Love Bears All Things

I wasn't going to do a blog post today.  Mainly because I never know what cheesy thing to actually say on holidays like this.  But as I've thought about my valentine--my husband, my friend--all I keep coming back to is Paul's first letter to the Corithians.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I Corinthians 13:7

Things have not always been easy in our marriage.  In fact, we were in active marriage counseling when our twins were born early.  Our counseling sessions were abruptly stopped for obvious reasons, and about a year after surviving all of the trauma surrounding Shawn's death and Clayton's health, our counselor declared us graduates--heck, if we could make it through those stresses, surely we could handle the everyday stresses of marriage, right?  

I'd like to say life was a bowl of cherries from that point on, but of course it hasn't been.  The stress of having what we thought was our future ripped out from under us was a lot to bear.  But you know what?  Our love has endured.  More importantly, our commitment to each other in Christ carried us when we didn't exactly feel the love for each other.  This foundation in Christ bore the load for us when together we were almost crushed by life's circumstances.  

A lot of changes have been taking place over the last couple of years, especially in me personally.  It is with these changes that a deeper peace is beginning to evolve in our relationship.  In spite of it all, we have survived together.  We bear together, we believe together, we hope together, and we endure together.  

I love you, Brian, and I'm glad you're my valentine.

Photo Friday

May they always journey together . . .

Guess What Happens Today?

You get to see my new website!

Just click on the pic above for a closer look at what I've been working on lately!

A Photo Story

So Nicole and I attempted the impossible the other day:  capture a photo with all six kids looking in the general direction of the camera.  

 We once again proved it is impossible.

And as you'll notice, the principal offenders are my sons.  Jackson was having a grand old time singing and talking, and eventually getting his cousins' attention.  And then of course he slammed his head against that rock behind him.

 This meant that even after comfort from Momma, he was sobbing and screaming.

 It was torture, you know.

By the time he had calmed down, even the dedicated poser Drew was pretty much done with the photo sitting.

 In the end, I'm considering myself lucky to have gotten this cute shot of Clayton and Taylor.

To Each His Own

This is Jackson "riding his bike."  I'm hoping he'll clue in soon that the seat is meant to be sat on and the pedals are meant to be pushed.  But for now, he seems pretty content "riding" like this.

Oh, Brother

1980-something

My brother and I both didn't start singing publicly until our adult years.  And we didn't start singing together until just a couple of years ago.  We did a couple of ditties at his previous church and they went well, but never did I get emotional about it.  

We sang together this past weekend and while I listened to my brother belt out his part, I couldn't help but get teary.  I don't know what the difference was this time--maybe a combination of things:  our families are closer than we've ever been; we now worship together at the same church home; a sweet spirit present while we were singing; and an awesome song with a simple, but very true message.  Whatever it was, I was nearly bursting with pride while listening to Josh sing his heart out.  Is the song technically perfect?  No.  We had a few minor hiccups that could be polished with more practice.  But I don't think those things even mattered, because the spirit of God was definitely present.   

I couldn't ask for a sweeter time--singing with my brother while he and my husband play accompaniment.  I hope you enjoy listening as much as we love doing it.  :)  (And if you listen closely you can hear Clayton singing along as well!)

All His

It's official!  Clayton is now the owner and driver of his very own power chair!  He has been looking forward to this day for so long, he was grinning from ear to ear the whole time the DME rep was here.  In fact he insisted on waiting by his window a full two hours before the rep was even scheduled to arrive  . . . he is definitely patient and persistent!

I was afraid he would forget all of his training in the loaner chair we had months ago, but he is already remembering to be careful and is doing his best to avoid the many obstacles in our house.  The toughest obstacle will be that one named Jackson, who has in fact forgotten all about the safety rules we had with the loaner chair.  He is going to require a breaking in period for sure since he can't help but explore the ins and outs of this machine with so many parts and gadgets attached.  I just hope we can keep him from losing a toe in the meantime!

We haven't even had the chair 24 hours, and Clayton is already the master of his own movements (what a freeing concept!).  He has been roaming around, digging through drawers and venturing to spots he normally doesn't get to go (my closet, for example).  And while it's a little cumbersome keeping him out of trouble, I say "go to it!"  It's about time he was able to explore his own home without someone else restricting his every move!

Scary

So have you heard about Amelia?  If not, her mother tells the latest in their story right here.  

I have to admit that even though Clayton has never been deemed "mentally retarded," he is "developmentally delayed," and as a special needs parent, this scares me to death.  It's not a "big and bad" insurance company that's telling Amelia no to a life-saving operation.  It's the doctor(s) who is indeed charged with keeping her alive!  Please tell me I'm not the only one who sees the irony in this?  

I couldn't put my finger on just why this rubbed me the wrong way (child needing a transplant put aside), but when I read Katy's post, I found myself nodding in agreement the whole way through.  I'm like her--I've seen a whole host of people in my life who were [supposedly] of normal intelligence whose "quality of life" wasn't near that of Clayton's!  Talk about someone who is living!  And he is enjoying every minute of it!  How many of us would be able to say we enjoy life as much as Clayton if we were suddenly limited by his disabilities?  I don't know if I could . . .

At any rate, as a parent of child with Cerebral Palsy, it is frightening what may lie ahead in the world of medical care and our ability to access it affordably.  Just another reason I'm praying diligently for a miracle in Clayton's health.

ETA:  I just read a few of the comments on Amelia's mom's post.  Had to stop.  Absolutely.  Incredible.  I was reminded that yes, some people really do feel like kids with any "defect" don't count and should be done away with as soon as possible!  God help them if they ever become the parent or grandparent of a child with disabilities.  

Photo Friday

I say

"train?  again?"

He says

"the camera?  again?"

I guess we all have our favorite toys.  

Think He Doesn't Know? He KNOWS!

Clayton has recently rediscovered his iPad.  Or maybe I should put it this way:  Clayton can now play with his iPad without Jackson taking it away constantly.  (So glad that stage is over!)  There is one difference this time around though--he has discovered YouTube.  He used to just mess around with apps, email, and the web in general.  But now he's figured out he can go straight to YouTube and watch pretty much any Gaither song ever recorded.

So yesterday morning, he was busy listening to a variety of songs (he is like his Uncle Josh, who never gets to the end of any song before moving onto the next one).  I heard the piano introduction to an old hymn I wasn't familiar with and then I heard Clayton immediately singing along with the words.  I didn't clue into the words at first, I was just wondering how he knew the song since it's not one we have on DVD, and as far as I know, he's never seen it on T.V.   Then I actually listened as he played the song a second time:

On that resurrection morning
When all the dead in Christ shall rise
I'll have a new body
Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life!

Sewed in weakness, raised in power
Ready to live in Paradise
I'll have a new body
Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life!

Chorus:
I'll have a new home of glory eternal
Where the redeemed of God shall stand
There'll be no more sorrow
No more pain, there'll be no more strife
Yes, raised in the likeness of my Savior
Ready to live in Glory Land
I'll have a new body
Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life!

What a hallelujah morning when the
last trump of God shall sound
I'll have a new body
Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life!
Graves all bursting saints all shouting
Heavenly beauty all around
I'll have a new body
Praise the Lord, I'll have a new life!

I don't know.  Maybe he's heard it with my mom.  But I don't know when since this is such an old taping.  And if he has, it couldn't have been but once or twice.  All I know is he knew exactly what that song was about and while many of the Gaither people in the video were having to use hymnals to remember the words, Clayton sang right along like he'd heard it a thousand times.

Clayton knows.  Clayton KNOWS!  He knows the promise that awaits him!!

 But those who hope in the LORD 

                                      will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

 they will walk and not be faint!

Isaiah 40:31

Move Forward, Move Upward

"Faith is progressive.  Faith never gets into a bad situation and says, 'I'm just going to sit here and die.  It's over.'  Faith never stands in the desert, having a pity party with everything drying up around it.  You walk by faith.  You don't stand still, drowning in your misery.  When you get in a wilderness, you keep walking; you keep going forward even if you are only making an inch of progress with each step.  When you get into battles, you have to keep saying, 'I will move forward.'" ~Jentezen Franklin, "Fasting"

This passage resonated with me as I read this weekend.  I felt compelled to share it with my blog readers.  Thankfully, I am not in the "desert" at the moment.  But maybe someone out there needs to read these words today . . . just keep on keeping on--walk with and towards the Lord, and the reward will come.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.  Hebrews 11:39-40

Photo Friday

Someone had a birthday this week, and for some reason he was feeling generous on that day . . . Brian never wants to pose for me, but as we spent a few hours out of town *alone* for his birthday this past weekend, he was in an agreeable mood!  

I'm just hoping he doesn't get too upset when he realizes I've posted it here.  I think those might have been his last words on the subject:  "be careful about posting those online . . ."  Well, honey, I'm being careful.  Careful to post a good one, that is!

So even though we celebrated his birthday, I walked away feeling like I'd received a gift too.  A willing model goes along way to make me happy these days!

The Train Trance

One of the nearby libraries hosted a model train exhibit over the holidays.  I'm not sure why people associate trains with Christmas, but for some reason, the two always go together!  We went with some friends of ours, and as usual all the kids were hypnotized by all of the inner workings of the models.  

 I call it the "train trance."  I see it a lot these days!

 Loved that at this exhibit, the kids were allowed to work the controls.  

I just like looking at all the miniature stuff.  Almost makes me want to sit down with my brother and play with some Hot Wheels like we did as kids!

 See.  There it is again.

The train trance.

Big Boy Bike

Up until now, Jackson's "bike" has actually been a tricycle.  Santa Claus changed all of that with the delivery of a big boy bike made for Jackson.  He was pretty excited once the sleep wore off and he realized it was just his size.  

The trick is going to be getting him to actually pedal.  Right now, he is into only putting on the brakes or foregoing riding altogether and walking beside the bike instead of riding!  I have a feeling by this time next year, though, he'll be an old pro!

Christmas Morning

My sweet boys on Christmas morning 2011.  They are normally late sleepers, so I had to wake them up extra early in order to enjoy Santa's gifts before we went off to church.  This meant for the first thirty minutes we were in the living room they were having trouble focusing on what was actually happening! You can tell by the zombie-look on Clayton's face that he wasn't even awake yet when I started snapping these photos!

As an aside, they are holding two of the SEVEN trains they received between the two of them this year. They are set to go when it comes to railroading for the next year!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a magical Christmas and peace throughout the coming year!  

Prank Caller

Clayton has a new favorite past time:   swiping people's phones.  Most kids these days are wanting phones so they can play games.  Not Clayton.  He goes straight to the contact list and starts calling people!

He thinks it is absolutely hilarious to call all of these (usually) random strangers!  As for the person on the other end?  I'm sure confusion abounds when they get a call from a little boy who only laughs hysterically.  He loves it even more if he hangs up on them and immediately calls them back.  Talk about a regular prank caller!

It doesn't help that he has a few people who indulge him this pleasure.  He has several ladies at church wrapped around his finger and they just let him call and call and call on their phones.  I'm sure their friends thank them repeatedly for having to participate in this little game.  :)

Ring the Bells

At the beginning of the school year, the Sunday School classes at church were promoted as usual.  There was only one small problem with that--basically, Jackson's whole class was promoted and left him behind to a virtual solo existence in the toddler class.  Before his friends were promoted, he loved Sunday school; afterwards, not so much.  So after a few Sundays of trying to figure out what to do, he was invited to the preschoolers class on a trial basis.  And except for the not being potty trained part, I think he's fitting right back in with his old buddies.  He may be a tad bit shorter than the rest of them, but he definitely hangs tough in all of their play.  :)

From all reports, he was really getting into the singing and bell ringing in the practices leading up to their performance, but at the dress rehearsal on Saturday, all he did was stand on the stage and chew on his fingers.  He didn't do much more during the actual performance on Sunday.  He just stood, stared, and chewed as the rest of the kids sang and did their motions.  Thankfully though, he decided to participate in the bell ringing song, and it was of course, the most precious thing ever (spoken like a true Mother, right?).  All things considered, I was just happy to not have a repeat of last year's performance!

Artists at Work

We're having to be creative around here in order to get everyone's (read:  Jackson's) energy fully spent in a day.  With it being quite chilly outside, I'm not particularly wanting to spend hours in the backyard playing while our teeth chatter.  But even before it got cold, we had several days of rain that just about made us go stir crazy.  

Brian decided to make the garage the new play area and this seemed to satisfy both boys.  Mainly because Daddy decided they would get to "paint" with all of his supplies.  The great thing about this painting was that it didn't involve paint!  Brian just poured some water in some bowls and both Jackson and Clayton went to work painting on their cardboard boxes.   

Another bonus?  Clayton was getting all kinds of sensory therapy.  He won't do this type of activity for his O.T.  In therapy, he gets weirded out by the liquid and the brushes.  But for Daddy, there seems to be no problems . . . funny how it works that way.

Of course it always helps to have Jackson along to motivate him.  Watching Jackson at a task always seems to push Clayton to have his turn at whatever fun is to be had.

I have to say, though, that Jackson seemed to be taking his creation quite seriously.  Who knows?  We might have a mini-Picasso on our hands!

Faith of a Child

For many years, Clayton has repeated with us as we pray before meals:  "God is great.  God is good.  Let us thank Him for our food."  Only in the last couple of weeks has he ventured on his own into the conversation of prayer.  His prayers are very topic appropriate, and very age-appropriate.  But above all, they will make you think . . .

"Father,


Thank you for my sandwich.


Thank you for my chest muscles.  


Amen."

Chest muscles aside (don't ask, it's a long story!), the striking part is this:  Clayton remembers to give thanks for a sandwich that he isn't even able to eat yet.  Talk about another dose of perspective!  We are told to pray, and to be thankful to God even before the blessing comes.  Clayton's life has put him on the fast-track of believing without seeing--it takes most of us a lifetime to get to that point!

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.  

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18