Let's begin with Andrew...
This boy has blessed us this past month with his ongoing antics, from the way that he (in a very serious manner) teaches us about what the fireman or veterinarian that visited his school taught him. In an effort to make sure that we were retaining the information, he proceeded to give us a verbal quiz (Gracie was exempt from the quiz, but the rest of us where called on individually). Another sweet (and heartbreaking) Andrew moment was when I had two long work days in a row (I had to leave right after they got up in the morning and got home shortly before they had to go to bed) and when I walked in the door, he ran up to me with tears in his eyes and said "Mama, I've been missin' you!" Cue the tears... He melts my heart!
Abigail's turn...
Since my last post, Abby started soccer. She is doing a great job on a team with girls that are twice her size (or more). We love watching her play soccer because she tries so hard and her love for the game is so evident. Isn't it neat when you get to see your kids get passionate about something? Abby's other passion that is further evidence of how God has already used Grace (having a sister with special needs) to mold her into the person that He created her to be is seeing and hearing about how much Abby LOVES the "kids that take longer to learn" at her school (that's what she calls the special needs kids at her school). She makes cards for them, looks for opportunities to encourage them, finds such joy in watching them learn new skills, wants to be partnered with them whenever possible (during PE, Music, etc), and most of all she loves that she has been asked to be their special helper whenever they need something. More tears and melting of this momma's heart :-).
We made some other great memories this month that include (but are not limited to): a great visit with Nana Lu Lu (we went to an Angel's vs Astros game), an amazing Steven Curtis Chapman concert with some dear friends, our church praying over us, and much more...
Now that you are caught up on what we've been up to, I would like to humbly ask for your immediate prayers. In two sleeps we will be heading to Boston for Grace's third (and biggest heart surgery). We leave on Sunday, we have a full day of pre-op stuff on Monday, heart catheter on Tuesday, and then surgery on Thursday (Lord willing). I will be there for 9 days (I need to get home to be here for Abby and Andrew and to work) while David stays with Grace for the 2-3 months that she will be in the hospital. I plan to take the kids to Boston at least once to see Grace and David and then I will go back and forth as time and Abby and Andrew's needs permit. I've been surprised that the anticipation of this trip to Boston is very different than the last one in that it has been very emotional for the kids (especially Abby) and David and I. I think that the heightened emotion is due to the fact that we will be split up as a family for much longer than last time, the risk associated with this surgery is much higher (if this surgery fails, we don't have many good options left), and now that Grace has been a part of our lives for over a year we are all head over heals in love, or should I say obsessed with her, and it will be all the more difficult to hand what appears on the outside to be a healthy child over for surgery. Aside from the uncertainty of the future, the past few weeks leading up to our departure have been full of what feels like attacks from the enemy. For some reason, I pictured the weeks leading up to Boston being full of "kumbya" moments (lots of family time where we pour into our kids, feed our marriage, etc), but instead we have been hit with pink eye, a terrible bout of allergies for me (an unruly cough that nothing could touch except a steroid pack), the busiest I have probably ever been at work, and lots and lots of loose ends that need to be tied up before we leave... all while trying to help the kids process their feeling associated with this journey. While it crushes us to see our kiddos broken over our trip to Boston, I'm grateful that they share their hearts with us and it provides us all with some great teachable moments on how to lean into God and trust Him during the toughest of times. It is also a chance to get to reflect on how God has used this journey over the past year with Grace to refine us, and draw us closer to Himself and each other.
Here is how you can specifically be praying for us...
1) Sunday- when we say goodbye to the kids that it's not to painful on any of us, our trip to Boston is seamless and that we all stay healthy (especially Grace!) and that Abby and Andrew would have a great time with my in-laws and hardly have time to miss us.
2) A successful surgery and recovery that goes better than anyone could have ever imagined and that God would get all of the glory.
3) Peace, strength and joy for our family as we are split up for what feels like forever. On a side note, as I ponder being split up for months, I can't help but think about military families that are split up for so much longer and face life or death situations daily. Will you please join me in praying for the amazing men and women that serve our country and their families?
4) That our hearts and minds wouldn't be so focused on our own circumstances that we miss opportunities all around us to encourage other families in the hospital and share with them the hope and peace that can be found in Jesus Christ.
It is times like this where we feel your prayers most tangibly than ever before, so thank you for lifting us up in prayer! I will be updating the blog as often as possible while in Boston...
"Thank you for your prayers! You are the best village a girl could ask for!"
1 comment:
Praying, praying, praying!
I'm not sure if I will be seeing your sweet family before you leave but we love you all and are praying!
Remember those verses and never forget that God is leading this.
Your pictures turned out great by the way!!
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