Shane & Rachael Time

View of the ocean at the pool of our hotel in Cancun, Mexico

More ocean views. Beautiful

Eating out at Lorenzillos. Lobster!!!!

Getting ready to take the plunge!!! Whoo Hoo!!

You only live once.

Shane taking the plunge!

A picture of a bridge that Shane took in Vail, Colorado.

Shane skiing in Vail

Shane and I at the Brad Paisley Concert in Charleston, SC

Shane and I have had a great start to a better year. For our 14th Anniversary in January, we went to Cancun Mexico. It is so beautiful and relaxing. We absolutely love it there. We can't wait to go back. We would love to take the kids someday and say it every time we go but for now it is Mommy & Daddy's escape to paradise.

For Valentines Day, Shane took me to the Capital Grille. It was perfect as usual. Dustin and Yessie had reservations at 5:00pm and ours were at 6pm. They sat us right next to Dustin and Yessie. It was fun. Then we went to a movie afterwards to see Valentine's Day. It was a cute couples movie.

On February 26th, Shane left for Vail, Colorado. He was there until the following Wednesday. We missed him so much, but I am so glad he was able to get away for some guy time and have the opportunity to go skiing in such a beautiful place. He has gone for the last 4 years and loves it. Here in NC you ski down a small mountain and can be done in about 60 seconds. In Vail, you can ski for 20 minutes plus before you reach the bottom. I am tired just thinking about it.

Caitlyn is doing really well with Potty Training. She does awesome thru the day and her naps. Nights are touch and go. Some nights no accidents and others she is soaked. But we are getting there quickly. This morning she got up by herself and went potty. Yeah!!!! Shane changed her bed from a crib to a daybed. So she can now get out by herself. She keeps saying, "Thank you Daddy." "I wuv my bed" "This is cool mommy" "I do it by myself" "Come see my new bed" "I a big gurl now" So she is growing up to fast. But it is fun and exciting. Before she goes to sleep each night when I lay her in her bed & cover her up she says, "Thank you Mom. Goodnight Mom. I wuv you Mom." It makes the whole day worth it. Oh the things we can learn from our children. The sweet innocence, love & thankfulness for the simplest things.

Shane was home for one full day and on Friday afternoon we left for Charleston, SC to go to the Brad Paisley concert. It was so nice to be able to get away just us for the weekend after him being gone for a week. Travis & Audra watched the kids on Friday till 10am on Saturday when Liz came and took over till we came home on Sunday afternoon. Friday night we drove to Columbia and spent the night in the Hilton and ate dinner at Ruth Chris' Steakhouse in the hotel. It was delicious. The beds were so comfortable. Even more than ours at home. I slept so well. The next day we drove to Charleston which is about 2 hours away. We had dinner with Tony & Kim before the concert and then drove back to the hotel which is where the coliseum was also so we didn't have far to walk afterwards.

The concert was awesome. Brad always puts on a good show. This is the second one we have been to. I have never been disappointed.

We had a special speaker on Sunday who spoke about Our Legacy. I have thought about what kind of Legacy I would leave behind a lot in the last year. Will my kids grow up and want to serve God and go to church because they want to and desire to please God or will they go out of duty and obligation? I pray to God that Shane and I raise them with the longing to serve and worship him just because. I hope that they will see and always remember how God was so faithful to our family especially during this past year. I know Caitlyn won't remember, but I have my scars to show her and tell her what a mighty God we serve and how he brought me thru the hardest thing I had ever had to face. I am so glad the boys are at the age that they will remember & never forget. That will be my greatest Legacy that all my children grow up and serve the Lord. It is not the money, nice house, SUV or vacations but most of that they love God and more importantly know that He loves them no matter what is going on in their lives.

As I was writing this entry, a song I have never heard before came on the satellite radio. It is by Josh Wilson and the song is "Before the Morning" Here are the lyrics:

Josh Wilson - Before The Morning Lyrics

Do you wonder why you have to

Feel the things that hurt you

If there’s a God who loves you where is He now

Maybe there are things you can’t see

And all those things are happening

To bring a better ending somehow you’ll see you’ll see

Would you dare would you dare to believe

That you still have a reason to sing

Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling

It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming

So hold on you gotta wait for the light

Press on and just fight the good fight

Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling

It’s just the dark before the morning

My friend you know how this all ends

You know where you’re going

You just don’t know how you’ll get there

So say a prayer

And hold on cause there’s good for those who love God

But life is not a snapshot

It might take a little time

but you’ll see the bigger picture

Once you feel the weight of glory

All your pain will fade to memory

It’s just the hurt before the healing

Oh the pain that you’ve been feeling

It’s just the dark before the morning

Would you dare to believe

That you still have a reason to sing

Cause the pain you have been feeling

It is just the dark before the morning.

That first verse about how can I feel this pain and go thru this trial if there is really a God out there. (My Summary) Why would I have to go thru it. But like the song says maybe we can't see the whole picture but He does and He is giving us a better ending than we could ever imagine. We really do still have a reason to sing and believe. In my own journey I know I am starting to see the light of morning and I have never in my life been so thankful for it. Joy does come in the morning. We just have to press on thru the darkness & pain, and the joy we will have will be beyond all our earthly understanding.

So if you are in the dark in your life just have faith that your morning is right around the corner. Wait and Pray. Allow yourself to be a pawn in the Master's Hand and trust in Him that he will bring you your unspeakable joy after the stormy darkness that has crossed over your life. He will never leave you nor forsake you. I know that now more than ever.

Love and Prayers,

Rachael