Joy in the Harvest

A farming family in our church invited us to share in their sweet corn harvest.  So we headed out to the field this morning as a family to pick it.

 We had a feeling this would be a sensory seeking dream come true for Jillian and it was!  She ran and pulled.  She jumped and giggled!

 She smiled and she smiled.  She picked and picked!  She signed corn, corn, and pointed to it.  And her radiant joy made this momma so, so happy!  When you find something that she can really enjoy friends, you just feel as if all of heaven has come to earth.

 Anna Mei enjoyed picking as long as she was close momma.  Dirt and tall grass are not her favorite combination so she was a bit apprehensive at first.  It is a bit hard for those super short legs not to fall when walking in tall grass so that adds to her anxiety.

 Eventually, she cut loose and was enjoying the beautiful morning and our surroundings as much as the rest of us.

 She loved, loved picking the corn.  She especially loved finding the (small) baby sister sized corn.

Doesn't this face just say it all?  She was a HAPPY baby girl.
















We were thankful to get so much delicious, corn for free, but even better than all that corn was getting to see my girls experience the harvesting!  Precious, precious treasures these girls are who enrich and brighten even the smallest of experiences beyond anything I ever imagined.  God is so good to give them to us! 

What Makes Me Happy

What makes me the happiest momma on earth is having my babies close to me when I am in the kitchen.  So, you can imagine my joy the other night when I had Anna Mei (who never leaves my side as I am cooking), Jillian, and Emily helping with dinner.  It was a very ordinary night with an ordinary menu, but having everybody together was heavenly for this momma.

I found this little chef apron and hat for a dollar at a garage sale.  It made Anna Mei very, very happy!

She is always in the kitchen with me and is getting very good at making just about everything!

She is such a very happy little girl.

 Because of her sensory challenges, Jillian doesn't always love helping me cook, but on this night she did!

 It is so special seeing her able to do so much!

 She touched all the ingredients and followed Momma's directions so well.  I continue to be in awe of all she is doing!

Her favorite job, by far, is doing the dishes though.  She doesn't wash much, but loves playing in the bubbles in the water.  Usually, you can find her on her stool at the sink with a big smile on her face which makes this momma smile too.

I Haven't Told You Lately

I haven't told you lately, but I think about you all the time.  I give thanks on a daily basis for those of you who gave so that this precious, joyful treasure could be mine.  So many of you shared with us a big part of what God has given you so that we could pay the ransom for this amazing little babe.  Each day as I hear her laugh, watch her play, and hear her praying and singing I stop and thank God for you.  Please don't forget that she is here because of you.  Don't forget that God used you in mighty ways to help bring this one home.  We could have never done it without you!  She is so full of joy and love.  She is a blessing beyond measure to our family and we could never thank you for joining us in making her our daughter!  THANK YOU!!!  Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support!  You are forever etched in our hearts and such a big part of her story!

Celebrating Our Biggest Girl

Fifteen years ago, God made me a momma and I was hooked.  I LOVE being a mother.  My children have given me a greater purpose and more JOY than I could ever write.  Yesterday, we spent the day celebrating our Em who turned fifteen.  We got her permit (heaven help us), had chocolate chip pancakes with candles, opened presents in bed, and had a chocolate death cake with fifteen candles with 30 of her friends at youth group.  It was a special day and it just reminded me that we are one year closer to a grown up girl....YIKES! 

Memories

 Last week, we had VBS and I had the pleasure of hanging with lots of incredible kids.  A few of those precious kiddos just happen to have lost their momma in a car accident about three weeks ago.  She was 39 and had 15 children-half of which were adopted. Though I had only met her a few times and didn't have the pleasure of knowing her well, I could tell by how she lived that she was a Godly woman and one who was devoted to her family and the orphan.  Being with two of her precious babes last week every day made me stop and think about what I would leave behind if the Lord chose to take me home today.  I want to do the best I can to be Jesus to my kids.  I want to communicate love, patience, and understanding as often as I can.  I want to teach them to serve others and I just want to take time to have fun with them.  I want to live each day believing that God has a great purpose in it even if that purpose seems small like placing band aids or blowing bubbles.  I am being intentional about stopping and enjoying the beauty that is my precious treasures these days because death has a way of causing you to do that.   

Because of this, we put a tarp on the hill in our backyard, covered it with soap, and hit it running.  The giggles could be heard throughout our neighborhood as my girls slid down our hill into the muddy fence area in our side yard. 

We used a lot of water and made a lot of beautiful memories.

 These are the moments that I want to live for.  These are the times in my life that I want to desire above all else.

I want to stop getting caught up in business and take the time to truly teach my girls to live.  I am grateful for the time that the Lord has allowed me to spend with these beautiful girls of mine in the last few weeks.  I am only wishing it could be summer forever.

Freezer Cooking with My Favorite Three Year Old Side Kick

 It is hard to believe how cool it has been here the last few weeks.  Generally, I would avoid making these pizzas (because the oven has to be at 500 degrees) this time of year, but it has been so pleasant that we made a batch last week to freeze for lunches.  I love knowing these wholesome, yummy pizzas are waiting to feed my crew.

 My Anna Mei loves everything about cooking.  She is always next to me on her stool doing everything that I am doing independently.  For the most part, I let her.  It means more time spent working, a bigger mess, and some imperfections in our product.

It also means bonding, giggles, memories made, a feeling of pride when sees Daddy eating one she made by herself, learning to complete a task and care for the ones you love, and much, much more.  I am grateful to have this little munchkin always under my feet desiring to be everything that is me these days.  I know this time goes by so very quickly and soon she won't be near as thrilled about helping me in the kitchen so I embrace the mess, the extra time, and the imperfections because there is a much bigger task I am trying to accomplish.  I want to build into my girl.  I want share who I am with her and hear the words I heard the other day when I said "Anna Mei when you grow up you are going to be such a wonderful mommy."  She said in response, "Just like you momma."  Melt my momma heart.  Just about fifteen months ago I was a stranger to her and now I am a wonderful momma in her eyes.  To God be the glory for great and amazing things He has done!

(Check out her folding skills as they are so cute.) 

Hanging on the Fridge

Hanging on the fridge in my home is a black spider with googly eyes.  This spider is not a classic work of art or evenly cut or any sort of beautiful.  It is something very extraordinary though because it came home with a note from my sweet treasure's summer school class that said she cut a circle and four straight lines to complete this project 100% independently.  Independently!  She did it.  We have only started cutting with her in the last three weeks.  She is picking it up so very fast.  After hanging this spider on the fridge, I teared up most of the morning looking at this miraculous little girl of mine because there were those who thought she would never and yet she is proving them wrong again and again!  This spider is so much more than a craft because it is proof that baby girl can and I believe she will continue!  I can't wait to see where next year brings her.  WAY TO GO SWEET GIRL!!!
Here is my little sweetie beginning to learn to cut just about two weeks ago in OT...

What Walking Beside Those Growing Old Has Taught Me

We are blessed enough to be able to swim indoors at least once a week at a warm therapy pool here in our new city.  My little girls love the water and so I take them to swim for a few hours during the day in this beautiful facility.  We are, by far, the youngest swimmers present each time we go.  We usually crash the water aerobics class that takes place for senior citizens.  In addition to this class, there are also a few other stray men and women, well on in their years, who share the space with my rowdy littles.  Today there was a man there who was probably close to eighty.  This is only about the third time we have seen him here.  He seems to have had a stroke, as he has serious mobility issues, and his face is always mangled like he has been defeated by the neurological issues that plague him.  He is always stoic, always quiet, and goes about his business of walking up and down the pool which in and of itself is a true struggle.    Today, we walked up to the pool expecting the key to be hanging by the door for the class participants as it always is, but there was no key and the pool was locked.  This meant we had to trek back down to the desk to pick up a key.  My Jillian was beside herself with despair.  She thought for sure we weren't going to get to swim.  She began to cry as I scooped her up in pursuit of that key.  When we finally got back to the pool and unlocked the door, she was thrilled though you could see that she had been crying.  And that man, that man who always looked so stoic..the one who never smiles and always looks defeated and in pain..smiled at my sweet, special treasure.  He offered her his floating dumb bells and continued to interact with her throughout his swim.  When my girl swims, it is hard not to catch a bit of her exuberant joy as she jumps, drives, shouts, and laughs with decibels hardly reached by this group of seniors.  At one point, he came right up to her face and she looked him right in the eyes.  He touched her nose and she squirted him plum in the face with water.  It made us all smile.  This sweet treasure, who has known defeat herself before knowing the love of this family, touched this man so deeply that for a moment I saw a glimpse of who he once was apart from his broken body.  This moment made me think that one day in the blink of an eye my babies will be grown and my body will be aging.  I won't be chasing these wild, Chinese monkeys forever because they are going to grow up.  In the craziness of my days, I long to just remember to take a moment to look my girls in the eyes and take in a bit of the joy that having them near should stir in my heart.  For just a moment, I want to stop thinking about missing quiet or hobbies or rest and just simply desire to be the best momma I can be for them in this crazy, active season because this season will soon be over.  One day, my house will be clean, the laundry will be caught up, and I will be the one going to this pool for the water aerobics class missing my babies in my arms.  God is so good to have brought so many into my life because of these girls whom have taught me so very much!  I am thankful for each and every lesson.

Something to Smile About

This beautiful, sweet girl has reached yet another milestone...

She has lost her first tooth!  She does not like anyone in that mouth of hers.  She barely lets us brush her teeth and so when/how it came out is a mystery, but it is gone.  Daddy was taking her out of the bath last night and noticed it was missing.  I have kept showing her in the mirror.  I can see her pushing her tongue in the hole!  This sweet baby is growing up and I don't like it one bit, but am grateful to God that I am the one walking with her through it.  Praise God for another childhood moment that this treasure is smiling through!  God is so very good!

She Danced

We are just returning home from our beloved Gull Lake Ministries trip.  This year far exceeded my expectations as my sweet, special needs treasure was given a one on one counselor.  My did this sweet college student radiate Christ's love all week to my Jillian.  Jillian was able to participate in the Cove Kids program for the first summer since coming home to us which means I was able to attend the teaching sessions, adult dinner banquets, and refresh myself for the first time in three years.  It was heavenly to see my sweet girl so comfortable and having so much fun where she was once so full of anxiety. 

One particular night at camp, they have a talent show.  Jillian was sitting with us, and her sweet counselor, in the tabernacle watching the show when a worship dancer was up on stage.  This young woman was a teenager, and fellow camper from the state of Michigan, dressed all in black.  She gracefully moved across the stage with poise and beauty to the song Via Del Rosa.  It was a stunning and worshipful performance for all of us, but it was Jillian's reaction that took my breath away.  There in the row standing right beside her daddy my sweet, beautiful, nonverbal treasure was so moved by this teenager's worship through dance that she too began to dance.  SHE DANCED!!! She modeled each and every sophisticated movement made by the young dancer on stage as she watched her worship in this way.  When the dancer laid flat on the floor so did my Jill.  When the dancer held both arms high and one foot up so did my Jillian.  It was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever had with this sweet treasure who I have the privilege of calling my daughter.  It moved Daddy and I so much (and made us chuckle a bit as Jillian's moves weren't near as graceful as the young woman on the stage though they were just as heartfelt) that we left ready to submit to whatever it is that God has for us in the months to come.  We have seen God work miracles because we have this little girl in our lives.  This sweet treasure, once so locked inside herself, is so very connected to the heart of God!  He just radiates from her and she touches so so many who see her! 

It also has left me searching for worship dance ministries in my city because I gotta keep this little lady dancing.

It's My Swingset

 Jillian was thrilled to find her new swing set assembled and ready to climb on in the backyard today.

 She LOVES monkey bars and so we bought this set because it had monkey bars.

Thank you Grandma for this amazing birthday gift!
Thank you to Mr. Steve who stayed until nearly 9:00 to finish building it for her!













She is very pleased, but I will let her tell you herself..

She Did It

Today my five year old treasure walked into a new school, a new classroom, greeted new teachers, and she was a rockstar.  She was just fine.  This girl...I just never dreamed that she could do any of this.  We picked her up at 11:30 and went straight to the beach to enjoy our afternoon.  What an amazing, miracle working God I serve as I never dreamed any of this would be possible.  Incredible indeed!

To Her Teachers

(It was my girls last day of school this week and this momma sobbed and sobbed after walking her out of her PK classroom for the last time.  These teachers have been the best and so I just wanted to thank them again.  It is hard to imagine that she will ever again have such amazing people to guide her through the school day, but I pray she does because it makes leaving her so much easier.) 

 Jillian with her special team of teachers.

Thank you for all that you are.Thank you for rocking, loving, and ministering to my treasure each and everyday this year.  You have loved her in ways I never thought possible for someone outside our family.  You have reached her again and again and done whatever it takes in order to do so.  You have understood who she is and embraced that time after time.  You have wept with  and rocked her in her sadness and rejoiced with her when she touched playdough.  You have written me a note about her day each day, texted me pictures of her activities when she was successful or super cute, and reassured me over and over that you care so much for her.  You have learned sign in order to communicate with her, allowed beans in your space to help calm her, and smiled through it all.  You are amazing and she will always have a piece of you with her as she travels on her way.  I love that you wrote in her book the last day that she may have taught you more than you could ever teach her because this is exactly the way I feel about her each day as her momma.  Thank you for shepherding the tender heart of this precious, precious girl of mine.  We will always be grateful to each of you for giving of yourself so much to see her grow. 

Using Her Voice

The other night I had both girls by myself as Daddy and Em were out of town.  I was doing my best to keep up with both of them as always, but tonight Jillian wanted to watch her favorite Elmo song, Siesta, on the computer.  The video is about a minute and a half long and she loves to watch it again and again.  Well, as I was chasing after Anna Mei, getting her in the bath, dressed, and ready for bed, I couldn't always keep up with restarting Jill's song.  Sweet girl would just sit at the computer signing "Momma" until I remembered to check on her.  She seriously is so cute just sitting there signing momma thinking I could hear her doing that.  This lead me to get her "voice" (aka NOVA chat) for her.  I showed her the path to the momma button and then sat back and listened for my baby girl to call for her momma.  Call for her momma she did!  Each time the video was over, she would hit that momma button and the voice would call out for her signaling me to restart that video.  I would hear and come running which really made her happy.  She is so very pleased with herself when she can voice things.  I tried to catch it on video and it wasn't a completely natural use, but getting it on the spot was hard.

 

This certainly led me to give thanks for this incredible technology and the chance she has to use it!

My Girl

This girl is one of my greatest joys.  Seriously, she is so much like I am that I can't help, but absolutely adore her.  She loves everything that I do and she just wants to be exactly like I am. Her language, her routines, her mannerisms are an exact copy of mine again and again!  She loved playing at the family museum when we took our day trip there and, more than that, I loved being with her.  She is just so much fun!

 She smiled all day long!  She loved making momma pizza with mushrooms.

 The oven lit up when you put the pizza in.  It made her smile big and giggle every time.

 She was in her element for sure as playing in her play kitchen at home is her favorite thing to do! 

 The grocery store was where she spent most of her time.  She loves playing grocery store and loved this module so much!  We must have visited it for at least four shopping trips during our four hour play session.

 The shoe store module was cute and it made her smile when momma measured her feet.

 She chose these red heels to try on, but was sad when she couldn't wear them home.

 They even had a workshop with real tools so we built a little project together.  She used a saw, a screwdriver, a hand drill, and a hammer.  She was thrilled!

 She loved all the dress up clothes too, but wasn't always so happy when momma stopped playing to take pictures. 

Here she is making me scrambled eggs exactly the way I make the girls scrambled eggs almost every morning.  She certainly has become mine and I hope I never forget the miracle that it is that she calls me momma.

Playing with Jillian

 We headed to Bettendorf today to pick up our oldest and decided to make it a family day trip.  We went to the family museum and let me say this momma LOVED this place!  It is high on my list of must do more than once in our area.  It was fabulous.  The fact that Jillian actually played for four hours just sweetens how amazing this place is because today was the first day that I feel like my girl had a typical experience.  She had no fear..that is right absolutely no fear of anything.  She signed scared once when we were getting out of the car, but that is it.  She never said she was scared the rest of the day..not even once!  She went right into the gallery area with Daddy and instantly began exploring!  She played and she played and she played. She laughed and ran and played and conquered every inch of this place.  I feel like I say often when trying to write about Jill that I have no words, but today I feel that way once again.  I simply never, ever dreamed that this sweet treasure would accomplish so much.  As I walked beside her today in each of the learning modules and watched her playing like her typical peers, I could hardly keep from bawling my eyes out remembering the 15 pound 25 month old I once held praying she would just survive.  This girl is something extraordinary.

 She loves water and so it is no surprise that she was instantly drawn to this water table.  She spent a lot of happy time here exploring the gadgets, wheels, and pipes. 

 She even went in the tunnel so that she could pop up and stand in the middle.

 She also enjoyed playing in the grocery store.  She actually played here.  She got a cart just like her sister did and began filling it up with groceries.

 Then, she got in line and unloaded her groceries and paid the little girl behind the counter.  I could hardly snap this shot because of my blurry vision.  She even used her voice to name the pretend vegetables in the produce section just like she does at the real store.

 Then, she and Anna went to the corn factory where they worked to put the corn on the conveyor belt.  Jillian did it all.  See how she is taking turns with Anna and putting the corn in?  Incredible!

 There was more water play outside!  We ate our lunch out here picnic style and Jillian loved playing in this area.

 She wore all the dress up clothes in each of the modules happily and she was so cute!  This is the space ship in the Dora area!  She enjoyed it all.

 Look at her using the watering can to "water" the flowers.

She picked flowers, went through a maze, used some balls for  science exploration, played in the barn, played house, played in a pirate ship,  interacted with a leaf mat, and don't forget all the water!  There was so much more too, but I have already included too many pictures.  Truly, this was one special day and I am thrilled to have been able to spend it with my sweet, sweet treasure!  There are just so many mountain top moments as I parent her that it never grows old being with her!  I am feeling blessed indeed tonight to have this little lady home and that I get to call her mine!

(Anna Mei had a great time too!  She was adorable and loved playing in the pizza kitchen and grocery store best.  I will post her pictures soon.)

My Oldest..

 My oldest treasure is leading a Bible study this summer for some six and seven year old girls in our body.  She is using a study called "My Best Friend Jesus" that she and I did together when she was eight years old.  Where has the time gone?  I love Tuesday mornings at my house because that is when the girls come by.  They usually do a little project like a craft or cooking and then Em sits down at the table with them to break open the word.  I love to listen in.  My oldest baby girl is growing up.

 There are no shortages of smiles when the girls are here.  There are plenty of giggles too. 

I just love having my house full of little girls.  I am grateful to God for the little hearts He is cultivating through this study in my home.  I am especially thankful for the heart that is ever developing in my Em.  I love seeing God working in her life.