Continuing to Count My Blessings

I'm so glad to be back home tonight. After just one night away from my family it feels great to be back and going through our evening routine. Going away just for a short time always seems like a good idea, but when it comes right down to it, I really hate it. I wasn't even gone three hours until I felt that horrible pang of sadness sitting at lunch with my friends in Allentown and watching the little boy and girl across the room from me. At my conference I had the opportunity to meet some incredible parents of special needs kids who will make you appreciate your healthy kids in the first two seconds you meet them. They are amazing people. So you can imagine that last night I couldn't get home fast enough. Unfortunately, both kids were already in bed but at least I had the chance to kiss them before I turned in for the night.

Tonight I continue to count my blessings. As I was sitting down to write this post McKenna came over to me and wanted to tell me a secret. My first thought was that it was something silly like tonight was her doll's birthday or that she wanted a snack. But she brushed my hair back from my ear and said, "I love you, Mom". Those have to be the sweetest words that you can ever hear from your own flesh and blood. Those words fill me with such pride and love. And they remind me that all the trials and difficulties of the day, all the little duties we must get done are all worth it, just to hear those little words from that little heart. And it makes me grateful and thankful for the many, many blessings that have been brought into my life. And on that note I would like to ask those of you who haven't already heard of Stacy and Spencer (or have already been following their blog) to please continue to pray for them. They lost their baby boy last week and still continue on the path to healing. You can visit their blog and read their story at http://sgirl79.blogspot.com/

Thanks to all of you who are a blessing in my life. And Mom, since I know you'll read this...I have a secret - I love you!