Tag: Kids

A surprise

The night before my surgery my sweet Paisley asked if I could still hug her the day after my surgery. And I said “of course, maybe not tomorrow but the next day for sure.” My surgery was March 23rd and here it is April 2nd and I haven’t seen my babies once. Because of COVID-19 the kids aren’t allowed to be in the hospital. Today my husband came to visit and brought me outside for some fresh air. He surprised me with my sweet kids. It did my heart so good to spend these precious moments with my kids

My little Preston didn’t want to let go. I wanted to hug him so badly with both arms.
It just feels so amazing to have them with me

My sweet Paisley

This is so devastating to be away from my kids. To have no end on site of when I can go home to them. To have no idea what being at home will look like when I finally get to go….. but I am so thankful for technology, for the ability to “play” with my girl through the phone….. so so fun!

Sunshine, sand and friendship

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I have always been blessed with amazing friends. Friends that I can call on at any moment, to pray with, laugh with, and encourage. Friends who help grow me as a Christian, as a mom, as a wife, as a nurse, and as a person. The biggest thing I was worried about when we left Massachusetts was that I wouldn’t be able to have friends the way I had up north. I didn’t know if I would be able to connect heart to heart with new people.

But as usual God blessed me beyond measure. I am so thankful for my friends. For the opportunity to learn about God and being wives, and mothers together. I am so so blessed. These ladies are my life line in this life. The joy and laughter they have brought to us is indescribable. . The encouragement and prayer times are incredible . It is more than I could ask for. They are truly my sisters.

Crusaders for Christ Camp

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didn’t even know what to do with myself this week. My children were blessed by our church, and were able to go to summer camp this year. They had never been to camp before. Sending them was a little nerve racking but I knew that they would encounter God in a different way. And they sure did!!!! The three younger kids went. Sam will go next week. The girls were together and Preston was with our small group leader from our church so he was with people he knew.

Each day the kids has praise and worship, times to pray for each other and others. They raised their hands and they praised God! This just blesses my heart to no end. Knowing that my children are “getting it”. Getting that God is not religion, that God is life, God is love, God is relationship. Blessed so blessed that they got to go.

At the closing service the children who had made a profession of faith or who had made a promise to rededicate their lives to Christ were invited to write their names on the cross

There was typical camp stuff as well. Swimming, horse back riding, crafts, hiking etc. They had a wonderful time.

The End of another year

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cannot believe we have completed another year of school. This year has been one of many challenges for our family. Financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually God has really met our needs. I cannot say that things have been easy or that we have always been happy and focused on the knowledge that God would meet the need when it was needed. But HE DID! This year for me I struggled so much with the finances. Having chronically ill children has put such a tremendous financial burden on our family. But God!!! That is all I can say! When I couldn’t figure it out He did. When I lost my hope He gave it back, when I felt like I was too tired and couldn’t work one more extra shift, and not sleep, He gave me what I needed to press on. And here we are these beauties of mine had a great year, well to be honest this year was a challenge for Sam, but he did it and did well, and God blessed him with some good friends, which was so needed.
Sam survived his first year of middle school. I can say it was as bad as I feared unfortunately. And the terrible thing is that it wasn’t about the kids that made it bad, it was the teachers. Sam is an incredible student and he made superintendents list all year (>95 in all classes) in honors classes. But there were two teachers that were just terrible to him. And it broke my heart. I might have unleased momma bear on one of them …. things improved after that. But Sam has struggled more this year with fatigue and stamina so as he is aging the medical is starting to play a bigger role in his life again.
Sophia finished the fourth grade with a great group of friends, with great grades, and with lots of excitement about being the oldest in the school in the fall! She continues to thrive and be social and make friends so easily. She is athletic and funny and loving. God is molding her into an incredible young lady.
My sweet little Preston really found himself this year. He struggled so much in kindergarden and I was so worried that this would be a terrible year. But God grew him so much and he thrived this year. He has surpassed grade level expectations and did amazing. He still fatigues easily and struggles when his immune system is down, but he did it and I am so proud.
My littlest love started Pre-K this year. She was so ready to be a “big kid” and go to school. We were so blessed to send her to a school where the principal and many of the staff were believers and weren’t afraid at all to share it with the students. I remember the first day walking into the school (public)_ and being over the moon excited to see scripture and Christian beliefs displayed. Paisley became such a compassionate child this year. She experienced being on the other side of being sick. There was a child in her class who had had a stroke and was in a wheelchair, she always helped him. Several teachers on several occasions reported that she helped whenever someone was hurt or sick or needed help. It blesses my heart so much to know this.
I look at these kids with such awe. I still cannot believe that I have been chosen to be there momma. How did God choose me? Yes these days can be so long and so exhausting but more than that they are a blessing, it is a blessing to watch what God has planned for these four incredible kids! I cannot wait for the fun summer adventures. The time that I get to love on my babies, in a hopefully less busy schedule. HAPPY SUMMER 2018!!!!!

My Happy Place

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e have the privilege of having babysitters that love our kids like they are apart of their family. The Creech family, has loved on us basically since we moved to North Carolina. Even when Matt was still up in Massachusetts they went out of their way to love on our family. Well their oldest Morgan celebrated her birthday the other day at the farm where she works. We had so much fun! My girls are truly animal lovers, and are thrilled whenever they get the opportunity to be around animals. We had so much fun. The farm is a rescue for animals that may have been bought by families who have decided they are no longer wanted, or animals that need some extra TLC. Yes that is a baby kangaroo!!! He is the sweetest and I can’t even begin to tell you how soft his fur is. His name is Hamilton .

My Sweet Sophia Grace

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he day of your birth 10 years ago was one of such anxiety but also incredible beauty. You see I had already been in the hospital for several days by your birthday. I had been being monitored because of my liver as well as my blood pressure. That morning they had taken blood and noticed that my liver wasn’t functioning as it should, and they determined that I would have to have an emergency C-section that day, as you were also facing the wrong way, trying to come out feet first. I remember being so scared. I tried to call Meme’ but there was no answer. I then called grandpa, auntie Denise, Uncle DJ Uncle Dennis and Auntie Doreen. But no one was answering the phone! I was getting so upset because I needed to tell them you were coming.

What I didn’t know was that at that very time your grandpa was having a heart attack and that everyone was avoiding my phone calls so that they didn’t have to tell me. They were protecting me from something that there was nothing that I could do to help. And so we called your auntie TeeTee to see if she could take Sam so that Daddy could come in the delivery room with me. I remember weeping for joy when you came out. You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. You had these beautiful chocolatey eyes and these perfect little pouty lips. You were seriously the most perfect gorgeous baby I had ever seen. And when you cried immediately after birth it truly was one of the most amazing days of my life. I was laying there waiting to hear you cry and you did. It was amazing!

And now you, my gorgeous girl are ten! I cannot even fathom that time is flying so quickly by. I look at the resilience you have, your zeal for life, the way you allow people to see your heart, your courage and energy and I cannot believe that you are mine. You have been such a blessing to me. I am so enjoying watching you grow up into the woman God wants you to be. My prayer is that 10 is a year in which you become so close to God and His will for your life. That you realize the incredible blessing and gift that you are. And that you know how much I love you!!!! Happy birthday BEAUTIFUL sweet compassionate creative smart hard working dedicated and talented little lady!!!!KODAK Digital Still Camera