Dakota, my oldest son

Tomorrow (the 28th) will be Dakota's 22nd Birthday.  He was born at 8:30 p.m. on a sunny but cool day at North Country Regional Medical Center in Bemidji, Minnesota.  Dr. Williams broke my water around 5:30 p.m. and went home to get something to eat, saying "I'll see you in probably about 10 hours."  Nope. Once the pain started, it didn't stop.  I went right into active labor.  The nurse came in for a routine check, and found that I was dilated to 9 cm.  She called the doctor, who never made it all the way home, and he came back just in time to deliver my beautiful 8 lb. 6 oz. baby boy.  My mother was there in Minnesota for his birth.  She said it was (next to my birth) the greatest moment of her life.  I cherish the memory that she was able to watch him come into this world.

Dakota is my hero in more ways than one.  He has struggled and won many battles in his life.  Always, I have know that he would overcome whatever the obstacle was.  God loves him, and I pray that he will always remember this.  I have not doubt about that.

Dakota was 18 years old when I became a single mom.  He put his college education on hold to be at home and help care for his two younger brothers while I worked three jobs.  Sometimes he would come upstairs and check on me, when he heard me sitting up crying in the night.  He has been blessed with his grandfather's humor and quick wit.  He always makes me laugh, when I need it the most.  He walked me down the aisle when I married my husband Paul.  That will always be one of my favorite memories. His gentle spirit and smile has always been a gift to all of us.  I love Dakota and I am thankful that God chose me to be his mother.

Thoughts in my head

So much has happened in my life.  I am on my seventh week of my new full time job.  More about that later.

Today I have something more important on my mind.  Something more spiritual.  We have been missing our church meetings quite a bit in the last couple of months, mostly due to illness.  But that's another story. During this time, something good and unexpected has happened. We have started reading the New Testament as a family, and everyone looks forward to our next reading. I have found things that I don't remember ever reading before.  Also, we have been watching the newer version of "The Bible" on Netflix. Another thing we all really enjoy.  These things have kept me feeling positive over seven weeks of illness.  I am very grateful.

Today, the 23rd Psalm has been running through my mind.  "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; though anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

Peace.