Grateful Grapes

Man the Lord is teaching me a lot! He is truly breaking my heart for this world and for the people who are in it. A great deal of the heartbreak is for my students and the hard times they are experiencing and the other is just the own struggles I am feelings. Eli is now 10 months old and that means we are approaching the year anniversary of the day he was born as well as the day that I almost died.

It brings up so much emotion. I was watching the Today show and they asked a guest what their life was like and if they were able to function on a normal level after a heart transplant. Her answer was that she "lived a more full life than most because she has experienced the fragility of life." I am trying to remember this daily. I am not so much like Tim McGraw and his skydiving and rocky mountain climbing, but I do want to live a full life. Full of forgiveness, grace, joy, peace, love, and integrity.

This year I have two small groups of girls and in one of them we are going through spiritual disciplines. In the last two weeks we have talked about Gratitude and Celebration. I came up with the idea to send them "grateful grapes". They were green paper grapes. On the back I wrote that life is often like a green grape, bitter and sour but we choose to be grateful and celebrate. I have it posted on my bedroom mirror with a list of things I am grateful for. It is a daily reminder of all that I have. Even with that I am still brought down by sadness, frustration, annoyance and my irritation. It is hard to stay joyful all the time, but I am working to do it as much as possible. I have far more than I deserve.

I hope that by reading this you are reminded of your grateful grapes and the things that fill your life with happiness. I recommend listing them in a place that you see regularly. It helps.

Eli- 10 months old

Eli is 10 months old and the time is just getting away from me. We don't have his height or weight because he won't go to the doctor, but even without it I can see and feel that he is growing. I feel like he has changed so much in the last few weeks.

• He now sits perfectly. He only tips when he is tired or really distracted.
  
• He eats type 2 baby food twice a day and really likes it.
• He eats all fruits, veggies, and whatever meats we give him.
  
• He loves his Nanny Anna and many other of our college students. One of the guys, Randy Troyer, makes him laugh a lot.
  
• He never touches the ground around campus. The students think he is the greatest!
• He can clap.
• He can grab Aaron's hand to sit up.
• He still only rolls from his belly to his back and over his right shoulder.
• He doesn't have any teeth, but he slobbers like crazy and chews on anything he can get a hold of.
  
• He smiles always.
  
• He is the light of Aaron and my life.