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

2 months old

3 months old

4 months old

5 months old

6 months old

7 months old

8 months old

9 months old

10 months old

11 months old

1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

5 years old
6 YEARS OLD!

Family Vacation

Ryan and I were so excited to take our first mini-van, family vacation (are you thinking about the Griswald's?)! We planned a trip to Cheyenne, WY and Estes Park, CO. Our trip had it's ups and downs as most family trips do, but for the most part it was delightful. I just love my family so much and this trip was a great way to celebrate just that! Let me show you a glimpse of our trip through pictures and thanks.

Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

411. The extra blue skies and wide open spaces of Wyoming.


412. My sister's laundry blowing and drying in the Wyoming wind. So simple.

413. Shawn and Lisa's inspiration to recycle and reuse. The hard work put into making something old come alive and look beautiful and new.

414. Talking with my sister. Sharing our families and lives. She is such a gift to me. I learn so much from watching my little sister!


415. Cousins that squeal with excitement when they meet. Sharing experiences with cousins that are close in age.


416. Tyler's chatter, his hugs, blowing kisses. His parents are teaching him well. (I just laugh when I look at this picture..cracks me up!)

417. Ryan and Shawn's relationship as brother-in-laws. Unexpected friends.

418. Enjoying God's creation with my kids. Seeing the kids climb rocks and hike with so much joy!


419. My dear, dear friends' parents/in-laws that let us stay in Estes Park at their condo. Their kindness never ceases to amaze me. I want to grow up to be as generous as they are.

420. Reading a book with this in front of me and a breeze gently brushing against my cheek.

421. Riding horses with my kids into the forest.

422. Laughing with the kids when the horses needed a pit stop to pee!

423. Zac picking me wildflowers throughout the whole entire trip.

424. Hugging Evan and Rhonda. Listening to my dear friend talk honestly about faith and hope. Rhonda is hoping for God's healing, but also preparing her son's heart for eternity. She is teaching him to have no fear and to find God's provision in every single day. Her life, her testimony of faith is real and alive!

425. Dream-talking with my dear husband on the way home (9 hours).

426. Contentment and joy in coming home.

2 Corinthians 5:17

"If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come!" 2 Cor 5:17

410.

What a glorious celebration our family had today! Hallie has made a decision for Christ and decided to make her commitment public and obey Jesus by being baptized today! Oh, the joy that rose up in my heart to see her daddy baptize her!

A few weeks ago she told us she wanted to be baptized. We asked her why and she was able to tell us..."I make bad choices and that is sin. Jesus died on the cross for my sins and I choose to follow Him. Since he told me to get baptized I want to get baptized."

All of heaven celebrated with our family today! Praise God for His unfailing love and His mercy shown to our daughter, Hallie! AMEN!