There is nothing like seeing your new grandson for the first time. Ryder Jon Willingham was born Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 9:09 pm. he weighed in at 7lbs and 15ozs and was 22 inches long. He has been under the oxygen tent and in Huntsville's nicu so I haven't been able to hold him yet. I can's wait until I can hold him in my arms. I am flooded with emotion when I think about all of the things that have happened the last 7-8 months. There have been summer vacations, a baseball season, a new school year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, a New Year, birthdays and special times spent with family and friends...all without Jon. There is not a day that goes by without many thoughts and memories of times spent together. Now this new life is present, softening real life a bit. Psalms 118:23 says, "The Lord has done this, and it is amazing to see."

Better Than a Hallelujah

I love these lyrics. It's from the new Amy Grant CD, Somewhere Down the Road.

God is who He says He is!

Here it is Feb. 2010! The holidays have come and gone and I'm still hanging on to life and to the reality of everything. Everyday is filled with thoughts of Jon but usually in a happy "remembering" way. The ladies prayer group at Cross Point gave me some wind chimes to put in my "Jon garden". Just about every morning that I have time to wake up and listen I will hear them chiming right outside my bedroom window. I always think Jon is blowing them around for me to hear. This always
brings happy thoughts to mind.
We have been studing "Believing God" by Beth Moore for the last few months. Several things in this study have spoken to me directly. One is that God promises that where the need is great, grace abounds more. Like the manna in the wilderness there is always just enough for our need. The reason we don't crumble to the fear or discouragement in our lives is because the presence of God is always in the middle of our circumstance. Even if we don't see Him right away, He is there...I think that is where faith comes into the picture. I want to grab onto the Lord with everything that I have and trust in His ability to succeed and not mine! I know that God is counting on me to get up everyday and give Him the glory. I hold on to these words of Jesus in John 16:33
"I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world"