I want to share a God experience that I had the blessing for encountering this week. HE. IS. SO. GOOD! For those of you that don't know, I am nurse for a Kidney Specialist. I saw a patient on Tuesday who is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. She has been on the waiting list for many years and still has not received a kidney. She is a young mother, so full of life. I have only known her for about a year, but we have become fast friends. Her family members were tested to see if anyone would be a tissue match and thankfully her brother was a match! While this is a blessing, it has also caused conflict and turmoil in the family. He is also a young father of three as well as the sole provider for his family. In giving one of his kidneys to his sister he would loose his job in construction as he would need to be out of commission for 2 months. In preparation for this, he sold his home and moved in with his parents. My patient, felt intense guilt about this. She told me on Tuesday that she was so upset that her brother had to choose between saving her and providing for his family. I told her that I would pray that God would provide in the situation. I wasn't really sure what I was praying for except for strength, courage, and compassion for all of the family members.

So that was Tuesday. On Friday I called her home to check in and just see how she was doing. Her husband answered the phone and said that she was in the hospital! I called VCU and was transferred to the transplant unit. I spoke to the nurse and learned that my dear friend received a cadaver (donor) kidney on Wednesday morning! Isn't God awesome! She had been on the list for over 5 years and the morning after my intense prayers for her He provided in a way that I could have only dreamed of! I am in awe and amazed at His mercy and compassion for us.

Can you imagine getting that call that you need to come immediately that there is a kidney for you!? I get chills just imaging this. I pray that God will use this experience to minister to her family. I pray that they will see how real God is and how He wants so desperately to bless us.

Of all the lights you carry in your face, joy shines farthest out to sea.
-Author Unknown

Discipline, Encouragement and Everything In Between

I have had many people including family members say that Tom and I are "too hard" on Julia. I can't even count the times I've heard "she's just a kid". "She's only 2." Oh, the list goes on and on. Tom and I believe that our commission as parents is to raise her in a way that would shape her to be a women filled to the brim with Christ's love. Julia is old enough to know right from wrong. She can be manipulative at times and she is very saavy when it comes to stacking us up against eachother. Sin is not learned, we are born with it seeped inside of us. We whole-heartedly believe that now is the time to help form and shape her into a respectful and kind child who will grow in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Thats the goal!. Parenting isn't filled with doom and gloom and constant correction, but I do believe that there is a place for correction and discipline. Tom and I understand that children need boundaries, in fact, they yearn for them. There is comfort in knowing your boundaries and children thrive in an environment where there are clear cut boundaries.

With that being said we believe that there is also a strong obligation as parents to encourage our child. Encouragement in the terms we use is more than merely praise for an act or good behavior. We strive to help Julia internalize positive feelings about herself through interactive encouragement with us. We are raising Julia to feel good about who God made her to be and to acknowledge that He is responsible for her gifts, abilities, and accomplishments. We want her to feel good about Jesus in her, enabling and empowering her for the mission of her life!

By no means do we think we are perfect or that we have this all figured out. We struggle and sometimes anger gets the best of us. We pray, we read and we surround ourselves with people who propel us in a Godly way of parenting. Above all, we see such an overwhelmingly awesome task that God has given us in being parents. We take it seriously and know that we play a large role in the molding and refining process for our child. It is humbling, it is scary, and it is such a blessing!

For those of you who think I have it all together...

Do you see the sunburn on this child? After one day at the beach with her momma she is burnt. She wore 70 SPF and everything...She is in love with aloe and I feel just horrible. So life continues to be one giant learning experience...