Jeremy Update and Prayer Request

I am beginning this series of updates with Jeremy because I have another request for prayer.  On Monday morning, I will begin a week of intensive therapy with Jeremy.  Tom isn't able to take another week off of work, so Jeremy and I will do it together and fill him in as much as possible.  He will join us for the follow-up sessions.  As a result of their past, Jeremy's issues are very different from Lucas' and although they are less disruptive, the wounds are just as deep.  Please pray that God will use this therapy in all of our lives to help us help him to over come the fears and hurt that come with abuse and neglect.  Also, please pray for his heart.  He is learning more and more and asking more and more about what Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection means for us.  Another concern is how Lucas will react to my being gone every day for a week.  We are praying that it won't be a set back for him.

Jeremy had a great school year (once again, thanks to our terrific school where everyone really cares about the kids and goes above and beyond to help them succeed!)  He improved in every area academically!

Jeremy is vey loving and continues to be a neat freak, straightening his room or bed without being asked, sweeping the garage floor and porch, vacuuming, etc.  He loves to play outside and ride his bike or help Dad, but also enjoys reading and doing puzzles, especially word searches.  His favorite indoor activity is Legos and especially builing them with big brother, Drew (who loves an excuse to play with Legos again.)

We are thankful that God brought him into our family and pray that He will soon bring him into His family!

Thank you in advance for praying for us this week!

A Most Amazing Sandbox

We spend a lot of time outside and although Ian would rather be outside than anywhere, there isn't a lot for him to do.  He has a ball suspended from a tree that he can hit but gets bored and eventually starts hitting it as far up into the tree as possible so he can see Mom climb a ladder to get it down.  He will hit a ball off a tee all day long if someone is willing to continue putting it back on over and over and over....  He loves to try to dig in the dirt using a toy shovel but it's difficult for him to get the shovel to do what he wants.  So, I have been wanting an adaptive sandbox for Ian for over a year.  When Tom's dad, better known as Dad-dad heard us talking about it, he offered to help build it.  Well, not only did he build it himself (with help from Mom-mom and a small amount of help from Jeremy and Lucas), but came with trailer, tools, wood, etc.  The result of 3 very hot days of work is a raised, U-shaped sandbox that Ian can play in to his heart's content.  There is room in the middle for him to turn his chair to any side he chooses.

 Dad-dad hard at work

 The crew with the finished product

 The view from the front

 Digging in! (Yes, that is a sheet wrapped around Ian's wheelchair in somewhat of an attempt to keep some sand off  of and out of his chair, clothes, shoes, etc.)

 Dad-dad even built a step for Olivia and Brenna (and eventually, Felicia)!  Brenna got to try it out today and it works perfectly!

In between dentist, doctor and therapy appointments for various kids, I took advantage of having the boys occupied and cleaned out a neglected flower bed near the sandbox.  

Thank you, Mom-mom and Dad-dad for making the trip and taking the time and trouble to make 3 boys very happy!

We love and appreciate you!!!

Celebrating Lindsay!

Mega updates to this woefully outdated blog are  in progress but today we celebrate Lindsay Jill! 

I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning but I remember the night she was born like it was yesterday.  After a long day of pitocin-induced labor, she entered the world at 7:39 pm and we were quite possibly the happiest parents on the face of the earth.  Tom was beaming and I was overwhelmed at the thought of this precious life being ours for a time.  After everthing settled down and everyone left (that was before the days of the daddy staying overnight), I couldn't sleep and couldn't stop crying, just because of sheer joy and gratefulness to God for giving us this beautiful, sweet baby girl!  And now she is all grown up and a wonderful wife and mommy herself and I still can't stop thanking God for her!  What a joy to see your children grow in love and passion for Jesus and see His work in their lives!

Happy, happy Birthday Lindsay!

We love you!!

Celebrating Troy!!

When this guy started hanging around our house as a junior in high school, we would ask ourselves if he might be "the one" for Lindsay.  The more we got to know him, the more we hoped he would be!  And sure enough, he was!  That was a few years ago and now, he's a loving husband and daddy, a godly leader in his home, a very hard working doctor, and a wonderful son-in-law!

Happy, happy birthday Troy!

We love you!!!

(Shame on me but as I hunt for pictures of the adult children, I realize that the bulk of my thousands of pictures is of the grandchildren - or at least includes them.)

Celebrating Elizabeth!!

We're so thankful that this lovely lady said yes to our son a few years back and became our most wonderful daughter-in-law!  Elizabeth is beautiful on the inside as well as the out.  She is a God-honoring, patient, sweet, loving wife and mother.  We are so incredibly blessed to have her in our family!!!!

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!

We love you!

Ian's New Toy

I have hundreds of pictures to post and am woefully behind but couldn't pass this up.  Our wonderful therapists have a warehouse where they keep items that families no longer need and then loan them to other families.  They have loaned us several useful items, including the Pony gait trainer that Ian had until he outgrew it.  The latest toy is his trike, which he absolutely goes crazy over!  When they first put him on it, he reached for the brake and started pedaling.  He can propel it quite well but has a little trouble steering....and also thinks it's hilarious to drive into the yard.  Once again, I could only watch in amazement, choking back tears, at how much I take for granted and how thrilling a simple thing like a tricycle can be for a 12 year old who spends most of his time watching others do fun things.  Simple joys.

Celebrating Drew

Yes, I have broken the blog silence and in honor of Drew's birthday, am posting for the first time in almost 2 months.  (There has been no particular reason for this silence, other than our painfully slow internet service and the craziness of our lives.)

27 years ago, we thought our family was complete when God gave us Drew and he has been a blessing ever since!  A Godly man, a wonderful son, a pretty great husband and now, a terrific daddy of 2 beautiful girls!

Happy Birthday, Drew!!

We love you!!!