On New Year’s Eve, three days after our return from Indiana, Ryan had to undergo surgery for two severely herniated discs in his neck.  He has had neck/back problems for quite some time now, so it was such a relief to him to have this surgery and alleviate his pain.  Ryan’s dad, Bob, flew out for the surgery and was able to not only support Ryan during his operation, but be a support to me as well.  It was so nice having someone there to help me with Siena at the hospital, as well as make sure we had our tire replaced.  We experienced a flat tire the night before Ryan’s surgery and were driving around on a donut.  Thanks so much for your help and care, Bob!

Ryan’s surgery went well and they thought they might be sending him home later that afternoon, but Ryan began to feel very nautious and couldn’t eat anything for the rest of the day, so they decided to keep him overnight.  On New Year’s Eve…Ugh.  I begrudgingly left him at the hospital.  I put Siena to bed and admitedly, I had a bit of a pity party for myself as I watched the ball drop all alone and told myself Happy 31st Birthday as New Year’s Day rolled in.  This wasn’t exactly how I thought 2010 would start.  2009 had been such a hard year for us and we held such higher hopes for 2010.  I cried and prayed silently as I went to sleep that God would renew my spirits the next day and would help me regain the joy and steadfast spirit He wants me to have.

Ryan and I know without a doubt that we are following God in the direction He wants us to go.  We are going on a FAITH walk with God - trusting Him, despite not seeing the end or the final outcome.  The comfortable and known roads are so much easier to follow, but God didn’t call us to that at this point in our lives.  He called us to the unknown.  And a ‘Faith Walk’ with God isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and what makes everybody happy.  Just because you know you are in God’s will, doesn’t mean you won’t experience sadness, difficulties, and even anger at times.  I believe our God, who know us so intimately, understands when we experience anger, disappointment, frustration, and even depression as we experience life’s trials.  Yet, He has our BEST in mind.  More so than anyone else in this world.  He knows what’s BEST, what’s RIGHT, and what WILL BE.  If we never go through the trials, how do we grow as people?  If Ryan and I never weathered any storms together, how would we grow in our marriage relationship?  How would we grow closer spiritually in understanding and in faith of God?  God calls us to the tough roads at different times in our lives, and this is the road Ryan and I are on right now.  And God has called us to just be obedient to Him and TRUST Him.  He wants us to have JOY in the moment, knowing He has good things in store for us.  So…I prayed that God would renew my JOY and help me to have even greater FAITH in Him.

I woke up on my birthday, with a smile on my face and I thanked God that my family would be together again that day!  Siena and I hurried to get ready to go pick Ryan up from the hospital.  However, I had been craving pancakes for awhile and I thought it would be fun to have pancakes on my birthday!  So, I drove through the McDonald’s drive-up on our way to the hospital and picked up pancakes and hashbrowns for Siena and I and we ate them once we got to the hospital.  Siena had never had pancakes before and just LOVED them!  That made me smile!  Thank you, Lord, for the simple joys of pancakes and my baby girl who loves them!

We brought Ryan home and after lunch, Bob drove back to the airport.  I had been to Wal-mart on a shopping trip earlier that week and found a little birthday cake (just the right size for 2 1/2 people!) on clearance, of all the crazy things.  The three of us sang Happy Birthday (well, Siena directed it at least!) and I thanked God for bringing my husband safely through surgery, bringing my little family back together again, and renewing my JOY .  Three priceless birthday gifts and a birthday I will never forget.