Our visit from sweet Baby Charlotte

For those of you who know me well…know that I would LOVE to have more children if I could. The girls would LOVE to have a baby brother or sister around. I can’t physically have more but have prayed over other options. Gabe thinks I’m crazy and believes three is enough. Things wouldn’t work out right now with my travel schedule the way it is….but who knows what the future may hold.....

So…the girls and I were blessed with the presence of sweet little Charlotte on Saturday. I politely informed her mom that she needed a date night with her hubby….which was a great excuse for me to get the baby. Having Charlotte over allows be to treat the baby fever somewhat….she’s such a doll. SHE is growing up entirely TOO fast!!!

Last time we had her over she was so tiny…and this weekend we were feeding her from a spoon. Gabe and Ty went to the Stars game so the girls and I got Charlotte all to ourselves for a few hours. You can visit her mom’s site to see MUCH better pictures (as she’s blessed with the skill of photography) but I wanted to share the pics we took.

But first….I can’t believe MY baby is reading to baby Charlotte. The lighting is bad but wanted to share…. (pause the music below before playing)

and here are some pics of our sweet time together....

As you can see, my girls are in love and enjoyed every minute of having her around.

Thanks, Allison for sharing your sweetheart with us!!!

Kylyn

I’ve posted something special about both Tyler and Mia…so figured I owed my oldest angel the honor of her very own post.

She reminds me so much of me as a child…it is scary. If fact….I often recall one of my mothers phrases “When you grow up and have your own daughter you’ll understand….”
- why you can’t sleepover at “just anyone’s” house
- why it’s important to be in church every Sunday
- why you can’t watch rated PG 13 movies

- why you can't listen to "that" music
- why you have a bedtime
- why you have to eat breakfast
- why you can’t wear your shorts “that” short
- these rules that you think are crazy will all make sense

I hate to admit it (especially since I know she’s reading this right now) BUT was mom ever right?
It was only a very short time after God gave me Ky that I was able to quickly understand all of the above…and more.

Kylyn loves school so much that she studies just for the sake of studying. She loves to read….and can get through a book just as quickly as I can (and comprehend it all).
She dances on a competitive team, loves to play on the computer and spend time running errands with me.

This weekend she attended her first JBQ (Jr. Bible Quiz) meet. She’s been going to JBQ study group for 2 hours every Sunday afternoon and really enjoys it. They learn over 600 Bible facts and memorize 100 or more verses.

This was my first JBQ event and I was in awe. The questions that these kids are answering amaze me. This is a great …for kids that have the “competitive” nature about them and the desire to learn God’s word. Here are some of some of the quiz questions they answered this weekend:

Q: How do we know we can resist temptation?

A: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Q: Quote the verse of Philippians that tells us what we should think about.

A: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Q: In the Parable of the Sower, to what four kinds of people did Jesus compare the soils?
A: Those who allow Satan to steal the Word; those who deny Christ when persecuted; those who allow worldly things to dominate their lives; those who receive the gospel and share it with others

Q: According to Romans chapter eight, what things cannot separate us from God's love?
A: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:38,39

I know you are thinking..."These seem pretty common"... BUT imagine 6-10 year old children answering these questions in a quiz environment. Throughout the course of the season, they learn 600 + of these.

When they buzz in to answer a quotation question, it must be quoted exactly as found in the scripture in order for them to gain the points for their team. Ky was a little intimidated at first but eventually warmed up...buzzed in and starting earning points for her team. It was really an amazing event.
I am so proud of my oldest daughter. Proud that she has the desire to learn God's word and hold it in her heart.

Ky, thank you for making me so proud. I am blessed to have you as a daughter and cherish the moments I am given with you. I love you.

Update

I've gotten several emails the past few days concerning my last post. I am so very sorry that I'm just coming back to post an update.

It is with great sadness that I update you that Isaac Timothy is no longer with us here on earth. Stacy gave her sweet son to Jesus just 16 short minutes after she gave birth to him. She had 16 sweet precious minutes to enjoy him here on earth.

Please remember her in your prayers. You can read more about her journey here.

Pray, Pray, Pray

I mentioned this in my previous post but wanted to post it again. I have 100 or so readers a day here...not sure who you are BUT I figured since you are here 100 more prayers will help.

Please view Stacy's blog for the full story but long story short....she has less than 24 hours before she is scheduled to deliver sweet Isaac. She has lovingly carried Isaac with the knowledge that unless God performs a miracle he will join Jesus in heaven shortly after birth.
I've included her specific request below in case you don't have time to visit her site.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to lift Stacy up in prayer.

Below are her requests:
1. For a miracle... we know that it's not too late, and that God had the power to heal Isaac should that be His will. Please don't stop asking.
2. For His peace that surpasses understanding... there's a lot we don't understand about all of this; but we desire to rest in the peace of the truth of who God is.
3. For strength... just getting through our days at work has become a pretty laborious task.
4. For my body to continue to cooperate with this medicine and not go into labor prior to October 7.
5. For my fears to be calmed about having a c-section.
6. For the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff that will be working with us... that they may see Christ through our choices, through our love for Isaac, and through our love for each other.
7. For the doctors performing the c-section... that they would be able to navigate this more "complicated" procedure in a way that would be as pain-free as possible for Isaac and that wouldn't put my body or health in jeopardy in any way.
8. For Spencer... that God would strength and uphold him as he continues to comfort and support me.
9. For our parents and siblings... they, too, are experiencing a loss.
10. For the details we're trying to work on regarding a burial service and a memorial service for Isaac... that the details would come together and they would both honor Isaac and bring glory to God.
11. For the details we're working on with our church regarding having a playground built in Isaac's honor
12. For a good night's sleep each night, and particularly the night of October 6.
13. For God to carry us and make His presence very real to us in the weeks and months to come.

Baseball Update

As promised a few post ago...I've found the pics from Tyler's first year of baseball. 4 1/2 Years ago he started hitting off of a tee and today....he's our pitcher, catcher and whatever other position Coach (dad) requests that he play.

Enjoy them while you can as they grow up TOO fast!!!!

Answered Prayer

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

This week has been busy but a week that I can say I've been blessed beyond words. I'm not able to go into many details at this time...but will as soon as I can...I promise! Because I would love to share what God has done for our family. At this time, I can just say that He has answered a prayer that we have prayed for many years. To be more specific a situation that we have been dealing with for 6 years has finally been addressed. I will be honest and say that there were days, weeks, and even months that I grew weary of my prayer for His help. Things with this situation would get much better...and the worse again and there were days that I just accepted things for what they were and lost hope that they would ever change.
This week, on Thursday, October 2nd, God allowed our "situation" to be resolved. In an attempt to avoid sharing further details right now...I will say God is merciful. Thank you, Lord! Thank you!

What I can share here is the amazing Word that was delivered through our pastor last Sunday.

Pastor Bryan reminded us of the times that we have lost something but don't really miss it until we NEED it. This one hit home for me because the two examples he used were car keys and our check card. Both of which I misplace quite often. In fact, just that week I had decided to start leaving my keys in the console of my car (in the garage of course) so that I wouldn't have to spend 5 minutes every time we were ready to leave looking for them. I do the same with my check card...leave it in the back pocket of my jeans, a different pocket in my purse, my office drawer...you get the picture. Back to the Biblical point...we often misplace things and don't really miss them until the moment that we need them. In fact, we don't even know they are lost until the very moment that we need them.
How often in my life have I had this approach with God? I've always known He is there for me but why should it take a bad day or even worse a tragedy for me to NEED Him. After all, don't we always Need Him?
It's ever too often that I get caught up in our to-do list for the day and forget to slow down and listen to God?
Take the challenge with me to SLOW DOWN and LISTEN to God.

I have a special request that I'd like to share here:
I would like to ask that you remember Stacy and her family in your prayers over the next few days. On Tuesday, her little Isaac will join us here on earth. She is not sure how long her blessing will be here before becoming an angel. Please pray that if it's His will, Stacy will witness a miracle. Pray for her husband, Spencer, as they attempt to comfort each other through this time.

Have a great weekend!