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,

Hidden Gifts

When we accepted the referral from our adoption agency for Elijah back in May we were given some details about his personality and medical background.  In the description he was described as a fussy eater and was dependent on nutritional drink supplement (similar to our pediasure).

"Oh great!" I thought.  Another kid with feeding problems. At least he's taking his formula by mouth instead of a tube.

Once we met our sweet boy we found they were putting it mildly when they called him a fussy eater:)  Turns out the kid doesn't chew....like anything, not even baby puffs. So for the first weeks he was with us in South Africa his diet consisted of bottles, KFC mashed potatoes and gravy, yogurt and cream of wheat.

At first I wanted to be frustrated that we were facing more of the same in regards to eating.

You see my first two never got the whole bottle thing and anytime we were feeding them is was crazy stress to get as much down as possible without it coming back up (hence the tubes).  As they got older, we had the same experience with pureed foods.  We've cleaned more up off the floor than either of them ate during their first year of life.

Then the Lord gave me a gift, and I never saw it coming.  Never even thought to ask for it.  He gave me back those milestones that I missed as a momma.  In fact, I'm not sure I even realized how much I had missed them until He gave us the gift of Elijah's delayed eating habits.

So now I have a little boy that lets me hold him while he drinks his bottle and opens his mouth wide for a bite of yogurt...And he enjoys it....I enjoy it.

It is a gift!

I know he won't be dependent on bottles and purees forever, but I'm so thankful God sees me. That He knows what I need and desire far better than I know myself.

Elijah has already made some tremendous strides in eating, and it has been exciting to watch him learn and experiment.

Some self feeding

chowing down some graham crackers

working on his chewing:)

Journeying On,