Kindergarten Program

At the end of school last year, the Kindergartners put on a musical program.  Aaris loves to sing and perform, so she was on cloud nine.  She knew every move and every word.  She had been singing them to us for several weeks before hand.  It is such a joy to watch your kid do something she truly enjoys and gets fulfillment from - not to mention to see how much hidden education she learned that was cleverly disguised as music. 

(P.S.  Aaris is the 3rd one from the right on the first/bottom row)

Aaris's 2nd Annual Holy Heart Day

April 10 was Aaris's two year anniversary of her open heart surgery that gave my girl a healthy and VERY energetic future!  We planned a fun little time at a bouncy house with Aaris just a few friends to celebrate.  She chose two friends that kept Aaris close to their hearts during her surgery time:  Hunter Houston and Sarah Poppe.  Of course all of the sibling needed to be in on the action as well! 

 



My Life Can Continue

Being gone in so many ways has been hard.  This has been the most trying time in my whole life.  My health has been in caos, and the reality of life around us has also been hard pressed and trying.  But, restoration is, well, in process in some so many ways, and in the horizon in others.  It's been a hard battle to say the least, and I was loosing on my own.  Only once I started to hand it over to our Lord and Father has victory been evident.  All praise and glory must be given to God, and God alone. 

2 Chronicles 20: 9 "If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us."
2 Chronicles 20: 12 "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you (Lord)."
2 Chronicles 20: 15 "This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not your, but God's"
2 Chronicles 20: 17 "Take your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you"
2 Chronicles 20: 20 "Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld"

So to you who are asking how I am - my answer is, "I'm being upheld."

These are the truths I do know:
-God is here and evident every day in my life
-Execpt for a few times my potassium has been held with the use of the potassium pills
-My stomach and esaphogas are healing with the medicine
-My asthma is under control with the medicne
-My anxiety is now being healed with the use of medicine
-My family has been surrounded with love that is never ceasing from our friends, family, neighbors, and church family
-I have a SVT pocedure on the 27th that is going to help fix my arrythmias
-I can move my neck again
-My vertigo is gone
-The mold in our bathroom was not dangerous or an airborn mold
-The flood didn't come in enough to cause severe damage
-The tree didn't fall in a way that distroyed our house (check our facebook)
-The sleeping pills are finally helping me get sleep

These are the things I don't know:
-What has been keeping my potassium low for almost a year now?
-Is the cyst they found on my ovay safe? (Should find out in the next month or so)
-When will Aaron get to take the exam he has studied 2 years for? And why wasn't this October in God's plan?
-How will God hold us up financially through all of this?

I believe God has given me quite the story to share and minister with to glorify His kingdom, but for now I'm still in the middle of the journey, so....
THE BIGGEST ANSWER I HAVE FOR WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON CAN ONLY BE EXPRESSED IN THIS POEM THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPED ME WRITE:

TURNING POINT




I asked you God to make me anew.
“Break Me” were words I even used, too.
I was so unhappy with ugliness in my heart,
But I didn't know fixing it meant tearing it apart.


You know my weakness has always been trust
And that being physically strong was always a must.
You challenged them both at the same time.
Is it because you lovingly want my faith to be sublime?


On every level I'm broken to pieces,
And at times my fear never ceases.
I have such an ache to flail and take back control,
But your voice inside me says that will never make me whole.
With limited understanding I'd only recreate what I already knew
Instead of the masterpiece you so lovingly and wisely know to be true.
My question, God, is not, “Are you here; where could you be?”
But instead, “How does this journey end; where are you taking me?”


How do I let go of all security, every safety net?
How do I find freedom in peace during continuous threat?
So here I go – holding only onto hope and doing something I've never done.
I'll clinch onto trust in you and believe I'm truly your loved one.


If that is the only true answer I ever receive,
I want to be content in your power and to that only cleave.
The devil tells me it's not enough
But here and now I'm calling his bluff!

Thank you all for your love and support.  I count on your continued prayers because they mean everything to me!

Jessica

She Ponders

Here is the latest question Aaris pondered and asked me about:

"When God has you does He leave you alone?"

What?!?!  Then she explained:  "Mom, you said that when the devil has you he leaves you alone because you are already doing all the wrong things he likes you to be doing.  He really only bothers you and comes after you when you start to do good things for God.  So, when God has you and you are doing the things He likes you to be doing does he leave you alone?" 

I only hope I answered it correctly.  I don't remember what I said.

Then there is the observation she pointed out tonight with me:

I told her how happy I was that God made her so special and I am so excited about all the people that are going to learn about God and Jesus because of her.  She said, "Yes, God knew I was going to be special when I was just an egg inside of you."

That girl makes me smile.

Three Years and Running

No joke.  This is how every single prayer, of every single day has started for Titus over the past three years:

"Dear God, Thank you for some yummy food to eat.  And thank you for..."

2nd Annual Enchanted Rock Camping Trip

     Just like last year, we went camping at Enchanted Rock the first weekend in May.  The kids completely remembered the trip from the year before and were over the top excited to go.  Skylyn did not go, but this will be the last time that is the case.  Titus loves EVERYTHING about camping...even the parts that I don't like.  I don't like the set up of things, but Titus is on cloud nine setting up the campsite with his daddy, AND he is truly a big help.  After we set up camp we walked in the creek, played on the playground, started the fire, cooked our hot dogs for dinner and smores for desert.  After we got the kids to bed Aaron and I stayed up sitting by the fire talking.  All of the sudden Aaron gets a serious look on his face and just says "Oh - my - goodness!" and stares right over my shoulder.  I was terrified that there was a huge spider or snake about to come down on top of me.  But, no, it was a skunk!  Yes! It was about 4 feet from me.  Thank goodness it walked up to our campsite, didn't find any immediate food and turned and walked away.

     The weather was perfect both days and during the night.  We woke up and enjoyed a fire again and also cooked some eggs and bacon over it.  After we got a full tummy we packed up camp.  By then, it was clear blue skies and perfectly warm.  We started our hike.  This year Aaris actually ran up most of Enchanted Rock.  On the other hand, Titus insisted on holding my hand because he thought he may fall down the hill.  Of course our kids favorite part was again the caves.  Titus and Aaris fit into places I couldn't go, but were confident enough to not have any problems.  But, when Aaron started to take Aaris up on the top of the boulders, Titus and I, both being very clumsy, opted to not kill ourselves, so we went back down, closer to the ground for some more cave exploring.  Titus became my photographer and did a very good job.  After we descended we drove into Fredericksburg and had lunch at our favorite restaurant, Hondos.  It was once again a great family memory!

First Annual Mother/Daughter Banquet

The first weekend in May Aaris and I attended our church's Mother/Daughter banquet.  It was catered by Kerby Lane and they made their famous pancakes for us.  YUM!  The tables were decorated so beautifully.  One of Aaris's many precious friends at church, Sarah Poppe, set at our table and made the event even more memorable.  We were provided fun activities to do like princess identification games, 'How well do you know your mother/daughter' questionnaires, and conversation 'get to know each other better' flip cards.    My favorite part was getting to honor what I loved about Aaris and what she loved about me on the microphone to everyone.  Oh, how I want to shout my love for her to the world and let everyone know how privileged I am that God made me her mommy!