In sickness and in death.

There are days when life just doesn't seem fair. Today is one of them. I've been under the weather for over a week now. Severe congestion, loss of voice, lack of energy. It hasn't been pleasant. Just when I thought I was back on the mend, I started getting that sick feeling. I was confused though as I was already sick. Sure enough, I went to bed with a painfully sore throat and achy muscles. I remember waking up a few times to chills, but was too tired to think that I might be running a fever. By the time the alarm went off this morning, I was in pain. Every muscle hurt (including my eyelids) and my throat was unbearably sore. I was running a slight temp too (100.2). I couldn't believe my bad luck. Why????? Even though today is New Year's Eve, Peter needed to be in at work. Lots to do with year end. There was no way I could play the sick card without feeling 100x guilty. So he left for work and I stayed home with the kids, camping out on the couch while Miles was awake and slipping into bed once Miles went down for his morning nap. Thank goodness Simon is old enough to to be trusted to watch PBS by himself without me having to worry about what he's getting into. This last week has just been plain miserable. Not how I pictured spending Christmas and New Years.

After I woke up from my sicky nap, I logged on to facebook. That's when I found out that a friend had lost her 3 year old to a car accident. He died instantly. My heart broke and I couldn't believe that this tragedy had come to someone that I knew. I didn't know her well, but I had met her a few times, and met her kids too. I have mutual friends who are closer to her and her family and so this news traveled far and wide in the facebook world. I'm still in shock. You better believe I'm holding my 4 year old closer today. My heart just breaks thinking about how it must feel to say goodbye to your firstborn. I just can't imagine. And I don't want to.

So yes, this world just seems so unfair. And in contrast, my sickness is nothing when you think about the death of a little child.  It puts everything into perspective. Yesterday at church we sang our church "anthem" song. It Is Well With My Soul. Today seems like an appropriate time to think upon this song. It's a song filled with sorrow and yet rejoicing. Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight.


"And, one day, when He comes back to rule forever, the mountains and trees will dance and sing for joy! The earth will shout out loud! His fame will fill the whole earth – as the waters cover the sea! Everything sad will come untrue. Even death is going to die! And he will wipe away every tear from every eye."

Miles.Paul

Top five {current} things about Miles.Paul:

1. He's crawling. He's everywhere. I'm already looking forward to him walking. Don't get me wrong, I love to watch him crawl, there isn't anything cuter than seeing this little baby wobbling around on his hands and knees. But my goodness, crawling on hardwood/non-carpeted floors is SO dirty and cold. I'm missing my plushy carpet at our old apartment.

2. He popped out another tooth (If you're keeping track, that's 8 teeth at 8 months). Usually this is not such a happy occurrence, but not this time. I wasn't even aware that he was teething because he's been *so* happy. The happiest he's ever been. It took 8 months, but I finally have a happy and somewhat content baby.

3. When I say no, he nods his head yes. This is not a good sign.

4. He also bops his head to music....sometimes in a violent sort of way. I've heard Simon tell him a few times "don't do that, Miles. Your head is going to fall off."

I saved the best for last...
 
5. He's sleeping through the night...in Simon's room! Both boys are in bed by 7pm and usually play in their room/crib in a contented sort of manner until 8am. ::happiness all around::

To be alive is a grand thing. {birthday picture post}

I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.

- Agatha Christie

 

My Pastor used this quote from the great Agatha Christie in a sermon a couple of weeks ago. I thought it fitting for my birthday. Life is a grand thing and I'm grateful for it. It's not always easy (I have few complaints), but it's a gift that I don't take lightly. I am acutely aware of my numerous blessings...

...Blessings like my little peanut, who adores his big brother (the feeling is quite mutual).

 ...And this big-ham-of-a-4-year-old, who sports blonde hair and blue/green eyes like his daddy.

 ...Blessings like this funny dreamy man who I can't seem to get enough of. Best 7.5 years of my life.

 ...This *wonderful* family I married into...

 

....And the family I've been blessed to be apart of for 29 years.

 

I love my family so much and I'm grateful to be alive. For to be alive is a grand thing.

Most photots taken by Eric Vest

Wedding photo taken by Lauren Stonestreet 

Sunday morning ramblings

My husband just left for church without me and without the boys. We have the sniffles, nothing too terrible, but still. I hate missing church because of sickness. Especially during advent season. I'll be missing next week too because of nursery duties. :( Thank goodness for technology. I'll be able to pop my headphones in tomorrow and listen to the sermon via podcast.  It's not the same, but it's close.

My birthday is tomorrow. Monday. I was robbed of a Sunday birthday, due to this being a leap year. Bah-humbug. ;) It's kind of fun though having an extended birthday weekend. I'm just sad that my husband has to work tomorrow. When one thinks of birthdays, presents aren't far from mind. And this year, I've received many special early presents. A couple of weeks ago, I received my first gift from my loving husband. A camera! It wasn't a surprise gift, as we both put a lot of time, energy and thought into this particular brand/model, not to mention searching for the best price - but it's been a much anticipated gift as I've had my eye on it for over a year now. After considering all the pros of owning a "good" camera we decided that the purchase was worth it. I'm very happy with it and love capturing "non-iphone" pictures for us and my far-away family. Yesterday, I felt especially pampered and spoiled.

My brother and his wife sent me a box full of birthday goodies (coffee, a beautiful scarf, and a ombre tumbler - all things I've wanted and needed).  They're the best.

 

+

via Starbucks

 

I also spent yesterday morning with my sweet mother-in-law. She and I get along so well - for which I am ever SO grateful. She's one of the sweeetest people I know and I enjoy spending time with her. She's so generous with her kind words and little gifts. I always come away from our time together feeling blessed beyond words.

Tomorrow, there will be lasagna (a Davoli birthday tradition) and cake. And maybe a birthday card or two in the mail.

But today, we're just taking it easy, in hopes of getting well. It'll be a pj/coffee/lay-on-the-couch/football kind of day. :) It's kind of nice to have a lazy day. Maybe I'll head over to my Tumblr blog and make a music post - I'm sorely behind on my weekly posts... :-/