Last week was a little bit of time for some rest and relaxation for Aaron and I. Unfortunately, we did not get to spend this time together, but it was still extremely welcomed. I headed to Destin, Florida with my mom, Sister and Aunt for a week of soaking up the sun. Aaron headed to the lake to prepare for a Regional BFL (fishing) tournament.
My week consisted of waking up early enough to watch the sunrise during my runs, lounging in the sun and reading lots of books. My goal was to read four books while I was down there and I successfully met that goal! In case you’re wondering, I read A Praying Life by Paul Miller, Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman, The Testament by John Grisham, The Strength of His Hand by Lynn Austin and I started Where the Wild Rose Blooms by Lori Wick. I sure do love books and I really love being able to make my stack of “Books to read” a little bit smaller!
While in Florida I got the news that someone who has become VERY dear to me, and had an enormous impact in my life over the past couple of years is going to be moving away. This news is so bittersweet as it is an amazing opportunity for her family to continue serving the Lord in the way that He has planned for them, but out of my selfish desires I wish they could stay! This is the first time in my life that I will have a good friend move away… it was always my job to be the one moving away when I was growing up. My friend, you will be dearly missed, I pray that we will be able to remain as close of friends despite the miles between us. I think you are wonderful! Thank you for all of your love, guidance, friendship and encouragement over the last seven and a half years!
Returning home from vacation always seems somewhat chaotic. This trip was no different as I came home to a broken dryer and a four-year-old niece in the hospital. I have been washing clothes at home and running them over to my parents’ house to dry them which makes the process take MUCH longer than normal! Thank goodness they only live two and a half miles away! As for the niece, that sweet little thing spent last weekend celebrating her fourth birthday and this weekend hooked up to an IV, what a sad little girl.
Okay, maybe she was sad until I pulled out the camera and it turned into a game. I take the picture and then I have to immediately show her what it looks like… this is one of her favorite games! I have to admit that it was SOOOO hard to see our usually happy-go-lucky, super active niece with an IV in her hand and freaked out every time somebody came to the door of her hospital room. A nurse came in to take her vitals and Emma started crying as soon as she walked in the door. To lighten the mood a little bit we played the picture game, so here is Emma getting her temperature taken and having her heart listened to.
This child cannot take a picture without making some kind of crazy face, just one of the many things I love about this spunky little girl!
Now, I have this little issue. I do not do well in situations where the people I love are in pain or hurting. The next part of taking Emma’s vitals was getting her blood pressure. The cuff went on, Emma pushed the button and everything was going great… until it started to really squeeze her arm. She was screaming, she did not like it one bit and neither did I. The room began to get a little woozy, I knew this feeling, I had felt it many times before! I sat there on the bed trying to compose myself, I am an adult, I can handle this, there is no need to pass out…. I turned to Aaron and asked if he was ready to go… the room continued to get woozy… I stood up and walked over to Aaron, grabbed his hand and the next thing I know I was on the floor. I felt so hot and sweaty, Aaron and his sister Adrienne were standing over me, “Amanda, Amanda wake up, Amanda…” I was blinking and trying to muster enough energy to respond. The nurse got me some juice, I sat for a while and I was fine. I wish I could say this was a first, but unfortunately it has happened many times before, at least this time I didn’t get sick!
After leaving the hospital Aaron and I had a long talk about pregnancy and child-bearing. Is this something I will be able to do? I know that there is a lot of blood work, poking and prodding involved. I have the mentality that it’s just something you have to toughen up and do, but why does it always seem so hard when I am in these situations with those that I love. God, please help me to overcome this fear and doubt that I have about being strong enough to handle these less than ideal situations!
Today we went over to Aaron’s parents’ house after church. They had been watching our younger niece, Nora, while Emma was in the hospital. Aaron got some sweet cuddle time with Nora Marie and she fell asleep on him. It made my heart happy to be able to see him experience the amazing feeling of having that sweet bundle sleeping in his arms.
Emma got to come home this afternoon! (She was there because her tonsils were really swollen. They got the swelling down and have her on an antibiotic now.)
So after a great week of much needed R&R, it’s back to the grind of life. Here are a few other photos that I found on my camera when I uploaded the ones of Emma. The first ones are our bright yellow door, wreath inspired from pinterest, and then a picture of some of the girls in our Sunday school class and Me.
Have a happy Monday tomorrow!
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