2012

Well, I must say that 2012 hasn't been such a kind year so far. Not unless you count that we're still under God's mighty hand of protection! That's the biggest blessing of all. BUT. In reality, 2012 has been a ROUGH year in it's short 2 week span. I'm praying that this means the rest of 2012 will be better.

Day 1 of 2012 began with my mom, sister and I going to Ohio to visit my aunt Ellie who had taken a turn for the worse. Kari and Malachi were excited to spend the day and night with Gammy, Pappy, Chris, and Lacey since I didn't think it wise to take the children to a hospital where we would be spending the day.

(side note: it is currently 2:30 AM and I am still awake so pardon the rambling)

We had a great visit with family and my aunt Ellie was in such good spirits after seeing the family and being able to talk and laugh with everyone. When we left, she was worn out and ready to rest. The next morning, we got up to get ready to see her again and then head home....when I got a call from Pappy saying Malachi had been up all night with the stomach virus and Kari had woke up and passed out on them and was now throwing up.

Needless to say, we made a beeline for Kentucky. I called UK where the doctor told us to bring her in just so they could make sure she was only getting the virus. Pappy and Gammy were going to meet us there. Only....my mom, sister, and I got stuck in the big 40 car pileup on I75 and sat in traffic for two hours. Yes, two hours. What was most interesting in that two hour period of time were all the people heading up the hill on the side of the road to get behind trees and use the bathroom. Or all the people that walked around the interstate visiting with other traveling passengers like they didn't have a care in the world. Or all the people getting in coolers in the back of their vehicles to get snacks and drinks out like it was party time.

While I sat in the vehicle wondering WHEN IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY OPEN UP THE ROAD SO I COULD GET TO MY BABIES???

Kari ended up in the emergency room without me where she was babied and spoiled by the nurses and doctors. They sent her home diagnosed with what would become THE VIRUS.

Why did it become THE VIRUS??? Because when I finally got to the kids and we made it home safe and sound, I was blessed (or cursed) with THE VIRUS. Pappy and Gammy came to help with the kids and then Memaw came the next morning to help. Pappy and Gammy and Lacey also got THE VIRUS the next day. The next day also brought some very hard things for our family. Thus, the reason I asked for prayer last week. I don't really know what to say about that except we still desire your prayers concerning that situation!

To speed this up some, Kari had clinic Monday and all is GREAT! My baby girl is doing great with God's help and we are more than just grateful for that! We left Tuesday afternoon to stay with Memaw for the week.

Thursday morning, however, THE VIRUS visited Memaw. Oh, yes, it did.

She was beginning to get better today (yesterday?) and, since Aunt Brandi's birthday is tomorrow (today? not sure what day or time it is anymore), we had her a big dinner and the kids and I made cupcakes and a cake for her! We had plans of visiting the mall tomorrow on her actual birthday and to take her out to eat.

But what happened??? Aunt Brandi got THE VIRUS. Yes, friends, it's the plague of the new year. Thus, the reason I'm still awake at 2:30 AM. I've been taking care of the invalids.

So. While I've read everyone's blog about all their plans for 2012, my plans are simply to survive at this point. I've always been honest on this blog and tonight is no exception. It's been a tough year already. I didn't think it could be worse than last year but usually just when you think it couldn't get any worse?? Yep, it usually does!

I'm reminded of a scripture that the comedian Mark Lowry quoted once in one of his stories. Although he said it jokingly, I've always remembered it in the tough times and the good times. It's too late for me to look it up because my mind is obviously going 100 MPH, but somewhere in the Bible, it says...and it came to pass.

No matter what happens in life, the only sure thing is our salvation and the love of our Father! At some point in life, we're gonna go through rough things. Bad year? It will pass. Good year? Well, that will probably pass too. Because life isn't a tiptoe through the tulips just because we're children of God.

No, we're not exempt from the testing times of life. We're blessed, however, because of the fact that we have Someone helping us through it. How hard is this life and all its trials!!! But how much harder they would be if we didn't have the Saviour to walk hand in hand with?!

Whatever the rest of this year holds, I'm very thankful that God is faithful and with us every step of the way. :)

(and now I'm going to attempt to get some sleep since everyone else seems fine with the idea of sleeping, even the invalids)