Celebrating 5 Years Together!

Jimmy and I celebrated 5 years together this past weekend! We were married July 17, 2004. We always dreamed of doing something extravagant for our 5 year anniversary (or maybe we just used that as an excuse to plan a big deer hunt in Texas... either way). But life happened and here we are, five years later with no anniversary savings account and a Texas trip is out of reach. A weekend getaway would have to do...

And it did! We spent the weekend simply enjoying each other, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And isn't that what its all about? We took a trip down to Ft. Lauderdale and stayed in a beach-front apartment.

The view from our room... I would call this ocean-front property. Wouldn't you?! Not bad for a $50/night travelocity deal!

Enjoying the beach and warm ocean water together on Friday evening. This time together meant so much to me. Jimmy is not a big fan of ocean swimming and is not usually easily coaxed into the water. He says that pirates prefer to be on the water, not in it. I appreciated that he braved the trecherous waters of the east coast shoreline for me. So sweet!

The sun-bathing beauty... both of us :)

Jimmy insisted on taking a shot of the view from our dinner table. Romantic, isn't it? We ate at a restaurant on the fishing pier. Mahi, shrimp, crab cakes, scallops, calamari- Yummo!

The highlight of our trip was visiting the International Game Fish Association museum, where all the world record fish mounts are displayed. In the pics above, Jimmy is standing in front of the world record Black Marlin, which weighed over 1500 lbs!!! The pics of us "fishing" are from the simulator at the museum. There were 5 fishing simulators allowing you to experience the fight of a big fish- very cool! We were like a couple of kids in there!

After visiting the museum, we ate at the Islamorada Fish Company and toured with desire our favorite store- Bass Pro.

Before coming home we enjoyed Tranformers II at the IMAX theatre (clang, clang, clash... but other than the extremely loud sound of metal crashing... a great cinema experience!) Overall, it was a fun and relaxing get-away, and I wouldn't have rather spent it with any other person in the world :-)

In honor of marriage and my wonderful husband: my newest playlist addition- "our song". When this song first came out, years ago, Jimmy and I could hardly pull ourselves away from each other, dreading the goodbyes of a long distance relationship. "If only we had one more day with each other"... as you can see, this song said it perfectly! Well, its been five years, and though I'm sure we haven't consistently wished for more days with each other (probably even wished for a few apart ;) the underlying message is undoubtedly true.

I love you, Honey! (He reads my blog too!)

Updates

I figured it was time for a blog update on the happenings of the Hurst family... I have picked up a few more classes with the University of Phoenix to earn a little extra money before the baby gets here. This is my first busy work week, so this will be short and sweet....

Jimmy playing his new favorite game- corn hole. 4th of July cookout at Joe and Deana's. I caught Jimmy google searching Gator branding irons last night... I think he's got an itching to make his own corn hole boards. Oh brother...

Angie's baby shower was this past weekend. She got so many cute things for her baby girl who will be here July 30th!!!

Angie with the hostesses with the mostestes (??)

Mike Fisher came over on Saturday to help Jimmy get started on the porch remodeling project. They got 7 of the 8 windows installed...one was broken and has to be returned. Grrrr... Jimmy is going to install the door tomorrow. Things are coming along!

And last, but not least, the growing belly. "Objects in picture may appear larger than they really are." I don't think my belly is really this big... must be the camera. Or maybe I'm a bit sway back, compensating for the extra weight.

Jimmy and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary this weekend. Not sure what we are going to do yet, but hopefully something fun...and sweet...and memorable...

Craigslist Find!

I've been scouring Craigslist lately for great deals on different things we need for the nursery. My first purchase was the BOB Revolution Stroller...THE mac-daddy of all jogging strollers. Retails for over $400... I found a nearly brand new one on Craigslist for $200. My one splurge. No worries...it will certainly get used as much as I am on the go!

My most recent find was an amish-made rocking chair/glider from this incredibly sweet family in Lakeland. I've been bracing myself for the over $150 price tag of a (half-way) decent glider from WalMart, so I feel like I've found a treasure for a mere $75. Belinda and I picked it up today. Isn't it just the sweetest thing you've ever seen?? I look forward to cuddling, snuggling, and rocking some nights (and early mornings) away!



Jimmy and I were just talking about how expensive all of these baby "things" are- or can be! I don't see how parents buy new without breaking the bank. We are committed to getting everything our child needs debt free. I've been given so much already from others, including a crib, dresser, toys, pack and play, carseat, clothes, and am soooooo thankful! Bring it on! I'm all about recycling!

Coming along...

She is growing!!! (Her, not me...well maybe, both of us!) Today marks 23 weeks and 5 days preggo! I went to a prenatal appointment yesterday and all checked out well. I'm measuring normal and Baby Girl's heartbeat was 156. Blood pressure and all was good. Next appointment in four weeks will be my Glucose test. (Not looking forward to the icky orange drink).

Jimmy and I placed the Home Depot order for our windows and door for the back porch yesterday. I'm definitely in a nesting phase right now! I can think of a million things I would like to do to our home before she arrives. Good thing she won't mind if it all doesn't get done! We expect to have Jimmy's office moved out to the porch by the second week of August or so. Then....nursery time! Mom has been ordering the crib bedding piece by piece (Brooke by Pottery Barn...sooo cute!- check it out http://www.potterybarnkids.com/room/rom/romnur/romnurbrk/index.cfm).

As far as fetal development goes... Baby Girl is gaining about 3 ounces a week (then why am I gaining, 1 lb a week, right??) Her tastes buds are forming, which means she can actually experience the yummy foods I am eating through the amniotic fluid. While I'm spinning, swimming, and yoga-ing to stay in shape, she is sucking her thumb to increase muscular coordination of her hands. Believe me, she gets quite a work out running the walls of my uterus (or whatever she is doing in there!). She is a whopping foot long and is now covered in fine, downy hair and waxy vernix to protect her skin. I thought it was very interesting to read that babies born at this age have 36% chance of survival...hard to imagine, as they are still so tiny and fragile. Stay in there little one, just as long as you can!

Hurst Girls Fishing Trip (with Guide Jimmy)

Saturday, Jimmy took his wife, mom, and sister fishing!!! What was he thinking, right?? Aside from a motor malfunction and a hard time catching bait, we had a great (but hot!) day out on the water. We drove over to Stuart (East Coast) and actually went off shore for a bit, before coming back and fishing the beach and inlet. We didn't catch a ton of fish, but the fish we caught put up a good fight! Belinda and I caught Bonita offshore and Jimmy and Lindsey caught a couple of HUGE Jack up by the beach. We piddled around and reeled in a few small snook before calling it a day.

You can tell the difference in the color of water offshore. It is absolutely clear, blue and beautiful! We don't go offshore much, so when we do, I just love it! Excuse my protruding abdomen... I wasn't prepared for pictures. We caught these Bonita just as soon as our line hit the water. They must have seen us coming!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

My wonderful hubby took me to one of my favorite restaurants for my 25th Birthday last night...The Melting Pot in Orlando. Such a fun place to celebrate something special.

Jimmy...stuffed!


Did I mention you have to cook your own food?! We had duck, shrimp, steak, marinated pork, potstickers, and veggies! Yummy!

Lots of delicious treats to dip in our "Flaming Turtle" chocolate fondue for dessert. (Free with coupon...yay!)

Here we are on our way out the door after a wonderful evening together.

Thanks, Baby, for an awesome birthday night!

Half way there!

Now that we know that Baby H is more likely to stand for Hazel than Hansel, and I've posted adorable in-utero snapshots of our baby girl, I keep trying to think of ways to one-up myself with a better post. I figured a video clip in her amniotic swimming pool should do the trick. Watch closely at the beginning and you can see that she is covering her face with her hands...then she pulls them away and you can see alien like features. That's her beautiful face!

Today, I am 20 weeks and 2 days. Technically over half way there! (But probably not...my mom was late with all of us, so things aren't looking good for punctuality). We are now measuring baby girl from head to toe (vs. head to rump) and she measures a staggering 10+ inches. (Did we mention she might have Uncle Marsh's legs?) Apparently, one of her favorite past times is practicing swallowing, which is kind of gross considering that she pee pees in the amniotic fluid. When we went in for the sonogram a couple weeks ago, we actually saw her opening her mouth and swallowing...so cool! She has been flipping around and kicking like crazy- most active in the evenings (typical bedtime rebellion). I've been trying to get her to perform for Jimmy, but up until two nights ago, the timing was off. Finally, I caught her really close to the surface (trying to come up for air?) and just a kickin! Jimmy felt her kick over 5 times! It was so fun- and funny...it makes me laugh hysterically!

Still no name- or at least not that we are sharing. I've noticed that is one of the questions most people love to ask. Along with, "how much weight have you gained?" Arghhh!!! (That is my mean pregnant lady growl).

I'm actually really enjoying being pregnant. I'm sure that some women who never have fertility issues completely enjoy and appreciate their pregancy and growing fetus, but from my own experience, I have to say that I am relishing in every moment more than I ever would have without the trials. I'm thankful for each moment, and, now that I'm out of puke purgatory, I feel better, stronger, and healthier than I ever have. Pregnancy is good to me :-) at least so far!

She's a She!

Our little one greeted us so nicely this morning (after a tall cup of coffee)...she even waved! See those five fingers?? I love when she turns her head towards the US doppler, as if she's looking right at us (even though she looks like an alien)!

And the proof is in the pudding! Our ultrasound tech was pretty sure of it this time...she's a she! Little Hurst still wouldn't spread eagle for us, but she was a bit more cooperative, letting us sneak a peak a few times. Three clear lines is what we were looking for! Now... on to the name game and pretty pink things...

A stubborn baby!

Well, our sonogram appointment today didn't go exactly how we planned, but nevertheless, we have a growing, healthy baby!!! That is the good news! We also, however, have a very stubborn baby who wouldn't open her (?) legs for anything! At one point she (?) even covered her private parts with her (?) hands!!! I keep using 'her' and 'she' because the ultrasound tech was pretty certain she was a she...but not as certain as usual. She wants us to come back next Tuesday for a confirmation. So no buying pink anything until we find out for sure.

Other than not finding out the sex (for sure) we had the best time watching our little one move around, make funny movements and funny faces, and were glad to learn that she (?) is growing on schedule (or maybe 4 days ahead, even)- a whopping 9 ounces! Here is a pic of our baby...isn't she (?) beautiful??

Mother's Day

I was surprised at all the special treatment I received on Mother's Day! I love this holiday!!! Jimmy surprised me Sunday morning with a beautiful ring of the baby's birthstone- Opal (October- hopefully he/she isn't born in November!) Jimmy and I hosted Mother's Day dinner at our house, since this will be the last year that I'm not a busy mom. All the other mothers in my family are completely deserving of being pampered on this special day :) We decided to switch things up a bit from our usual southern cuisine and dined on cuban roasted pork, black beans and rice, salad, yummy garlic bread, and flan for desert. It was a delicious meal!!! I put together a few pics of everyone hanging out...and, of course, Lance and Toni Boy wrestling in the living room.

A Day at the Beach

My cousin, Danna, and I took her little boy, Quinten, to the beach last Friday for the day. The water temp was perfect for swimming and we enjoyed the Gulf breeze and warm sunshine! It was a perfect day :) I took a ton of pics of Quinten playing in the sand and bobbing around in the ocean. I'm practicing my photography skills for when our little one comes along :)

What you've all been waiting for...

Desperate Mom Acts

I just committed two of the most common desperate mom acts...with my dogs. Jimmy is coaching a ball game tonight, so I'm here by myself with "the girls" (Jada and Millie, our dogs). For the third day in a row we have forgot to buy dog food. (Can I get an amen, anyone?). I can only imagine how this situation is going to get worse when we add an infant to the picture. Anyway, for the third night in a row I've had to get creative with a dog food substitution. That is Desperate Mom Act #1: forgot to thaw something out for dinner and no groceries, so throw together some 1/2 way nutritious food for your kid. I was making grits, eggs, and bacon for myself so I decided to cook a few extra pieces of bacon for the dogs. (That's even better than dog food, right?). But no mom can give her child a candy bar for dinner and feel good about herself (candy bar is to kid as bacon is to dog), so I decided to raid the frig for a few items to balance the meal. In the end, we had two bowls of leftover chicken salad (complete with nuts and fruit), doggie treats, and bacon. I put the food down for the hungry savages and watched as they both picked the savory bacon pieces off the top. No surprise. After they both looked up at me simultaneously with their hungry, puppy dog eyes and then back down at their bowls (as if to say, "you can't be serious, lady") I had an ingenious idea. Pour the bacon grease over the chicken salad and dog treats. Desperate Mom Act #2: disguise food that your children will not eat by covering it with some kind of delicious sauce (i.e. Hershey's or ketchup).

So for all you moms out there...am I on the right track? Should I seek immediate help or embrace the desperate mom survival instincts?

Head colds and butterflies

I just conquered the 16th week of pregnancy and I can hardly believe it! I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it seems like it is going by so fast. Okay, now that I said, it...not really. It's taking FOREVER!!! (depends on the day, I guess). I am so ready to find out if our little bambino is in fact a bambino or maybe a bambina. Jimmy and I found out at our last visit to the midwife that we will get an ultrasound early- at 18 weeks. They only do one ultrasound at the birthing center, usually at 20 weeks, but our midwife thinks she can get a more accurate gestational age a few weeks earlier. Sounds good to me :)


Aside from the milestones that I've already mentioned in previous posts, the only addition that I have is that Baby H has grown a few tenths of a centimeter and has fully formed fingernails...the better to scratch you with, my dear! I recently read in one of the "week by week" pregnancy calanders that quote, "you shouldn't be surprised if you have a cold during your 15th week of pregnancy." Are these people psychic or what???... I ponder as I take another shot of nasal spray. During Week 15 I had one of the worst colds ever and I'm still getting over it. Apparently, my body is producing mega-mucus and colds are common during this time of the pregnancy. Good to know.


People keep asking me if I've felt any "butterflies" or other indication that the baby is moving around in there. Nothing that I'm sure of yet, but I've had two quivers that have me suspicious. In the coming week or so movement should become more frequent and I'll get that feeling figured out. Speaking of movement, I got the ultimate moving machine yesterday (and for a steal of a price)- a BOB stroller. I know its a little early for all of that, but I found one on Craigslist and couldn't resist. This stroller is truly amazing! It reminds me of one of those zero turn lawnmowers (except it doesn't have blades- thank God!). I was so excited when I got it home, I was tempted to push it around the neighborhood with a sack of flour wrapped up in a blanket! (I even thought...can I fit one of my dogs in here?) I resisted the urge, folded up the strolling masterpiece, and look forward to using it when the baby arrives :)

In the coming week, Baby H will begin to exhale amnoitic fluid and his/her circulatory and urinary systems will be working in all their glory! Hair (hopefully blonde) will begin to fill in on his/her little head, eyebrows, and lashes. I will give everyone an update after the ultrasound in week 18. Until then...

"One day at a time"

I've been disguising my Thankful Thursday posts lately, but, readers, be assured, I am thankful for soooo many things ;) I realized recently that I have never blogged about a very important part of my life (which I'm extremely thankful for ;) and decided it was about time to share. Plus, last night on Grey's Anatomy (my fav show) Meredith's estranged, alcoholic father came to the hospital to make amends with his daughters- the 9th step in the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous: make direct amends to those you have harmed... That was my cue.

Since January of 2007, I have been attending Al Anon meetings. Al Anon is a support group for people who are affected by the alcoholism of a family member or loved one. Most people would say, "well I'm not the one with the problem, why should I be going to a meeting??" People who live with an alcoholic or have a family member who suffers from alcoholism often become sick themselves. Sick in not so obvious ways. Before Al Anon I allowed my dad's drinking to rob much of my peace and serenity in life; I didn't know how to detach with love so I found myself either resenting and ignoring my father or enabling him to continue his self-destructive behavior; and I, myself, had a slew of character defects, some of which resulted from dealing with (or not dealing with) the negative feelings associated with my dad's disease. Through Al Anon I have learned to have more compassion for my dad, to look inward and take responsibility for my own emotional health, and to live in peace despite whether or not my dad is drinking. I am thankful for this group of people, (despite how crazy this gathering sounds to outsiders), and am thankful that through their love and support I am encouraged to take things "One day at a time" and to "Live and let live".

Earth Day - Riverwoods Trip

My goal was to post a wonderful Earth Day message to all my blogger friends yesterday, but I was honestly just too pooped to do anything! Mom and I joined our fellow Ridge Rangers (a volunteer group that works to protect the Florida ridge ecosystem) for a clean up day/canoe trip at the Kissimmee River research station called Riverwoods. We arrived early in the morning and got busy clearing out invasive, exotic species that were growing up around the education center. We trimmed up the native species and before too long, had the place looking quite spry. (I wish I had a before/after photo to show you!)

A quick briefing on the Riverwoods Center and Kissimmee River Restoration... Florida Atlantic University, partnered with SWFMD and the Kissimmee River Restoration Project, manage the property east of Lorida on the Kissimmee River. They use it as a base for research scientists who are studying the health of the restored Kissimmee River. As I'm sure most of you know, the Kissimmee River was channelized in the 1960's, which was a major "bad call" for the environment. In 1992 restoration efforts began to bring the river back to its orginal form and restore health to the ecosystem. The final dam blow-up is expected to be completed in 2013.

I teach Environmental Science everyday (well, not exactly everyday, but you get the point) and nothing compares with getting out there in nature and experiencing the beauty of God's creation for yourself. I must also say from experience, that the best way to get involved and make a difference in conservation/preservation is to do exactly that...get involved. Get your lazy butt off the couch and do something! :) Here are some pictures of our day...hopefully you will learn something along the way.

Starting off on our canoe trip. This is actually part of the original Kissimmee River that has not dried up. It has no water flow because of daming upstream, but is surprisingly relatively healthy. When the river is completely restored, this view will change. Leased cattle pastures, which currently border each side of the river, will be flooded and broadleaf marsh will take it's place.


I'm not much of a bird lover (unlike my other Ridge Ranger friends, who are bird FREAKS!), but I figured I'd pretend like I was and take this picture. Someone told me to tell my blog audience that this was an immature blue heron, but it's not...just a cow bird. Pretty picture, though, huh?

Others on the canoe trip. Gotta love the cow up ahead checking us out.

Mom and I with our Ridge Ranger leader, Jim. He works so hard to organize weekend events for the group to participate in. We took this picture for Uncle Ed. Recognize this guy??

We canoed from the Riverwoods Field Lab on the original Kissimmee River to the channelized river (Canal 38). I tried to insert the text in the picture above at the appropriate locations so you could see where the two intersect. When the restoration project reaches to this point, the spoil banks on each side of the canal will be pushed back in, filling up the dredged channel. This will divert the water back into the natural riverbeds and flood much of the surrounding area, restoring thousands of acres of wetlands. The coolest thing of all is that scientists and those working on the restoration project have never planted native species or distributed seeds in an effort to return the habitat to its original state. With a little water and sunshine, seeds that have been dormant in the soil for all of these years spring forth to life! It is truly amazing to see the determination of nature as this ecosystem thrives with the plant and animal life that it was always meant to possess.

This was such a special sight to see! Sandhill Cranes mate for life, but better than that, they both share equal responsibility in caring for their young. Both mom and dad sit the nest and take turns watching over the area. This was especially neat because the nest was made in the water to protect the eggs/hatchlings from predators. If you look carefully, you can see the mom sitting on the nest with her head poked out above the lilypads. She's checking us out. Dad is standing guard on dry ground.

Making poop!

I just learned that this week Baby H will be reaching a gastrointestinal milestone... the making of poop. In the 14th week, the fetus begins to make meconium (first resemblence of poop) within the intestinal tract. Wow, talk about holding it a long time!!! We call that constipation... in the fetus world, it's completely normal.


According to my very trusty sources (WebMD and the Mayo Clinic websites), Baby H weighs almost an entire ounce!!! He/she has eyelids that are fused together (so much for sight-seeing for a while) and already has distinct facial features (hopefully, my eyes, my nose, my mouth, my chin... okay, so I want my kid to look like a mini-me. Is that so bad?). Supposedly, in the 14th week the little fetus will begin to respond to external stimuli (i.e. people poking me in the stomach) and respond by "wriggling away". Too cute :)

Easter Reflections

Since I didn't submit a post for Easter (camera batteries were dead), I at least wanted to use my Thankful Thursday to reflect on my gratitude for having a Resurrection Sunday to celebrate! I really tried to meditate on the truth of Christ's resurrection last week and focus on the implications of Christ truly being alive and reigning King. I was sharing with Jimmy that my all-time favorite worship songs (even before and after the easter season) are those that exalt Jesus as King, Lord, Conquerer...you know, those vertical songs that allow you to connect with the majesty of God and declare the Kingship of our savior. Perhaps the reason that I am so drawn to those songs and feel such passion when singing them, is because my spirit connects with the truth of the words and what they mean for me. Jesus' resurrection means power over sin and death and victory for me. How can you not get excited out of your skin when singing about the risen Jesus conquering the grave!!! I am thankful to serve the Greatest God!

Mission 1st Trimester: Accomplished!

I'm so happy to be able to finally write this post! We have conquered the first trimester! Today marks the beginning of Week 13 and our little jumping bean is well on his or her way to looking less like an alien and more like a human! For obvious reasons, I've resisted blogging on the events, milestones, and really funny stories of the first weeks of pregnancy... so just to recap, the baby has grown so incredibly much from the time of conception, that if he/she continued to grow at this rate he/she would be like the size of a 2 story building at the end of 9 months! I'm sure it would be hard to find clothes to fit a baby that big...so thank God things are starting to slow down a bit. Baby pretty much has everything, in terms of organs and body parts, that he/she will need, but we're still working on the proportion thing. According to WebMD, "The head is still disproportionately bigger than the body, but the rest of the body is starting to catch up. The face is starting to look more human, with eyes moving closer together. Toes and fingers are clearly separate, and ankles and wrists have formed. External genitalia are becoming visible. Intestines are shifting into their proper place, too." Even though I can't feel it yet, the baby is moving all over the place! He/she is enjoying that olympic size swimming pool before things start getting cramped. I haven't had an ultrasound yet (won't until 20 weeks), but I love looking at youtube videos of 3D ultrasounds that other moms have submitted. I'm amazed that even though a 13 week old fetus is so incredibly small (about 4") it's so developed and active!

I'm especially thankful that "morning" sickness (which was rarely in the morning) is pretty much a thing of the past. I'm not sure if that is a mental-behavioral response, or truly due to medical reasons. Either way, YAY!!! As my uterus is moving up out of my pelvis, my southern organs, particularly the bladder, are breathing a sigh of relief. I'm only getting up once in the middle of the night to pee = more and better sleep. (I've been reminded that excessive urination will soon return in the third trimester).

Here is a 3D ultrasound pic of a 13 week old fetus...not Hurst baby, but they probably look really similar :)

Thankful Thursday

- Cheap maternity clothes at Bealls Outlet!!!
- So many generous and cheerful givers, willing to hand-me-down all kinds of goodies!
- God's mercy (forgoing the punishment we truly deserve)
- God's sovereignty and ultimate control in the earth (whew!...what a relief to know)

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
-Psalm 118:28

Thankful

Missed yesterday (what's new), but I have been ready for Thankful Thursday for almost a week! I'm so thankful for all of my family and friends that have been supportive during these pregnancies and losses and especially encouraging during this very exciting time in our lives! I didn't realize how many people out there were lifting us up in prayer until I started getting this flood of emails and comments after last week's post. Thank you, Thank you! We are encouraged by your love :)

Held

Today I attended a memorial service for a baby who never experienced life outside of her mother's womb. Today I attended a service to support two parents who are not only grieving the loss of their baby girl, but who are also grieving the loss of the excitement and anticipation of becoming parents. Today was a tough day.

One of my childhood friends lost her baby from placenta abuptio at 7 months, last Saturday. I have spent the past several days thinking about this, literally dreaming about this, and imagining what this pain must feel like. I have an idea, but the excitement of having a child grows month after month, just as you get to know your unborn child more with each passing day. I imagine that the wound is a little different than what I have experienced; a little deeper. Let me just say, I can't think of many things that would be more painful.

So... in the midst of this great pain I am reminded of a truth that never strays too far from my mind. Pain and suffering on this earth are the very things that drive us into the arms of God. Without great trial in our lives, we would never realize that we are insufficient in and of ourselves; and that He is all sufficient. We are insufficient to handle such pain and hardship, insufficient to carry on in peace. But He is sufficient, providing and being all that we need. I haven't lost a parent, sibling, or spouse (thank God), but I have experienced enough loss in my life to have learned to remember this truth during times like these. It almost seems like these times of loss are much needed opportunities to remind ourselves that "God is in control" and "His ways are higher than ours; His thoughts are deeper" (both truths spoken at funerals everyday). Losing those closest to us, particularly in tragic circumstances, is a reality check on so many levels. There is nothing like thoughts of death and eternity to make you self-evaluate and reflect on your view of God.

In light of loss, I have added a new song to my playlist- "Held" by Natalie Grant. This song is so touching, reminding us that we've never been promised a life without trial or suffering. But rather, the promise is that during those times He will hold us in His everlasting arms.