Category: Thankful

  • A Christian James Story

    Our baby boy is home!!! I feel like we stole him or won the lottery or something. Like somehow it all isn’t quite real yet. Probably because people keep doing ridiculously generous things for us. Somebody pinch me. No, don’t. This is treasured experience, and we want to pour out the gratitude and praise.

    Christian James, this is your story.
    October 3, 2012 your big brother whispered there was a baby in my tummy non chalantly as he was coloring a picture. Exsqueeze me? Impossible. (where does this come from??  This was never a family discussion.)
    October 6, 2012, 3 days after a regularly scheduled appearance failed to show, I decided maybe I should find out if this was in fact true. Big brother was right, miracles do happen. He knew right away you were a boy. Like right away. He was adamant. And so you are.
    You kept me sick for the first couple months, but nothing unbearable. Knowing God had given us you out weighed the scary moments. At your 20 week check up they discovered you had SUA single umbilical artery. Makes for smaller babies. God had all the details worked out . You are healthy as far as we know, so that is a miracle in itself.
    Fast forward:
    Doctors decided to induce mama at 34 weeks and change. LONGEST. LABOR. EVER. I impatiently patiently waited for you while my cervix was lazy at a 4. In the 27th hour, she finally got with the program.  I thought with you being so early it a) would not hurt b) you would come flying out. This was not true. It hurt so bad and you were a tight fit buddy.
    You were born 5/14/13 @ 3:13 am 5lbs 14 oz 18″ long.
    The Nicu team took you right away and kept you for 5 days with some of the nicest nurses ever. Seriously patient.
    As for you-you are perfect. You have daddy’s toes. You have your own look. I won’t promise to keep comparing you, but you definitely are the most handsome baby. You are the most loved and touched baby. EVER. You have 3 siblings who love you and wait in line to hold you. Sorry nicu nurses. I do make everyone wash hands 47 times a day.
    You smile a lot and have your mamas baby blues. You tire out easily, so breastfeeding is not quite your thing yet. That is ok, I promise to be patient. 4th time around and they aren’t as excited and I am sure the milk comes out like a firehose. Your cries are like a puppy, so sweet and peaceful. You are just this precious end to a really painful year. God has just poured His grace over our little family time and time again. And then again! We are so undeserving, yet deeply thankful. I don’t know much, but I do know this; God wanted you here. That was very clear. He even threw in obstacles to show amidst trials, poor odds, a beat mama, He is charge, and was going to protect you. And He did. He taught mama to “lean not on her OWN understanding, that HE would make my paths straight.” (for the hundreth time) We named you what we did because our hope for you is that you will personify God’s love and you will become a follower of Christ yourself at a very young age. We hope you will know and serve our Savior better than us, sooner than us. You already own our hearts sweet boy. We love you more than you will ever understand, and I am just so overjoyed to be your mom.

  • Thankful.

    You know that moment where you stop and realize everything you have ever desired has been graciously given to you? Oprah, (you may have heard of her?), calls this an “a-ha” moment. {insert eyeroll} Had to use her example because I know we have all heard her say it whether or not you voluntarily watched her show.
    Anyway, I had that yesterday. This year especially, I can’t stop thinking about how good our Father is, all.the.time. It’s not that I have never thought about the many ways we are blessed. Or that I have never experienced true contentment, because fortunately in this blip of life, I am thankful to be content. It is more like, WOW. Everything I have ever needed or hoped for has actually been given to me, and then some. And in writing this, I know, just like that, it can all  be taken away. All but my salvation. We are promised trials, sadness, and the reality of a fallen world. Life will hurt, people will fail us, it is a matter of time. I also know that no matter what the future holds, He has answered many prayers, given me the desires of my heart, and nothing will change His countless acts of grace to me. So I will praise my good and merciful God who has reminded me to set my eyes on Him, and that in His perfect, kind nature; He is the giver of everything good.

    “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, I lay my life down for the sheep.”
                                                                                     -John 10:14-15

  • Grandpa’s Bday

    Grandpa’s Bday

    My sweet Papa turned 89 this year-what a sweet celebration we were able to have together as a family…so much fun. I savor the cherished times together. 89 years in this world, wow. A lifetime with so many things to be thankful for. A walk here I hope I can emulate in some way. So blessed to call him MINE. 

    Pops was mildy disappointed we didn’t shove all 89 candles on the pie. 

    t.r.o.u.b.l.e.

     My Uncle D-who claimed naming rights on Chuggas. 
     My SWEET nephew Jakester! LOVE him. Model baby. So stinkin’ cute!

     Oh, snap. No she did-ent!
     Halle’s cute new swimsuit! This girl thing is getting fun.

     Precioso! (she is mid poop.)
  • Rob Biagi Concert

    Rob Biagi Concert

    Sunday, my dear friend decided to throw the party of the year for her friends KIDS, (and parents). How awesome is she and her hubs? Love you Emily and Aaron! It was a dream come true for the invitees-for reals. Rob Biagi was the guest of honor and if you don’t know him-you should. HE IS AWESOME! His music is Christ centered, clean, and I like it. Which means a boatload b/c I am the pickiest music person ever. I wish I would have taken picks of all the decor and details she totally did all crazy. Every kid got SO much fun stuff. Again-I wish I would have taken pics. Here are some she took, and some big Stink took. 
    Sweet pic of Emily, not so much of me. Way to squint michelle.
     My Weeman and Big Stink. Love.
     Halle giving a shout out. 
     One of the few all inclusive family pics. Par for the course. Halle’s eating Chad’s pits, B snagged a 3rd lollipop, and Weston is pouting. At least you can’t see my shorts that won’t button. 
     All the kiddos-SUCH A FUN DAY. What you don’t know-Weston was petting Lorenzo, the kid trying to escape. (Weeman is left frame). It was embarrassing cute.

    The end.                            
  • Sunday Funday.

    The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, 
    His mercies never come to an end, 
    they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.
    Lamentations 3:22-23
    God’s word is true. His promises stand firm, and He has given us more mercy than we deserve. Today was dripping in grace, and I am thankful for a reprieve. It was the first day I did not cry through out the day, and feel burdened beyond what I could bear. So what did we do? Great question. We did weird stuff. Chad painted our fence. Because it was two shades off and he is a stud like that. We fed the kids 2 breakfasts, smores, and then lunch and headed to the cemetery to spend some time together as a family. I know it sounds morbid, but it brings us peace to spend time together there. People probably think we are bizarr-o. The boys played overthrow and fetch catch, Halle yanked all the pinwheels off the other babies graves. (soooorrrrrry). I got really irritated that people would pay to bury their child then never order a plaque for their child. It is almost like their baby is forgotten. It made me sad. I then strolled through the entire infant/ child section of the cemetery and realized there are people who have lost far more life than us. One family lost 3 babies in 3 days. One family lost 2 children in 2 years, never made it past a month old. I could go on. I won’t. It just brought me this unexplainable comfort to know there are other moms and dads out there who know this kind of pain. 
    After tearing up the memorial park, we hit up the home depot and made the boys day by spending 5 minutes in the toilet aisle. In case you don’t know us too well, our kids are a different breed. Some like chuck e cheese, ours like toilets. We are talking fascination. Then super Dad took the boys out for some ball and mama took a nap. I am writing this play by play to share with all you prayer warriors that God is hearing you and chose to say YES today. Thank you so much for loving on us and taking the time pray for us. Today was a sweet gift because of all your sweet prayer, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts.