Christmas 2014

Our first Christmas break post treatment was spent with loved ones........a much needed family time. Time spent absorbing every second surrounded by family and friends! It meant everything to take it all in and enjoy every moment! NOTHING taken for granted......We are so Blessed and soo grateful for our faithful God, JESUS! He is a good God! Sooo Good!! Can't stop singing his praises!! In the midst of our trials and tribulation....HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US. THAT is HIS promise to us!! Right before Christmas Natalia fractured her lower leg, which didn't get put into a cast because of the hardware in the upper leg(prior surgery). On New Year's Eve, Natalia had to be rushed to her urologist's to get cathed. It was heartbreaking to see her crumble when she found out she had to go to yet another doctor's office....fear of having to end up I'm the hospital, ESPECIALLY when she found out about the catheter. Another urinary tract infection........this past weekend we ended up at the pediatrician's, because Natalia had a fever and cellulitis in her leg...she ended up having strep as well...... These are the unexpected surprises that are thrown at us prompting Natalia to go back to asking the WHY question....."why can't I be a normal kid, mommy? Why me, mommy? Why do I have to go to all these doctors, mommy? Why do I have to go through all these procedures? Why do I have to go through so much pain? Another set back......I just want to be normal." We may never know the why's of our life on this earth.....all I know is that our trial is advantageous for our souls...... James 1:2-6, 12 Consider it pure JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you MUST believe and NOT doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. BLESSED is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of LIFE that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 1 Peter 1:6-9 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a LITTLE while you may have had to SUFFER grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by FIRE—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. His thoughts are above ours....his ways are not our ways.....he has a master plan, a purpose for each of our lives on this earth....kingdom oriented. Isaiah 55:8-11 “For my thoughts are NOT your thoughts, NEITHER are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways HIGHER than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will NOT return to me empty, but WILL accomplish what I desire and ACHIEVE the PURPOSE for which I sent it. AMEN! Thank you Lord for your promises!! Thank you JESUS for your word...you give us such comfort, peace, refuge and strength.