A Thrilling Ride

   Yesterday my family headed to Magic Mountain for the first time in years. We were excited and nervous as we anticipated the loops and drops from hundreds of feet off the ground. As we waited in line for the first ride we could feel the anticipation rising, and as we buckled up we all had nervous smiles on our faces. Then, woosh! We were off on a wild ride and there was no turning back! It was thrilling and scary, but it was so much fun, and when we exited the ride we felt accomplished. This year has been a bit like that for us. 

   As a family we aren't new to roller coasters. Boy have we been on some doozies! We've rode the teenage pregnancy coaster, and endured the loops on the young marriage coaster....and sadly we've made it off the cancer coaster. Unfortunately the cancer coaster didn't thrill or excite us. It took our sweet Maddy from us. Thankfully God was with us on that coaster. He gently guided us off of it and was the encouraging co-rider on the ones that followed.

  Carrying a baby as a gestational carrier.

 This year we have witnessed miracles and shared in beautiful beginnings while riding a coaster we have never been on before. I carried a beautiful baby for a lovely family from Ireland. It was the first roller coaster in years that I exited with a smile. It was scary, thrilling, exciting and fulfilling. It was the first ride I've been on in years that I wanted to get right back in line for. I enjoyed the pregnancy and sharing the ride with my family. I loved being on another family's coaster with them...and maybe even making the coaster smoother for them. I mean lets be honest, who wants to be on a coaster that gives you whip lash and jerks you around? ;-) Not me!

    Conor Patrick

  Going into this next year I would like to invite you to share in my experiences on the roller coasters called mom, wife, sister, friend, and proud gestational carrier. On the way to the big rides I may choose to hop on some smalls ones, including fashion, food and books. Please feel free to share your thoughts and your own experiences with me. I can only be more blessed by hearing stories and learning from others as I go. I only hope that my experiences will help, encourage, and inspire those who read this blog.

Happy New Year!!!

The Bates Family