Getting Better

Things are getting much better. Thank you God!

Yesterday I dared take all three boys out in public again & they did well. We're venturing out again today & I think we will all be fine.

Our set-back was a good reminder to me that we are making GREAT progress but that it is still fragile.

I'm weary & am looking forward to John having the next two days off! Phew!

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas! So good, in so many ways. It all kind of ended yesterday though when Nana & Papa had to go back to Canada & Daddy had to go back to work. I guess I should have anticipated better how difficult that would be for my children but hind sight is 20/20, right?

From the minute the boys got up yesterday, I could see behaviors coming back - things I hadn't seen happen in a month at least. Difficult things. It was a very hard day.

I'm REALLY hoping today will be better.

In a way, this "regression" (if that's what I can call it) has served to show me just how far we all have come in such a short time. No wonder I was feeling overwhelmed the first month we were all home!

I guess I am mostly really proud of all of us, especially Luke & Nathan. We are healing day by day with God's help. It's hard but it is beautifully awesome.


P.S. Thanks for praying for us. We need it.

Christmas Cuties

Nathan, my little "Iron Man", complete with a milk mustache

Sleepy me, covered in cute little super heroes

LOVE this one!

My little "banker"

Happy, happy boy!

More Christmas Cuties

Christmas Doggies

It wouldn't be our house without a few dogs around!
Ben & Toby have been enjoying the holidays so far. :)

The Finger In The Nose Trick

I took a series of these photos & the whole time Nathan Godfred was teasing Nana by trying to stick his finger in his nose. He is the cutest little tease!

Luke Emmanuel is Six!

It was such a joy to celebrate Luke's birthday on Dec.22. He choose the cake he wanted me to make & helped me decorate it. He loved putting candy on it so it ended up VERY polka-dotty! We had a little party & had a lot of fun celebrating the gift of his life! What HUGE JOY I had, finally being able to enjoy this day with my precious son!

I read this C.S. Lewis quote recently & I can't get it out of my mind. I want to give like that!

"Charity - giving to the poor - is an essential part of Christian morality....
I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give.
I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare."
C.S. Lewis

Yes, they are ALL boy...

...and I wouldn't have it any other way! (Usually!)

First Snow Fun

This wasn't just the boy's first snow this year, this was their first snow ever!
They loved it!

Pre-Christmas Fun

Sweet Nana & Papa

A little "elf" named Nathan Godfred

A furry "elf" - everyone seemed to want to sit under the tree today!

Nana & Nathan playing "Break the Ice"

Luke Emmanuel

Snuggling With Nana, Papa & Toby

I LOVE how Luke just snuggled in between his newly discovered Grandparents!

Doggy kisses! Nathan is my animal lover.

It looks like Nathan is asleep in these pictures but he is actually "basking" in the attention from Papa & "Toby".

I love how the sun beams are falling right across Nathan's face
in this picture.

Grandparents

Nana & Papa are visiting us for Christmas - EXCITING times! :) It is so much fun to stand back & watch the boys interacting with them for the first time. Pictures to follow...

I'm working on my new generation of dog lovers. :)
This cute little pup is just visiting us for the weekend.

Hanging Out with Friends

Happy & Sad

Things that make me happy:

*Hearing "I love you Mommy." for the first time
*Little boy hugs & kisses
*Three brothers being kind to each other (at least some of the time!)
*Giggling gaggles of little guys
*Mark reading stories to Nathan
*Listening to my children talk to God at bed time
*Seeing my five year old just being a little boy

Things that make me sad:

*Seeing glimpses of pain in my five year old
*Knowing there are so many children around the world who are still asking God for a Mommy & a Daddy

Imperfection

A friend of mine wrote in her blog recently about how everywhere she looks online, there are pictures of beautiful homes, lovely professionally decorated rooms, even super organized & stream-lined refrigerators. Ahhh perfection! She took a picture of her "normal" looking fridge (ie: slightly messy) in response. Her idea has resonated with me! It's not that I don't like beauty &/or organization, because I do. It's wonderful! It's just that I am rarely attaining it in my home these days & I am mostly OK with that. So, I am going to post a picture of a NOT perfect area in my home. I might even start posting one weekly! ;)
Yeah, this is it...my not organized or attractive dining room table. This is how it looks after breakfast & home school duty.

Nathan Godfred

Nathan got hurt today while he was playing & he was really crying hard. I sat down next to him & snuggled him up in my arms. He stopped crying right away. This immediate response has never happened before! It's a big deal!

Also, right out of the blue this morning he looked at me and said, "I like you." :) Awwwwwwwwwwwwww...this Mom's heart is all mushy on the inside!
I just love... well ... love!