Days with the Dorans

I was so excited for Monday to come because my friend, Lynn, was bringing three of her kids and heading our way for the day.  We had hoped to stop and see them in Knoxville, but with traffic the way it was, we wouldn't have gotten to their house until 10!  We actually met in a parking lot and I ran to give my friend a hug!  We gathered up the kiddies and were soon on a tram up the mountain to Ober Gatlinburg. It was COLD and the kids were hungry so we grabbed a bite to eat at the top of the mountain.  The boys got along great and I think Payton and Ali Jane had fun watching Sean take multiple pictures of himself with the phone and play with my sunglasses (which somehow remained intact!). After lunch, we went outside for some fun.  Sadly a lot of things were gone that we remembered from last year (the putt-putt golf and the maze).  They did still have the little playground, much to the delight of Sean who stayed out there the entire time. Z sa...

After a day of driving and a wonderful visit with friends, we are now in our final destination (Gatlinburg, Tennessee). I can still hear chatter from the kids and am ready to hit the hay but wanted to take a few moments to document the wonderful evening we had. Over seven years ago, I met one of my most favorite people on this earth! I was so sad when she moved to Tennessee but was so THRILLED to have a reunion (albeit short) with her and her family. Lynn and Jeff have four children at home just like us (boy, girl, boy, boy) and they also have two angels (just like us). Brooke (who was stillborn a week after Andrew) and a spark (like E) who was lost between her last two boys (just like us). Their home was BEAUTIFUL (We've decided if we lose our jobs, we're going to move into their basement). Ali Jane (though a bit shy as she always is at first) was so happy to have a sister friend in Payton. When we arrived, Payton took Ali Jane to her room and painted her nails p...

Often I am asked how I keep my faith when I have lived through such tragedy as losing my son. "Where is your God?" people sometimes ask. I believe that throughout my life God has put amazing people into my life when I've needed them most. It was during the grief of Andrew's death that God sent me Lynn. Lynn and I met at a HUGS meeting five years ago. Over those five years we've shared births and deaths- laughter and tears. We met at a time in our lives when we were at the same place at the same time. We were able to find our ways together- to trust God and to discover that whatever we were feeling, be it the same or different, it was o.k., because feelings aren't right or wrong- they simply are. I was so sad when Lynn moved to Tennessee three years ago, but I should have known that distance would not impact our friendship. The women (and men) I have met during HUGS meetings have changed my life and I am convinced that God works in amazing ways. He never gives...