One Beautiful Life

Spring pictures and some random ramblings...

About a month ago, I took the kids up to the front of the neighborhood where a grove of old fruit trees were in full bloom... it was so beautiful.  I didn't bother dressing Marc for the occassion.  Last fall, he had a complete breakdown when I asked him to smile for the pictures...

so of course this time, not only did he WANT to be photographed... he gave me the best smiles ever!~  Isn't that just like a three year old!  So after several shots, I got an idea.

I turned his shirt around backwards to at least get rid of the clashing orange and distracting graphic!  Next time I'll pretend he is not going to be photographed and then have "back up" clothes in my bag!

When I see these pictures, I am just struck with so much wonder and thanksgiving for these children.  I see them together like this, think about where they have come from, what they have been through, how much they have grown as people, and how God brought them all together... and I am really humbled.

T is totally amazing.  I am blown away almost daily at the great depth of protection God has had over this child in her lifetime.  I am blown away that we have had her just a little over a year.  I am blown away at the patience she has for A, the tenderness she has for M, and the servants heart she has for me.  She loves her daddy, but there is something there... holding her back.  I pray that it falls away and she can come to fully embrace his love... it will be so important in her embracing of His love from above.  I pray she continues to be healed and protected.

She really is just a treasure and we are so very lucky to have been chosen and trusted to share our lives and love with her.

This little guy just continues to grow and mature.  It's wild to see such development.  He has become much better at being able to play alone.  And he is also better with controlling his emotions.  He continues to crack us all up with the funny things he says.  And amazingly enough... he has gone from inhaling his food in seconds to becoming the slowest eatter at the table.  We think it has finally sunk in that he will get another meal!  He loves school and the teachers totally adore him.  He loves playing with his sisters... they all play together very well.  He is a treasure and we are so blessed to have been chosen to share our life and love with him!

And A continues to be a part of my heart that lives outside my body.  She continues to stretch me in ways that are often very painful and exhausting.  But her strength amazes me deeply.  She has been having difficulty with her behavior and it's been very trying.  But we are seeing improvement.  I have made a new reward system for responsibilty and behavior and it seems to motivate her.  Just this morning, I told her that because of her choices to not be obedient and because of her back talking she was going to have to give me a ticket... she teared up in the car and asked how she could earn it back.  Although my heart was broken for her being so hurt by her consequence... I am so hopeful this will encourage her to make better choices and that she will grow emotionally. 

She is having a seizure almost every morning.  I walk closely with God in trying to walk through this trying time.  Without Him, I would be such a glob of mess.  We really can't go up on meds... and we are trying some new nutritional approaches.  So I just keep her at His feet and pray that she continues to do well despite the daily glitch in her brain.  And I continue to pray for her healing in the name of Jesus.

She is such a treasure... and we are so very lucky to have been chosen to share of lives and love with her.

My mission trip to Uganda gets closer every day!  I am so very excited.  I need to go start getting a bizillion shots soon... I am not excited about that!

We are in the process of rehabing our back yard!  We are excited to make it a place where we spend a lot of our time.  I'll share more on that later with some pictures!

I planted my garden last week.  I still have to get squash and another tomato plant in the ground.  I am super excited about having fresh food again.  It's very rewarding.  I love watching it grow!

A gentle rain is falling.  And I am about to tackle a list of "To Do's".  It's already the middle of the week... another week flying by!   

Be blessed.

"I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."  Psalm 63:2-5~