Alive and kickin'

Oh my, has this been a whirlwind week. There is so much that I can (and will!) catch you up on, but for now I wanted to leave you with an excerpt from an article my sister sent me.

It was the dose of hope that I needed. For those who are still waiting on your miracle (regardess of what you are waiting on), you must check this out. 

I thought it was so profound and so beautiful when the author said "I can – without seeing – love my children, bless them, and expect them. My first act as mother – to release them to God’s timing. All In God’s Timing...To be grouped in with women such as Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Elizabeth and others is an honor."

It made my heart skip a beat. Go check it out here. And then come back and see me tomorrow, when I will fill you in on life in la casa de henderson.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

The Fire

            In my science class right now, I am teaching the kids about the process that metals go through to become pure.

It is rare in nature to find metals in their purest form. Gold, copper, iron- these metals all have to go through some sort of refining process to bring them to their valuable state. Refining is a process by which everything else is removed and only the pure metal remains.

I can’t help but relate that to my life right now. I know scripture promises that God wants us purified, not destroyed. I am trying to remain hopeful that this method of purification won’t last forever. That a few years (or hopefully months? Please God!) from now, I will look back on this time and realize that it made me who God wanted me to be.

Do I wish that my method of purification was different right now? Maybe that my fire was that of crying children, piles of laundry, sleepless nights? Yes. But, that is not the way it is right now. Instead, this is where God has me. This is where he is making me the valuable being that He wants me to be.

So, for now, I embrace it. Or at least try to.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I know that this isn't supposed to have any words, but I feel like I have to explain the picture (at least so JBTC doesn't think I am a total wimp!). This picture was taken of my backyard before the snow really starting falling here in GA. Six inches later, this city was entirely shut down (we don't have the capability to handle snow and ice!) and it.was.awesome. I loved that Mr. Henderson and I couldn't go anywhere. Mr. H still had to work from home, but it was glorious! Just the two of us. Alone. For a few awesome days.

There is something in the water in Holly.wood!

I bet that Peo.ple.com invokes the panic in the infertile celebraties the way that Face.book does to us normal folk.

Seriously? Everyone is pregnant right now!

Where is the water they are drinking? I want some!

Happy Friday, y'all!

Post-Op Info

Well, my post-op appointment was canceled yesterday due to the weather here in the south. My nurse called today to reschedule in TWO weeks because my doctor is on a cruise (compliments of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson!).
Pathology should be back next week, but we aren't expecting anything surprising. It will just be nice to know what the growth was and why it was there.
Thank you for all of your prayers- they were greatly appreciated!

2,555 Days

Three years ago, I woke up on this day and the only thing I felt was peace. Pure joy and total peace. Yes, I was excited about the wedding, but more than that I was excited about the marriage I was about to enter into.

I tell my friend, D, all the time that the right man is so worth the wait. That the right man will come along and sweep you off your feet. And that man, that man will be so worth it.  My man? He was so worth it. (D, I promise...he is on his way!)


I never thought MY day would come. I never thought God would hear my heart's cry for a good and holy husband. I never thought I would be sent such an amazing man (I secretly thought I would have to settle...terrible, I know!). God heard and answered my prayer far better than I had ever dreamed. Maybe I should learn to trust? Note taken.


Life with Mr. Henderson has been the best adventure yet. The last three years of my life have been the happiest ever (even in the midst of a lot of heartache) and far better than I ever could have dreamt. Thank you, Mr. Henderson, for making me so utterly and completely happy. I pray that this year brings us closer to each other, closer to our Lord, and closer to that overflowing abundance of children that we keep praying for!


For your viewing pleasure: The beginning of my life as Mrs. Henderson:


My sister and her men (no Isa, yet!)



Is that sign supposed to mean something?

One of my favorite pics- My brother and his son



Fr. D hearing my confession right before walking down the aisle.

My flowergirls- you know us southerners love our monograms!

My awesome family. Mom, Dad and kids (Am I lucky or what?)

My mom helping me get ready

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson

                                                   

Cutting the groom's cake

Our Reception

                                                  

Our Wedding Party



This is what it is all about

             

 

 Our Honeymoon to Rome. No, Pope Benny is not a cut out.

 


Superheroes

Check out this trailer for my sister's book "How Do You Tuck in a Superhero?"- too awesome!

This book is such a good read (I know...I am a little biased) for women who have already lived the abundant life, for those currently living the abundant life, and for all those who dream of living the abundant life.

For more information on getting yourself a copy, you can find it here.
Enjoy!

Surgery Done

Surgery is done!
All went well- the mass was removed beautifully. Results will be in next week.
More on this later.

Need a good laugh?

My sister's boys are hysterical. My sides hurt from watching these videos. And this one. So funny.

I hope these brighten your day like they did mine!

Please, St. Andrew- Hook your sister up!

Well, my little surgery is set. I go in on Wednesday at 7:30am to have this uterine growth removed. Mr. Henderson and I are praying that this is the answer to the last 2.5 years of our problems. I am hopeful, but apprehensive. I mean, could it really be that easy? Please God, please.

My prayer throughout the St. Andrew Novena was for all couples struggling with infertility to be blessed with children, for a surprise pregnancy at least once during our marriage (I mean, how many people pray for that? I guess at this point any pregnancy would be a surprise!), and for a multitude of children. I hope this whole ordeal is St. Andrew hooking me up!

I promise to lift you all up throughout my recovery, so please let me know what I can be praying for you for each of you.
I am so grateful for this blogging community. So very, very grateful. Your presence has brought such peace to my sad little heart. Thank you.

Letter to myself

Hopefully, when I look back on this post next year, it will be a reminder of how much I've changed and grown (hopefully not in girth!).  

Dear Mrs. Henderson, 

Another stroke of midnight and you are still standing. Yes, you welcomed 2010 confident that this was your year. That this was the year you would see the face of your firstborn child. That this was the year that life would radically change and it has, just not in all of the ways that you had planned!

Yes, you started 2010 telling your husband that this was it...this was the year. While 2010 didn't bring you a child, it still brought you so much life. It was another year to fall more deeply in love with your husband, another year to fall more deeply in love with your Lord, another year of watching your extended family grow and falling more deeply in love with them. Yes, this was your year, in more ways then one. 

You have lived through situations that you swore would kill you and you have come out stronger. 

Here's to 2011. May this be your year- in whatever way God sees fit.

May you live more fully, laugh more freely, and love with all you have.  

God has a plan for you- trust in it.