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Today did start pretty “black”………..the sky anyway……

But Mom, Evan, Maria, Todd, and I felt anything but darkness.

We had awoken at 3:30 a.m. and almost immediately heard the sound of mom’s wind chimes ringing loudly on her back porch.  This always makes me and mom smile….realizing Nick’s presence is never as far from us as it so often feels.

By 4:30 a.m., we were headed for E’town…..not especially looking for “one thing” but definitely looking for a fun memory.  The boys and Maria had never experienced this once-a-year phenomena and were very curious about how it really was in shopping centers in the middle of the night when prices were slashed, items were limited, and people were on a mission of madness.

Why we chose Target first, I didn’t think I’d ever understand…….

The parking lot was totally full.  One car actually released a passenger at a stoplight so that they could run across the parking lot and get into the store more quickly!  At that point, we knew we were in trouble!

Little did we know that we would run into friends from long ago all through the store!

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And then after standing in line for over an hour and visiting with the very friendly lady right in front of us, mom somehow mentioned Nick to her while I was talking to a cashier and who would have ever known that this new sweet friend of mine had also lost a child…a precious little boy who lived only 6 hours.  Instantly, we shared a part of life that no one can ever take away.

I knew INSTANTLY why we had chosen Target first!

When God “aims” to bring people together, HE SHOOTS STRAIGHT at whatever “target” is necessary.thanksgiving mom and dads 216 I hope this new precious friend stops by this blog, because in the craziness of the early morning hours, I got her picture but not her name!!!!

Anyway, I write all of this to say this:

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE OPEN TO GOD’S PLAN EVEN IF IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE AT THE TIME!

HE HAS WORK TO DO, and HE GETS IT DONE…..

IN SPITE OF OUR BLACK FRIDAYS!

The only black Friday in God’s eyes happened over 2000 years ago and became THE MOST GLORIOUS SUNDAY in His eyes in just three short days!

No matter what we may call today……God simply calls it “another day to draw people closer to Him!”

And Nick, you are forever changing me (and Mamaw) into the people God longs for us to be!  Thank you, my brown-eyed baby boy!  Oh, how I miss your grin, your voice, your conversations, your sense of humor, your laugh, your love for life!  I am who I am today because of you.

Clinging to the promise of eternity in Heaven with my babies and My King,