Ever had moment in your life where you feel like you’ve arrived? You finally showed up to your own party? All of the struggle and the hard work and the hoping and the praying and the waiting have finally paid off?

We’re there. I feel like, and it’s just a feeling, but I feel like that at least once in this one sided conversation we have, I have said something like, “Something has got to give”.

It gave. Or should I say, God gave and we gave thanks. That is the only way I can describe the last year of our lives.

To re-cap. We sold our house unexpectedly. Moved in with the in-laws. Decided to build a house right next door. Designed and built said house from the ground up with the help of a fantastic set of builder brothers at Magnolia Custom Homes in SC. Moved in two days ahead of Princess’ and Monkey’s birthday party with the fam. Had that. Not to mention that the wife and I changed jobs to much better work environments in the middle of all of this.

We were talking while on vacation at the beach a couple weeks back about the astronomical differences since this time last year and how overwhelming grateful we are.

This life has dealt us a handful of challenges and will no doubt deal us a few more before it is all said and done. But we have survived this round and have done so while constantly being there for each other and watching our kids show us the meaning of unfettered love.

#3 and Princess love their Bubba so much it is ridiculous. They are still siblings, but don’t mess with him and don’t leave him out. #3 and Princess will most certainly exclude each other from their respective playtime activities, but they will both break their back to have their Bubba included.  

Oh and he is still their big brother. Princess sleeps in his bed when there is a thunderstorm or runs to hide beside his wheelchair when a bee chases her.  #3 shares his tractors and trucks every time he can.

Our new house is awesome! But that doesn’t stop the challenges or bad days. Monkey will still have seizures, and as I write this from a hotel while away on business, he is of course in the middle of a seizure cycle.

We are a family of faith, but we still get hung up on stuff and more of it. These moments are fleeting, and we are readily reminded that the stuff is not what makes us happy or a family. It is our love for each other. Morgan and I find the greatest joy in our lives by constantly pursuing what is best for our children. We show them what it looks like to be compassionate, honest, and strong. And when we fail miserably at all three, we show them humility.

We check our ambitious dreams for the future constantly and have learned to readjust to our reality and live in gratitude for all that boring life has given us. We may never have that RV and travel the National Parks or ever fly anywhere again, but we will live in the amazing grace that is the life we have. It is incredible and we are fortunate beyond measure. The only thing left to do is raise some kids that know how good they have it and can live their lives in love.

I speak of lofty goals and a humble life. These do not always come naturally to us. Our lives are not perfect and I would be lying if I were to tell you it is not hard. What I want you to know, is that it is hard, that is difficult, but that is no excuse not put our all into loving our kids so much that there is no question in their minds.

It is not perfect. It will get harder again one day. We will not be ready. But until then, we have arrived. The best part is, we managed to be paying enough attention to know that we did.