Weekend

I love my new routine of recapping my weekend on Monday mornings.  Weekends have quickly become my favorites.  It is so much fun spending time with my little family of three, and this weekend was no exception.  It was actually quite full.

Of course you know Friday morning started off rough.  I was not feeling well, but by the time I wrote my post on Friday I was upbeat about getting better.  Unfortunately it didn't continue in that direction.  I grew worse as Friday afternoon loomed.  Which meant Alex had to cancel our dinner plans with his department at school and also his plans to watch the Hobbit that evening.  I felt awful but I definitely needed him there to take care of me and the baby.  So Friday night turned out pretty lame, despite our grand plans for the evening.

Friday was also awful for another reason.  After I posted that day, I was stalking my friends on Facebook when I suddenly realized everyone was talking about one event.  I quickly googled the school shooting in Connecticut and was absolutely devastated.  I sat and wept with Eleanor in my arms, begging God for justice and peace.  Events like this will never be understood, I am just thankful for my faith and trust in God. 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:37-39)

I encourage each of you to lean toward our Savior, Jesus Christ and accept His love.  There is no time like the present, because you never know what the future may hold. 

Despite still not feeling well, I had no choice but to wake up early and attend the Girls on the Run 5k on Saturday morning.  But honestly there is nowhere I would rather have been after the devastating events from Friday.  Girls on the Run gives me hope in a future generation that will breed love and respect for each other.  We shared a moment of silence for the victims of the Connecticut shooting and you could feel the stillness in the air.

The event was amazing and I am so proud of all of our volunteers who made it happen.  I am so proud of all the girls who achieved their goals that morning.  I am so blessed to be a part of Girls on the Run, and now Eleanor gets to be a part too!

After the 5k we headed home, out of the cold, to relax for a few hours before the BIG night.  Eleanor's first babysitter!  Alex and I attended our friend's annual Christmas party while Eleanor hung out with my friend Brandy- who conveniently lives down the road from the party.  I had finally taken the time to use the breast pump and had a bottle all prepared for this special night.  We even practiced the night before with Alex feeding Eleanor her very first bottle.  She took it like a champ so we were confident all would be well at the sitter's.

Three hours later we returned to retrieve our child.  We found her as sound asleep as we left her.  Turns out she never even woke up.  Brandy never had to change a diaper or feed her a bottle.  I am so proud of my little girl for being so good to her very first babysitter.  Although I think Brandy was a little disappointed she didn't get to do more!

Sunday was a bit of the usual with a twist.  At church, Testify Too performed in lieu of a sermon.  Testify Ministries is a children's Christian musical group.  The "too" group is the younger kids and they were so much fun to watch.  My friend Brandy's daughter is part of the group so we got to see them again this weekend.  During the performance my thoughts once again raced back to Friday's tragedy.  Watching this young group of children sing the Lord's praises and worship Him through song, dance and story-telling made my heart well-up for the children who died in Connecticut.  After such a terrible event, I am so thankful that I had Saturday's 5k and Sunday's Testify concert to remind me of the joy and hope that still remains through our Savior.

We wrapped up the weekend with a trip to Winston-Salem to celebrate Christmas with Alex's mom since we will be out of town for the holidays. 

We enjoyed a delicious spread of food and opened gifts together before heading home early so Alex could make it to his class and Eleanor and I could do a little food prep for the week ahead.

This weekend was quite eventful.  And one that will remain in my heart for a very long time.  Not that I needed the reminder, but I squeezed my baby a little extra tightly this weekend, and showed my love even more to Alex.  I am truly blessed, but not only because we are safe and well today, but because I know the love of my heavenly father and can trust in life even after death.  Today my prayer is that each of you would know this truth in your own lives too.