Speechless

It's not very often that I find myself speechless, without words to accurately convey exactly the way I'm feeling.  I'm pretty good at relaying my thoughts through words.....most of the time.  But, this past week has left me grasping desperately for the appropriate words to use to in order to express what my heart wants so badly to say.  Though I have been feeling sad, anxious, fearful and doubtful this week leading up to my surgery, all of those feelings were overshadowed by an overwhelming feeling of LOVE like I have never felt before. 

Throughout the entire week I have received countless cards, e-mails, messages, texts and phone calls assuring me that I am "prayed up" and that I'm being thought of by MANY.  It's served as a very good distraction and a great comfort just hearing and reading these things and feeling the love and support from family, friends and even strangers alike!!  

I received my greatest surprise on Wednesday night when my sweet friend Glory offered to bring us dinner.  She was to drop the dinner off with us around 5:30 pm.  At 5:15 I received a text saying "I'm on my way!"  "Great!" I replied, excited for a chance to visit with my new friend.  At exactly 5:30 my doorbell rang and I rounded the corner to find the most wonderful surprise I could've ever asked for.  Through the etched glass of my front door I could see not only Glory, but an entire unending entourage of precious, smiling, giggling, familiar faces of my new sisters in Christ from Englewood Baptist Church.  I covered my mouth in shock, disbelieving the fact that I had just been tricked!  But in the BEST possible way!!  Opened the door and immediately fretted "I am wearing yucky clothes and I don't even have any make up on!!!"  They laughed and from the back of the line I heard funny girl Katie shout "we don't want to date you, we just want to pray for you!!"  =)  I hugged each of them as they entered the door and once inside I just stood there in shock, mesmerized by this selfless, thoughtful act of kindness.  It was 5:30 on a weeknight.  These women have husbands and children and chores and errands and many of them had been at work all day.  Yet, they made it a priority to put me first this day, dropping all of their responsibilities as wives and mothers for the opportunity to minister to a friend in time of need.  Speechless.  My sweet new friends gathered around me in my living room, holding my hands and touching my shoulders as they prayed precious and sincere prayers of protection and healing over me and my family.  They prayed for my parents....for Kyndall....for Matthew.....even for the doctors, nurses and other medical staff who will be taking care of me.  They covered it all, and they did it with some of the most heartfelt prayers I have ever heard.  I was so touched by this and I told them it was something I will never forget.  These ladies have known me just a few short months, yet they have welcomed me with open arms and are walking with me head on into this trial, helping me to face my fears and reassuring me that the Lord is in control.....always.  Speechless.  (Oh, and she really did bring us dinner---Thanks, Glory!)

As if that wasn't enough of a "high" to carry me through the rest of this gloomy week, each day I arrived at the mailbox to find a card or a package of some kind.  If you know me very well, you know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting "real" mail!  Something about seeing my name, handwritten on an envelope just makes me giddy.  It's the simple things in life that I appreciate most.  I have most definitely passed this love of simple things down to my daughter, as she too is easily thrilled by a piece of mail with her name on it.  Boy, was she in for a treat this week!  You see, I have been blessed with the best friends anyone could ever ask for.  I'm just lucky like that.  These friends have remembered not only me, but also my precious baby girl and have in turn kept her little mind and heart happily distracted from the looming sadness and has burdened my own heart this week.  Just take a look.........

The Finch family sent her a care package earlier in the week, full of all kinds of fun things!

We had to immediately break open the glow sticks and take them into the dark laundry room to admire them!  =)

Thank you for the adorable flag!!  I wanted to put it in front of our house, but Kyndall insisted it needed to go in front of her house!  Pretty fitting I guess, since she is in fact Mickey and Minnie's biggest fan!

Thank you, Jim and Teresa!!!!!!!!!

Just a few days later the doorbell rang and I opened the door to find a very large package with Kyndall's name on it.  When I looked at the return address I couldn't believe my eyes.  It was from the De Jesus family who I have only met ONCE in my entire life!  They are "friends of a friend" and I have only been in their presence once, at a birthday party for our mutual friend which was over a year ago.  Though I have only met Wildali and her daughter Isabel once, I feel like I know them personally because we read each others' blogs!  It's amazing how connected you can begin to feel to a perfect "stranger" just by keeping up with their lives through a simple blog.  Wildali and I both have daughters about the same age so we are constantly comparing stories about our girls.  Anyway, Wildali and her family are some of the nicest people you could ever meet, as you're about to see.........

When I showed her the gigantic package and told her it was hers, she started giggling and dancing around like I've never seen!  I so wish I would've captured it on video for Wildali to see for herself!  Immediately she sat down on the floor and wanted to open it "wight now!"

So excited!!!

She remembered all of Kyndall's favorite things, including Veggie Tales!

This kid LOVES some Play-Doh!!

Wildali knows that I have an addiction love for those irresistible itty bitty little girl swimsuits, so she picked out TWO for Kyndall and they are exactly what I would've chosen myself!!

Amongst the treasures was this sweet card and super cute nail kit for me!!!

By far, THIS was my favorite gift of all!!!  How adorable?!

"Check out all my loot!"

Blowing kisses to the De Jesus family for their sweet, thoughtful gifts!

Again, I'm speechless......

I asked her what she wanted to play with first and she immediately said "pway doh!"

I have to share a sweet story, which again I would do anything to have on video to share with you.  As she was tearing through the gifts from Wildali, she suddenly stopped and looked up at me with a puzzled face and said "where deese pwizes come from, Mommy?"  I said "from Isabel!"  She replied with "But why, Mommy?"  (wondering what the occasion was, I suppose!)  I said "Because she loves you, Kyndall!"  She pondered for a few moments then looked up and with the most sincere tone replied "dats so nice, Mommy.....dats so nice".  It's as if she too was truly humbled by the outpouring of love and generosity that had been showered upon her.  She doesn't know the De Jesus family or understand why they (and others!) are suddenly lavishing her with sweet gifts and goodies.....but she does understand enough to realize how thoughtful it is.  I love that!

I received several other gifts throughout the week.....A Chick-Fil-A gift card (my fav!!!) from my childhood friend Jenny and her husband........many sweet cards........and then this book from TWO of my friends! If you haven't picked up your copy and jumped on the "Jesus Calling" bandwagon, you better get going because you're missing out!!  Even in the few days that I've been reading it so far, it has already spoken so deeply to me and I've felt several times as if it was written specifically for ME on that very day!  Another friend had previously sent me the Jesus Today devotional book and it's really good as well!

Saturday evening my parents arrived and came bearing even MORE gifts from friends back home in Tallahassee!  As if we hadn't been blessed enough!

My friend Erin was generous enough to share three cases of her beloved GoGo Squeeze with us!  She won a year's supply of it which believe it or not comes out to be WAY more squeezable applesauce than can possibly be consumed before it expires.  If your kids love this as much as my child does, you can testify to how expensive it is!  This stuff is like GOLD around here!  THANK YOU, Erin!!!  By the way, Erin is the queen of couponing and recently started up a business called Shop, Drop and Save in which you provide her with your shopping list and she does all the work---from clipping the coupons to buying the groceries to delivering them to your house!  Check out her Facebook page and send her some business!  Tell her you heard about it on my blog!  =)

Our good friend Mrs. Shanna also sent goodies for Kyndall..........

This really loud, really high pitched slide whistle was by far her favorite item in the entire bag!  Thanks a lot, Mrs. Shanna!  =)

Two of her favorite things all wrapped into one!  Mickey Mouse and Jelly Bellies!

Being the thoughtful friend that she is, Mrs. Shanna also sent things for me.......

 Pretty new PJs, a robe and slippers for my hospital stay.............

Get ready, there's more!  The White Family ALSO sent gifts!  Speechless.

Thank you, Mr. BoJack, Mrs. Cindy, Kayla, Leah and Jackson!!!!!

They sent gifts for Mommy too!

A BIG thank you to the Calloways and the Whites!!!!  Kyndall loves all of her goodies!

My sweet Mother-in-Law also came bearing gifts.  It really was like Christmas around here last night!

Love this Lilly Pulitzer bag!!

More soft and comfy PJs for my recovery time!  No ugly hospital gowns for this girl!

 This was a very sweet gift from a family member of a good friend of ours.  She actually made this beautiful angel necklace from old antique jewelry.  I've never even met her, but her thoughtfulness touched my heart.

Kyndall wanted to try it on, but rest assured, it's mine!

Speechless.

That's really all I know to say.  I was so overwhelmed and humbled by the time, effort and love that was put into each of these gifts for us.  Though they were certainly not expected, they are all very much appreciated.  As I've said before, it warms my heart to know that others are thinking of my sweet baby girl during this time and helping us keep her little mind completely filled with her favorite things, in hopes that she will never even sense what is going on.  My Mom said that Kyndall has become so spoiled with gifts over the past few weeks that she's going to be sad when this time is over and she's no longer the center of attention.  It's true!  

I've been meaning to share this on my blog, but never did get around to it.  Yet another sweet friend has chosen to honor me in a way that I never could've imagined.  Nobody has ever done anything like this for me and again, the whole story left me completely speechless.  Go read my friend Mitzi's blog HERE and get ready for the goose bumps!  I fully intend on being there to cheer Mitzi on in September and I will be the first one to hug her neck and congratulate her as she crosses the finish line!!  I am so honored!  So speechless.

As I've said over and over again, I do not share these things with a boastful attitude, a prideful spirit or to bring attention to the ones who have given to us.  I am simply sharing with you the JOY and the BLESSINGS that have constantly been poured out on our family since this entire journey began, almost 7 months ago.  It just goes to show you there there are still good, loving, compassionate people in this world who know what it means to come along side a friend during their time of need, holding their arms up just as Aaron and Hur did for Moses in the book of Exodus.  Thank you, dear friends, for being MY Aaron and Hur and for holding my arms up when they have often grown weary, tired and worn.  

As I mentioned, my family has now arrived in town and we have enjoyed a fun weekend together.  I'm soaking up as much time with them as I can, but particularly with Kyndall.  My parents and Matthew will be with me at the hospital in Nashville, but Kyndall will be staying two hours behind in Jackson with Matthew's Mom.  I am dreading telling her goodbye, not knowing exactly when I will see her again.  She will be on my mind constantly and the thought of kissing her sweet face again will be just the motivation I need to get well and get back home where I belong!

Today was our last Sunday at church for what I imagine will be quite a while.  I let Kyndall wear her new outfit from the De Jesus family and I can't tell you how many compliments she received!!

A few last family pictures before the big day.............

Just missing Poppie, but he'll be here on Thursday

I AM BLESSED.