While we were waiting for Em to finish her swim class... [she rocked it btw!]
K and I had some fun with my camera... and yes we were making funny faces...hence my eyes!LOL!
and because I have a tendency to do this to make kids laugh...I know lord help these kids! LOL.
He's meshing well with our family. Praise God.
Working on potty training. Learning to love. Learning to trust. Learning to hug.Learning to say please and thank you. learning to pray. Praise God.
This morning i was running/walking/running/walking on the treadmill. I'm not a runner. Never have been. So wish I was and always had been. This is my first year of trying to learn to run and run correctly. The best description of running for me is like a toddler who just learned to walk that really wants something bad and trys to run...there feet go every which direction and there knees start to buckle maybe even bow in a little...yep that's me. sad I know...but i'm working on it. learning to not be so lead-footed when running...man that's hard too!
Anyway enough about that...I was working out this morning..while little bubba took a nap...and i was just pouring with sweat. I mean I'm just gross. and i'm almost done...my 30 minutes was about up, and this song came on "how he loves us" by John Mark Mcmillan and i was walking for my cool down and just singing to HIM...and the Lord, not through just this but through the course of my bible study this morning and my constant praying for little bubba and GODS will for him and our family...through getting our passports done...putting feet to our faith because of his faithfulness and LOVE in our lives...spoke to my heart....which is what I was asking for today[earlier in my study with him] litterally it just broke me down to a complete sob. I couldn't sing anymore verbally but my heart was still singing as loud as it possibly could to the one who loves me! Loves me enough to give me a husband who loves him...who loves me enough to give me my beautiful sweet and sometimes fiesty kids, and who love him....who loves me so much to give me bubba [and how much he has taught us through this]....and who loves me enough that I can trust in and walk next to and who reminds me just when I need to be reminded yet totally sideswiped by his LOVE for me!
I hope your day is totally blessed!
XOXO!
Gina
This past Sunday we had baby boy dedicated to the Lord. This is something the Lord layed strong on our hearts. Especially if he is to leave our family to go with his family. I wanted his life to be dedicated to Him...
I wasn't prepared to be so emotional. But as the pastor spoke before hand that we wanted to dedicate him before he went to his grandma...i started to feel emotional. I was like...whoa. slow your role...as my man prayed over this baby boy and then the pastor...the tears were fierce. i did my best to hold them in. This little man is so special in so many ways...not only is he sweet even if he does like to throw some crying fests my way...and my love for him is strong...like my own babies...but he has helped answered many questions in my heart. Could we ever adopt? Could we love another child as our own? Could we fulfill the calling God has placed on our family and still go to Africa this summer[another calling on our lives]. All with the answer of yes.
So as we gave his life over to the Lord asking God's hand on him always...we still continue to pray YOUR will be done Lord in this situation.
I'm sure many are wondering what if it doesn't work out with grandma? They will call us first. And yes we will take him back. Is it a guarantee that he is going to be with Grandma? Not yet...we can not get a hold of our DHS worker...to find out if the home study was approved or not.
I asked my husband...honey what was the point of having this sweet little guy only a month? His answer "
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42
Not that we do this for a reward..but it blesses the Lord. That is why. So thankful for his Biblical answer!
Today as I took baby boy to see his mom...I was early and praying for the visit...the Lord lead me to this scripture.. praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth
boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an
ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to
speak. (Ephesians 6:18-20 NKJV)
I was so thankful for this. The Lord new exactly what I needed today. Took him to see His mom...got there a little early. As she walked in she was already irritated. I was not surprised..but said good morning and showed her her baby boy. She asked for our case worker and then walked away with him.
As I headed out to the car, i passed by the room...and the mom with her newly done hair and nails was picking at her nails instead of paying attention to her baby boy. I couldn't believe it. I left in tears. I called my husband and in tears said I don't understand. He asked me what is wrong. I told him, i don't understand how someone who hasn't seen her baby in 4 days could not be bothered with him. I don't understand how he has to leave our car and go into some other situation that is unknown when we love him so much. I don't understand why she is his mother? My husband comforted me...with gracious words...I hate calling him in tears. I hate crying. i cried out to the lord and said once again...Lord your will be done. Please family. pray with me. pray that something changes with this situation if its God's will. pray that this moms heart is softened. pray that she learns how to love. pray for me. I'm thankful for where the lord has taken me and softened me towards this mother...but still so difficult sometimes to understand.
The Lord after the visit opened up opportunity to share with a case worker why we do this. Why we love these babies even if we have to give them back. to love them something fierce even when mom hates. That its only by the grace of god none of us have traveled down the same path this mom has...by His grace we are saved. [so thankful for that!]
So here's to another week with baby boy and my awesome kids and amazing husband...thank you Lord! Have a blessed day friends! xoxo Gina
So its been a bit since I posted last. I think it would be because i'm just a bit overwhelmed lately.
This sweet boy turned 11 this last weekend! I can't believe it.
I still remember this boy squeezing the junk right out of my neck because he loved me so much and never wanted me to let him go. I'd take that all over again if I could...if he would. thankfully he still snuggles with me. Two weeks ago we were walking through the mall...[which mind you I don't do very often because.. well, its crazy!.. with kids and trying to stay sane and find something your looking for] and this boy grabbed my hand and squeezed it with the same love and affection he use to when he was little. Melted my heart. He didn't know this but he could have asked me for anything at that moment..and I would have said yes.
We of course ate a Buffalo wild wings on his birthday...because he LOVES that place...all the sports you want and food. This boys dream!LOL. He got a cool base guitar. We then made special dinner and dessert the night before. and then the next day we went to the movies...well the boys did while I kept baby boy. Birthday party festivities continue all the way through this friday...when he has his family birthday. Which consists of french toast for dinner with bacon and ham and eggs....for dessert he asked for coldstone ice cream...sounds like a sugar coma if you ask me. And then some much needed facetime with our family that just moved across country. I wish facetime was a larger camera...i'm sure the next one will be :)
Baby boy has been extra cranky. Extra erpy [is that a word? prob not..but lets just go with it.] wanting to be held every second. gasy. constipated. congested. shacky.. Today I wrapped him up in the biorn and he loved it. fell asleep, woke up and cried for a bit...fell back to sleep....he was much happier in that little biorn. Guess its gonna be our days for a bit...until he gets out of this stage. Seasons is what I tell myself. His sleep pattern at night is getting more routine which is good. He goes to the doc tomorrow to see if there is something going on or if its just normal infant stage...my thought is there is more to this than normal infant stages...but we will see. Because of all the things he is dealing with it makes me a little more worn out...but i'm doing my best. praying for the strength of the Lord....I love that song " you must think i'm strong to give me what i'm going through...forgive me, forgive me if i'm wrong, but this looks like more than i can do...i know i'm not strong enough to be everything i'm suppose to be...i give up...i'm not strong enough...hands of mercy won't you cover me...,lord right now i'm asking you to be strong enough...for the both of us."
Its not that I regret anything we are doing [i love this little guy!]...just tired...and little overwhelmed somedays....but I also know there is a lot worse things out there...and its not the end of the world...i also know God is using this time in our lives...and I just want to be a beautiful example of Him...who i serve. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. :)
And this sweet boy had a tonsillectomy and adnoitectomy today. He did amazing. he is resting somewhat comfortably at home right now. throat soar...but he has such a great attitude. He is so sweet...i love how even when he is in pain he has the most amazing manners...the nurse would ask if he wanted juice and instead of ya..he said yes please. He said on the way home..Mom i can already breath better than yesterday. Praise God.
My bed never felt so good this morning. I honestly didn't want to leave it. We got to sleep in until 8:30 which has not happened in a really long time....not even during summer break! We spent the morning at my nephews soccer game. My brother said he slept with his shin guards on...so cute!
My oldest had an awesome football game(he's the green guy #2 tackling the blue guys!). I was a nervous reck. worse than normal. This team we played(in the blue), we had been scrimaging all season long on thursdays, so it was pretty important for us to kick there sweet keesters. I felt like I was on pins and needles the entire game.
After football we went to the apple orchard. I love fall. Have I told you its my favorite season? Cause it totally is! We all had a great time. My husband was looking at the pigs...thought one wanted to be pet...well it thought his finger was food...and bit him! there only 10 weeks old...I guess what do you expect!LOL....
we came home...and cleaned up our pumpkin vines...we picked our first pumpkin from our patch. Isaac decided to help us out by mowing the lawn...aka he wanted to earn some money...since he just spent all his on his video game! I love that the boys are realizing you need to work for money. No complaints.
We finished day off with spending the evening together just watchin some TV and hanging out...
I loved this day! Perfect if you ask me. and the crisp air just was a double bonus!
I'm about to go pick up my kiddos from school but I had about 10 minutes to kill. I thought I'd show you a few pics of this years 1st day of school pics.
They looked thrilled, don't they?LOL. Handsome and beautiful they do...but fake smiles, Oh MY!
The boys unloading there stuff. Oh man were their backpacks full! Thank God for desks and lockers...otherwise they would have back problems just like my mom and me.
Em walking to her class.
Got into class and started on her morning work. She's a great student!
And Isaac's 1st football game of 2011!! I wore his jersey from last year. I have to trade off weeks with Ezra!LOL. He's number 2. Same number as last year....
1st of many things to come this year. Seasons have changed. EXCITING!
