Today Is A Special Day

I'd like to take a minute to preface this blog post....I began this post late in the evening of Wednesday, January 19th and here it is Friday, January 21st late in the evening again.  Maybe I won't get interrupted or fall asleep sitting at the computer =).  So, keep that in mind when you read the blog post from below.

Today's A Special Day....when I hear that phrase, I hear one of my former pastors, Dr. Ron Stewart, saying it on the local radio station in Knoxville, TN.  He would always give a reason as to why it was a special day.  And, after years of recordings, he put them all in a book.  For me, today (Wednesday, January 19th) is a special day for many reasons.

On this day 21 years ago, I gave birth to a very healthy baby boy at the young age of 16.  Three days later, I signed adoption papers and allowed case workers to place him in the home of two wonderful Christian parents.  I called him today to wish him a happy birthday and as I hung up the phone, tears came to my eyes - not tears of sadness but tears of joy.  Although I had no part in raising him, I'm proud of him and all his accomplishments!  He is close to graduating from college and will be attending graduate school soon after.  I could not have asked for him to have had a better life and I praise God for his parents and his family!

Now, jump ahead 21 years......If I would have known all of the challenges that the last 8 months were going to include, I may not have decided to have another child.  However, God knew every detail and gave us the exact amount of strength and grace when we needed it for all that Emory would face.  I'm hear to tell you that that little dude has overcome so much and is doing very well.

Emory had his physical therapy appointment this morning.  He continues to reach milestones and gain weight.  He has gained 9 ounces in 2 weeks and has grown 1/2 an inch in 1 month.  He is sitting up independently and we are working with him on learning how to crawl.  He is smiling and laughing.  He is doing well with his eating and has learned how to hold a small bottle by himself.  He has improved to refluxing about 5% of the time rather than 95% of the time.  He has energy to play like most normal babies his age.  Granted, he still has some milestones to reach and is still developmentally behind a month or two, but he is doing so much better than he was.  Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that to be negative or to label him, I'm simply being realistic as his mom who sees these things every day.  Knowing what his diagnosis is, all of these things such as delays, weight issues, digestion issues, etc. are normal.

I've hesitated in writing my next thoughts because I don't want to sound insensitive and don't want to make things about me, but I really just don't know how to better say it.  On December 31st, one of Emmitt's friends, Elizabeth, lost her battle with cancer.  She had been diagnosed in March 2010 and in December 2010 had been told she was in remission.  Upon returning home from a vacation taken during the week between Christmas and New Years, God called Elizabeth home.  I mention that to you because on that evening, New Years Eve, Claude and I had no plans to go out.  We didn't have any guests over.  It was just another night where I cooked, cleaned the kitchen, bathed the boys, put them to bed, did some laundry, etc.  It was just another nightly routine and I was not happy about it.  All I could do was think about what else we could be doing, why we didn't have a date night, why I had to cook, why I had to bathe my kids, why I had to clean the kitchen yet again, etc.  Then, after watching the ball drop in New York and ringing in the new year, I logged onto facebook to post my status as "Happy New Year".  And, that's when we saw the news of Elizabeth.  It was at that very moment that God quickly convicted me of my thoughts and  filled me with the spirit of gratefulness. 

So, today is a special day because of my family.....Claude, Emmitt, Eli, and Emory.  I didn't think it would take me 21 years to be married and have a family, but as I said before, God knows every detail.  Those tears I cried earlier were simply because I am so amazed at what He has blessed me with.  The mere fact that He chose me to be "Mom" of the "3 Eboys" is more than I would have ever imagined.  I mess up every day (sometimes every hour), but ALL of my boys are truly blessings and God's gift to me!

So, I leave you with this question.....Is today a special day for you?  If so, why?

Much Love,

Twila