Nothing in Particular

I almost didn't post, since I posted yesterday.  But, you know, it's Thursday.  Somehow it feels weird to NOT post.

Here's a day-to-day, middle-of-the-night funny. This is about how my life goes... Sherrod has been sleeping in Selah's bed with one of our little visitors but tonight is actually sleeping in Adelina's bed. I stumbled in, half asleep, to test Sherrod's blood glucose and habitually went to Selah's bed. I took her hand, poked it with the lancet, and Selah said, "Ouch! What's wrong?" I said, "I'm just testing you." Confused, she said, "Why?" It was then that I was awake enough to realize my mistake!
😳😳😳😳😳😳 Poor Selah!
Well, I'm wide awake now!

I know it's been awhile since I posted anything with emotion.  Anything deep.  Anything REAL.  I mean, other than day-to-day.  There's a reason.  I'm not sure I can anymore.  I am really praying through how I should handle the blog.  I appreciate other prayers in this matter and plan to give a more detailed post as soon as I can pull my thoughts together some.

Selah's Birthday

Selah recently turned 12!  TWELVE!!!! Time is vanishing right before my eyes, I tell you!

It was so sweet to hear the "thankful" items around the table.  Selah is such a sweet, generous, and patient person.  She is extremely compassionate and feels things deeply.  It is very important to her that people are treated in a right manner and she is quick to take up a defense for anyone who is treated unfairly.

We had a lot of fun during the gift exchange...

And she was SUPER excited to get the new Baker book (so was everyone else)!

She was also thrilled to get her 12th birthday locket...a picture of Michael and I on one side and a picture of her and Daddy on the other, which will one day be replaced with a picture of her with her husband.

And we have some special guests who are staying with us for awhile.  They were excited to get in on the action!

Selah chose butterscotch pudding and ice cream cake for her dessert, of which I did not partake! 😜

A birthday prayer...

I am so thrilled to be this sweet girl's Momma!  I wish I could protect her from all heartache, but I know that I cannot.  I will just have to strive to help her overcome it as best we can.

Adelina's Birthday

Sweet Adelina is now FIVE!  Wow...the time is just flying by! As we went around the table telling why we were thankful for Adelina, I started with, "Adelina, my last daughter...er, I mean my YOUNGEST daughter..." It hit me...she may actually BE my last daughter. 😳 She is so tender and loving and precious. 

Sibling and gift time...

Such a little love bug!

And she's so versatile! Easily changes from princess...

To cowgirl!

I love how close she and Knox are! I often wonder what they are whispering to each other! 😍

Sydnee made ice cream sandwiches! 

Blowing out the candle...

Birthday prayer!

Sweet, sweet girl! She is such a blessing!

Calvin's Birthday

Last week we celebrated Calvin's 8th birthday!

The sweet boy wanted only 2 things for his birthday: a Bible and a bow and arrow.  Even though he got both, the arrows are still rubber-tipped.  I know, I know...but I'm just not ready for that.  Honestly, neither is he.  He's still working on giving something his full attention... 😂

Calvin is super excited to be 8, FINALLY!  Only because now he doesn't have to ride in a car seat! 😂😂😂 It's the little things, right?

 The birthday prayer...

 A little craziness...

He had a lot of fun practicing with his new nerf gun set.  So did everyone else...

Birthdays are always fun and December gives us lots of opportunity to celebrate them!

If I look tired, guess what?  I AM!  I'm going through another no-sleeping phase.  I'm really ready for that to go away...

Joel

We were recently invited to celebrate the birthday of one of my WISH kids, Joel.  He had a superhero dance party that was a lot of fun!  I don't know how I came away with only cake pictures...ugh!  I went in a HULK shirt, which of course was William's favorite.  Michael somehow left his Captain America shirt behind, so we said he was Clark Kent.  😜

I also learned some party dance that I don't remember the name of, but it was a lot of fun.  Michael and I BOTH learned the Macarena!  Glad there's no video on THAT! 😂😂😂😂

It was so much fun to watch Joel celebrate with his friends and we were so thankful to be included!  He's such a super fun kid!  I can't wait to make his wish come true!

Even MORE exciting...later in the week Joel got to RING THE BELL!  This is a fun tradition when a patient finishes their cancer treatment, which signifies the beating of cancer!  This is the first bell ringing ceremony I've been to and it was merry and joyous occasion.  I was so glad to be part of it!

Joel was so excited to ring that bell!  He got after it two or three times, but I only got this one video. 😊

Some of Joel's friends and family...

Joel and his wish granters...

I had never heard of the BEADS OF COURAGE (the necklace that Joel is wearing), but it's a wonderful way to help children record, tell, and own their story through cancer treatment.  They get a bead for each "item" they face...doctor visits, lab work, chemo, surgery, finger sticks, etc.  At the end, they can tell their story with each little memory reminder of how they faced scary things with courage.  Such a great idea!

I absolutely love things like this.  It makes my heart glad when I can watch a family say, "Today we won."

Abby's 21st Birthday Photos

Abby recently did a photo shoot for her 21st birthday with A'Lissa DeVorss of Fat Cat Photography.  They turned out beautifully!  Here are some of my favorites:

This is a fun one of Obi kissing Abby! 😍

I like this cut profile:

A fun shoot - except I missed out on the whole thing.  I think this is the first photo shoot done of any of my children that I wasn't present for.  I had planned to be but the whole illness thing got me.  Anyway, they turned out great!  I'm proud of Abby and what she's accomplished, not only with this horse, but as a woman.  Her unyielding determination has also been tempered with grace, forgiveness, and mercy and it shows in her gentle spirit.

Ru is TWO!

I cannot believe this super sweet boy is two!  Isn't he just the cutest?!?!?!

He is such an incredible blessing!  This boy loves to snuggle and hug, climb into my arms and wrap his arms around my neck, then pat my back while he loves on me.  He is such a joy.  I remember William climbing into my lap and rubbing on my tummy and telling Andrew how much he loved him.  He couldn't wait for Andrew to arrive!  (Although, we didn't know Andrew's name at the time and William insisted he was going to call him Ru!) 😍

We had a good time celebrating our little Ru, even though I was still quite ill. 😬 I'm finally feeling better, though.  Bless his heart, now Andrew is sick!

The siblings always have fun cuddling up for pictures!

Andrew got this fun racetrack for his birthday.  It was a hit with EVERYONE! (Except maybe Bandit!)

He also really enjoys his roller coaster.  It's indoors for now.  Probably for winter...I'm a softy!

I love that face!

Yep! He's 2!

He blew out the candle with no incidence! Yay! (Truth be told, Sydnee is the only one who ever grabbed the candle - it was on her 1st birthday.  Ugh!  But we've been extra careful ever since!)

Birthday prayer with Daddy...

Sweet Andrew is such a joy to our home.  How thankful we are for him!  We know that God is far better to us than we deserve and we are grateful to Him for all the time He gives us!  Happy birthday, my sweet love!