I Chose Hope!

" I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.  I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:20

Friday, Jan. 15 - The worst words that have been ever spoken to me - " I do not see a heartbeat.  I am so sorry". 
Tears began to flow down my cheeks as I looked up at my husband and saw the tears flowing down his face too.  Next began 2 hours of tests and waiting just to tell us the same awful news.  I could not believe it.  I carried Abbie with no problems, this really could not be true. 

I sat with my husband in the car, looking for a place to eat lunch.  I was not even hungry but knew I should eat it was way past lunch time.  As I sat in the car, thinking and praying.  God began to show me his guiding hand through the past 3 awful hours.  I just so happend to get my favorite doctor for a last minute appointment.  This doctor is hard to schedule an appointment with 2 months out.  Then this same doctor just so happend to be the doctor on call tomm.  He could perform a D & C early in the next morning and end this awful day.  This all happened on a Friday and I had a 4 day weekend to rest.  I did not have to worry about sub plans or school.  Steve and I had already planned a fun family trip on Tuesday.  Boy,  I knew that would be a fun day. 
As I began to think of how God had provided for Steve and I through the last few hours, I began to be filled with hope.  Now instead of being filled with grief and sorrow.  I began to be filled with hope and excitement.  I began to think about not having to work summer school now,  Family Fun Friday, being able to go to Delanco,  getting to go on my family vacation to VA, beach trips with Abbie, my best friends family could now visit this summer.  Wow, I was excited about this summer. 
I began to thank God for the amazing blessings he gives me each day.  I have an amazing husband, wonderful daughter, beautiful house, great family, Steve and I both have jobs we enjoy!  My heart began to change from sorrow to love for my amazing God who has taken away my sorrow and filled my heart with love and hope. 
Every once in awhile I have a sad moment but then God reminds me of his love for me and the many blessing I have and are still to come.  I was able to come home from the hospital Sat. morning and laugh, smile, and play with Abbie because I knew I had a God who is bigger then disappointment.  A God who looks after me and gives me hope for our future!
Thank you God for filling my heart with hope and love when I could have harden my heart with sadness and grief.  Thank you for being with me every moment of the day and providing my every need! 

Please Touch Museum

We took a trip to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.  It was the nicest children's museum I have ever visited (and as a teacher, used to be daycamp director, I have been to many museums!) 

Abbie had a blast.  She loved all the activites in the museum.  We got to go for a carrousel ride, play with boats in water, many slides and tunnels, dramatic play (grocery store, doctor's office, McDonalds), science lab, art center, construction zone.  Abbie loved it all!  Each activity was hands on so the fun continued throughout the entire place.  I am sure we will repeat this trip again!

Bird Feeders

The other day Abbie collected pine cones with her Grandmom.  So we decided to make bird feeders. 

I put peanut butter on the pinecones and then she rolled them in bird seed.  Next, we hung them on our trees in the yard.  Abbie wanted to know why the birds were not coming to eat.  I told her they do not know the food is on the trees.  We played in the yard for awhile.  A flock of birds flew over us and Abbie began running after them yelling "Dinner time birdies, Dinner time" 

Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas!  Abbie was very excited about every part of Christmas. 
We spent Christmas Eve at Avenue Church.  I would not want to be any place else. 
It is such a wonderful evening to come and worship our Lord and Savior.
We spent Christmas morning at our house.  Abbie loved her presents and even enjoyed watching Steve and I open our presents. 
Late morning, we drove up to NJ to spend the rest of Christmas with my family. 
Here are just a few pics. from Christmas day!

Abbie got matching dresses for here and her baby doll from her grandparents! 
She brought her baby doll to church and showed everyone that she matched her baby doll!

Abbie received a guitar from her mom and dad for Christmas.  Now she can play just like her daddy!

Abbie likes to play her guitar and sing the ABC song!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

The weekend before Christmas we got 2 feet of snow!  That is more than we usually get in a Winter. 
Luckily, Abbie's grandparents gave Abbie snow book for Christmas at Thanksgiving. 
So we spent a  lot of time playing in the snow!  Abbie loved making snow angels and a snowman. 

Abbie's Gymnastics Show

Here is a great video of what Abbie has learned in gymanstics. 
When she was learning to do these tricks I told her she needed to take a bow after each trick.
Instead she pretends to ring a bell??  Not sure why but it is pretty cute!!