating news. They expected our daughter to live maybe an hour, if we were lucky. So all of a sudden as we prepared for the worst, a team of about 10-12 doctors and nurses were surrounding our baby working on her trying to stabilize her. It all happened so fast but they were only doing their job. She had to have a blood transfusion and I do remember signing the paperwork for that. Well I can say without a doubt, Mindy Grace was a little fighter because not only did she survive that little ordeal, she lived another 7 days for a total of 9 days on this earth.
I remember I was released from the hospital to go home later that day. That was the strangest feeling ever. I walked out to my truck to go home after just having a baby. Only something was missing ~ the newborn daughter I had just brought into the world a couple days earlier who laid in the NICU fighting for her life. But again, it was ok because it was all in God's hands and I was not in control of the situation anymore.
The next few days were the biggest roller coaster ride of life I have ever been on. Things were good one day, and not so good the next. The doctors assured us that was normal. They were trying to get her to the point they could stabilize her so she could have surgery. The surgery was high risk and a very serious operation so she needed to be stable to have a chance of surviving the surgery. We did receive some good news though ~ it was cold season among young children and the NICU would not permit anyone under 12 years old in the NICU. Well, the next weekend, they lifted that ban and would allow children under 12 in to the NICU. So this now meant that my oldest daughter would get to meet her younger sister she had waited months to meet. So the very day we could take her, we did. And she got to meet her 1 week old baby sister on Sunday afternoon.
Looking back, I now understand why Mindy Grace was here for 9 days on this earth. If God had taken her from us on day 2, then my oldest never would have met her younger sister. So that was God's way of allowing her to meet Mindy. And I thank God everyday for that huge blessing.
Day 9 ~ Tuesday May 6, 2003 - Disaster strikes. We received a call at 5 a.m. to get to the hospital immediately. Mindy had fought for 9 days but she was worn out. Her little body was tired of fighting and it was time for her to be called to Heaven that day. Her heart rate was fluctuating all over the place and they unhooked the machines shortly before 8:00 a.m. They was nothing more they could do so they placed Mindy on a pillow and both her dad and I got to hold her for the first time. She took her last breath and went with the angels at 8:20 a.m. while laying in her Daddy's arms.
It was hard watching our daughter lay there lifeless, but it was also kind of a relief. She was no longer fighting for her life and struggling each day. She also had a curvature in her spine so she would have had other difficulties if she had survived. She might have been confined to a wheelchair her entire life, we don't really know. But I won't do the "what if" scenario because God chose to bless us with our second daughter for 9 days and not spare her any more pain or heartache. And we are so thankful for that.
Mindy Grace was laid to rest 3 days later. She was buried next to her great grandmother who passed away 3 months before Mindy was born. So I know in my heart that she is in Heaven being taken care of by my wonderful grandma. In fact, when we buried Mindy, a family member of mine painted a picture in my mind for me. The funny thing is I had seen the same image before he even told me what he envisioned. I pictured my grandma sitting in her rocking chair with Mindy in her arms. Rocking her and taking care of her just like she used to take care of me when I was a baby. So I know she is ok in Heaven because she is with my grandma, and the angels and God and Jesus.
Back to present day ~ Mindy was born 6 years ago today. Much time has passed but it also feels like it was just yesterday. I can remember all the nurses names, what they wore, and all the details of the day she was born and the day she passed. It is a memory that will be forever engraved in my mind. I wouldn't change a thing about what happened because we were meant to be Mindy's parents, and she was meant to go to Heaven sooner than others in our family. I am so grateful that I had the chance to have her for 9 days, even though it was a short time span. Mindy Grace taught me so much about life. She was a little helpless child that fought for her life with all she had. I have learned to thank God for my blessings and to be grateful for what I have been given in this world. I have learned that each second I breath is a blessing. I have learned if I can make a difference in one person's world, then it was worth what I went through to be able to do that.
One thing that helped me tremendously was the fact that my doctor's office put me in contact with another mother who had a child with Mindy's condition. Her son was born a couple years prior and had survived the surgery and was a perfectly normal healthy little boy. I have never met her but I have been in contact with her all of these years. She really helped me get through some of those tough moments, especially in the beginning.
I have also been able to help a couple of people who have lost a child or had a miscarriage or something of the sort. Our 7 year old neighbor was killed 3 years ago and I have become good friends with his mother. I have changed as a person because of losing Mindy, but it was a change for the better. Everyone deals with death differently, and there is no right or wrong way to handle death. I believe I handled it well, considering the circumstances. And knowing 4 months ahead of time made all the difference in the world. Time heals all wounds. We will never forget Mindy Grace but dealing with her death has became easier as the years have flown by.
We have an annual tradition where we let a balloon off at her grave each year. We get her a "Happy Birthday" balloon and send it up to Heaven to her each year. Normally we always watch the balloon disappear into the sky. It's a tradition that began on her first birthday, and will continue each year.
If you have read this post, thank you. I'm sure there will be some tears shed over reading it, I cried a little bit myself while writing it. I have always wanted to share Mindy's story with someone, so the blog is a perfect place for that. For those of you who knew Mindy, you know what a remarkable little baby she was and how incredible her story was. For those of you who never met her, I hope she has touched your life in some way or another. She was a beautiful little girl who will always be a part of me, her daddy, our family and friends, and anyone who takes the time read her story.
From Earth to Heaven ~ Happy 6th Birthday Mindy Grace. You are loved and missed everyday and we will meet again someday!
My first response was a "diaph.... what?!?!" The doctor than repeated it and little did I know by the next day, I would be able to pronounce it and explain what those terms meant. So I thought to myself, no big deal. Things with babies are irregular all the time, so it couldn't be anything of great concern. What I found out on January 7, 2003 changed and permanently altered my life. We arrived at the specialist's office the next morning and had another ultrasound. I was just laying there in my own little world wishing they would hurry up so I could get back to work until I heard the words I can still hear him say today "Only about 50% of these babies survive." "WHAT??" was my only response. Then my tune quickly changed and I immediately realized how serious her condition was.
In my own terms, this is what I learned a diaphragmatic hernia to be. The diaphragm is supposed to close up when a fetus is approximately 10 weeks old. Well, for some reason our baby's did not close up and there was a hole in the diaphragm. This made all of her inside organs and intestines move into places they should not be. Basically all of her intestines and organs were pushed up into her chest and her heart was positioned into her right chest instead of in the center.
So we were then escorted into a room with a counselor. We basically had two options ~ carry on the pregnancy and take the 50% chance that our daughter would survive or do the unthinkable and abort the pregnancy and not deal with the consequences that were slammed in our faces within 24 hours. Well, there was NO decision to be made. My child had a 50% chance to live and I could not live with myself if I didn't give her a fair fighting chance. Statistically her condition was a fluke thing (nothing genetic) and only happened in 1 out of every 2500 babies. Oh, and we were the 4th case of it to be seen in that office in the last few months. Like the old saying goes, "when it rains, it pours" and even though her condition was rare, it must have been the chosen one that year.
The counselor also told us a little bit about what would happen the next few months. Then the doctor informed us that when the day came and our baby was born, she would immediately be put in the newborn intensive care unit and would require surgery within a week or so of being born. The surgery was necessary so that her intestines could be moved into their proper places so that she could survive on her own. So not only would our daughter have a 50% chance of surviving, she would require surgery to even give her a fighting chance at life.
So the next 4 months presented a series of tests, finger pricks, amniocentesis procedures (which was excruciatingly painful), and several more ultrasounds. Plus knowing 4 months of ahead of time that our daughter only had a 50% chance to live gave us time to prepare for the inevitable, even though deep down in my heart, I believed heart and soul that she would live and be a normal child someday.
We told my oldest daughter who was 3 at the time that she had a baby sister who would be born, but that she was sick and had to stay in the hospital for awhile after she was born. Even though my oldest didn't fully understand, she was fully aware of the fact she was going to be a big sister and she was excited no matter what.
We were trying to pick out a name for our daughter. We really liked the name Mindy, but we had no idea what middle name could work with Mindy. I liked the name Anna because I had a great grandmother with that name but "Mindy Anna" just didn't work for my taste. So I was walking through my kitchen one night and it hit me like a ton of bricks. The word grace just flowed out of my mouth. I put the two words together and now my daughter had a name ~ Mindy Grace. It was an instant agreement with my husband at the time, and big sister who we allowed to have a vote too.
Then fast forward to April. We decided the big day to induce labor should be May 20. So it was set, written on the calendar and all. Little did I know, God had other plans for my child. He chose this day, 6 years ago, for Mindy Grace to make her entrance into the world. It was a Sunday morning about 6:00 a.m. I was laying in bed and all of a sudden I thought I peed my pants. Lord almighty, it was something that can happen to pregnant women but I was annoyed! So after doing some investigating, something was different. I ran and got my What to Expect When You're Expecting pregnancy book and read the signs of labor. Yes, I had been through labor once before, but they broke my water at the hospital so this was all new to me. I quickly realized I had signs of labor so I called my doctor and he said it sounded like my water had broke and I'd better get to the hospital. So off we went to the hospital, not completely sure I was in labor, but had a feeling I might be. I think it was more of the fact I was in denial because I knew it was too soon for Mindy Grace to be born because she was already going to have a rocky start into the world. And being born 3 weeks earlier than originally planned made her chances even slimmer.
So we arrived at the hospital and the nurse checked and said I was dilated to 7 and I would be delivering my daughter that day. I had a moment of panic breakdown reaction and started screaming "no, no, no, it's too early." But I had no choice and ready or not, I was going to help bring Mindy Grace into the world that day. One thing I always think about, even looking back, was that Mindy Grace was safe and alive while she was still inside me. And reality told me I could not stay pregnant with her forever. But once she was no longer inside of me, safe and secure in the womb, the battle began for her tiny little body to keep herself alive. I could no longer protect her, she was in God's hands at the point she entered the world. So at 11:48 a.m. Mindy Grace made her grand entrance on this earth only to be whisked away 2 seconds later off to the NICU (newborn intensive care unit). I was then taken from high risk pregnancy unit and moved to a normal maternity room. A regular maternity room that normally housed a mother and her healthy baby; not a mother who had to walk downstairs to visit her daughter in the NICU. But that was ok because I knew it was up to God at that point what plans he had for Mindy.
I stayed in my room for about 4 hours before I was permitted to go to the NICU to meet Mindy. I remember they made me ride in a wheelchair and I hated that. I am so independent and could walk on my own but I had to follow the hospital's procedures and be a good little patient and ride in the darn wheelchair. I remember my mom was there at that point. So she went with me and Mindy's dad to meet her. I took one look at her and knew she was mine. She looked so much like her daddy. Even through all the tubes and needles and wires, it was clear who she belonged to. She was beautiful and had a full head of brown hair. No wonder I had so much heartburn during the pregancy with the amount of hair she had!
The next couple days we had a few visitors that came to the hospital to see us. We were allowed to bring one visitor at a time and her dad or I had to be with the person. Life was a roller coaster ride from hour to hour with a newborn baby in the NICU. One minute she was doing fine, and the next minute changes were made to keep her more stable. Well on Tuesday morning, or day 2 of her life, we received a call in my hospital room at 9 a.m. They told us to come down to the NICU immediately. We ran downstairs only to hear devastating news. They expected our daughter to live maybe an hour, if we were lucky. So all of a sudden as we prepared for the worst, a team of about 10-12 doctors and nurses were surrounding our baby working on her trying to stabilize her. It all happened so fast but they were only doing their job. She had to have a blood transfusion and I do remember signing the paperwork for that. Well I can say without a doubt, Mindy Grace was a little fighter because not only did she survive that little ordeal, she lived another 7 days for a total of 9 days on this earth.
I remember I was released from the hospital to go home later that day. That was the strangest feeling ever. I walked out to my truck to go home after just having a baby. Only something was missing ~ the newborn daughter I had just brought into the world a couple days earlier who laid in the NICU fighting for her life. But again, it was ok because it was all in God's hands and I was not in control of the situation anymore.
The next few days were the biggest roller coaster ride of life I have ever been on. Things were good one day, and not so good the next. The doctors assured us that was normal. They were trying to get her to the point they could stabilize her so she could have surgery. The surgery was high risk and a very serious operation so she needed to be stable to have a chance of surviving the surgery. We did receive some good news though ~ it was cold season among young children and the NICU would not permit anyone under 12 years old in the NICU. Well, the next weekend, they lifted that ban and would allow children under 12 in to the NICU. So this now meant that my oldest daughter would get to meet her younger sister she had waited months to meet. So the very day we could take her, we did. And she got to meet her 1 week old baby sister on Sunday afternoon.
Looking back, I now understand why Mindy Grace was here for 9 days on this earth. If God had taken her from us on day 2, then my oldest never would have met her younger sister. So that was God's way of allowing her to meet Mindy. And I thank God everyday for that huge blessing.
Day 9 ~ Tuesday May 6, 2003 - Disaster strikes. We received a call at 5 a.m. to get to the hospital immediately. Mindy had fought for 9 days but she was worn out. Her little body was tired of fighting and it was time for her to be called to Heaven that day. Her heart rate was fluctuating all over the place and they unhooked the machines shortly before 8:00 a.m. They was nothing more they could do so they placed Mindy on a pillow and both her dad and I got to hold her for the first time. She took her last breath and went with the angels at 8:20 a.m. while laying in her Daddy's arms.
It was hard watching our daughter lay there lifeless, but it was also kind of a relief. She was no longer fighting for her life and struggling each day. She also had a curvature in her spine so she would have had other difficulties if she had survived. She might have been confined to a wheelchair her entire life, we don't really know. But I won't do the "what if" scenario because God chose to bless us with our second daughter for 9 days and not spare her any more pain or heartache. And we are so thankful for that.
Mindy Grace was laid to rest 3 days later. She was buried next to her great grandmother who passed away 3 months before Mindy was born. So I know in my heart that she is in Heaven being taken care of by my wonderful grandma. In fact, when we buried Mindy, a family member of mine painted a picture in my mind for me. The funny thing is I had seen the same image before he even told me what he envisioned. I pictured my grandma sitting in her rocking chair with Mindy in her arms. Rocking her and taking care of her just like she used to take care of me when I was a baby. So I know she is ok in Heaven because she is with my grandma, and the angels and God and Jesus.
Back to present day ~ Mindy was born 6 years ago today. Much time has passed but it also feels like it was just yesterday. I can remember all the nurses names, what they wore, and all the details of the day she was born and the day she passed. It is a memory that will be forever engraved in my mind. I wouldn't change a thing about what happened because we were meant to be Mindy's parents, and she was meant to go to Heaven sooner than others in our family. I am so grateful that I had the chance to have her for 9 days, even though it was a short time span. Mindy Grace taught me so much about life. She was a little helpless child that fought for her life with all she had. I have learned to thank God for my blessings and to be grateful for what I have been given in this world. I have learned that each second I breath is a blessing. I have learned if I can make a difference in one person's world, then it was worth what I went through to be able to do that.
One thing that helped me tremendously was the fact that my doctor's office put me in contact with another mother who had a child with Mindy's condition. Her son was born a couple years prior and had survived the surgery and was a perfectly normal healthy little boy. I have never met her but I have been in contact with her all of these years. She really helped me get through some of those tough moments, especially in the beginning.
I have also been able to help a couple of people who have lost a child or had a miscarriage or something of the sort. Our 7 year old neighbor was killed 3 years ago and I have become good friends with his mother. I have changed as a person because of losing Mindy, but it was a change for the better. Everyone deals with death differently, and there is no right or wrong way to handle death. I believe I handled it well, considering the circumstances. And knowing 4 months ahead of time made all the difference in the world. Time heals all wounds. We will never forget Mindy Grace but dealing with her death has became easier as the years have flown by.
We have an annual tradition where we let a balloon off at her grave each year. We get her a "Happy Birthday" balloon and send it up to Heaven to her each year. Normally we always watch the balloon disappear into the sky. It's a tradition that began on her first birthday, and will continue each year.
If you have read this post, thank you. I'm sure there will be some tears shed over reading it, I cried a little bit myself while writing it. I have always wanted to share Mindy's story with someone, so the blog is a perfect place for that. For those of you who knew Mindy, you know what a remarkable little baby she was and how incredible her story was. For those of you who never met her, I hope she has touched your life in some way or another. She was a beautiful little girl who will always be a part of me, her daddy, our family and friends, and anyone who takes the time read her story.
From Earth to Heaven ~ Happy 6th Birthday Mindy Grace. You are loved and missed everyday and we will meet again someday!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Never Settle
Never settle for anything less than the best. This has been my motto in the last year. This motto could apply to alot of things in life. In my particular case, I would never settle for less than I deserve because I know my self worth. Along with this motto came my sense of independence. I am more independent than I have ever been and it is good to be that way. People who are independent tend to have a bit more self confidence than people who depend on others for everything. And when people rely on others and forget who they really are, it is bound to come to a painful crash landing eventually. I have been on both ends of the spectrum and neither way is good or fair for that matter.
So, never settle. Plain and simple ~ don't do it. Because if you settle for something, you will always be searching for more. You will always be looking for something you do not have or wondering what else more is out there to explore. So with any decision you make in life, make sure you are 110% concrete sure that whatever it is you have decided is what you want. Decisions are like concrete ~ once they are made, you cannot go back and undo what has already been done. You can break up the concrete or change your mind about the decision, but there is damage that cannot be undone. There is nothing worse than making a decision when your brain is still not settled on what it truly wants, and then realizing you made a mistake and wish you could take that decision back.
After the many changes I've had to roll through in life, I will never settle again. I might make choices or compromises, but I will never sacrifice who I am or what I am to please someone else. And if you find yourself leaning on something or someone so much that your world would crumble if they disappeared in a second's notice or if you make sacrifices you cannot live with in the long run, then you, my friend, are settling. And what happens when you settle? It will come back to haunt you in the long run. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not even next year, but it will come back to bite you in the rear end at some point in time.
I love the song "Settlin" by Sugarland. This song refers to a girl who will not settle for anything less than everything. She's had enough "so-so" for the rest of life. I found this song very powerful last year when I was going through some major changes in life. If you know it, listen to the lyrics again and really think about it. And if you have never heard it, this would be a wonderful time to listen to it! Never again will I settle, and neither should you!
So if you have read this so far and are pondering if you are "settling" for something or someone, that should open your eyes. If the question "am I settling?" is weighing on your mind, then it sounds like you probably are. Your current scenario may be great to pass the time and pacify yourself, but if you settle for anything less than the best, you will regret it later on down the road. And when you reach the point that you can answer truthfully that you are not "settling," you are right where you should be. Stay there, be content and explore what more life has to offer! For when we are happy and not "settling" that is where we are meant to be at that moment in time.
So, never settle. Plain and simple ~ don't do it. Because if you settle for something, you will always be searching for more. You will always be looking for something you do not have or wondering what else more is out there to explore. So with any decision you make in life, make sure you are 110% concrete sure that whatever it is you have decided is what you want. Decisions are like concrete ~ once they are made, you cannot go back and undo what has already been done. You can break up the concrete or change your mind about the decision, but there is damage that cannot be undone. There is nothing worse than making a decision when your brain is still not settled on what it truly wants, and then realizing you made a mistake and wish you could take that decision back.
After the many changes I've had to roll through in life, I will never settle again. I might make choices or compromises, but I will never sacrifice who I am or what I am to please someone else. And if you find yourself leaning on something or someone so much that your world would crumble if they disappeared in a second's notice or if you make sacrifices you cannot live with in the long run, then you, my friend, are settling. And what happens when you settle? It will come back to haunt you in the long run. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not even next year, but it will come back to bite you in the rear end at some point in time.
I love the song "Settlin" by Sugarland. This song refers to a girl who will not settle for anything less than everything. She's had enough "so-so" for the rest of life. I found this song very powerful last year when I was going through some major changes in life. If you know it, listen to the lyrics again and really think about it. And if you have never heard it, this would be a wonderful time to listen to it! Never again will I settle, and neither should you!
So if you have read this so far and are pondering if you are "settling" for something or someone, that should open your eyes. If the question "am I settling?" is weighing on your mind, then it sounds like you probably are. Your current scenario may be great to pass the time and pacify yourself, but if you settle for anything less than the best, you will regret it later on down the road. And when you reach the point that you can answer truthfully that you are not "settling," you are right where you should be. Stay there, be content and explore what more life has to offer! For when we are happy and not "settling" that is where we are meant to be at that moment in time.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Changes in the Path of Life
It happens all the time. We are headed down a certain path in life and then all of a sudden we hit a road block in the middle of the trail that stops us. Often times we are blindsided by the road block and want to go around it but we cannot go around it. We must work to move the road block which means we have to stop skipping along life's path, make a CHANGE and develop a power strong enough to move the road block. When we become strong enough to move the road block, it's then that we can continue down the path of life and see what more or new exciting things that God has in store for us.
So many times we receive signs from God that point us in a certain direction. The key word to that statement is a "certain" direction. Often times we think we know what the end result will be when we choose to follow a certain path. But what we must realize is that just because we follow a certain direction, sometimes the rainbow at the end of the trail might be something totally different than we thought we would receive when we reach the pot of gold. Sometimes God takes us down a certain path in life to make us see things we never saw or make us realize things we never knew before. God will never mislead us, but we must follow His direction and we will then see what He has in store for us.
God brings every person into our life for a REASON of some kind. Sometimes it is to make us see the light about a situation, or the truth about another person. Everything happens for a reason, and there is something we learn about life through every obstacle we overcome and every person that crosses out path. Remember that things happen in God's time, not ours. We must continue to pray for guidance on a daily basis to arrive to our destination in life.
So if you hit a road block in life or are afraid to make CHANGES in life, remember to ROLL WITH THE CHANGES. Sometimes people get hurt in the midst of the situation, and other times people find out exactly where they are meant to be in life. God will never intentionally hurt us, but we must go through trials and tribulations to make ourselves stronger so that we know when we reach the place in life we are supposed to be. God will only bless us as long as we ask for guidance from Him above. And if we think we are where we are supposed to be and then thunder strikes BAM, that is NOT where we are supposed to be. We must keep moving forward and take lessons learned from the past and apply them to our current scenario so that we can reach our future destination.
I am amazed at some of the paths God has taken me down in life. One minute I think I know exactly where I'm headed and have everything figured out, and then lightning strikes. The lightning is never a bad thing because if lightning strikes, it means we are supposed to change direction or take another path than we were heading. And when I have made changes down the path I am headed, I have been blessed so abundantly I can't even describe it. I know now that I am exactly where I am meant to be, and who is supposed to be in my life for a reason, who is supposed to be in my life for a season, and who is supposed to be in my life for longer than a season.
God works in mysterious ways. He uses people to send us messages whether they are good or bad. He will never steer us wrong if we listen to Him. He also uses people to show us when we need to make a change in the direction we are going. Thank you God for all the blessings you have given to me. I cannot begin to imagine my life any other way than it is now. As I always say, live and love happy because life is short and we never know what can happen from day to day...
So many times we receive signs from God that point us in a certain direction. The key word to that statement is a "certain" direction. Often times we think we know what the end result will be when we choose to follow a certain path. But what we must realize is that just because we follow a certain direction, sometimes the rainbow at the end of the trail might be something totally different than we thought we would receive when we reach the pot of gold. Sometimes God takes us down a certain path in life to make us see things we never saw or make us realize things we never knew before. God will never mislead us, but we must follow His direction and we will then see what He has in store for us.
God brings every person into our life for a REASON of some kind. Sometimes it is to make us see the light about a situation, or the truth about another person. Everything happens for a reason, and there is something we learn about life through every obstacle we overcome and every person that crosses out path. Remember that things happen in God's time, not ours. We must continue to pray for guidance on a daily basis to arrive to our destination in life.
So if you hit a road block in life or are afraid to make CHANGES in life, remember to ROLL WITH THE CHANGES. Sometimes people get hurt in the midst of the situation, and other times people find out exactly where they are meant to be in life. God will never intentionally hurt us, but we must go through trials and tribulations to make ourselves stronger so that we know when we reach the place in life we are supposed to be. God will only bless us as long as we ask for guidance from Him above. And if we think we are where we are supposed to be and then thunder strikes BAM, that is NOT where we are supposed to be. We must keep moving forward and take lessons learned from the past and apply them to our current scenario so that we can reach our future destination.
I am amazed at some of the paths God has taken me down in life. One minute I think I know exactly where I'm headed and have everything figured out, and then lightning strikes. The lightning is never a bad thing because if lightning strikes, it means we are supposed to change direction or take another path than we were heading. And when I have made changes down the path I am headed, I have been blessed so abundantly I can't even describe it. I know now that I am exactly where I am meant to be, and who is supposed to be in my life for a reason, who is supposed to be in my life for a season, and who is supposed to be in my life for longer than a season.
God works in mysterious ways. He uses people to send us messages whether they are good or bad. He will never steer us wrong if we listen to Him. He also uses people to show us when we need to make a change in the direction we are going. Thank you God for all the blessings you have given to me. I cannot begin to imagine my life any other way than it is now. As I always say, live and love happy because life is short and we never know what can happen from day to day...
Friday, April 17, 2009
We All Need Some Inspiration Each Day
I thought I would share some more inspirational quotes I received in an e-mail this morning.
You may not realize this, but the following is 100% true. Think about some part of it daily.
There are at least 2 people in this world who you would die for. And at least 15 people in this world who love you in some way. ~ And if you think about it, there are probably many more people who you give your life for, and that love you in return. And I love 'em every one!
The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. ~ Now that is so and completely true. If someone is envious of you, or wants what you have, it is only natural for that person to develop feelings of hatred towards you. I personally never use the word "hate." I substitute "strongly dislike" because "hate" is a strong word in my opinion. So if someone "hates" you, the best thing you can do is be nice to that person and pray they find what they are looking for. You never know, maybe one day you could help that person in some way that once "hated" you.
A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone even if they do not like you. ~ I love the phrase "smile, it looks pretty on you." Try it sometime. I know I have been smiling to the fullest extent lately and what a difference it has made in my world. Whether it's because of someone or a reference to an inside joke (cute fella), smiling releases negative energy and brightens the day, even if just a little.
Every night, someone thinks about you. You mean the world to someone. ~ True. Each night, at least one person thinks about you, or more if you are lucky. I know I mean the world to someone and others mean the world to me.
You are special and unique. Someone you don't even know - loves you. ~ Often times we come into contact with new people that will have a dramatic impact on our life. God has a plan and a reason for each and every person we meet. Lord knows I am discovering that lately!
When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it. ~ AMEN! Sometimes our biggest mistakes lead us to blessings we would have never even discovered if we hadn't make the mistakes we have in the past. I am living proof of that because I am right where I need to be right now.
When you think the world has turned it's back on you... take another look. ~ When you feel all the world is against you, it's normally quite the opposite. It is you that has turned your back on the world.
Always remember the compliments that you received. Forget about the rude remarks. ~ I deal with negative remarks all the time and the best thing I can do is blow them off. Normally people say things in the heat of the moment, and then later regret it. Thank God I have enough compliments that come my way to outweigh the negative words my ears hear.
Always remember... when life hands you a lemon ~ ask for sugar. ~ I love this one! When life throws a curve ball or things at us we don't want to handle, pray for some sweetness from God above. Eventually all lemons turn into blessings at some point in time. It may not be right away, but things happen when the time is right.
Good friends are like stars, you don't always see them but you know they are there. ~ Very true. I also have friends I have never even met that I have relied on to get me through certain scenarios. Thank you =-)
I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I am there - than a whole truckload when I am gone. ~ Say what you need to say, and do what you need to do while you have the chance. Don't wait until it's too late if there is something you have been holding back on saying to someone or a chore you need to do. It's better to living knowing you took care of your to do list, then living with regret that you never accomplished something you should have.
Happiness keeps you sweet.
Trials keep you strong.
Sorrow keeps you human.
Life keeps you humble. ~ Again, true. I know that when I am happy in life, I am in a fabulous mood and not alot can bring me down. During my trials and hard times in life, I found myself closer to God and came out stronger because of what I went through. We all must have a little bit of sorrow and sadness to balance out the good times in life so that we can appreciate our blessings and not take them for granted.
Success keeps you glowing, but only friends keep you going. ~ It's wonderful to be successful at something, and yes, when things are good, I do have that glow about life. But in the good and bad times, my friends have always held me up through them all. And I am so grateful to have the friends I do!
Have a wonderful Friday and remember to apply one (or more) of these ideas to your life each day!
You may not realize this, but the following is 100% true. Think about some part of it daily.
There are at least 2 people in this world who you would die for. And at least 15 people in this world who love you in some way. ~ And if you think about it, there are probably many more people who you give your life for, and that love you in return. And I love 'em every one!
The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. ~ Now that is so and completely true. If someone is envious of you, or wants what you have, it is only natural for that person to develop feelings of hatred towards you. I personally never use the word "hate." I substitute "strongly dislike" because "hate" is a strong word in my opinion. So if someone "hates" you, the best thing you can do is be nice to that person and pray they find what they are looking for. You never know, maybe one day you could help that person in some way that once "hated" you.
A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone even if they do not like you. ~ I love the phrase "smile, it looks pretty on you." Try it sometime. I know I have been smiling to the fullest extent lately and what a difference it has made in my world. Whether it's because of someone or a reference to an inside joke (cute fella), smiling releases negative energy and brightens the day, even if just a little.
Every night, someone thinks about you. You mean the world to someone. ~ True. Each night, at least one person thinks about you, or more if you are lucky. I know I mean the world to someone and others mean the world to me.
You are special and unique. Someone you don't even know - loves you. ~ Often times we come into contact with new people that will have a dramatic impact on our life. God has a plan and a reason for each and every person we meet. Lord knows I am discovering that lately!
When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it. ~ AMEN! Sometimes our biggest mistakes lead us to blessings we would have never even discovered if we hadn't make the mistakes we have in the past. I am living proof of that because I am right where I need to be right now.
When you think the world has turned it's back on you... take another look. ~ When you feel all the world is against you, it's normally quite the opposite. It is you that has turned your back on the world.
Always remember the compliments that you received. Forget about the rude remarks. ~ I deal with negative remarks all the time and the best thing I can do is blow them off. Normally people say things in the heat of the moment, and then later regret it. Thank God I have enough compliments that come my way to outweigh the negative words my ears hear.
Always remember... when life hands you a lemon ~ ask for sugar. ~ I love this one! When life throws a curve ball or things at us we don't want to handle, pray for some sweetness from God above. Eventually all lemons turn into blessings at some point in time. It may not be right away, but things happen when the time is right.
Good friends are like stars, you don't always see them but you know they are there. ~ Very true. I also have friends I have never even met that I have relied on to get me through certain scenarios. Thank you =-)
I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I am there - than a whole truckload when I am gone. ~ Say what you need to say, and do what you need to do while you have the chance. Don't wait until it's too late if there is something you have been holding back on saying to someone or a chore you need to do. It's better to living knowing you took care of your to do list, then living with regret that you never accomplished something you should have.
Happiness keeps you sweet.
Trials keep you strong.
Sorrow keeps you human.
Life keeps you humble. ~ Again, true. I know that when I am happy in life, I am in a fabulous mood and not alot can bring me down. During my trials and hard times in life, I found myself closer to God and came out stronger because of what I went through. We all must have a little bit of sorrow and sadness to balance out the good times in life so that we can appreciate our blessings and not take them for granted.
Success keeps you glowing, but only friends keep you going. ~ It's wonderful to be successful at something, and yes, when things are good, I do have that glow about life. But in the good and bad times, my friends have always held me up through them all. And I am so grateful to have the friends I do!
Have a wonderful Friday and remember to apply one (or more) of these ideas to your life each day!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Jelly Bean Prayer
In observation of Easter this coming weekend, I found this spiritual prayer referring to the colors in a bag of jelly beans and how they can relate to the Lord and the gifts he has given us in this life. Enjoy!
Jelly Bean Prayer
Red is for the blood he gave
Green is for the grass he made
Yellow is for the sun so bright
Orange is for the edge of night
Black is for the sins we made
White is for the Grace he gave
Purple is for His Hour of sorrow
Pink is for our new tomorrow!
Have a safe and happy Easter!
Jelly Bean Prayer
Red is for the blood he gave
Green is for the grass he made
Yellow is for the sun so bright
Orange is for the edge of night
Black is for the sins we made
White is for the Grace he gave
Purple is for His Hour of sorrow
Pink is for our new tomorrow!
Have a safe and happy Easter!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Are You "Fireproof?"
Are You "Fireproof?"
The recent movie release of "Fireproof" has stirred alot of talk and emotion in this world full of people. This is a movie targeted for couples who have been married for a few years and are either on the verge of divorce or are at a point they take each other for granted. Even though this no longer fits my current life scenario, I was still really drawn to the movie and bought it the first day it came out on DVD. I have watched this movie twice now and WOW what a movie it is!
I could relate to the wife character in the movie because I was once in her shoes when I was married. It amazes me how the movie was based on a story; however the scenes of the movie are so real and do tell the normal story of a couple who has been married for a few years. Not only does the couple portray the average "married for a few years" couple but it also has many lessons that can be learned in the movie as well.
What I truly like about the movie is that it is Christian based. This does not mean you have to be a Christian to relate, but it shows how important it is to have a connection to God. It also portrays that when you have a strong connection to the Lord, your life will be better than ever as long as you pray and remain on the right path in life. Only He is the one who knows the plan for each and every person in this world. I think we all have moments where we slip away from our connection and relationship we are supposed to have with the Lord. We all get caught up in our busy lives and our "to do list" of things we have to accomplish each day. Even though we don't intentionally mean to, we sometimes take our family and loved ones for granted and don't take the time to slow down and spend with them as we should. We sometimes put tasks and work in front of what is truly important in our world.
The recent movie release of "Fireproof" has stirred alot of talk and emotion in this world full of people. This is a movie targeted for couples who have been married for a few years and are either on the verge of divorce or are at a point they take each other for granted. Even though this no longer fits my current life scenario, I was still really drawn to the movie and bought it the first day it came out on DVD. I have watched this movie twice now and WOW what a movie it is!
I could relate to the wife character in the movie because I was once in her shoes when I was married. It amazes me how the movie was based on a story; however the scenes of the movie are so real and do tell the normal story of a couple who has been married for a few years. Not only does the couple portray the average "married for a few years" couple but it also has many lessons that can be learned in the movie as well.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is how the husband is skeptical of the Lord in the beginning of the movie, and then about halfway through he realizes he has pushed God aside most of his life and never really fully let the Lord into his heart. He has an "AHA" moment when he is having a conversation with his father about how Jesus should be the most significant part of our lives. He is a good person because he is a fireman who saves lives, he his faithful and honest so in the husband's eyes, he is right with God because he is a "good person." His dad begins to question him why he is so frustrated with his wife. The husband claims the wife is stubborn, makes everything difficult, is ungrateful and is constantly griping about something. He does nice things for her, has tried hard to please her, taken her insults and sarcasm, and in his eyes, has done everything he could to demonstrate that he cares about her. And after all his effort, all she does is spat in his face. Then he asks the ultimate question that I believe is the most important line in the entire movie ~ "How am i supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me?"
God loves us unconditionally even though sometimes we do not deserve it. Even though we have rejected Him and spat in his face, God sent Jesus to die on the cross and take punishment for our sins because He loves us unconditionally. When we finally come to Jesus Christ, it is then we truly began to love others and realize how much we need Him and His forgiveness.
When the husband realized he had never really accepted Jesus Christ into his heart and broke down, his life took a turn and the movie begins to show how he changed as a person after he accepted Christ. His heart began to soften and he went from being a resentful person to a lighthearted easygoing soul. His wife eventually asked him what had changed in him and then he was later able to lead her to the cross as well.
What I truly like about the movie is that it is Christian based. This does not mean you have to be a Christian to relate, but it shows how important it is to have a connection to God. It also portrays that when you have a strong connection to the Lord, your life will be better than ever as long as you pray and remain on the right path in life. Only He is the one who knows the plan for each and every person in this world. I think we all have moments where we slip away from our connection and relationship we are supposed to have with the Lord. We all get caught up in our busy lives and our "to do list" of things we have to accomplish each day. Even though we don't intentionally mean to, we sometimes take our family and loved ones for granted and don't take the time to slow down and spend with them as we should. We sometimes put tasks and work in front of what is truly important in our world.
"Fireproof" brought me back to reality and made me see the light about some things in life. After watching this movie the first time, I felt God pulling me back into his grasp with such a pull that it had an effect on me. And when I watched it the second time, that feeling was reaffirmed just as strong the next time around. Things finally make sense to me for the first time in months and it's a wonderful, refreshing and relaxing feeling. I finally have a sense of direction to where He wants me to be and what He wants me to do in this world. I have realized that there really are people who love me for me and who I am, and who will not try to change me into someone I am not. I have been hugely blessed by God in these recent few weeks and am so grateful that I am on the right path for my destination in life.
If you have not had the opportunity to watch this movie, regardless of your status (married, single, divorced, in a relationship, etc.), I highly recommend grabbing a hold of this story and watching it in the near future. I promise it is worth the couple hours it takes to see this heart wrenching story that has changed the future for lots of couples and people as well.
One of my favorite lines in the movie is as follows: "Fireproof doesn't mean that fire will never come. It just means that when it comes, you will be able to withstand it." In other words, we all have situations or circumstances that get us down and attack us in life. But when those times come, we have to be strong enough to endure the hardships and rough adventures in life. And when we come through those hard times with our head held high, we have then proved we are able to tackle what life throws at us and come out stronger than ever. Remember this is all with God's help, not taking on the world by yourself all alone.
So I will ask the question again - Are YOU "Fireproof?" If you are, good for you! Keep on living, keep on praying, and keep following the word the Lord gives you. If not, I pray for you right now that you will be able to accept Christ into your life and start living right and do the things God would want you to do. For when you do this, you will be "fireproof" to withstand the flames of life and the flames of hell as well.
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