Six Months

How can it be possible that six months have already flown by since the day we met our daughter?  Yep, six months ago from right now we were walking into our hotel room with Meili.  We had just met her in a  hallway of a government building and then spent a couple hours with her in a very sterile and uncomfortable office.  She had just finished an almost 2 hour bout of screaming as a result of extreme exhaustion, hunger, and fear.  She had then gone into a state of shock and was still, quiet, and motionless and no doubt still terrified.  As experienced parents of three we had NO idea what to do for her, so we just held her tight.  There were only two things we were sure of:  she was adorable and she was ours. Every moment of that day is permanently sketched into my brain and sure to never be forgotton.  What an AMAZING and special experience that day was. 

Today, six short months later, I am in love and I am in awe.  In awe of our mighty and amazing God and how BLESSED I am to have her in our lives.  She is such a dynamic amazing little precious girl and I really, honestly, can't believe that I get to be her mom.  That is like the coolest thing ever. 

We love her as much as all of our kids....and that is a whole heck of a lot of love.  What a RIDE this last six months have been.....and right now we are in a very sweet sweet sweet spot with her.  I am well aware that in the future there could be challenging issues to face but as for today, just six months since her becoming a part of our family forever, life is good....I couldn't even imagine it being any better with her.  And I give ALL glory, honor, and praise to our our most awesome God for bringing our family together and FILLING it with His love!  Oh, I praise You Jesus!!!!!!!!! 

Six months ago:

we walked off the elevator and this was my first sight of her

just a couple hours after meeting her, six months ago tonight.

Six months later:

she is sooo HAPPY, healthy, FUNNY, 5 pounds heavier (yay), at least an inch or so taller, eating well, sleeping well, reovered from lip surgery, secure, and DEEPLY loved.  She is home, she is home forever.

Oh, how we loooooooooooooooooove her.

RADICAL from David Platt on Vimeo.

SEVEN

SEVEN

years ago this morning I was sitting in church.  I realized that my discomfort and squirming in my chair during the service was a little more then this already restless girl was used to.  I leaned over and whispered to Marc that today was going to be the day. 

After lunch we went over to my grandma's house.  I sat on the couch and held her hand as she was in her rocker...I noticed that my contractions were coming somewhat regularly....together, she and I timed them. 

At dinnertime the contractions continued but were mild.  I called my sister and asked her to come over at 8pm, so we could get Jorie to sleep....we didn't want her to know what was happening to make sure she got a good rest.

I was DETERMINED to get Jorie to sleep before I went to the hospital and DETERMINED to not go to the hospital and be sent home with false labor.  And so I waited...

I was sitting on the couch talking with my sister when I realized that I had just stopped in mid conversation because I couldn't handle the pain....it was time.

We arrived at the hospital just before 10pm.  I was hurting and I wanted my epidural.  I knew my baby was close to coming out but I didn't tell anyone because I wanted my epidural.  As a nurse, I KNEW what I could and could not say in order to get my epidural.  :)  The anesthesiologist FINALLY came.  As he was putting in my epidural I could feel my baby crowning. 

I laid back and out my baby came.  That fast.

11:17pm.  Another Sunday baby.

I knew that my baby was going to be a girl.  I was sure of it.  I had grown up with only sisters and I thought that was perfect.  Girls is all I knew, girls is all I wanted.  When the ultrasound several months earlier had shown that this baby was a boy, I was bummed.  And very surprised.  Surprised that God thought that a boy would be good for ME.  Up until 11:16pm seven years ago, I was totally clueless and naive to what a son even was.

And then....out came Luke-ee.

I will never forget the moment I laid my eyes on him when I felt my entire body fill with love for him.  He was mine and I never looked back.  From the MOMENT he was born he was my love and my adoration for him instantly matched that of my daughter's.

I would describe his first few years of life with 3 words:  eat, sleep, smile.  He was the happiest baby EVER.  He was soooo easy.  He continues to be so easy and so fun to live with. 

How can it be that seven years have gone by?  Seven years living life with Luke.  What an adventure and what a tremendous blessing to me.  I love that kid more then words could ever describe.  He is such a cool dude and makes me laugh more then anyone! 

He is constantly hungry and  constantly processing something in his head.  He LOVES to play sports.  He retains every piece of information he has ever heard.  He is so gentle.  He loves math.  He adores his Papa. He is my protector.  He loves to wrestle and collect bugs. He cries if I kill a bug.   He is so good to me. 

Mr. Luke has taught me sooo much already in these short seven years.  He has taught me that it sometimes IS more fun to jump IN the puddle rather than walk around it.  He has taught me that some bugs really are cool.  He has taught me that the same Holy Spirit power that is living in adults who call on the name of Jesus can live in little kids too (because I see that power in him).  His firm and solid faith in God constantly inspires me.  He has taught me to think even more out of the box.  His creativity inspires me.  Oh, isn't it amazing what God can do through a child? 

Seven years.  Ahhhh, it has been so so so good.  I wouldn't trade him for the world.  I am so glad he was a boy.  I am so glad that God is sovereign and that His plans for us are so much better then we could ever dream of.  Oh, how I love my Luke.  Happy Birthday you big stud!

Happy Birthday Mr. Luke.

This momma loves you soooo much.

Cystic Fibrosis

Two of Jorie's best friends are twins.

They are beautiful, sweet, smart, athletic,
and a pure joy to be around.

They BOTH have Cystic Fibrosis.

Tomorrow morning at 9am we will be participating in a walk downtown to help raise awareness and support for their condition.  Our family goal is to raise $500 to help find a cure for CF. 

Would you please consider donating (even just a few dollars) to help us show their family (that has to deal with this disease every. single. day.) that they are LOVED.

to donate, go to:

http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=6581&idUser=415749

"Christ has no body on earth but yours,

no hands but yours, no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out;

yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good;

and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now."

Mother Teresa