Door County

Jason and I love Door County and typically we spend a night there in June to celebrate our anniversary.  Well, this year I wasn't quite ready to leave Lydia overnight, and, to be honest, I'm certain that the girl wasn't ready for me to leave her either.  So, we decided to do an end-of-the-school-year / anniversary / Father's Day getaway weekend with the kids.  We had a lot of fun and feel very blessed to be able to make memories like these with our children. 

We shall see what next year brings - Door County with the kids ... or, without the kids?

Six Months

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it" Proverbs 22:6

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday, Mom!  We love you and wish you many birthday blessings!!

Much love,

Us

All Good Things ...

...must come to an end.  Can it already be the end of the school year?  Seems that I was just posting about the start of the year.  What a fun year it's been!  It has been amazing to see how the boys have grown, how they have changed and how much they have learned. 

September 2009 - June 2010

Remembering ...

Sweet Owen, we are remembering you today as we do every day but especially today on your 2nd birthday ...

We remember the calm and peacefulness of Thursday, May 29th, the day before you were born.

We remember driving to the hospital late that night, feeling numb as we could only imagine what the next hours would bring.

We remember playing dominos and Uno as labor was not progressing quickly, but it was more time to enjoy feeling you move inside of me as you were so full of life.

We remember laughing at your brothers when they got to meet you.  They even smelled your sweet little toes.

We remember the words of the photographer, how she was so nervous to take your pictures but then she met you and all of her fears were washed away. 

We remember introducing you to your Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles and special friends, you are so loved.  We remember many of these loved ones sitting in the waiting room all day, waiting for your arrival.  What an amazing act of love.

We remember holding you and never wanting to let go.

We remember listening to music with you and reading you a book.

We remember sobbing as we left the hospital, our arms aching with emptiness but praising our Father that we did get to hold you and love you.

We remember the joy, peace and love that surrounded us that Friday evening after your birth, we could sense the Lord's presence.

We remember your sweet button nose and your "stork bites" - you looked just like your big brothers!

We remember taking in all of you, knowing we only had hours to memorize each of your features forever.

We remember the picture of the leaf with the single rain drop hung on the door of our hospital room - a secret signal to all staff, letting them know that something devestating had happened to the people inside those doors. 

We remember the nurses and our doctor and how we were so well cared for. 

We remember handing your body to the nurse, we knew you no longer occupied that physical form, but that knowledge did not make it any easier to say goodbye.

We remember these things and so much more.  And today, on your 2nd birthday, we remember you, Owen, our sweet love.

Baby Dedication

Mother's Day weekend was very special. On Sunday, Lydia was dedicated. Nearly two years ago we were also dedicating Owen, but the circumstances were so different. We were dedicating him at the hospital, not in church. It was just Jason and I and one of our dear Pastors. At the time of Owen's dedication he was already in the Lord's hands, only his earthly body remained with us. How blessed we were to be able to stand in church with Lydia on Mother's Day and commit to each other and loved ones that we will bring up Lydia intentionally.

Admittedly, after losing Owen, there is still a question I wrestle with - do I fully trust God with the lives of our children or do I only partially trust him or trust him as long as he promises to keep them safe?

Another mom I "know" (in the web world), said it so well - "why do we as parents try to hang on when we know that our children are much better off in the Lord's hands than in our own? Why do we have a hard time trusting when we know our Heavenly Father loves us deeply and passionately?" It's not easy, is it? I'm still learning, still learning that God's plan is so much bigger than ours. Remember Angie?  In her recently released book, "I Will Carry You," she speaks to clinging to our children, but the more we do that, we more we may realize that they are not ours.  We need to leave them in the hands of the One who created them.

So, to stand on that stage and publicly dedicate Lydia's life to the Lord, we will choose to fully trust God and pray that Lydia will do the same as she grows up.

"Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."  Ephesians 6:4

Five Months

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3 

The Invisible Woman

We watched this today in church, and it made me reflect on how blessed I am to know and love so many "invisible women."  Happy Mother's Day to you all!


Please remember to pause the music at the bottom of the blog page.

Spring Tradition #3

Here it is, our last Spring tradition that I'm going to blog about ~ the Awana Grand Prix.  I think the picture speaks for itself!!!!!

The boys with their cousins

And, Lydia ready for her first Grand Prix as a spectator

(I just wanted to get a picture on here of her wearing a skirt for the first time!  Have I mentioned how much fun I'm having with a girl?)