Thankful...

Today, I started off my day taking Davis to play with his buddy Banks and running a few erronds...I had a list a mile long to do to get us prepared to leave for the beach tomorrow. Those plans took the back burner when I received a call from my dear friend Kay. She was calling to let me know that Stephen had received some disheartening news yesterday and was in Birmingham awaiting surgery. As I was talking to my sister in law, Heather, I had a moment. A moment of emotion...a moment of fear...a moment of uncertainty...a moment of disappointment in myself as a friend...a moment of panic...with all those emotions, I found myself falling to pieces. When I got off the phone with her, I knew it was all in His hands and that all I could do his pray. I began arranging things with the kids to enable myself to hit the road to Birmingham...it all fell into place and for that I am so very thankful! I am so blessed to have such special friends in my life, ones that I can count on to pick up the pieces when things seem to be falling apart. I made it to Birmingham about 2 and a half hours after surgery had begun. I parked in the parking deck that I thought was where I was supposed to be, hopped out of my car, walked into the elevator and was asked which floor I was going to..I replied that I wasn't really sure and told her where I was trying to get. She then told me that I was in the wrong deck and needed to go to the next one a few blocks away. I found myself falling to pieces again, circling twice around the same circle and having to remind myself that I had no control...and to calm down..and to put my all my trust in Him. After sitting in the waiting room with some of the most precious people, I sat there thinking how great of a person Stephen is. He's got a wonderful mother, who loves him unconditionally. She's someone I have always loved dearly and had so much admiration for~She kept going even when I'm sure she thought she should just give up..but I know she didn't it for her two children! Then there is Rebecca..She was like Super Woman..7 weeks away from giving birth to another precious Tidwell boy, sitting there being so strong. Stephen is truly blessed to have Rebecca by his side..she loves him through the thick and the thin. And Kay..there are no words. She is not only an amazing sister, she is so amazing in her faith. I asked her, "How are you staying so composed and together?" She replied, " I just know it's all going to be okay!" Wow.  She and I can just laugh at anything and all I have for that girl is """RESPECT"""! (ha--we might have song that song for Rebecca and Stephen on their wedding night!! :) ) After it felt like an eternity, the doctor came in and I felt my stomach sink...the family was close listening to his every word and I was sitting in my chair trying to hear his every word as well...as my eyes filled with tears to hear the amazing news of "We've removed the tumor completely and it was benign." Thank you Lord..thank you for the doctors and staff...thank you for watching over this dear friend of mine! It only proves, you aren't promise tomorrow...cherish each day with the ones you love!!!

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."

Ephesians 1:16