A WORK IN PROGRESS

It's hard to believe that Ella Kate is getting ready for a "big girl bed." She has already started climbing into Eli's bed and wanting to sleep there. What ever happened to my baby? Since that time has come of transferring her over we decided to get a move on it and get the room ready. If you remember, I had a post months ago of priming the back wall that used to be maroon with gold splotches-YUCK!!! (there were pictures too if you want to refresh your memory). Well, it is now a pretty shade of girly pale pink and has a few stripes that go horizontally all around the room. Take a look at our work in progress...

The quilt we pulled the colors from is lying on the old bed.

Here is a close up of the fruit of our labor :)

Many, many thanks to Shannon-this was definitely NOT a one person job! It wouldn't have gotten done without you and so I (and Ella Kate of course) thank you so much for your time! Ella Kate seems to really like it. Everytime she walks in she lets out a huge "SO PRETTY" :) The room will be coming together even more in the months ahead so stay tuned...

A Niece It Is!!!

AVA GRAY ROTEN

We are so excited about the newest little girl that will join our family in January! Brandon called today to tell us the great news. We told Ella about Ava tonight and she had a big smile spread across her face when we told her she would have a little girl cousin to play with. Maybe she can teach her new cousin all about body art:

Brian took this picture last night after I had gone to work. He said the kids got awfully quiet (which is never a good thing) and when he went to check on them, they were in Ella Kate's room "coloring." Brian said as soon as he walked in the door, she looked up and said "PRETTY!" I am sure he burst into laughter and ran to get the camera! They had used some dry erase markers that go with some of Eli's activity books so they wiped right off with some diaper wipes.

Get ready Brandon and Becca cause you are in for so much fun with a little girl! I'll get to work on making her some girly outfits :) Just think, next summer they can all be matching for our beach picture :) ha ha! Congrats you guys!

WELCOME

WILLIAM ISAAC TYSON

Born August 24th

10:47 a.m.

8 lbs 14.8 oz

Congratulations Adam and Rachel on your new little one! We rejoice with you as you enjoy your new little man. All went well...and fast. Rachel went in for induction this morning and didn't mess around :) Both Will and Rachel are doing great. Hopefully they will be able to upload some pictures soon- www.caringbridge.com/visit/abeltyson Thank you all for praying for a safe and easy delivery!

James 1:17-Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Psalm 127:3-Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.

BREAKING THROUGH

God REALLY knows me. Not that I never thought He didn't, but for some reason, I am always amazed when He nails something to me and uses my children to do it...especially when they were my source of frustration to begin with.

Anyway, this morning started off horrible!!! Eli was in a mood to be completely and utterly defiant for who knows what reason. It has been interesting to watch him grow. When he hit 2 1/2 there were obvious battles the two of us had. "The terrible twos" some call it. Well, I have learned that there is a major difference between the "terrible twos" and outright willful defiance that comes from that little heart of his. It is so evident and there is no mistaking the difference. This morning was willful defiance...disobedience...and name calling. I about lost it. In fact, I did with my husband on the phone (who was driving the Crichton soccer team to St. Louis for a game). He got an earful about how our son was about to die :) We have spanked him and taken every priviledge away from him that we can think to take and still there is no effect (or so it seems). Brian told Eli that if he chose to disobey anymore that I would keep him home from school (NOOOO!!!! I was thinking...I want him to go to school!!! I need space for a few hours!) Well, that's all it took (at least for the time being) He was a different kid. Why he doesn't listen to me I will never know. I'm not one to threaten and not follow through, so I know he knows I mean business. I just don't get it.

Well, on the way to school, Eli starts singing songs he learned at school. This was the one he "chose" first and the one God used to "repremand" me:

"Behold, behold, I stand at the door and knock, knock, knock
If anyone hears my voice and opens opens opens
I will come in."

I have been trying as of lately to control this child all on my own. I feel that I should be able to (I am his parent for crying out loud) but it was like God was reminding me that He is there and desires to help me with things as trivial as this. Raising a child isn't rocket science but it is a major responsibility:one that I wonder often if I am qualified for. Therefore I need God to help me raise Eli, to challenge Eli, to discipline Eli approproiately, and to love him unconditionally (just as Christ loves me). He offers, I must ask for help...and He will help.

So, once again, I am reminded of how often I try to do so much completely on my own and apart from the One who can sustain me through any trial no matter the size. Lesson learned...I'm quite sure I'll need it again in another week or two :) God is very patient with me and I am grateful.

BTW- Please be praying for the Tysons as they will be having their second little bundle of joy (that statement makes me laugh after talking about what a little "hellian" mine was today-ha ha) definitely by tomorrow. If she doesn't go into labor tonight she is heading off to the hospital for induction. She has been having alot of contractions so it's just a matter of time I guess. Pray for an easy, smooth delivery for Rachel and great care for Abel while Adam and Rachel are at the hospital. I'll post when the new little one arrives.

HOME SWEET HOME

After what I'm sure felt like a terribly LONG day, Adam and Abel made it home probably around 11:30 or so our time (12:30 East TN time) last night. Their flight was delayed a couple of hours. Abel was slightly irritated at the delay and the lack of good AC :) and most of his meds had been checked with the luggage. Abel did calm and the crew was extremely helpful from what I hear. Thank you Lord for even the little blessings of friendly, accomodating people. I'm sure that made a huge difference to Adam and Abel. Please continue to pray for them as they get settled in back home. The Lord has answered another prayer in that Rachel has yet to deliver. So I'm sure they will be busy in the coming days figuring out Abel's schedule at home, preparing for and then welcoming their new little one into their already hectic lives. Our God is good and will give them everything they need. He has seen them through the last 8 months and so I have no doubt he is going to be there for the next 8 and so on. Please also remember that going home although sweet, is also emotional. The last time they were home all together, Abel's mind was whole. They have made so many memories in that house and I am sure they will all come flooding back over the next few days. Pray that they will remain focused knowing that God can heal Abel and that they will be able to continue to make more wonderful memories...together.

TRAIN UP A CHILD...

I was sent this link by my aunt today and thought I should post it on the site. It is a powerful video that reminds me to be encouraging my children to hide God's word in their heart. They need to be able to go out into the world with a heart and mind full of God's Truth so that they are equipped for every good work.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9e7c4b40cf5a13cea6ca

My mind also went to Abel. I pray expectantly...waiting on God to do great things in his life. I can see him being the one in this video proclaiming to the world what his great God did for him! Alot to think about....

ABEL'S GOING HOME!!!! KEEP PRAYING!!

You read correctly. After 7 long months, the anticipated date of going home has been set for Abel. Please pray for him as he will be undergoing minor surgery tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1:30p.m. CST for repair of his J-tube. He recently had to go back over to Lebonheur for a shunt repair and had to recover from that before they would fix the tube. So, it's on...tomorrow. Please pray this will be the last "hurdle" this family has to jump before going home. NO COMPLICATIONS AND NO DELAYS!!!!! Adam will be flying out Thursday night with Abel. Rachel is so ready to see her two favorite guys! www.caringbridge.com/visit/abeltyson

"FWIMMIN FUN"

Ella Kate is also quite the fish. Had I known that she would love it so much and not be fearful of the water (unlike her brother this time last year) I would have started swimming lessons this year. Oh well...we'll definitely go there next summer. She absolutely loves going "fwimmin" (as she calls it) at the Y with her Granna and Papa. She will probably kill me for this picture one day, but it makes me laugh :)

"I'm Fwimmin" !!!!!!!

DUFFY THE "DIVA"

Well, I honestly never thought that my daughter would turn out to be such a girly girl!!! I remember being little and playing in the mud, diving for softballs, and just getting dirty. Not Ella Kate...she likes everything "diva." :) The other night Shannon was over and we decided to go run and get a pedicure. Brian asked if I would take Ella with me. I figured it would be sheer disaster, but I was way off base with that assumption! My little girl had her first mini-pedicure at 2 years old! She wanted to put her feet in the bubbles like mommy...so she did. She sat there grinning the whole time! The lady kindly got a towel for me to sit her on in my lap. When the lady doing my pedicure put lotion on my legs, she put lotion on Ella's. Ella rubbed it in and thought it was all quite glamorous! After the polish had gone on my toes, Ella let out a shout..."MY TURN" as she held out her toes-so, Ella Kate walked out with magenta toes :) I couldn't believe she sat still for it. What have I got on my hands I ask you???? The manicurist didn't even charge me for her services on Ella-I gave her a nice tip for being so sweet to my girly girl.

This is Shannon with Ella Kate after our pedicures-Ella loved the foam flip flops they gave you while your polish dried. She insisted on wearing them around.
Here are her pretty toes

Long Time No Blog...

Well, in case you haven't noticed, I haven't written an update in quite some time. Things have just been crazy and I have been staying busy! So, I guess I'll get to it:

This is a picture of Brian and I with dear friends Adam and Rachel Tyson. They are the parents of Abel whom you have been praying for so fervently. Rachel has just recently gone back to East TN (their home) to get it ready for Abel's arrival, but Adam is still here in Memphis with Abel wrapping things up. The night we took this picture, we went to Texas de Brazil and if you missed Rachel's journal entry about all the meat we ate...go back and find it! You are in for sure laughter! We had a great time and am not real sure why we waited til the end of their time in Memphis to hang out :)
This is me and my "adopted son"...lol. This is Abel...so precious! He was humoring me and acting like he loved all the hugs and kisses I was giving him :)

I mentioned that Rachel has gone back home, well, please pray for all of them. As of today, Abel is back in the hospital with heart rate issues again. His heart rate is dropping into the 60-70's again. Last time it was because of a brain bleed, this time they just aren't sure at this point what is causing it. Good news is that it doesn't look like anything serious, but frustrating that noone can pinpoint the problem. He also is having nausea/vomiting. This has caused a problem with his feeding tube that must be repaired. They were hoping that since radiation was over, they would get to go on home by the end of this week but it looks as if it may be postponed a little longer. Rachel is due with baby #2 at the end of August, but I'm not too sure this baby is willing to wait until then :) She wants more than anything to have her husband by her side, so please pray that this will happen.

***Please pray specifically that Abel will have a cease in his nausea, that his heart rate will stabilize, that the procedure to repair his feeding tube will go smoothly, that Adam and Joyce (Adam's mom) will receive strength to endure from the One who is able to provide it, that they will be able to come home soon, that Rachel will be able to continue to be supportive from home, that baby #2 will stay put until everyone is together, and most importantly, that our Sovereign God will restore Abel...made perfect and whole again! www.caringbridge.com/visit/abeltyson

Isaiah 43:1-2-Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

I Peter 5:10-In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

Philippians 1: 2-6- May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

These are a few of the verses I left for them recently on their website. They continue to be in the fire, but our God can deliver...He promises us that he cares, that he hears, and that he answers...if we will but ask. Please join me in pressing on, continually praying for Gods mercy and healing hand to touch Abel's life radically!

Well now...moving on....next stop CALIFORNIA!!!!! I went to a conference for work. It was entitled: Palliative Care for the Pediatric Population. (AKA: End of Life Care) And what better place to have to dive into this topic than in the happiest place on earth??? I spent 8 hours a day crying...learning invaluable information....but sobbing :) So at night we did everything Disney. Quite a balance I would say. We had a great time-check out a few pics below...

This giraffe is made totally out of legos...can you see the people in the picture and tell how tall it is???

This picture was totally taken for Eli- Woody and Jesse...some of his favorite characters from Toy Story 2.
My friends patiently tolerated me while I waited around for Buzz...Eli particularly liked this one!

You can't leave without a picture of Mickey! These are three of the girls that keep me awake at night on the weekend :) (Stacy, Eunice, Mickey, Me, and Jennifer)
Ella saw this and screamed MATER!!!!!
Yes, I rode this roller coaster-"California Screamer" and yes, I screamed. It was AWESOME!!!!

This was my flight back home. We left the airport at CA and flew over the Pacific before turning around to head home. This is a picture of the coast of CA from my window seat.
A bit of God's beauty from 32,000 feet!
I loved how the sun streamed through the puffy white...our God is amazingly creative!