Holding Loosley, Loving Tightly...

I don't know how many of you have been following www.bowensheart.com, but there was a recent post that really struck me. www.bowenheart.com is a blog that the lead singer of Sanctus Real, Matt, and his wife, Sarah have. They have been journal their trials and triumphs regarding their infant son, Bowen, and his struggle for life. Here is a little piece of the background information they give on their site...

Within one week Bowen was diagnosed with a serious and rare congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). We believe that our boy was knit perfectly together in my womb (Psalm 139:13) and that God intended him to be this way with a specific purpose in mind. We are at peace with whatever happens because we know that our God is in control. That is why we named our son Bowen Matthew. Bowen means small, victorious one. Matthew, besides being his father’s name, means God’s gift. We don’t know why God chose to give Bowen a small heart, but we believe that he and his heart are a gift. In the end we will understand what big plans God, in His love and faithfulness, has in mind.

10.19.10: Bowen's mom wrote-

I’m getting weary. My brain does not seem to have room for anything else. Everyday seems to reveal a new obstacle and a new thing to wrap my head around. A friend told us she prays that we would learn to “hold Bowen loosely.” So I am learning to hold Bowen loosely, but love him tightly. This is a very difficult task. I didn’t realize how tightly I have held the people I love. In the past, loving with all my heart meant holding on very tight. Now I am having to do it a different way. Well I’m very tired and need to sleep so I can take on tomorrow. I hope you are all doing well:)

-Sarah

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to things that are unseen…” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

What incredible strength God is giving this mother to trust Him enough to hold her precious baby "loosley" by recognizing that he is not her own, but God's. I am praying for all the loved ones I am holding "tightly" and am asking God that he would show me how to love them loosley, knowing that His plan for their lives is sovereign and perfect. What a comfort that is if you can learn to whole-heartedly embrace it!

Our Anthem...

I heard this song for the first time on country radio the other day, and I am totally charmed by the lyrics. I feel like they speak of so many of the things that are important to Geoff and I in this journey together. It melted my heart....It's our anthem...I'm sure you'll understand why.

"Thats Important to Me" by Joey + Rory (click link to listen)

Not planning our day around a TV set
Paying our bills and staying out of debt
That's important to me
That's important to me
Openin' the windows and lettin' in air
Holding hands when we're saying a prayer
That's important to me
Yea, that's important to me
Having somebody to share my life
Loving my husband, and being a wife
And the very best mother I can be
That's important to me

Telling the truth, and being real
Feeding my family a home cooked meal
That's important to me
That's important to me
Planting a garden and watching it grow
Keeping it country on the radio
That's important to me
Yea, that's important to me
Always having you to hold,
Being beside you when we grow old
And they plant us 'neath that big old tree
That's important to me
Always having you to hold

Being beside you when we grow old
And they plant us 'neath that big old tree

Believing our dreams will take us somewhere
Still bein' ourselves if we ever get there
That's important to me
That's important to me
Yea, that's important to me
That's important to me

That's important to me
That's important to me

Secret to a Successful Life...

Why Mr. Beans, I do believe you're on to something :)

I couldn't resist the photo opt (made me really wish I had a camera that could focus), but this is truly a great read about doing the daily, little things that will enrich your life exponentially. Here is a little bedtime story excerpt...

"The Story of Two Frogs"

One night, two frogs left the safety of their swamp and ventured into a nearby farm to explore. They soon found themselves in a dairy. Hopping and jumping around (frogs, will be frogs after all), they jumped into a milk pail half full of cream.

At first, they were both thrilled. They had never tasted anything so delicious! They drank and drank. Soon (after some contentious belching and much giggling) they were both full-bellied and getting just a bit sleepy. "time to get out of here and head back to the swamp for some shut-eye. burped the first frog.

But there was a problem. They'd had no trouble hopping in ...but how to hop out? The inside of the pail was too slippery to climb, and there was nothing on which they could place their feet for traction to get up a good hopping distance...or any hopping distance at all.

They awful reality dawned on them; they were trapped.

Frantic, they began to thrash about, their little frog feet scrambling for a foothold on the elusive, slippery curve of the pail's edge.

Finally, the second frog cried out, "It's no use! We're doomed, my brother! Let us save our dignity we have left and die here like frogs, with our eyes facing our homeland!"

The first frog cried out to stop him. "NO! We should never give up! When we were tadpoles, which of us would ever have dreamed that some day we would emerge from the water and hop about on land? Swim on, and pray for a miracle!"

The second frog eyed his brother sadly and said, "there are no miracles in the life of a frog, brother. Farewell." And saying so, he turned his face in the direction of the swamp, gave a sigh, and slowly sank out of sight.

But the first frog refused to give up.

He continued to swim. He swam and he swam in ridiculous, pointless, useless, futile circles, hoping against hope for a miracle. Fired by adrenaline, he paddled mightily...yet his brother's dying words clutched at his thoughts, even more insidious than the growing fatigue that tugged at his weakening muscles. Was my brother right?, he though desperately. Am I a fool? Are there no miracles in the life of a frog?

Finally, he could swim no more...and with a great cry of anguish, he stopped paddling and let go, ready at last to face his fate like a frog.

But something odd happened...or rather, didn't happen. He didn't sink. He just say exactly where he was. Ever so tentatively, he stretched out a fott...and felt it touch someting solid.

He heaved a big sigh, both sad and grateful, said a silent farewell to his drwoned brother, then scrambled up on top of the big lump of butter he had just finished churning...

...and hopped out of the pail and off to the swamp, alone but alive.

"The SLight Edge" by Jeff Olson

Keep swimming my friends...Keep Swimming!

Boxing...

Yes, boxing. I'm devoting an entire post to boxing! Mr. K has never been more proud...

My husband decided to take up boxing a year or so ago, and has really enjoyed taking lessons and sparring with other guys at his club. He hasn't had an actual fight yet which I am grateful for because honestly I didn't think I could watch one! I'm not scared for him...I'm terrified for the poor sucker who is going to get beat up! A couple weekends ago I was trying really hard to be supportive so I went to some fights with Geoff... I was SO surprised by how much I enjoyed them! It wasn't the bloody brawl I was expecting, but an actual sporting event!

This is the first club Geoff trained at...Coach Hal was hosting the fights.

I should probably add here that the guy standing next to me actually did get blood splattered on him from the ring! I looked at Geoff and said, "I swear, if I get blood splattered on me...I"M OUTTA HERE!!! :)

We watched about 15 fights and it was fun because Geoff has boxed with two different clubs that had fighters, so we knew TONS of people there. It was definitely not "our" (I mean my) circle of firends, but we (I mean I) felt pretty cool walking in and getting so many hellos. I mean, Geoff hasn't even had a real fight yet, and he get respect from all these guys because he hits them so hard in practice matches :) Not kidding!!

Everytime I see his coach, James, he asks me, "You ready to let him fight yet??? Is he ready???" My answer is usually something along the lines of "Well, we already took the wedding pictures, so I'm not as worried about crooked noses now...." I like his coach so I'm pretty confident he would put Geoff in a fight he would win, but I'm sure I'll be asking for prayers for MY nerves that week :)

Apparently its embarassing to have your wife snapping pictures of you at a boxing match, but he was pretty patient with me...

Hanging with some of his guys...

So Geoff's coach, James Irish, is the one on the far right and, oh ya, he is THAT slick ;)

Because I survived the night so well, I was allowed ONE posed shot...ONE.

So the moral of the story is, I survived...I think I could do it again...I actually kind of, maybe enjoyed it, a little. Got to go---Geoff wants me to watch ALL Tyson's greatest fights on DVD...WHEN DOES IT END?!?!?!?!?! ;)