End of the World.

...Funny joke! Did anyone ACTUALLY believe it was going to be the end of the world today? Doubtful.

Anyway...
I need to get better at blogging.

Things are happier than they were the last time I blogged, where some of China babies are concerned. Lena is still here, and doing well. My heart sings. Our Christmas boxes are sent, and although only one has arrived so far, I am hopeful that the other three will show up and didn't get lost on the way to China. :\
I am sad that sweet Alan, one of the babies we were sponsoring for Christmas, passed away suddenly at the beginning of this month. As heartbroken as I am that that sweet little face is not going to be here on this earth anymore, I am so happy to know he has a true home now. He IS Home. And what a glorious home it is. God just needed another angel to help with Christmas this year.

Of course, with all the tragic happenings of the past week, He must have needed a lot of angels this Christmas. Please join me in praying for the Sandy Hook families. They need our prayers and our love so, so much as they navigate the dark and terrible road of tragedy.

 Father, please wrap Your loving arms around every person touched by these horrific events. Help ALL of us find peace in the aftermath. Walk with them as they start this journey to find a "new normal", and comfort them when they cry out for You. Lord, only You know why this horrific act took place. I take comfort knowing these little ones are safe with You, now free of all of the pain and ugliness of this world, but I weep for those who have been left behind. I ask for guidance and peace that only You can provide, Lord.

Oh, how it breaks my heart that there is so much pain in this world. That this time one week ago those twenty babies were sound asleep in their beds. Oh, how I cry for them.

It is times like that that make me wish that God hadn't given me such a heart for children. I haven't slept soundly since last Friday. I had to fight to keep myself from grabbing all of my Sunday School children and covering them in snuggles and kisses last Sunday. I can't even fathom something happening to one of my little ones in my class. I wept so hard during the Eucharistic prayer that I could barely take communion. And still, I know that as much as I am affected here in Tennessee, it is NOTHING compared to what the community of Newtown is feeling. Lord, hear their cries.

On another, happier note, today is Lawrence's birthday. We're officially the same age again. He caught up! For eight more months I will not be the "older woman" anymore. ;] I can't wait to celebrate his birthday with my family, especially since last year on his birthday we were in the ER while he was getting diagnosed with pneumonia! I pray that his next birthday will be his first as my husband. The plans are made, but only God knows whether our best laid plans will hold true. I pray that they do, but I keep reminding myself that God's timing is perfect, and mine is not. (Even though most of the time I think it is! :P)

I am especially excited that he will be joining my mom and I for Christmas Eve services at work. I'm even MORE excited that not only will this will be the first sermon I will have heard since I started there in September, but also the first sermon I will have heard Jon give! How fitting that it will be on the eve of the most beautiful day of the year. I love my job, I love the people I work with, and above all I love that God chose to use little old ME to do His work. An honor and privilege unmatched by anything else.

Well, blog. I think it's time to go to bed. Hopefully I'll remember to blog some more another time. Ya know, since the world didn't end and all. :P