Snow Dump!

That was fun...now we're ready for spring!!

Journeying On,

2014 Resolutions

Seems a little bold to be publishing my 2014 resolutions on the internet, especially since I'm not really a fan of resolutions.  Yes, it's probably because I've failed so many and who likes being set up for failure?  But really, as I spent the first weeks of the new year reflecting on what I want to get out of 2014 I decided to take the advice I've heard from almost every empty nester I've come in contact with since becoming a mom: enjoy them while they're little.  They grow up way too fast.  So I'm resolving 2014 to be a year of playing more board games, tickling and wrestling, dressing up, dance parties, imagining and creating masterful art projects. A year of intentional disciple making of the three little people in my home by simply playing and learning together.  My prayer is that 2014 will be a year of playing and pointing them to Jesus. And a year of praying they choose Jesus for themselves, because after all they grow up way to fast so I want to enjoy them while they're still little.

I confess there have already been several moments in 2014 where hurtful words have been spoken, patience has dried up and the playing has been stopped. But I've found that doesn't mean I've already failed my resolutions for 2014 because it turns out there is grace enough for angry hearts, impatient tongues and overtired preschoolers/toddler.  And only because God's saving grace to me through Jesus Christ has filled me up can each of these seemingly failures be tools for learning and disciple making.  So here's to a year of more failures, but much more grace and lots and lots of playing!

Journeying On,

Miracles of 2013

This kid...and the hundreds of miracles connected to his little life and homecoming.

Although we saw some of the lowest numbers since Ethan's diagnosis, we also had some of the best and have marked another calendar year off with no leukemia

A year of eating!  Addison getting to say goodbye to her g-tube.

That this girl was part of our lives for half of the year and that the Lord has shown us he will always be protecting and providing for her.

They are countless really....all of the miracles in 2013.

Impossible to capture in a picture or even get them all jotted down.

Were there hard and dark days, of course. But those days weren't wasted.

God used them for more good, to make me see the miracles.

And he wants me, and you too, to start 2014 with eyes wide open.

Journeying On,

Thankful Thursday

for packing paper play

for unsuspecting sisters (she got nailed a a few seconds later)

for brother hugs

for friends that play outside in December

and for 70 degrees in December:)

for family that comes from far away to celebrate being four

for a Christmas tree filling up with the stories of the Old Testament

leading us through this advent season and preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Journeying On,

Four Years Later

I never tire of it

I never tire of seeing how far these two miracles have come

How much they've changed

How many obstacles have been overcome

The countless and constant miracles we witness, not just with their health, but in our hearts too

We praise the name of Jesus for these things and dare to ask for even more

 The first time Ethan was with Mommy

The first time Daddy was with Addison

These Two....

Journeying On,

Thankful Thursday

For kid sized picnic tables

For how much this girl loves books

and how much she wants him to love books too

 for indoor dodgeball

and found treasures

I found this pad of paper the other day and the first page is full of the notes I took when Addison's neurologist called to give us the report of the MRI she had at 10 months old.  It says things like "too much fluid", "brain atrophy" (missing brain matter), "concerned she won't crawl" (yet alone walk). 

Be glad and rejoice! Surely the Lord has done great things. -Joel 2:21

Journeying On,