Welcome back to Finish The Sentence Friday (FTSF). We give you a sentence and you finish it (however long or short you'd like). Write a post and link it up, or if you don't blog, feel free to finish the sentence in the comments for everyone to see.
Before I get to the sentence, let me recap my blogging week for you (in case you missed my stuff and want to check it out):
Crap In My Mom's Purse
Girls Against Boys: What They Wear (guest post at OhBoyMom)
Caption That! (Round 19)
Before I get to the sentence, let me recap my blogging week for you (in case you missed my stuff and want to check it out):
Crap In My Mom's Purse
Girls Against Boys: What They Wear (guest post at OhBoyMom)
Caption That! (Round 19)
Okay, on to this week's sentence:
The most memorable Valentine's Day I ever had was...um...none of them have been very memorable. We don't typically make a big deal out of the holiday. We might exchange cards or go out to dinner, but nothing really memorable.
But then I thought, well maybe I just wasn't remembering well, so I started going through my old journals. I found nothing about Valentine's Day.
But I did find something cool that has to do with love. So I'll stretch the sentence just a teeny-tiny bit for this week...
The most cool thing I found in my old journal lately, was...
The most memorable Valentine's Day I ever had was...um...none of them have been very memorable. We don't typically make a big deal out of the holiday. We might exchange cards or go out to dinner, but nothing really memorable.
But then I thought, well maybe I just wasn't remembering well, so I started going through my old journals. I found nothing about Valentine's Day.
But I did find something cool that has to do with love. So I'll stretch the sentence just a teeny-tiny bit for this week...
The most cool thing I found in my old journal lately, was...
this prayer to God (just bear with my spirituality and journaling choppiness):
I sometimes ask why You bless so many couples with children and we can't have one. But at the same time I'm thankful you quickly remind me that You have a special plan for us.
Even though it may not be "official", I feel like we've been slapped with the label "infertile". I feel like we stand out because we don't have kids, especially at church, where everyone seems to have kids. I feel like they think we don't want kids and then judge us, or pity us for not being able to have kids.
If this is Your will for us God, then let it be. But help me to accept it because it'll be hard. I want to want whatever You want for us. If we're never able to have children even through adoption then we'll enjoy our niece and we'll help serve wherever You put us. You gave us each other to love. We'll do that or die trying.
Okay, the last sentence just made me puke in my mouth a little because it's so cliché, but there was something cool and beautiful about this prayer. It was written two days after our son was born. We didn't meet him until almost two years later, the day we adopted him, but I wrote this way back then.
As I write this, I'm sitting at my kitchen table, watching him, my eight year old, play outside in the snow with his brother and sister, thinking about how truly blessed I am. And I think about how God really did have a plan for me. A better plan than, at that time, I could have ever imagined.
I love my three little Valentines and my big hubby Valentine.
Happy (early) Valentine's Day!
Happy (early) Valentine's Day!
So, what's your most memorable Valentine's Day? Or even better, give us some dirt from your journal!
Next week's sentence to finish is: I get so frustrated when...
A rhyme:
If you're linking up, follow your hosts.
We'll be tweeting/sharing some of your posts.
Grab the button from up above,
put it on your blog and we'll give you some comment love.
(dumbest poem ever)
Grab the button from up above,
put it on your blog and we'll give you some comment love.
(dumbest poem ever)
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Read and comment on the two posts ahead of yours, then if you want to share your favorites on Facebook or Twitter use the hashtag #FTSF.
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Kate, that's just beautiful and it made me cry...the longing/frustration/mourning for children that haven't come to us yet is something I've been struggling with lately. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love this and God truly does work in mysterious ways and very much believe it that!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, that is beautiful. What a thoughtful twist on our sentence this week. Gave me chills. I am so happy that you and your children found one another.
ReplyDeleteI believe you were gifted you child because even through hard times you never doubted God love or that His will be done. What a beautiful story. May your family continue to be blessed.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Sorry for inappropriate 'OMG' but OMG! Kate my face is streaming with tears!!! You are amazing. The last line of your poem was brilliant. Cliches are cliche for a reason :) I am so impressed by you and how you've built your beautiful family. I find I think of y'all often - I'm not weirdo stalker (honest) I just enjoy your writing immensely. And then you share something like this and well, I'm just so glad I 'bore with your spirituality' ;). Happy Valentines to all y'all Halls! xx
ReplyDeleteThat was beautiful Kate. The fact that it was written two days after your son was born and you wouldn't see him for another two years gave me goosebumps. I was 28 when I said, "Okay God I'm ready." Then in between wasn't supposed to be so emotional. I have a whole unpublished book about it. Finally Christopher was born the after my birthday seven years later.
ReplyDeleteHi there! This was a beautiful read! I had my doubts about being part of a Blog group that is mostly made up of Mommy Bloggers, but those doubts have gone for ever! I'm so glad things worked out well for you! May they continue to do so. Have a good day!
ReplyDeleteI love that Kate and it's amazing how there can be a "plan" for us when we don't even know it's already in place. I still have old journals too and although sometimes I'm appalled by my earlier writing style/skill (I used many cliches too!), I love being able to see how the younger me felt and handled life's challenges and joys. Great link-up post!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I just teared up a little! What a beautiful picture of God's faithfulness! :)
ReplyDeleteI actually have a V-Day story in the works, because believe it or not, I have had some pretty darn memorable ones, despite my cynicism and conviction at nineteen that I would die alone...
It is a really hard process. Glad to share. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie! We are really are blessed.
ReplyDeleteThanks! :-)
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks Josie. That's so sweet. And whenever a good and funny writer, like yourself, tells me they enjoy my writing, that means SO much to me. Thank you! Happy Valentine's Day to your family too!
ReplyDeleteThat waiting is the absolute hardest thing. You never know what the end will be. So hard. So glad you have Christopher. That boy is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joan! Glad you joined our group. It's nice to have some diversity.
ReplyDeleteI find it embarrassing to go back through my old journals. I started about 18 years ago and they were BAD. The writing was awful. I actually turn red when reading them even when I'm alone in my bedroom. LOL! But I look back at some of the things I wrote a year ago and I'm embarrassed because I think the writing wasn't that good. Shows we're always improving. Or that I'm a ridiculous perfectionist. Probably both. Ha!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteHow amazing is it that you wrote this TWO DAYS before your son was born? I have chills.
ReplyDelete<3
Kate - Being a parent doesn't mean you have to be the one to give birth to them. It simply means that you accept all responsibility and provide all the love you can. My two girls are my wife's from a previous marriage. I always said, "You don't have to be the stud, just the father." When my oldest told me she wanted to get married, I knew problems could arise. It wasn't long that she received a call from her birth father. When the call was over, she came out to talk. She said, "I don't think he's going to be coming." I asked her why. "Well, he said he couldn't wait to walk me down the aisle. I told him that he wasn't going to do that. Instead, my real father was going to be the one to give me away." Walking her down the aisle was the proudest day of my life. She may not have been of my seed, but she was of my heart. It's hard for some that have never been there to understand. I've been there, as you have. Great post!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this. I'm glad it turned out the way it did, I love your kids!!
ReplyDeleteAmy, Your poem is beautiful. It had such deep pain yet the strength to go on no matter what!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is not easy, when people judge us cause we are social animals. I am glad that in the end it turned out fine. You have blessed these 3 precious children with warm hearts and caring home, and to touch someone like this is a boon these days.
Wishing you 5 an awesome Valentine :) Hugs!
Ruchira, I think you're mixing me up with Amy L. Ha! We do both homeschool. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe other cool thing is that I always wanted to adopt. It was just a matter of when. So it was made pretty clear to us that "when" would be sooner than we thought.
ReplyDeleteso so so so awesome! that is really way much cooler than valentines day ever! I feel like I should be congratulating your past self! :-)
ReplyDeleteThe girl I am dating now has a disdain for Valentine's Day and told me as soon as we started dating, "Don't ever do anything special on that day!"
ReplyDeleteNo problem.
Beautiful
ReplyDeleteOh wow. This is a beautiful prayer and a beautiful answer to it. Hope you have a special day with your 3 sweet Valentines :)
ReplyDeleteWe used to exchange gifts on Valentine's Day back when we were first going out, but not anymore. Like you, we also just exchange cards. We have a tradition, each year we each get a turn to plan something fun and romantic for the day/night. So far it's worked perfectly. Gives us both a chance to get creative! I loved your journal entry and so fitting that it was written two days before your son was born! It was just meant to be! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story! I found you on YKIHAYHT's Blog Hop - I clearly need to read more about you. I want to know where your other two Valentine's came from :) This made my day. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy three little Valentines are all from China. Love them so much.
ReplyDelete