March

I need to type fast as Lily-Anna keeps waking up.  She has a cold and her coughing has made her throw up for three nights in a row after I try to nurse her to sleep.  We're getting better at having towels ready at least.

Lily-Anna is now ten months old.  She still does the army crawl but she certainly gets where she wants to go - to the boot tray in particular as she enjoys trying to eat what she finds there.  She just has her two front teeth but eating is improving little by little.

It's been a busy and enjoyable March.  Kohen turned three years old.  On his last day being two years old he talked about Josiah a lot.  He asked me, "When I was born did I see Siah?"  I explained and then I showed him the photo taken of Josiah after I told him that he was going to be a big brother (because I had just found out that Kohen was on the way).  He later asked me, "When will Siah come and visit?" I explained a little about heaven.  He replied, "I won't say hi to Jesus, just Siah.  Did Siah die on the cross?" Oh, it's so much for a small boy to process.  Another day he said, "It's really really sad that Siah died."  He brings him up quite often.

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Isaac: "Lily-Anna's the most beautiful baby I've ever heard of."

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Isaac to Lily-Anna: "Lily-Anna tu es tres tres tres belle.  That means you are very very very pretty."

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Isaac: Are we going to have infinity days with God in heaven?
Mommy: Well, the new heaven and the new earth.
Isaac: That's what I meant.  It's sort of like always living in a hotel.
Kohen: And then Josiah will come and shake our hands.

*

In the morning both boys climbed into our bed and Lily-Anna was there.  Kohen gave her a big hug and said, "You're my best baby in the whole world."

*

I was with Kohen in Home Depot looking at a few items and he was ready to leave.
Kohen: Mommy we have to pay.
Mommy: Yes we do (walking in the other direction).
Kohen: If we go that way we can't worship Jesus.  God said go this way.

*

We were in the car and Kohen started praying so I asked him if he'd seen an ambulance (as we pray if we see emergency vehicles).  He said he hadn't but he was just praying for anyone who was bleeding that God would help them.

*

We travelled to Stittsville for part of March Break to see family.  The boys love being with their cousins.  On the way back we stopped at a hotel to give Isaac a little piece of heaven on earth - "cartoons, swimming pool, and a breakfast that includes 'coloured Cheerios' (he has now discovered these are called Fruit Loops).  After a couple of nights at home we went to spend time with Graham's parents and his brother from B.C.

On the Sunday before school started I saw a note on the calendar that read, "Isaac wants to eat Italian Wedding soup."  I remembered that we'd happened to do that last year and Isaac thought it would be neat to make it a tradition ... so, that's what we ate and it will be on the calendar next year.

We've been fitting in doctor's appointments and eye appointments and dentist appointments before Graham heads back to work.

We've also pulled up the flooring in the kitchen, bathroom, and hallways and today the subfloor was screwed down to get rid of all the squeaking.  That will be a treat!  A great big thank-you to our parents for all of their help!

I'm afraid that the days of Kohen napping are over.  The other day we just let him sleep about an hour and he was still wired at bedtime.  Today he asked me to let him nap but I was able to keep him awake with the help of two Grandmas.  I realized today why Kohen just jumps up and down when he needs "to go" instead of telling us.  He just wants us to run after him.  He loves it when we do this.

This is my last month with Graham at home.  It's been such a blessing.  I am not looking forward to May and school mornings.  I haven't taken Isaac to school since before Christmas!

I'd better see if I can figure out how to add photos.  If I hear Lily-Anna wake up, I'll just post this and add photos later.

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Fun February

It's always fun going on Mommy dates with my boys and I try to do that with each of them around Valentine's Day.  I think the last cake pop Isaac had was during last year's Valentine's date so it was time for another one.  I take them out separately for a special time.  I also found heart sprinkles in the store so Kohen helped me make some cookies and both boys helped deliver them to a few neighbours.

Graham and I even went out for dinner and dessert after putting the kids to bed at my parents' home.   I think this was our first time out alone since Lily-Anna was born.  Now that restaurants have to post nutritional information, we were well aware of the number of calories we consumed in our chocolate peanut butter cheesecake - it's a good thing we shared it.  Thankfully Lily-Anna only woke up five minutes before we returned and she waited patiently with Grandma until I could put her back to sleep.

Lily-Anna in her new dress

We spent Family Day (an Ontario holiday) at Graham's parents' property where we had an outdoor picnic and helped Grandpa tap some maple trees in great anticipation of delicious maple syrup.  We were able to pull Lily-Anna on the sled after we bundled her in, with the help of a bungie cord.  She fell asleep in there on the way out.

Lily-Anna has her first dress from Sierra Leone as my cousin was there recently and very kindly bought it for her.  She sported her new style this past Sunday (along with a long-sleeved onesie and tights to keep her warm).

Both Graham and I have enjoyed spending time with various friends this month and we're actually both reading books so it's quite clear that Graham is on parental leave.  Graham takes Kohen to a library program and a swimming lesson and Isaac to swimming and skating.  All of those will soon be finished.

Lily-Anna performing for the camera

I just finished reading the memoir Lion about a boy who became lost in India and ended up being adopted by a couple in Australia.  Twenty-five years later, with the help of Google Earth and Facebook, he found his way back to his birth family.  I'm also making my way through a book about divorce and remarriage in the Bible due to a friend's situation.  The author claims that in the Bible, Jesus and Paul allow (though do not encourage) divorce on the basis of broken marriage vows, which would include abuse and neglect in addition to unfaithfulness.  I still have a lot to read.    

Graham and Lily-Anna hiking into Raybeth

 Sadly, Isaac had to have a cavity filled today.  Now that we know how much this costs, we will not be forgetting to floss his teeth anytime soon.  We thank the Lord (and the university) for some health coverage.  Isaac was given laughing gas (this was never an option at my dentist when I was a child) and he told me that it was really fun.  The worst part was that he couldn't eat this morning before his 8:00 appointment.  Graham used this as an opportunity to remind Isaac about people who are often hungry and this helped calm him down.      

Lily-Anna is now fully sitting and army-crawling more often.  I was getting a prescription filled and saw a small princess frame that I couldn't resist buying for her.

I was pleasantly surprised when Isaac prayed that I would only have to be up once with Lily-Anna in the night.  I told him this morning that I was with her four times, though the fourth was just an earlier wakeup than I would have preferred.  She might as well get it while she can because I think sleep training is coming in April before Graham returns to work - if I'm brave enough.

A winter lunch at Raybeth

Lily-Anna's new trick is waving goodbye.  I've been able to leave her in the nursery at church the last four or five Sundays so that's been a nice treat.  This is also the first Sunday that Kohen hasn't cried when I left him at Sunday School so we're making progress.  It's hard to believe Kohen turns three on Sunday.  I do however remember that with Isaac we found age three more challenging than age two, though that may have also related to Josiah's death when Isaac was two-and-a-half.

I'm facilitating our Bible study tomorrow night on 2 Peter 2 so I'd better sign off and add some photos to this post and January's post.

Thanks for any prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth


2 Peter 3:8-9
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Kohen and his beloved Elmo and Mommy

The boys tapping a maple tree with Grandpa Faulkner

Lots of Thoughts

Yes, it's that time again to record some thoughts on "paper".

Lily-Anna turned eight months old yesterday and she is as lovely as ever.  She had her first tooth in January and also began the army crawl and she can sit up for quite a while until she falls or throws herself backwards.  She has seemed to wave a couple of times but that's possibly wishful thinking. She's not yet too interested about soft finger foods.  She usually plays upstairs but I took her to the basement and she was excited to explore.  She makes lots of sounds and has great laughs but she's Miss Serious in public and when the camera comes out.

We often refer to her as "Baby" or "Baby Girl".  That seems weird to use those terms as a name when talking to her or referring to her, more often than her real name.  I feel like it might be related to losing Josiah  (what's a better word? I didn't lose him!).  But, maybe it's third (fourth) baby syndrome as I am constantly calling Isaac Kohen and vice versa.

I think I mentioned before that one of my favourite things is nursing Lily-Anna (and the others when they were babies) on the comfy chair in the dark before bed and nap time.  So peaceful.  As soon as I start there's a relief of tension.  One of my other favourite things is after I nurse her and she's asleep on my chest and shoulder, facing me.  I give the softest cheek a kiss and whisper my love.  I remember once telling someone that I nursed Isaac to sleep and she immediately said that I should never put a baby to sleep in a crib after they are sleeping but I should instead keep them awake so they learn to fall asleep themselves.  I am very thankful I didn't hear this advice earlier or choose to follow this advice as I am sad that some people miss the amazing wonder of a perfect sleeping baby on one's chest.  Yes, she's perfect when she's asleep.  So many beautiful moments to cherish.  I am always tempted to just let her sleep there but there's always something I should be doing.  I am realizing that this time passes so quickly.

I have often thought that the medical staff should have really encouraged me to give a bottle to Josiah right away at home and also a soother as both of those things may have possibly brought him some comfort in the hospital.   I was so proud of him for learning to nurse.  He only ever took a little of my milk from one bottle that Grandma gave him, apart from the first couple of days in the hospital.  Actually, it's only at this present moment that I realize it wouldn't have made any difference as he was intubated for so long so I don't think those things could have helped.  Instead, I have my memories of nursing him.  God gave me a gift of an extra nursing session after he went into the hospital for his long stay.  A few days after we arrived, he was extubated for the first time and he nursed really well. The nurse checked his weight to verify and then she told me that he hardly had anything but then I asked her to check her decimal points and it turned out he'd had an enormous amount of milk.  I'm now questioning if that was my only feed or if there was one more but he ended up throwing up and later desatting while at rest and was sent back to Cardiac Critical Care and was intubated, never to nurse again.  Thank You Lord for the joy and blessing of being able to feed my son, and not having to have the stress of bottles amongst all the other stresses of those early months.  You give good gifts Lord.        

***

I heard Isaac laughing loudly in his room after he and Kohen had gone to bed.  I then heard Kohen laughing as well.  After a while I heard the following:

Kohen - Isaac?
Isaac - Yes?
Kohen - Why are we laughing, Isaac?

***


Sadly, we have neglected Isaac's financial training.  The other day Isaac emptied his piggy bank (actually a Noah's ark bank).  He said, "Look!  This one shows Elizabeth!  Queen Elizabeth is on it."  He was quite excited.

***

I've actually done some reading of late.  I read the one to help me cry but it wrecked me.  I definitely cried.  (SPOILER ALERT!  Do NOT read the following if you want to read or see "Light Between Oceans" and be surprised!)  The idea of having to give up your four year old child to let someone else be their mother and the thoughts of what that would do to the child ... and then to read that the child ended up adapting fine and not remembering much of the first four years ....  It's fictional but I can't decide if I should see the movie as the idea of having to go through that is incomprehensible to me.  Why is having my own baby die totally normal to me and not tear-inducing or incomprehensible?

For the same reason I read Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking" and I'm almost finished "Blue Nights" which I needed to read after I found out that her daughter had also died.  "The Year of Magical Thinking" reminded me what I was doing the first year after Josiah's death - thinking and remembering and trying to remember everything, all the time.  It's no wonder I don't have many memories of Kohen as a small child.  Thankfully I look back at photos and some videos and see and remember that he's always been a happy boy (okay, after he stopped his loud crying in the early months - that I cannot forget!)

Didion writes about grief: "We have no way of knowing that the funeral itself will be anodyne, a kind of narcotic regression in which we are wrapped in the care of others and the gravity and meaning of the occasion.  Nor can we know ahead of the fact (and here lies the heart of the difference between grief as we imagine it and grief as it is) the unending absence that follows, the void, the very opposite of meaning, the relentless succession of moments during which we will confront the experience of meaninglessness itself."  No - not for me.  Thankfully, because of Jesus there is meaning and there will be reunion.  There was a purpose.  Good will come out of bad.  I trust in Jesus' love.

I'm also reading, "First, Kill all the Marriage Counsellors" by Laura Doyle.  I'm not thrilled with the title and I haven't read it all so I'm not sure yet what I can and can't take from it (what parts go along with the Bible) but I do know it did a great job explaining the various ways I try to control Graham and thus how I am disrespectful.  I want someone to read it so I can discuss it so I've told a couple of friends about it.  I would love Graham and I and others in my life to be the beneficiaries of me learning to not try to control others.  I'm at least noticing it more when I'm doing it!  I think that's a start.  I would love to be more respectful.

It's good timing to read this book as I am also facilitating the Bible study in our small group tomorrow night on 1 Peter 3 which opens with, "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands."  I fully agree with submission and believe it is a beautiful thing (and easier said than done sometimes) but from reading some of John Piper's sermons on these verses, I see how amazing it is.  Looking at the verses you'll see that it starts with women who hope in God.  Because we hope in God (and thus trust Him), we can be absolutely fearless.  Because we are fearless we don't have to try to control our husbands or have our way all the time but we can do good works and bless our husbands, including submitting to them.  It sounded better in the sermon.  It actually refers to women who "do not fear anything that is frightening (verse 6)."  How incredibly freeing that would be.  I fear lots of things.  In Blue Nights Didion wrote about how after having a child she started to fear so many things (that could possibly hurt that child).  I fully agreed with her ... and then remembered that I shouldn't be afraid of all of those things.  Instead, my hope and my trust needs to be in God.  And my heart says, "Yes, but already three of the seeds of your womb are with God and not with you.   Another could be taken." (That would be me talking in third person about my ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and death of Josiah.)  Job said, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."  I need to set my heart and mind on God who is worthy of praise and can be fully trusted.  This life is such a small dot compared to eternity and its trials don't compare to the joy to come.

Speaking of Job, we've been listening to the audio version of the Action Bible at breakfast time the last few days.  We listened to Job and it didn't seem like Isaac had heard the story before.  I guess it's not usually in Children's Bibles as we have read through lots of Children's Bibles since Isaac was small.  Just listening to the Bible in a different way brings new points alive.

It's great to have Graham home.  He's usually the one to take Isaac to school and pick him up.  He goes with Kohen to the library program and swimming and takes Isaac to his different lessons.  Isaac is really enjoying skating.

Lily-Anna is waking for a feed so I'll post now and add some photos later - hopefully.

Thanks for your prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Isaac's piano playing is inspiring Lily-Anna

1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.  For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.  But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tonight we say good-bye to 2016 and usher in the new year quietly.  The children are sleeping and I am typing in a messy living room - our home has yet to recover from birthday celebrations and Christmas blessings.

We had a lovely Christmas, spending a few days with Graham's parents in Listowel.  My parents joined us for part of Christmas day.  Growing up, I don't think we were ever with another relative apart from our immediate family on Christmas Day so what a blessing for our kids to be with both sets of grandparents at the same time!

I was happy to be able to continue my tradition of being in a Christian Reformed Church on Christmas morning which helped me to at least get teary eyed, thinking about Josiah.  It's rare to go to a place where I feel different and a little out of place and obviously a stranger to everyone else in the room.  Getting out of my regular space helps me to focus on Josiah for a little while.  I guess that is a Christmas gift to myself and Graham is sweet enough to come along with our noisy children (well, Lily-Anna wasn't too noisy). 

We have actually been enjoying the winter weather which is quite surprising for us.  We went skating as a family (minus Lily-Anna) and then Graham and his dad took the boys out sledding.  The five of us tried to go yesterday.  We safely attached Lily-Anna's carseat to a sled (just for horizontal travel) but she wasn't too excited about the arrangement after a time and Kohen wasn't interested in the big hill so our trip was shorter than planned.

We went to the cemetery today and Graham built a snowman in front of Josiah's grave.  Hopefully no one else will mind.  The snow was perfect.  We enjoyed throwing some snow around and the boys had fun being pulled on the sled while Lily-Anna slept in the stroller.

Our most exciting news is that Graham is starting his paternity leave.  It's perfect timing for the cold winter months and also this is usually around the time when my body and joints start to protest the weight of the baby who needs to be carried around.

I borrowed Mary Poppins from the library.  It was fun to snuggle with Isaac and Kohen and watch them laugh.  It's the first real movie we've shown Isaac, though he has seen some animated ones at school.  Unfortunately, the music playing when Mr. Banks had to go back to the bank in the evening was a little scary for Kohen and he's brought it up a few times.  He put his hands over his ears and then left the room.

I've realized the last few months that I seem to be missing a lot of memories of Kohen.  I actually looked back at the blog and was pleasantly surprised to see lots of photos of him smiling along with stories.  I saw a photo of him in the exersaucer which was great because I had had no memory of him in one.  Mom told me the other day that Kohen always makes her laugh and looking back she sees how God kept him safe inside my womb and kept me from intense grief while he was growing.

One of the songs that the boys sing goes like this: "Do to others, do to others, what you would have them do to you ...."  Lately, when Kohen and Isaac are arguing and things are not going Kohen's way he'll say forcefully, "Do to others Isaac!"

I found December to be very busy.  Isaac was in a piano recital the first weekend, followed by his birthday party the second weekend (God really helped that come together, as did my parents who helped me make swords and noodle horses for the boys), and then a birthday dinner with family the following weekend, followed by Christmas and now New Years.  I've been sad because I wasn't able to do all the Advent stuff that we did last year and Isaac asked for all of it again.  I couldn't figure out where the time went for us until I realized that I always nurse and put Lily-Anna to bed right after dinner while the boys are getting ready for bed.  She still takes her time nursing before bed but nursing is one of my favourite things to do.  I get to nourish my sweet daughter in my arms while resting in a comfortable chair often in the dark.  Apparently she enjoys it too as she's up a couple of times in the night to feed.  It would be helpful to get more sleep but we'll wait until she's a little older to stop her night feeds.

It was fun to attend Isaac's Christmas concert at school as well as a play in his classroom.  He wanted to be in the choir and even auditioned to have a few talking lines.  Neither Graham nor I think we would have done that at his age so we're happy he has some confidence.

Lily-Anna is doing much better at eating.  It took her a good couple of weeks to figure out swallowing and then another couple of weeks for her to consistently open her mouth for food.  Now we're just hoping for teeth.

2016 brought us the joy of having Lily-Anna but it also brought some hard times.  We are happy to welcome the new year with its new hopes and possibilities.

In late November we had a 15-minute mini session at a photographer's home.  We were very surprised and happy with the resulting photos we have posted.

Thanks for your prayers.  May you and yours know and experience the love, joy, and peace of Jesus in 2017.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  

December here we come

Lily-Anna is six months old!  The boys are always saying how beautiful she is and how she is the most beautiful baby.  They like to give her zerberts and make her laugh.  She has just started rice cereal but she certainly needs more practice.

Thankfully Graham is better.  He said he's never been more sick and this certainly ranks up there with the hardest thing we've ever gone through - which seems really crazy.  Graham was off work for two and a half weeks.  We had amazing support from family and friends.  I'm so thankful that God spared Lily-Anna, Kohen, and our parents from sickness, not to mention me.  I was picturing myself totally wiped and trying to nurse a baby.

I haven't written much the last few months so I'll provide a little update.  Isaac has had a good transition to his new school.  He changed schools for French Immersion and he is loving the French and often singing French songs.  He made a good friend right away which was an answer to prayer.

We are excited to have a new lead pastor at our church.  He and his family started on Thanksgiving weekend.  We had been without a lead pastor for over a year but God has perfect timing.

I spoke about Josiah at a women's event at our church.  Many people thought it would have been hard for me to do this.  It's not hard to speak about Josiah.  I like speaking about him, hearing his name, remembering him.  The prep work is the hard part and the nerves of wanting the presentation to go well and bring God glory.

We are studying 2 Corinthians in the Bible study that meets in our home weekly.  It's such a great reminder that God uses suffering for His glory and as we read tonight that God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  I wonder if most of us have something similar to a "thorn in the flesh" that we just want God to remove from our life but its purpose is to keep us humbly reliant on God and allows His power to be at work in us.  It's a good challenge for me to think about my attitude towards my list of personal weaknesses.

Speaking of weaknesses, I have a birthday party to plan for Isaac.  Have I mentioned that I find birthday parties overwhelming?  I actually finally signed up for Pinterest because I thought there would be helpful ideas for a knight party ... and there were.  Wow - Pinterest could be overwhelming too!  It keeps telling me about new amazing desserts that I would love to eat.

Graham took the boys to Niagara Falls in late September.  They drove his parents to the airport and then he called me a few hours later and told me that they were in Niagara Falls.  My first thought apart from "Where is my husband and what did you do to him?" was "Please don't let go of Kohen!" They all returned safely.

Perhaps Kohen will be an artist one day.  I've dealt with marker on furniture, crayon and pencil on the wall, pencil crayon on the fridge, and pen on the chairs.  Clearly I need to find a new location for the writing supplies!

Kohen asked me one night why Jesus died.  I gave him a long-winded answer and then he told me it was "because they ate the fruit."  I guess he is listening in Sunday school and to the Bible stories before bed.  He also asked me why Josiah died and told me, "It is very very very sad that he died."

Lily-Anna has been having lots of practice on her tummy and it seems like she's getting stronger every day.  I think she's sweet and lovely and beautiful.  And yes, I want to eat her up. She is Miss Serious in public and whenever the camera is out but she can also give the loveliest smiles and laughter - often when she is at the change table.

I had a conversation with a friend tonight.  It reminded me that Satan is active and so ready to deceive and cause havoc.

It's time to head to bed before Lily-Anna wakes me up.  She now wakes up on her tummy but she's getting more used to it.
Thanks for your prayers.

Blessings,
Elizabeth


1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Isaac riding his bike

On the mend

Graham made it outside to our backyard yesterday and today to practice walking.  It's a slow shuffle but he's making progress.  It was a nice treat for the boys as they sat outside while Graham told them a Eugene story.  They are missing their daddy time.

We are very thankful that Graham is moving in the right direction.  Friends and our Bible study group (these are not mutually exclusive!) are blessing us with meals.  A friend was able to come for a visit yesterday and it was such a breath of fresh air to chat and laugh.  Graham said we sounded like teenage girls.

Isaac returned to school today and Kohen spent some time this morning with his grandparents so I was able to get some cleaning and disinfecting done.

I need to get Isaac's lunch ready and then I can head to bed.  Thank you for your prayers!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

2 Corinthians 4:18
¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.     

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;