My Year Best Summed up in Song

Wow 2 blogs in one day! Its a miracle! Last Year I heard a song by this singer that was about reaching out in a time of loss and trying to hang on.. I found another song and I think it really describes my year, I have learned alot about myself this past year. My strengths, weaknesses, where I fall short God picks me up and I come out of 2007 with a love for people, myself and God. There is no doubt that I have seen huge personal growth this year and I am excited to see what 2008 brings for all those that I love. Happy New Year everyone! Enjoy the song, maybe it will inspire you as much as has done for me!

Abby December 31, 2006

It's been 1 year today that Abby grew wings and as i sit here in the quiet of the morning reflecting on all that has changed in the last year my heart and mind are overwhelmed by the significance of Abby's short life. It was a life that no one but me ever felt or saw, it was a life that was lived out in my mind from birth to what I dreamed for her.. even though it is a life that never had a breath here it is one that has deeply changed me forever for the better.

I was reading this morning and this verse stood out to me: " He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they can not fathom what God has done from beginning to end" Ecclesiastes 3:11

I read these words and it their truth came alive in me God has taken me from the sadness of loss and a year later has made it beautiful for me, at the time there was nothing good that could have come from her loss but now I see clearly what I could not see then. My life is in God's hand and that trust that I have in him came from this event in my life. Abby is well taken care of in God's hand and I have no fear or doubt that she is fine. A friend said something to me once that at the time I did not believe or understand but now I hold dearly: there will come a time at the end of my life whenever that may be that when I get to heaven I will be standing there and the Lord will take me by the hand and tell me that he has someone for me to meet, then he will introduce me to my daughter in a way that I did not get to know her here. That is something that not every person will have the honour of doing. So I live my life with joy and excitement because God has blessed me with a new life that will be full filled here and I find joy in knowing that my Abby is cared for by the best hands possible- God my father.

So today New Years Eve 2007 I reflect back and I thank God that he took away my despair and gave my heart a new song and I know that I have only seen the beginning of what he will do in my life. Thank you God for my year it has changed me for the better. Thank you for Abby, that I carry her every day in my heart, and for my son that grows and kicks right now ... in the words of old I am truly blessed among women.

My new Fur baby

Here is the newest member of the Bates household!! How cute is he!

Ok I know I am a blogging disaster! I have not written in so long! Life is busy we are getting ready to move and lots of stuff going on. I promise to sit down and write a good one for whatever fans I have left soon. In the mean time enjoy my little Scrappy Doo! He will be cute until he turns into a cat! ha ha!

Last Summer memories

Thanks to the joys of face book, I saw that Amy had a few pics of last summer's cottage party. It made me smile to think back to sitting in that hot tub.. for hours might I add! I miss my MSH girls... perhaps its time I get back to the hospital.. I need to do some soul searching about that. Anyway here are a few memories to get us all ready for the sunny days ahead!

Abby's day was beautiful!

As Barry so rightly said, today might have been Abby's birthday. We had a nice sunny day and I cant help but think that our angel sent us a sunny day. God has been so good to us in the last few months. Things have been hard but I have this amazing deep hope that there is so much more for us around the corner.

Abby was only known to us, not the rest of the world and for only a short time.. but the impact that it has left on us is everlasting. I thank God for the opportunity to love her even though I never met her.


One of the first shots of me as I started to realize that my clothes did not fit anymore.

" Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart"

- Jeremiah 1:5-

There is a story in the bible that I have been reading about, if your not familiar with Abraham I encourage you to read it as its totally a powerful story of faith and trust. Abraham was promised by God to have a great nation come from his line, He had many many reasons to believe that it would never happen.... but yet he never gave up:

"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him. "so shall your offspring be" without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead- since he was about 100 years old- and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" Romans 4:18-21

I find this an amazing statement of faith. If Abraham can give thanks to God and trust in him despite what appeared to be the most difficult circumstances .. then so will I. I thank God for bringing me to this place.

Happy Easter!

This is a powerful video of what Easter really means! (and chcocolate its pretty yummy also!) Happy Easter to all!

Indescribable

This is an amazing song! It has totally uplifted me in the last few days. I hope you enjoy it.

Im ok

I have this tendency to be very hard on myself. If any one in my life directly will tell you its been quite a process and continues to be. I have good times and not so good times (just like anyone else I suppose). I often think that I need to be perfect, but I realize that is not possible as a human being who makes mistakes. God is perfect and I chose to put trust in him to see me through the good bad and ugly. I found this quote that I think describes perfectly where I am:

"I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm okay, and I'm on my way."