Recovery

My sweet boy is recovering from his "procedure"....well, it seems like they should call it more than a "procedure" because it has felt like SO much more than that. Today he is doing much better. Praise Jesus. We are so glad to have this behind him....

 

I have much more sympathy for Joshua and the sons of Isreal since going through this with Josiah...

Three months home....what I know about Josiah

I know that his smile changes people. His smile makes you feel special. It’s that kind of smile. It lights up your day. When I see it I know somehow that it’s what I’ve been waiting for all this time. I knew he’d be that kind of little boy. Very sweet and loving. He wants you to be happy when you’re around him and he sees to it. He’s affectionate. For a boy that just three months ago didn’t know what it meant to give a kiss…he gives the best kisses. He will melt your heart. Well…. he melts this Momma’s heart for sure.

I know that he LOVES being part of a family.  You can see that he already understands his place here. He’s the little brother and I think it’s quite clear to him what that means. For instance it means that you get away with some things that your big sisters would never get away with ;) It means also though that you get bossed around a lot by your big sisters. He gets out of our van and immediately grabs the girl’s hands. He has this look on his face that says to me “I know what to do Momma….because I belong here. These are MY sisters and we hold hands to walk across the parking lot…I know Momma”.  These little things say so much to me about what He knows already.

I know that he loves me.  When he hurts himself he comes running to me. When he’s sick he’s in my arms. When I’m cooking dinner he’s under my feet. When he discovers a new thing he runs to show me. He comes to me all the time during the day with his arms in the air “hole me mommy”….”rocka me mommy”.  I am his Momma and it seems as if I have always been his Momma.

I know that as much as he loves me….he IS his Daddy’s boy.  His eyes light up when his Daddy walks into a room. He watches him. He mimics him. He even tries to stand like him. It’s so sweet. If Rob goes out to cut the grass and he can’t go with him..He will sit at the window the entire time and watch him. He knows when it’s time for him to come home and he stands by the door to the garage waiting. I always wait till I hear the garage door open and make sure he’s parked his car and then let Josiah run out greet him. It’s always a huge “DADDY…..” and a big ole smile. After that he’s glued to him. Follows him all around the house doing everything he does. Daddy’s boy : )

I know now that the first three years of his life has brought him pain. I see it in his eyes when he’s frustrated, when he’s sad, when he’s mad. That look tells me that he has suffered. When the meltdowns are coming fast and furious. When he lashes out in anger because he doesn’t know what else to do. I see it and breaks me.

But I also know that we serve a mighty God and He mends the broken every day. Already I’ve seen such healing in Josiah. The love of a family has changed him in just three short months. It’s all God’s grace….nothing that we do. It’s all the Lord.  God gives us the capacity to love another child and He makes us a family. He puts the lonely in families and He heals the broken. The blessing…besides being a Momma to some amazing kiddos…the blessing is I see God at work every single day. He’s healing my babies and He’s healing me.  This is what I know !

 

Be strengthened in His power.....

Ephesians 3:16-19

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rootedand established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledgethat you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

how they roll....

Weighing in at thirty pounds....

He cracks me up with the stuff he comes up with...I don't know where he gets some of it, but it's hilarious. 

moving....

Well this time next month we'll be living in Charleston, South Carolina : )  details to come.....

Happy Birthday my sweet Izzy....again : )

This weekend we were finally able to celebrate Isabella's birthday...complete with family, fun and some good food.  My girl loves her birthday party so much. She has to "dress up" for it and do her hair. This year she even put on her play makeup for her party. I think I have a Diva on my hands...You are so special my sweet Izzy. I'm so glad that you had a very special day.

One of a kind....

loved South Carolina.....

so did my kiddos....

It was our first road trip with Josiah.... and he did so well. 24 hours round trip was long, but he didn't seem to mind one bit. The girls did great as well. We took our time and meandered down back roads. It was a nice way to see the southeast. We stopped often to stretch our legs ....even changed a poopy diaper in a peach orchard...that was a first for me : )

looking forward to going back.....