Three of the kiddos are sick at home today, so we thought it would be a good time to do some writing & coloring to send to Ana.
It is important for us to focus on the beautiful things that can come from hurt.
And something beautiful today is thinking of Ana & her family.
The pain of missing Lulu still comes on strong & hard many days & sometimes the choice to focus on something good is just not there. So when we can choose joy over pain, we want to make that choice.
We may not know what the healing will look like, even though our prayers may be very specific…
But we can trust that the healing will come.
what a beautiful baby you were
{look at those eyes}
melt my heart
today you are a handsome 8-year-old
who still melts my heart
and makes me laugh daily
happy happy birthday, my love!
Yes, he is our oldest…but he is still our baby…
It’s like when they get their first haircut, they look SO big…
Our “baby” is growing up.
We took the kiddos to SHINE {Share His Incredible News Everywhere}.
Our church has a community outreach after the traditional trick or treat, where we hand out candy as you go through different stations sharing stories of Jesus {this year the stories were all about the 10 commandments}.
It really is an incredible thing.
D – the gangster
O – black spiderman
S – incredible hulk
A – our little dragon
Last year we went & took Lulu . As we walked through this year, it was {as with so many things right now} just “different”. I know in my head we need to continue making new memories, but I feel in my heart that I want to hang on to the past & not move forward.
Here are the kiddos from last year.
As Lulu was tucked away in her stroller.
We had a big bow to wrap around her, she was our gift. She slept right up until it was time to go through SHINE and then she woke up to eat, so I got to stay inside the warm church and feed and cuddle Lulu, while daddy took the other kiddos through.
My thoughts are filled with you so often these days as I think about you being here on earth with us. I see a pregnant mama & think about you being in my belly. I see a newborn & I think of holding you at the NICU. I see a 1-year-old toddling around & think what you would look like today.
I wonder if that is how Christ thinks of us, longing desperately to hold us but waiting patiently for the day.
Good morning…
This IS the day that the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.
{no, I’m not here right now, but isn’t this a beautiful way to start a morning}
What are you praising God for today?
I have been thinking a lot about those I know that are battling cancer and I am lifting those friends and family up in prayer today, for their healing and for their relationships with Christ to be deepened.
We are showing our house this weekend and next. We are still waiting on the right buyer to come along so that we can make our move. So we are praying for this as well.
What are your prayers?
Will you lift them to God today?
May your weekend be a beautiful one.
Most of Lulu’s things, including this white fuzzy blanket that she snuggled in, is kept in Boo’s closet. {She loved to be snuggled up warm}
Well, Boo pulled it out & has started snuggling with it, too. {And even though she’s grumpy, she loves to be snuggled up warm, too}
It’s good for us to see Lulu’s things & continue to use them daily.
This weekend, Owen & Simon’s soccer games were over & it was our first Saturday morning we stayed in our pj’s until close to lunch time.
The kids built blocks for most of the morning.
Jason & I were wondering what we should be doing.
It is a new phase in our lives, where the kids play (most of the time) really well together.
It was a relaxing morning & a great time to sit back & savor the moment.
We had our family pictures taken by Wes (if you’re interested in having your own photo shoot with him, now is the time – he takes some great pics and the price is right).
The “Lulu Bears” are the ones we had made, out of Lulu’s blankets & clothes, for the kids last winter.
I will soon share some of my cousin’s fall family photos and how they chose to keep their son, John’s memory alive in their pictures.
Lulu's Grace 