Saturday, August 11, 2012

A lifelong friend...



My name is Megan and I have been an ASA for 9 years.  What ASA has done for me is provided with a lifelong friendship that is immeasurable.  

My big sis, Jodi and I
 About two years ago, I gave birth to my youngest son… 6 weeks early.  My husband and I sat in the hospital scared to death not knowing what was about to happen as a doctor stated, we have to deliver the baby for your health, but I can’t guarantee the health of your baby.   This was one of the most terrifying moments of my life.  2 hours later, I went in for a C-section and heard Noal cry as he was born.  What a great moment that was!  The next two weeks that followed were a blessing, but were some of the most difficult, because my son was here and he was alive; however, he was in the NICU and my health was still in question.  

When you see babies born on TV, you see the family, balloons and flowers that fill the room—which had been the case with the birth of my oldest son.  Our hospital room that included husband, mommy and baby was a revolving door of friends and family coming to meet our new addition.  With Noal, it wasn’t the picture perfect moment.  I couldn’t get out of bed to greet guests and with Noal in the NICU the only visitors he was allowed were mom and dad, so no one could go see our new miracle.  I could only touch my new baby through the hand holes and hadn’t even gotten to hold him in my arms.  I had been okay for awhile, but I hit a point in the hospital where I was at rock bottom.  Just in time, in walked my best friend, my big sister, Jodi.  Jodi came to see me; she was not concerned about the fact that she wouldn’t get to see the baby or that I wouldn’t be good host.  She was there to see me and to check on me and in that moment that was just what I needed-- someone to be there for me and Jodi was that person and has always been that person from the moment we met 9 years ago.  If it weren’t for ASA I wouldn’t have ever been able to meet “my person”.
 
Don’t be worried about us though…  About one year ago today, Jodi was there as we celebrated Noal’s first birthday and in about one month, on Noal’s 2nd birthday, I will get to celebrate with Jodi as she gets married. I am looking forward to the day I can visit the hospital after the birth of her children, to be there for her.  ASA has provided me with this lifelong friendship and for that, I am truly grateful.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

5 years ago today....

I married my best friend. Little did we know on that day just how much God would bless our marriage. For those of you that know our story, we definitely had a rough road during those three years leading up to marriage. It was definitely God that kept us together through some very hard times, but I wouldn't trade a single fight or hard day. They made us who we are today and I am beyond lucky to have Chad Mitchell as an ever supporting husband and as the amazing father to our two precious little boys.

5 years later and stronger than ever, we deal with this loss that has shook our family, I know that God will get us through, as he always has. Amen, and Amen.

Dave Barnes, Amen

We will have love
We will have pain
There will be days and days and days that feel the same
We will have fear
We will have joy
And maybe little girls and little boys

We will have friends
We will have peace
There will be nights of lights and music 'til you sleep
We will be strong
We will still break
We'll live through so much more than we can take

Amen
Amen
With the dawn, we all begin again
Amen
Amen
What is done, and yet to come
Amen

We will have hope
We will have doubt
There will be memories we could never live without
We will have tears
But there will be grace
There will be prayers that we never thought we'd pray

Amen
Amen
With the dawn, we all begin again
Amen
Amen
What is done, and yet to come
Amen

In the sun or the storms
The flood or the flames
Let everything come, and I'm the one to blame
In heartache or hope
I swear I'll say, I'll say

Amen
Amen
With the dawn, we all begin again
Amen
Amen
What is done, and yet to come

Friday, April 13, 2012

Easter 2012

We had a great Easter this year with our family.  Trace and Noal both loved hunting Easter eggs and of course getting more candy than we will be able to eat in a year.  We also had great fellowship with our Sunday School class over breakfast.  However, little did we know just how special Easter was going to be for our family.  It was the last moment we were able to spend with Chad's Memaw who passed away on April 11.

On Easter Sunday, the Mitchell family, gathered at Gramps and Memaw's just like we do every Sunday for dinner after church.  Then we had an Easter Egg hunt for all of the great-grandkids.  It was a very special time then and even more so now since it was the last Sunday that Memaw would be with us for Sunday dinner.

For those of you that aren't from Erin, the Mitchell family is a huge family... 52 decedents from Gramps and Memaw alone to be exact.  It is truly a unique family to have the fortune to be a part of.  Extremely close, extremely loving, and extremely loyal.  Of the 52 decendents, all of us live within a 50 mile radius of Erin, TN where the family resides.  Even though I am not a blood relative, to Gramps, and especially, Memaw, that has not made a difference, I was one of their grandchildren.  I am more than blessed to have become a member of this wonderful family and to have know Memaw for the past eight years.  She was the matriarch of the family and the best role model for being a true woman of God that anyone could have.  Memaw will be greatly missed, but I can only imagine the celebration that is going on in Heaven as God called one of his best home a few days ago.

He is Risen.... and he has called Memaw home.  That is an Easter to be happy about.

EASTER PICTURES

ECN Easter Egg Hunt at Betsy Ligon Park













The Easter Bunny Came and New Easter Outfits
















Easter Sunday at Gramp's and Memaw's House