Onyx

I love my dog. But when I come home to a bag of flour all over the house, I realize . . .

I still love my dog

My sister, my friend

My sister and I are 13 months apart. She is older than me and adopted. I share the adopted part because God had a plan for her when she was conceived and a plan for her now. God knew that I needed a sister; I needed her to be my sister and that if I was born first, I would not have gotten her.

We have been with each other our whole lives. She has taught me everything I know, or at least most of it.  She told me about Jesus in middle school and has shown me what it means to be his servant. We were together at every birthday party, every holiday, and when my dad died. We were in each other's weddings, at graduation, and even the delivery room (well outside the delivery room) for our own little princesses who are just 10 months apart. Through it all I have not lived more than an hour driving distance from her (except for 3 months after I was married) but God's plan now is for her to move 11 driving hours away from me.

I helped her pack today so she could go to this new land. It was hard. I have tried not to think about the fact that she is moving and I can't drive down and see her for the day. I am sad that our princesses won't be able to play together every week, as they have been doing, or that when her next princess is born in April I can't come every day to help. But I don't like to think about those things. They will work out. God's plan is bigger than mine.

So I will continue to help her pack and encourage her as she makes a new home. And the distance will force us to talk on the phone more and be more intentional about getting together.

I love you sister.

Entering a New World

I've done it! Blogs have always been scary to me. I like to read them and see what other people are doing and thinking, but having one myself was scary. So this is part of my journery of going beyond my fears and starting a blog.

My little princess is 9 months old and I want to remember the day to day. It is easy to look at pictures and remember some events, but I want a place to write down the new things she says and does, and reflect on how God is shaping us in this world.

Thank you for following me on this adventure of raising a princess and fighting the dragons. I hope it will be encouraging, inspiring, make you laugh and at times might make you cry.