It's been awhile...

...and so many wonderful gifts given from above.

446. Smiles on the first day of school for Jacob (Kindergarten) and Hallie (2nd grade)

447. That pit in my stomach watching Jacob walk into school because I love him so much.
448. The kids making new friends.
449. Goals and dreams for the year at our back to school dinner.

450. Special time with Zac while the others are at school. Our relationship is growing as mom and son...beautiful thing!
451. Silly faces.

452. Grammy days for the kids. They get so excited to spend time with her!
453. My job. Being chosen by God to deliver delicate and sometimes painful news to patients. He gives me the words. So thankful.
454. One of my favorite places on earth is just steps away...the front porch swing with Ryan watching a thunderstorm roll in.
455. Friends that found Jesus and love Him so, so, so much. Getting to reconnect.
456. Fun, laughs, silly adventures with my best friend (Segway tour in Savannah, GA).

457. A wedding. Vows of love before God. Brings me to tears.

458. A vacation with Ryan. I love and cherish him so much. There is no one I would rather spend my ordinary or extraordinary days with. So thankful God chose him for me.

459. Walking in the warm rain, body surfing in the ocean, watching dolfins dive and standing in awe of his creation. Make for His glory and for our enjoyment as well.

460. Reconnecting. God knitting lives and hearts together.
461. Coming home. Makes me think of how wonderful it will be to one day go home to Jesus!

Grace Continued

So, yesterday Zac said some words that were very hurtful. Today, as I was driving him to Grammy's he says, "Mommy, just to tell you. Yesterday when I said _________ that was a sin. I am sorry but, the good thing is that God just swishes it away."

Slowly, but surely the Lord is working on this little guy's heart. As an adoptive parent I notice times when he is struggling with trust, control and anger because of this traumatic beginnings. I can get discouraged and overwhelmed, but then he says something like this and I know the Lord is teaching him how to trust and let go of anger. His grace is enough!

Grace

“What I need as a mother is grace. God’s grace, that allows me to fail and try again, that allows me to ask for help when I don’t have the wisdom or patience I need, that reminds me we’re not alone in this, and that God loves my son even more than I do. And grace from other mothers. I need grace and truth-telling and camaraderie from other moms. I need us to tell the truth about how hard it is, and I need us to help each other, instead of hiding behind the pretense and pressure of perfection.

————-

Let’s think about grace—grace from a God who loves us and values us and picks us up every time we fall, with just exactly the same love and tenderness you feel when you pick up your kids after they have fallen. And the grace we show one another when we drop the comparisons and the catalog images and really walk with one another, on the good days and the bad days. Let’s think about honesty and helping and telling our stories. Let’s give each other a break and a little help and some soft places to land.

If you’re a mom, what you do is nurture and protect and give grace. You do it all the time, and it’s very important, because it reminds us, in daily, tangible ways how God nurtures and protects and gives grace. And maybe today the one who really needs that nurturing and protection and grace is you.”

(S. Niequist)

My good friend posted this on her blog today and I had to do the same. Today, I needed grace. From my friend, my child and my Savior. I was thankful for:

441. A friend who spoke the truth in love.

442. How that truth caused change for good.

443. Wisdom from the Holy Spirit.

444. Grace to forgive.

445. The promise of mercy fresh and new every morning.

Never a Dull Moment...

...with Zac around!

Sometimes I forget how funny he is because I get to be with him every day. Then, some stranger will laugh and smile at his antics and I am reminded how boring life would be without him around. Zac certainly is the spice in our life!

Two recent events, one dramatic and the other just funny.

Drama first...Last week Ryan and I headed over to a little lake and decided to walk around the path with the boys. Of course, in no time at all they were down by the water, picking up goose poop and scaring the ducks away. Staying on the path and leisuring walking was not an option for a 4 and 6 year old boys. I remember thinking how much I adore their curiosity. Well, curiosity turned into chaos when Zac was standing on a cement platform that extended out into the lake and threw a rock. The forward motion caused him to loose his balance and, you guessed it, he fell right in. Fortunately, he has loved the water this summer so he bobbed up to the surface quickly and started dogging-paddling his way to the edge. Ryan was there in no time and pulled him out of the water. His sweatpants, tennis shoes and hat were all soaking wet but not one tear of fear was shed. In fact, I think he was kind of proud of himself for how well he swam. Like I said above...never a dull moment!

Funny...last night we were headed to Hallie and Jacob's Open House at school. Zac was so excited to go and I couldn't figure out why. So, he got all dressed up in his favorite summer outfit (sweatpants, a 12 month muscle shirt that says "Where's the Beef" from 1985 and a doo-rag) to head over to school. On the way there he says, "I am so excited for the fun house!" We corrected him and said, "No, Zac. It is an Open House. You will have to be quiet and let Hallie and Jacob find there classrooms. You will need to be quiet." His smile turned upside down and he replies, "Dad, that is soooo lame."

JACOB IS SIX

My sweet boy is six years old today! As I look through the pictures I have of him growing up I have a thankful ache in my heart. Thankful that I have been blessed by six years with this wonderful child and an ache for how quickly my time with him is flying by.

Why I am grateful for Jacob:

427. His peaceful, calm, adaptable disposition
428. The way the corner of his eyes crinkle up when he smiles
429. His hearty laugh
430. Watching him play sports
431. The way he calls me "mama"
432. He asks for extra snuggles at night before bed
433. His singing voice
434. Watching his fingers play the piano
434. Putting legos together with him
435. He is such a kind friend.
436. He loves to sleep in.
437. Our special handshake/clap that we do together.
438. His heart becoming more tender to the things of God
439. Our silly goodnight kiss...we both laugh so hard together
440. Six years with him as my son. He is such a gift from God!


1 month old

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6 months old

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1 year old

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6 YEARS OLD!