How am I today?

Amy asked..."How are you doing today?"

To be honest I feeling pretty stressed out. Madison got REALLY sick (I'm so sorry Katie, if you are reading this!) last night and I was up with her all night, she just wanted me to hold her and comfort her. She has a very high fever and she threw up once in her bed. Today she just needed me to hold her all day so I wasn't able to get all of the things I need to get done before tomorrow. Tonight my mother-in-law is taking Frank and Madison over night for us and I am worried that she will keep Sue up all night. The good news is that Madison isn't crying when she is awake she just needs to be held and comforted. She is sleeping now so I had a minute to quick update everyone. Please pray that Madison gets better and that Emily doesn't catch whatever she has.

I also just wanted to say that I am in awe over all of the prayers going up for Emily. Sadie said it best, "This has been an amazing testament to God's unity in His children. I can't believe how quickly people come together for a common goal. This has been beautiful to witness." YES this has been so beautiful just absolutely lovely and good and beautiful. I have cried a lot today just from reading all of the comments on my blog and Amy's blog and all of the lovely e-mails that we keep getting. What a beautiful experience this has all been in such a scary time for us.

I also just wanted to thank Kristy from His Little Lambs for her comment, it really REALLY made me feel so loved and so good.

This is what she wrote....

"we're praying all that day. time in england is 5 hours ahead of time there, so we well be praying starting in the wee hours of the night and moving into the day. I also wanted to encourage you Crystal, it is okay to not feel strong all the time. It is okay to have moments of weakness, even GREAT "moments" that extend days or weeks, because HE is the strong one. He never made us expecting us to be strong, just to lean on Him which you are doing the most excellent job doing!! With our miscarriage there were several moments i just quit trusting and i quit trying to be strong and i quit leaning on Him. i was just so tired, so frustrated, angry and hurt....He still stayed with me even when I pushed Him away. He held me closer at that time than any other. When i was overcome by weakness and was just too tired to trust anymore, He covered that distance. I just want to encourage you for the times that are the hardest when we may give up, He doesn't. Our weakness doesn't count against us. (I actually blogged alot about this --called "and the captive dances"-- b/c i had subconsciously believed in the past that my being strong would be the only way God could work. God works with us, through us, and most importantly in spite of us. He is so big, it is okay for us to feel/be weak. don't beat yourself up for not being 100% strong all the time) I love you girl. I feel like you are my own sister even though I have never met you! I am praying for you and Emily and for everyone. ~kristy in the UK"

Thank you Kristy you have no idea how much I can relate to your feelings during your miscarriage. I have been through really difficult trials in my past and have had these exact feelings. I didn't know it but I really needed to hear what you wrote. I have been just trying to stay strong and just trust in God (and I still am). I just needed to hear (even though I knew it) that it's ok to fall apart because God WILL be there to pick up my pieces and He will hold me together. I feel like we are sisters too and I am so glad I started this blog and found Choosing Home and all of my new blogging friends that just feel like family. Thank you for loving me even when you haven't even met me.

Just a reminder Emily's surgery is tomorrow Feb. 28th at 7:30am central time. The surgery will last up to 4 hours. Thank you ALL of you for praying for her and us. God is SO good!

I love these verses that Amy is posting....

"Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children."

Lamentations 2:19 (NIV)

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)