I've finally created a blog....something I've wanted to do for a long time, but have not taken the time to actually start one. I've been so inspired the past few years by some friends who have shared their hearts, souls, and daily life (challenges and all) through their own blogs. My teacher friend Katie has a wonderful blog. She has a little girl named McKenna who has Charge Syndrome. This is something I had never heard of until I met her about 4 years ago. McKenna is an amazing little girl and brings smiles to all who meet her. God also blessed Katie with a little girl named Cami who is incredibly cute and makes me laugh every time I see her. The link to her blog is on the right. Another friend of mine who is truly an inspiration and encouragement to is my friend Crystal. She is a Pastor's wife and mother who lives in Louisville. She began a blog a few years ago to keep people informed when her brother, and friend of mine, was battling cancer. It always amazed me as she wrote her thoughts, prayers, and struggles as she watched someone she loved get so sick and fight for his life. The true inspiration was the raw emotion and honesty she put out there when her brother died and her journey to understand what God was doing through the whole thing. I saw myself in so many of her posts as I re-lived my own struggles and my mom suffered from Parkinson's and went home to heaven in 2004. She continues to blog and shares her beautiful heart, about daily life raising children and all that God is teaching her. Even though she is miles away, I still feel like I can have a conversation with her kind of like what we would do when we lived close in Dayton.
One more blog that has been a huge inspiration to me the past year is one by my friend Jocelyn's husband Chris. They have a beautiful little girl named Julia who has Down's Syndrome and was diagnosed with a heart issue. She was born a year ago and underwent heart surgery at the beginning of this year. She is doing well and is such a blessing to everyone. Chris's blog is amazing...it has made me laugh and cry and helped me know how to pray for them. I have so many beautiful people in my life that I don't get to see on a regular basis anymore, but through Facebook and these blogs I feel like I"m walking along side them, feeling what they are feeling and most importantly seeing God work in their lives and use them in amazing ways.
Over six years ago, my life was changed forever when I met Troy Archer, my husband and best friend, on E Harmony...something neither of us ever thought we would ever try. God brought such joy into my life after a season of illness and loss of my precious mother. In a matter of months, I was engaged, selling my house, resigning my teaching job, and moving to a new place. In 2008, God blessed us with a beautiful little girl, Emma Grace. Even though things have not always been easy, I am so thankful and happy for the life that God has given us.
Now we are going through a season that is requiring great faith. We rejoiced in May of this year when we found out we were pregnant with our second child. Emma was and still is excited to be a big sister. At 18 weeks, we found out that our baby was a little girl (which Emma told us she prayed for a baby sister by the way) and we are going to name her Zoe. We also found out during that ultrasound that she has fluid on her brain or hydrocephalus. We were in shock and disbelief and worry for a few days. Going to the internet was NOT a good idea for me. Since that time we have been regulars at Ohio State Medical Center for ultrasounds, testing, and exams. There are no easy answers with this diagnosis. We had some good news at the beginning when we found out that the results of my amnio came back normal...no Down's, no Spina Bifida, no infections. We even had an ultrasound check up where we didn't see much change in the fluid growth and didn't have to come back to OSU for a month. However, our latest visit showed abnormal growth of fluid on one side of her brain...asymmetry in her head. Our Doctor rushed us into a fetal MRI and we are awaiting those results. In the end, there is nothing that can be done in utero for this condition and we will have to wait and see what happens.
I daily have to trust God with this child. He made her and He knows everything about her and has a wonderful purpose for her. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you; to give you a Hope and a future". I have battled doubt, fear, and worry since the day I walked out of the OB/Gyn office, unsure of the path ahead. However, I believe what I believe and that is that God is good...God loves us more than we can imagine...and that He has NEVER failed me. He has always given me what I need to face many struggles and sadness. So now we must choose daily to trust Him and give Him our faith...faith that is pleasing to Him and allows Him to work even in the darkest of times and purifies us. I want everything I do to bring glory to the Lord and as many of my friends have done before me, I'm praying this blog does that and gives me an outlet for all He is teaching me and doing in our lives this season. I live my life to love God,my husband, my daughter, my family, friends, church, the kids I teach everyday, and anyone else God brings in my path. As my former Pastor, David Schooler, use to say every Sunday...."The Journey Continues".
I chose We've Come This Far By Faith for this blog because it has been a song that has been giving me strength in these weeks since the diagnosis, It reminds me to dwell on the amazing things He has done already and to anticipate what He is going to do. We recently sang it at our church's 20th Anniversary celebration as well. Our good friend Philip Tabler used to lead worship at our church before I met Troy....he is like a brother to Troy as well. He is now the Minister of Music at Love and Truth church in Jackson, TN, Philip sent us a message and sang the song and it is just deeply planted in my heart. I did not grow up knowing many of these dear old songs of faith that some did, so they speak to me in a fresh way when I hear them. I hope his vioice and spirit bless you! I am going to link his song/video in the next post.
