The Good Samaritan

Believe it or not (after the flooding and gloominess of the past few days) it was a cool, dry morning on Wednesday when I took the kids (along with the help of my mom) to the Manheim Farmshow. We enjoyed a fun morning of tractors, animals, craft/food exhibits, and a little of the goat show. Topped off with a milkshake of course!

We loaded up the stroller and the kids when it was time to go and headed straight for kindergarten. I decided to stop for gas on the way home and could not locate my wallet. Anywhere. As I began praying, mom and I both felt like we knew where it was laying...right in the grass where our car had been parked. I called Eric who called the Farmshow Office to see if anyone had turned it in. As I waited for an answer, I felt sick. "Why did this happen? I've never done anything like this before. Ever!" I decided to take mom and my 1 and 2 year olds back to her house and I would make the drive right back up to the farmshow and start looking around.

My phone rang. Eric said that someone (a good Samaritan) had turned it in. Tears welled up in my eyes as I quietly thanked Jesus for protecting it, just like I had asked Him to do. This man had pulled up behind me as I was leaving and literally saw the wallet fall out of my car. He ran after me and yelled, but I was busy focusing on the kids and off to the next thing. He shared with the person at the info desk that he wasn't sure what to do with it. Should he take it to the police department or to the farmshow, which is clearly where I had just been. Well, the LORD directed him to the right place. The man I spoke with assured me that if anyone tried to steal it at the info desk, they would have to "go through me to get it!" We were already planning on going back up to the farmshow that night for the parade. A few hours later, I picked up my wallet at the farmshow information desk from Elwyn. My identity. Safe and sound, untouched, nothing missing. Thank you, Jesus!

It's been a trying few weeks for me. Two weeks ago, my computer froze. I took it TCW Computer and Kyle (one of my newest heroes) told me that the hard drive was failing. That was a friday and they do not have weekend hours. I had backed things up but there were about 2 weeks of missing info. That sick feeling washed over me, once again. No computer for a few days meant no internet, no contact info, no anything. At least not much. It was a moment of realization for me about how much I depend on this oblong box that I stare at so often throughout my day. And no, I don't own a smart phone...for a lot of reasons.

By Tuesday, five days later, I had my computer back home, but it took another day to get her all back and running just like before. Somehow, Kyle had recovered the lost files (miracles really do happen!) and my trust in technology has lessened a little, probably for the better.

Within the last two weeks, two big events involving my identity were lost. I believe the LORD is teaching me a valuable lesson on who I really am. I am nothing without Him. He needs to be my everything. My computer and technology may fail. My wallet may be lost. If I depend on those things to tell me who I am, I am missing out on the bigger picture. I am a daughter of the Most High God. I am a wife of ten years to a phenomenal husband. I am a mother of three miraculous children ages 1, 2 and 5. He is grabbing at my heart and asking me to come close to Him so that He can whisper the real truth to me. I am non-replaceable. There is no one else like me. Nothing can be taken from me that I don't already eternally have. Computers and wallets don't mean a thing in heaven.

I need Thee, oh I need Thee. Every hour I need Thee.

And here are a few pics of the good times I was able to capture before my wallet took a little journey...

Ethan: 4 Days Old

I met Mark and Lindsay about four years ago when I did a one year anniversary session for them. There is nothing sweeter than having the privilege of following my clients throughout different seasons of their lives. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage :) I got an email over the weekend that they gave birth to their firstborn son, Ethan Isaiah on Friday and wanted me to come to their house to capture his cuteness as soon as possible. He was only four days out of the womb when I met him and wow, was he ever handsome! I got to hear more of their journey into parenthood as I waited while Ethan got fed and changed and burped in between snapping my shutter.  It gave me goosebumps as their story has some similarities to Eric and I's journey as well. God has granted them the desire of their hearts...a 7 lb. 6 oz. healthy baby boy!  I asked if Mark and Lindsay would be willing to share more of their story for you, my readers and they jumped at the opportunity. So here it is, word for word from this wonderful couple. You won't want to miss it...

"My husband and I tried to start our family for about two years. After a year of trying, we had some tests done and were told by doctors that we would have difficulty getting pregnant without medical intervention. After praying, we decided to pursue some of those options, still believing that God would heal us both. We knew that this wasn't in our timing, but God's timing and he had a plan for our child; God knew the lives our child would interact with and touch. So we told our doctor that we were ready to try what he suggested. The first two times we attempted the procedure, something did not line up and we were unable to follow through with it. When we were told on the third attempt that it was yet again, not a viable cycle we felt that God was closing doors. We had taken steps to make this happen, but still things weren't falling into place. It was in this difficult time we confessed and declared that no matter what we tried, no matter what procedures we went through, it is God who is the Creator and Giver of life. A week after making this declaration we found out we were pregnant. This third cycle, the cycle we were told was not viable, God showed his glory. We thank Jesus for the grace to walk through this difficult journey and we give Him all the glory and honor for the blessing of our son, Ethan Isaiah."

Thirty-Four

He's lookin' better than ever. Add another candle. So thankful to be able to celebrate his life. I love him dearly. Eric is somewhere in West Virginia riding a motorcycle along with six other guys, since early Friday morning. Today is his scheduled return. We.Can't.Wait!

Family of Five

Our friend, Carrie captured our little family a few days ago at a unique setting. The quarry! The boys thought it was quite fun to play in rocks and we enjoyed watching my parents entertain the kids to make them laugh. So happy with how they turned out. It always feels chaotic on our end, but a great photographer knows how to put us all together ;)

Eric Runs His First 10k...

He's my hero. For so many reasons. One of them being his ability to run like the wind! Eric and his sister, Roanna ran a 10k on Saturday. His goal was to be under 48:00 and well folks, he made it. 47:54 was his time. That is a 7:43 minute/mile pace which is crazy fast! Thankful we could witness him crossing the finish line! He was 15th overall. 8th in the men. 1st in his age group. He's my champion!