Disappearing Act

Sorry for the disappearing act on my blog.

Life has been hectic lately. 

And to be honest, after my last blog entry my heart is playing a tug of war with what to write.

Everything seems so unimportant and extremely important nowadays. 

I know, confusing right?

It feels wrong to go on and on about how "normal" my life is when so many reading this blog will never experience "normal" again.

Life has been put into perspective for sure. 

So here I am... wondering what is important enough to write about.

I suppose the most recent would be we had our first bone break this week. 

No, it wasn't Tripp. 

I know, I'm just as surprised as the rest of you. 

It was Zachary. 

After 3+ years of living in Spartanburg I made a friend. We went over to her house to let the kids play while Josh helped her dad put together a wooden swing set. 

Zachary was playing on the trampoline and somehow managed to fall off onto the ground. 

Quick ER trip confirmed a break in his elbow. 

He got his cast this morning. 

Don't let this picture fool you... he wasn't too happy about having it on. 

His only complaint is that it is too heavy. 

Luckily for him he had just finished baseball. 

Speaking of baseball...

I'm so proud of our boys. Not just mine but the entire team. 

They made it all the way to the championship game. 

They didn't win the championship but they played hard and had fun. 

To me, they are all winners! 

Both Zachary and Brennon received trophy's which they LOVE. 

I feel the need to let everyone know thats not a bruise on my forehead, it's only a shadow

Landry turned 1!! 

Birthday morning doctor visit

I am amazed how big he is and how fast time flew by. 

He was sick on his birthday so we canceled his party and fixed him a homemade cake instead. 

He wasn't too interested. You can tell when you make it to the last picture showing the cake in the floor. 

I am trying so hard to hold onto the simplicity of making him happy right now. 

I've said before that he is a very high needs child... but you can give him a ball or a pencil (unsharpened and no eraser) and he's good for a solid 5 minutes. When those 5 minutes are up, give him a container of wipes and you have managed to keep him happy for 10 minutes. 

I know one day I'll write about how much I miss being able to give him a ball, pencil or container of wipes to keep him entertained while I load the dishwasher. 

A little blurry but seriously the best I could get. Can't keep this little man still enough for a picture anymore

School ends tomorrow.

I'm ready to fill the boys with a love for summertime with fishing, camping in the living room, roasting marshmallows and swimming. 

I love end of the year stuff because that means I can actually attempt something pinned on my pintrest board. 

My end of the year teacher gifts...

Inside the beach towel is a beach mat and carrying case. 

We are taking our first beach trip in 2 weeks. I'm not sure if Josh and I are just as excited as the boys or more. We plan to make it something they never forget! 

I'm sure you'll get an entire blog entry about that mess of fun. 

I guess it turns out, even the smallest of everyday life is pretty important to me.

If you read my last blog entry please keep praying for the Washington family. Every day will come and end and while our lives continue on as they normally would, theirs are a little harder to get through. They still needs prayers. 

Unnatural

Yesterday I received news that a friends little girl had grown wings on Saturday.

She was only 6 months old.

She was a fighter. Born premature and had the biggest most beautiful eyes you'd ever seen. 

She was surrounded by love from 3 sisters, a mother who wouldn't stop fighting for her, and a dad who  she had wrapped around her little finger.

She was perfect. 

And her name was Arden.

It is unnatural for a parent to bury their child.

Children are supposed to bury their parents when they are old and lived a life that was full and filled with happiness from their children.

My faith is tested a lot in times like these. I believe when bad things happen God can turn it around to bring joy, happiness and lessons. 

But when a sweet child is taken from our world I question, not God, but His plan. 

And I feel helpless by only being able to offer prayers. 

I pray for peace. 

Understanding will probably never come.... 

I don't think we can understand why things like this happen. 

So I do all that I can and offer prayers for peace. 

And strength. 

And hope...

Hope that during what will undoubtably be the hardest thing a parent will have to go through that they pull their strength from God. 

As a parent myself I believe my children are borrowed from God. 

Yet I will admit that I often forget that at any moment he can call them back home.

I take advantage of my borrowed time. 

Thinking it will last forever. 

Psalm 147: 3

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Romans 8:18-19

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God."

It will go unsaid that parents will hug their children a lot tighter today.
They will enjoy even the craziest of moments, because not having them to create the craziness is gut wrenching.

Arden's sweet short life was filled with laughter, and a house full of love.

And for those 6 months she knew nothing but love.

And now she knows God's love personally.

She knows what it fills like to have God himself wrap his love around her and hold her in his lap.

She will dance with angels, sing with Jesus and I have no doubt He will tell her everyday how much she was loved and how badly she is missed.

The questions I have may not ever be answered but in the past day I've accepted that God has sweet Arden today and He allowed my sweet friend to experience Arden for 6 months. Six months she borrowed that child from God and for 6 months she knew what it was like to love her with everything she had. For reasons we will never know, her time to go was Saturday. And I know Abigail would have wanted to have those 6 sweet months with Arden than none at all.


I ask that all my blog readers lift the Washington's up in prayers today and in the following days.

*With permission from Abigail I have posted some pictures of sweet Arden*

Angels descending, bring from above,

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

"Homesick"

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbye
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now