God showed up ...

... though of course, He is always with me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers and encouraging notes!  This was a wonderful, productive day (one of my most productive days at home, ever).  God answered your prayers!

Isaac came to find me at 6:30 this morning and then Lily-Anna needed feeding which is when I heard Kohen wake up loudly, confirming that I had been wise to put a waterproof tablecloth down on the loveseat before I added the sheets and Kohen.  I put Lily-Anna down and helped Kohen.  Kohen was sneezing a little and told me he didn't feel well so I cancelled my plan to send him to my parents' home, though they tried to convince me to let them come and get him.  I was searching for places to call to see about hiring a nurse.  I called but it was too early - no answer.  Then I realized that they would need a home assessment and time so I emailed an apparent nurse on Kijiji and she wrote a nice note back with a number to call.

And then ... God changed the atmosphere.  I don't actually know the exact moment when it changed but I was singing, "God is changing our story" over and over again.

Lily-Anna had two good naps in her crib, all five of us had (separate) baths or showers (even Elmo had a bath!), Isaac's chest x-ray report said that no follow-up was needed and he only had Advil twice today, lots of laundry was done, and I was able to play Mastermind with Isaac while everyone else slept.  Lily-Anna is rolling onto her tummy which made me realize how thankful I am that she is not crawling or eating real food while we have been going through this time.  We welcomed Graham's parents back from their trip out of the country, and we were blessed with some delicious-smelling food for tomorrow's supper along with other offers and we enjoyed some snacks that a friend dropped by last night.  We are blessed.

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)


I love these words that a friend sent: 
"Dear Elizabeth,
All is well with you and your household. ‎ We will continue to pray and trust God for complete healing.  Be encouraged, God is able to deliver."

Graham still needs a touch.  We are thankful that he had a little more energy by the end of the day.  The kids and I were praying for Graham to have health and hope.  We continue to pray and thank you for your prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

2 Corinthians 4:7-8
⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;

In Need of Prayer

Hi Everyone,

There's so much to write and no time to do so.  Graham has pneumonia and has been in bed for five days straight and isn't much better.  He's on antibiotics but we're wondering if it is perhaps viral pneumonia.

We had scheduled a doctor's appointment for Isaac this afternoon because he had the same symptoms Graham had when this started - a fever, he threw up, and had chills.  I woke him up to go see the doctor and he was wide-eyed and incoherent and speaking gibberish and screaming and asking me to help him.  I called the doctor's office and they said I should take him to emerge.  He was better by the time we arrived at the hospital so I think that episode had to do with waking him up - perhaps he was still half asleep.  The x-ray showed congestion on his lungs but the doctor wasn't sure if it was pneumonia and said someone would look at the x-ray tomorrow and send a report to our doctor's office.  So, I am giving Isaac Tylenol and Advil.

Sweet, two-and-a-half year old Kohen put himself to sleep on the couch as I was nursing a sad Lily-Anna who had just woken up.  I woke Kohen later to go pee and then he was inconsolable so he ended up watching Paw Patrol at 10:30 PM as Isaac was calling me.   Kohen is sleeping on the loveseat and I'm on the couch.

I have lots to do before Lily-Anna wakes up to feed (she'll only sleep on me or in the swing during the day).  If Kohen doesn't cough at all tonight then we're going to assume he's fine and he'll be with Grandma and Grandpa tomorrow.  The high risk categories for pneumonia are over 65 years and 2 and under.  Lily-Anna only nurses and she's never had a bottle.  We are praying that the three of us stay healthy.  I see what this has done to Graham (five days later I pick up his water for him) so I'm wondering what it will do to Isaac, etc.

So, please pray for us.  I said today that I am going to trust God through this.  We're studying suffering in our Bible study so I have lots of reflections but no time to write.  Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

August Adventures

I'm trying to catch up on the blog by recording what we did in August as October is quickly approaching.  We were all blessed as Graham was able to take three weeks off in August.  We spent some time with family and were also blessed with a week at a cottage at Braeside, a Christian camp that's not far away from us.  The boys had fun swimming in the pool with Graham and we all enjoyed ice cream from the tuck shop.

Additionally, Isaac took some swimming lessons at our local pool, we went to the Brantford Zoo, friends came over, we went to a farm, we slept over at Graham's parents' property in the trailers (enjoying a campfire with s'mores), and we had our fourth annual trip to Centre Island on the Saturday before school started.  I will leave the school update for my next post but suffice it to say that Isaac is loving grade one French Immersion at his new school.

I was thinking back on July and realized that I didn't mention what we did on the third anniversary of Josiah's passing.  Isaac was at camp during the day and Graham had a number of off-site meetings he needed to attend so it was a little less memorable this year.  We went to McDonalds for dinner (in honour of the blessing of Ronald McDonald House) and then we took flowers to Josiah's gravesite.  This is the first summer that we haven't visited Ronald McDonald House.  I had forgotten until recently that Isaac had written that on his wish list for things to do this summer but he didn't bring it up all summer.

I think this was also the first year that I didn't relive what happened on July 31st in 2012 when I had to rush Josiah to the hospital.  I think it's a gift that it turned out to be the same date of Lily-Anna's dedication to the Lord.

It looks like Isaac may have high standards for his future wife.  For some reason I was talking to him about how we pray he'll marry a godly woman one day.  He replied, "Hopefully there will be a godly woman around here but if not I may have to go to a distant land and find her.  You'll be able to visit though and we'll visit."

Kohen has figured out what we do when we see or hear emergency vehicles.  We were sitting in the kitchen and he heard an ambulance so he said we needed to pray.  He was in the van last night with Graham and Isaac and they passed a vehicle burning on the highway.  He said they should pray.

Kohen has also started us on a new tradition.  Whenever we pass Josiah's cemetery, we will say something out loud like, "We love you Josiah.  We miss you.  We wish you were here."  Or, we'll sing our Josiah song.  The other day we passed a different random cemetery and Kohen said, "We love you Josiah."

Though this is August's update, it is counting as my September entry as I won't be able to blog on the 30th this month as I am speaking the next morning at my church about our journey with Josiah.  So, September's update will be late.

Lily-Anna is lovely.  I will probably soon have to train her to sleep in her crib in the day time but the nights have been quite good.  I'm hoping she doesn't have sleep digression like Kohen did after he learned to roll over.

I'm very thankful to God that my friend no longer has cancer in her body.

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭59:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

On Vacation!

Graham is off this week and we are heading somewhere without wifi so our August update is postponed.  We've had a good month.  We toured Isaac's new school this morning where he will start Grade One French Immersion (half French and half English) next week.  He is looking forward to it.  Enjoy these last beautiful days of summer!

Blessings,

Elizabeth

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Dedicated to the Lord

Lily-Anna was dedicated to the Lord today at our church.  Afterwards we had lunch with some family and friends and then Graham and I said a blessing over Lily-Anna.  It was a lovely day.  I discovered after the dedication that the bloomers attached to the inside of her dress when I bought it, were still attached to the dress. 

Lily-Anna is growing so fast.  Some of my favourite things about her are her stretches ( I LOVE the newborn stretch when she puts her head back as far as possible - it's just too cute).  I love her soft smooth cheeks, when she's nursing well and comes off me sleeping, her froggy legs (she keeps them bent like this much more than the boys did), and when she's asleep on me.  She's also started to coo or gurgle/babble when she's on the changepad and I say something to her.  I tell her I love her stories and ask for more.  I am clearly in love and Graham and the boys are also smitten. :)

I was reading a Bible story to Kohen about Jesus blessing the children.  I said, "Let the children come to me." and Kohen immediately said, "And do not forbid them for such is the kingdom of heaven," (with the annunciation of a two-year old).  That is the power of music and song.  It constantly amazes me how quickly they learn songs such as this year's VBS songs which we sing every time we're in the van.

Kohen wanted to go to camp with Isaac.
Kohen: Can I come with Isaac?
Mommy: Can you go with Isaac to camp?
Kohen: Yes.
Mommy: You need to be going into Grade 1.
Kohen: I think I am going into Grade 1.

Unfortunately, I have in the past told Kohen that when he's really upset about something (something that I don't think warrants any tears) it can make Lily-Anna sad because she doesn't understand what's happening.  The other day he was all upset because he didn't get to turn off the phone so I suggested that he go and give Elmo a hug.  He replied, "No, that would make Elmo sad."

In the far off past I wrote about the Chippy and Skippy stories (and later Super Skippy and Chippyman) that Graham told for Isaac each night.  Now, he tells the boys "Eugene stories" that he makes up each night.  Eugene is a very clever bunny who invents things.

Isaac will often tell me something exciting and finish his story with an emphatic, "For real life!"

Isaac: You're the best mommy in the whole world.
Mommy: I wish I were an even better mommy.  We can pray about that.
Isaac: I know, but you're still pretty good.

On another day:

Mommy: Isaac, what if you practice your piano and then mommy makes popcorn for us to eat as a snack while we watch a show?
Isaac: Mommy, you are the best mommy in the whole world (and gives me a hug).

Isaac singing in the bath:  "I am cheerfully and wonderfully made."

Kohen singing in the bath:  "Oh clap your hands, happy people."  (instead of "all ye people.")

This morning, after the boys were up around 5:00 AM:

Daddy: When I don't get enough sleep, I get angry more easily.
Isaac: That's why bees are angry because they just get little naps.

Isaac has been asking new theological questions such as, "How did the first people know God was the one true God?"  He's going to keep us on our toes.

This month has flown by as usual.  Isaac enjoyed Engineering Science Quest camp and VBS at our church.  We then had a morning day camp at a friend's home (I went will all three children) and one week at home.  Graham is off on vacation for three weeks in August so we are all excited about that.

It's been a long day so I'll good-night before we welcome August and a new day.  Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Mark 10:15-16
"I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.   

One month old!

Lily-Anna is one month old today.  She is lovely.  The boys are very gentle with her and love to give her kisses and hugs.  She had a tongue-tie fixed and re-did a hearing test which she passed.  She also had thrush and therefore a very purple face for seven days.  She's not always the happiest when nursing but she is gaining weight well and the night feedings are usually good except for the fact that I fall asleep after two seconds and wake up a long time later.  Thankfully our nursing chair is comfortable.

I've never been a fan of the colour pink ... until now.  I now love pink and I'm happy to dress Lily-Anna in pink and have pink throughout her room.  I mentioned this at church on Sunday and another mom said the same thing happened to her when she had a daughter.  I was not expecting this.  I even care that her room looks sort of 'girly'. 

Graham explained in his birth announcement where Lily-Anna's name came from.  Her first name doesn't come from anyone in particular but the first Lily I met around age 13 was a nurse in the rheumatology department at Sick Kids Hospital.  It was my first visit at the clinic so I was no doubt nervous and Lily was incredibly lovely.  Lily is for beauty and Anna is for grace.  May our Lily-Anna use both of those for the glory of God.  By God's grace we have Lily-Anna.  We had a very early miscarriage a few months prior to finding out that Lily-Anna was on the way.  Thus, we weren't sure if we would be able to have another baby.  I only mention this here as a way to honour that baby whom we will meet one day.

Lily-Anna's birth went well.  It was our second easiest birth, after Josiah.  But, one never knows what birth will be like until after the fact.  I was thinking about the curses in Genesis and how even God's punishment is meant to turn us toward God for His help and to encourage us to trust in Him ... as it is all out of our control.  That lack of control is always so evident with a new baby ... though it seems easier to deal with this time as I realize that the different phases will pass.  I was able to use the first-week crazy hormones to cry about Josiah once.  It's interesting how I can have a beautiful new baby in my arms and love her dearly while longing for the baby who will never be in my arms again. 

Isaac had his last day of kindergarten yesterday.  In September he will head to a new school for grade one where he will also start French immersion.  I will miss his small school.  He is growing up so fast.  He loves knock-knock jokes and he has begun asking new questions about how big God is compared to the universe.

Kohen saw a cut on my finger and asked me what it was.  He then said, "Our Father, touch finger.  All better.  Amen."  The boys both like to sing the Lord's prayer (loudly) before some meals.  Kohen started to open our iPad cover.  I told him that we didn't need to use it then.  He responded, "Just checking the time."  He likes to say random numbers and tell me the time and he likes to open books and say things, pretending to read.   Actually, Kohen has been bringing up Josiah.  He was in the van and he asked me, "When go to Siah's house?"  I first thought he must have meant someone else but he said no and repeated his question.  I asked if he meant the grave and he said, "Yes."  Often when he mentions all the members of our family, he will include "Siah."

I came across a blog written by a mother of a daughter with a neuromuscular disorder.  Unfortunately I found it on the day her daughter passed away at the age of five.  The girl's name was Julianna and she was an amazing girl.  I really appreciated what her dad wrote about palliative care in this November 6 post (if you care to read it, you'll have to scroll down to the correct date and then read his comments closer to the middle and end of that post).  We weren't in the same place in many ways but I do wish we had tried to make more beautiful moments with Josiah. I would have put the boys in the bathtub together and had them be together more, I would have tried to find something delicious for Josiah, and of course I would have had more family photos.

Happy Birthday to my oldest nephew and to my cousin whom I think is celebrating in Iceland ... and Happy Canada Day (tomorrow)!  I'll post and then try to find some photos to add.

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Luke 12:27
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Introducing Lily-Anna Faulkner

Dear family and friends,

God blessed us with a beautiful daughter this morning (May 30) at 9:12 AM.  Lily-Anna Elizabeth Rita Faulkner was 8 lbs 9 oz at birth and was 21 inches long.  Her brothers Isaac and Kohen met her this afternoon, and were instantly enthralled by their baby sister.  They were quite adorable, wanting to hug and kiss her and to hold her so proudly.  

Lily-Anna Elizabeth Rita Faulkner

Lily-Anna's names have important meanings to us.  Lily is a reference to Jesus' words about the lilies of the field neither toiling nor spinning but having beautiful adornment.  It is a reminder of God's extravagant gift of beauty and grace in our lives and of His daily provision.  Anna was a prophetess in Jesus' time who blessed Jesus during his infant dedication at the temple.  She foresaw that Jesus was the saviour of the world. Our desire is that Lily-Anna would also experience Jesus personally and acknowledge His gift of salvation.  Elizabeth and Rita are the names of Lily-Anna's grandmothers, whom she got to meet for the first time today, and who will certainly be a godly influence in her life for years to come. We are thankful for Lily-Anna's godly heritage and want to honour that in her life and names.

Elizabeth and baby are both doing well and we're settling in for the night at the hospital before returning home in the morning. Thanks for all the well wishes and congratulations some of you have already shared.  We look forward to posting pictures and more updates at www.thefaulkners.ca.

Blessings,
Graham and Elizabeth