Let's Try Painting the Pumpkins

Artist Extraordinaire?

Girl Meets Giraffe

Girl meets ice cream.

All in a day at the zoo.

Treatment Update (and it's a really good one!)

A little over two years ago Libby was diagnosed with leukemia.

(June 2012)

 I remember like it was yesterday. The initial fear that swept over me. The pain that engulfed me. More than that, I remember His peace. In the thick of it. Indescribable Peace. He met me there. Smack in the middle of tears, anger and hurt.  It's a place I've found myself over and over again the past several years. This seemingly mysterious dichotomy between pain and suffering and a good and gracious God. Followed by the revelation that this contrast is only in my mind. Instead, pain and suffering and God are intricately linked.  

 (June 2012) 

Oswald Chambers wrote, The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty of it does not make us cave in. It rouses us up to overcome. The truth is we all struggle. We all have overwhelming lives, broken relationships, health issues. We all have something at one point or another. Life here isn't easy. And He told us it wouldn't be. But our circumstances don't dictate our Joy. They rouse us up to overcome. They cause us to look up. They help us see He has already overcome.

 (August 2012)

As I struggle. And as I watch others struggle. I pray for His eyes. And in what I consider, by far, one of the best answers to my prayers. Sometimes He gives me His eyes. 

 (September 2012)

These struggles. They're blessings. Incredible blessings. Because when I am weak. He is strong. When I am small. He is bigger.  

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9   

(September 2012)

We've come to a bit of an oasis on our journey. And He's blowing our minds. Libby is off therapy. In better words, she is finished with chemo!!!  It's surreal, honestly. It feels amazing. And that's an enormous understatement. We're so thankful. Another enormous understatement. We just keep praising Him.

(March 2013)

The doctors want to keep Libby's port in for another couple of months. They want to continue her IVIG  (the antibodies they flush her with to help boost her immune system) infusions through the thick of the cold/flu season. They're talking about January as her potential port removal surgery date.

(June 2013)

There are countless things I'm learning on this journey of ours. One of the biggest is my girls are not mine. They're His. It's one of the things He began working out with me early on. Like the moment He gave them to me. And I still give Him fits. l like to meddle. I still try to grasp for control.

( Present Day :) )

 One of our doctors asked me if I was nervous about Libby being off therapy. He knows all too well the mixed emotions at this juncture. Sure, she's finished taking those nasty drugs. BUT she's finished taking those nasty drugs. The drugs that fight an even nastier cancer. I get that. Absolutely, I've thought of that. And my flesh wants to worry.  But I want to rest in Him. I don't have to worry. The bottom line is we're not just praising and thanking Him because Libby is cancer free today. We're praising and thanking Him because our all-loving Father is in control.

 You know, the One with the perfect plan. :)

(Present Day :))

And by the way, I hope you know how much your prayers mean to us. And I hope you know how much you mean to us. I hope you know how much we love you.

No more chemo, y'all!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!

Double Trouble

Attention Target Shoppers. Sisters on the loose. :)

School Days

It's been so long since I've updated. I don't even know where to begin! Somewhere in the midst of diapers, laundry and tantrums I've found myself in conversations like this.... Mom, if you're supposed to go on green and stop on red, why are you going when the light is on red? (I was making a right turn, in my defense.) 

A car ride or two later, after a prayer, I attempted a mini-conversation about listening to Jesus. Silence. And then... Jesus better listen to me. And where is Jesus? He's in my heart. But I need to see Him. I want to see Him, Mom. 

And when I pick her up from school. I get this... I don't want to take a nap. Maybe I'll have a little     snack and watch a little show first. And can I have gummies? No? Okay. How 'bout raisins? Can you leave my door open? Ever the negotiator. I guess this is where we are. 

These girls are growing up. Our Libby. She's getting school reports that look like this...

Wouldn't stop "kissing" friends.

(Note-this daily report came on the heels of a report relaying Libby had pinched some friends and a therapist. We've been working on using "nice touches". At home these include hugs and kisses. Apparently, we've overcorrected. :) )

She can't wait to show me these reports. Mom, Mom!! I go potty! I walked! Beaming with pride.

We're still in the beginning stages of walking. But let me tell ya. We were excited when Annie walked. Of course we were. But this is something else entirely. This is years of therapy, practice and hard work on this little girl's part. This is overcoming low muscle tone, chemotherapy, strokes, and two brain surgeries.  This is loads of people-family, friends, doctors, nurses, therapists, teachers, classmates-constantly praying, teaching, and encouraging. Did I mention they're as excited as we are?

She was our line leader and led us so well. I got emotional coming down the hall. Everyone is so proud of her and other classes cheer her on.

This is one heck of a milestone. And a little girl who grins ear to ear walking around because she can. She knows what a big deal it is. 

 Some days I'm surprised my life looks so similar to the life I had envisioned for myself before I had kids. The refrigerator littered with school papers and art work and invitations to birthday parties.

 Me making lunches every morning. Packing backpacks. Driving carpool. 

Little girls arguing and making up. 

There were moments, as silly (and embarrassing) as it sounds, I lost this vision after I had Libby. But isn't that SO our Father? He designed this. So we could know Him more.  It's just like Him to take a possible scenario. And make it turn out better than we could've ever imagined. And even make it turn out absolutely beautiful.

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

Best Game Ever

Playing "night, night" is a favorite game of the moment. They don't actually like to go "night, night". But the pretend play is a big hit. For me, too. :)

PS They're both wide awake. Don't let them fool ya. :)