Jamie's birthday celebration

We had some friends and family (well I guess they are all family, but also friends) come for supper. I had a very good evening. We had chicken, pork chops, burgers, hotdogs and salads for supper. (barbecued) Relaxed around a fire for a while, cousin Henry sang a few songs yet, kids played.... (you get the picture:) Blessed fellowship!

By now you can tell I like taking pictures, I'm sure!

Jamie's Birthday

That's my boy! 11 years old. He had a good day I think. Him and Anthony went fishing with their dad. We bought him a basketball, 2 t-shirts and that hat. Tomorrow a few friends are coming for barbecue.

I am so grateful that Jamie is doing so well! He too, was born with a heart defect, but is doing great now!! The day I found out about his heart, I wrote a poem, a prayer really asking God to let us keep him. God answered that prayer. I don't have enough time to type out the poem now, but maybe I will share it tomorrow if I get a chance.

Thank you Lord for your goodness and mercy! I praise you for you are an awesome God!

Our baby would have been eight...

Eight years ago yesterday our baby David was born. It's hard to believe that it has been 8 years! In this picture I had just bathed him and I remember how he watched me so closely! He had hypoplastic left heart and passed away on the 15th, 2 days later at midnight. The 15th which is tomorrow is also our other son (Jamie's) 11th birthday. We plan to celebrate that as a gift from God but will also remember everything that happened 8 years ago. He was a beautiful healthy looking full term baby!

If you are wondering what hypoplastic left heart is, here is a place you can learn about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoplastic_left_heart_syndrome

Johnny is doing well at the time. He is on chemo and radiation now. So far he is doing okay with that. He cannot be at home yet but is often at the Ronald McDonald place near the hospital. We do not know how things will turn out in the long run, but just have to trust in God for all things. Johnny did tell me he has accepted Jesus as his savior so I just continue to pray for them.

Today was pretty exciting around here! We had gotten a pretty good deal at Walmart on a swing set, and we finished putting it together today. It was more complicated then we first thought it would be, but also a lot of fun! At first Art thought he could manage without the instructions but soon changed his mind.

So with me reading instructions, Jamie being a good handy man and Art the tool man we got the task accomplished!

The other children patiently wait for the completion of the big job.

Eating some munchies and playing their own little games.

Untill finally the job is complete and there isn't anything left to do except try it out!


Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

A Day Out

Saturday my sister Lisa and I took the kids to McDonalds and let them play there for a while. We got some pretty good pictures.

Don't these cousins look alike here?^


Well, That was fun!

Hi Aunty Lisa!

Ok guys, no speeding!

"Hey mom, could we move here?"

This is the life!

Can you tell who is peeking out?

And this is how a good aunt gets her nephew to want to go home!

And so we say our goodbyes!

Update on Johnny

Johnny did have his surgery on Thursday. The tumor was bleeding too much and they were only able to remove 20% of it. He still has bleeding in his head and they are draining the blood with a tube coming out of his head. He is not moving his right side at all so far. This could be because of the swelling in his head, noone is sure yet. Right now we just have to wait, noone knows the next step yet. That is the physical part of it.
Spiritually~ Parents really need prayer. May they see God for who he is.

Our nephew has a brain tumor!

A few weeks ago as 12 year old Johnny was getting ready to go with his parents to buy a birthday cake for him, he suddenly fell backwards and had a seizure. He was rushed to the hospital, but sent home shortly after being told he was fine.
His parents were not convinced that he was ok and he was different after that. One dr.decided to do a cat scan and found a tumor about the size of a golf ball near the memory part of his brain! He was again rushed to the hospital, put on medication and more test were done.
This was last Wednesday. Thursday morning it was decided that he could go home and come back after Easter. Surgery was set for Thursday.
By Sat. a day before Easter he got very sick, vomitting, headaches....and they took him back. he is still there on meds. and surgery will still be this coming Thursday as far as we all know now. It will be a long and risky surgery. They will only be able to remove part of the tumor by the sounds of things, and he will have kemo therapy yet.
Once they have removed it we will also find out if it is cancerous.
Please pray for Johnny. I will keep you all updated on his condition.
Thank you all!

Nancy

Winter Wonderland

We got so much snow this weekend! It was messy in a way but beautiful! I do however look forward to summer again! Things have been busy for me but a good busy I think. I don't even try blogging much because of our slow computer issues, which will change as soon as we get our tax refund, I hope!:) Jamie has been trying to do some research for a school project on the internet and it is pretty much impossible. So we need to do something about our dial up situation and get this thing cleaned out. Well I off to bed. Goodnight!

Praise the Lord for all He has done!

My Baby turned One!

Happy Birthday, Kati-Lyn!

One year old!

Update on Emily

Got Emily's problem figured out I think. The Dr said it is erythema multiforme which can even be a side affect from a cold. As long as her fever under control and her joints don't swell and become painful she will be fine, but to call him if that happened. The rash is not contagious....good thing!

health problem continues!

I couldn't get a very clear picture but this is what Emily's back now looks like. I am almost sure now that it is an allergic reaction to something. The only thing is we haven't used anything different then usual that I can think of. It gets better at times and then all of a sudden worste again. Is it possible that she would now all of a sudden would begin to be allergic to Honey Nut Cherios?
She doesn't really seem to be itchy though.

A Health Question

(click on picture to see larger image)

This morning our daughter started getting these weird red spots on her hands and feet and some on her leg. The inside of her hands and under her feet were very red too.It cleared up a bit during the day but now is worse again. She seemed ok though, (well not eating very well and a bit fussy at times)but now I was doing some research here and found that meningitis can have symptoms like this too. I'm waiting for my husband to get home from work now to see what he says. I would apreciate some help on this if anyone knows anything about it.

The Love of God

"Peace is not automatic. It is a gift of the grace of God. It comes when hearts are exposed to the love of Christ. But this always costs something. For the love of Christ was demonstrated through suffering and those who experience that love can never put it into practice without some cost."—Festo Kivengere

Who can describe the bond of God's love? Who is able to explain the majesty of its beauty? The height to which love leads is indescribable. … In love the master received us, Jesus Christ our Lord, in accordance with God's will gave his blood for us, and his flesh for our flesh, and his life for our lives."—Clement of Rome

Todays Thoughts

We received some news today that my cousins daughter in Mexico was killed last night. She was 14 years old. The last time I saw her was when she was 2 or 3. It really got me thinking about what is important! I look at my young daughters and I can't really imagine loosing them like that when they are 14! We don't know though when our life on earth will end or when someone we know will leave us. This is reality, it can happen to anyone at anytime. That is why I want to spend the time we have teaching our children about Jesus and praying for them that they will be servants of our Gracious, Loving, Justice Lord and Saviour. All that matters is eternity. Time here is so short compared to eternity! Treasures we lay up here will perish, but the treasures in heaven will last forever! (Something I need to remind myself of often!)

I have often wished, I could turn back time and redo some things, but you know what that isn't edifying the Lord at all. Instead I want to move forward and just serve Him where I am now! Thanks be to God for His mercy!

Muscle Daddy!

Art was trying to show the boys how strong he is! :) It was pretty funny!
Ok, the situation got a little lighter here, but the girls could not be left out you know!
This is what you call good times at our house! Hee hee!:0
A cheerful heart is good medicine

Fellowship So Sweet....

Right here in our own home. Children are such a blessing! I have enjoyed them so much the last while. Well, I always enjoyed them but for a while now I have really thought about how they are part of the fellowship God has for us. My little friends!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3).

A Poem Written By A Friend

A friend of mine wrote this poem for her mom on her own birthday. I thought it was so nice, I asked her if I could post it here. So In Loving Memory of a wonderful lady , who did a great job raising her daughter!

Many years ago, on this very day,

The doctor put me in your arms to stay.

A part of your life, from the start,

A part of your smile, part of your heart.

Even though you're in Heaven now,

Our Father above is showing me how

To live my life without you here;

Each and every memory I hold dear.

Mom, I want to thank you from my heart.

Without you, my life couldn't start.

Through thick and think, your love was there,

And even now, I feel you care.

Thank you , Mom, for who you were.

You left a huge imprint, for sure.

Thank you, Mom, for your heart;

From it, I will never part.

By Becky Oreilly

and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Lord I Need You

LORD, I'M GOING TO NEED YOU

TO GET ME THROUGH THIS DAY

YOU HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED ME

AND HELPED ME TO FIND A WAY

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN MY FORTRESS

THERE I CAN GO AND HIDE

WHEN THIS LIFE GETS TOO TOUGH

YOU'RE ALWAYS BY MY SIDE

YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE TO LISTEN

EVERY TIME THAT I PRAY

AND I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE

EACH AND EVERYDAY

LORD I AM SO GRATEFUL

THAT YOU LOVE ME SO

AND I'LL ALWAYS PRAISE YOU

WHEREVER THAT I GO

Copyright: Jeffrey Paul Guest

Mexican Chicken and Rice

I tried this recipy today and thought it was really good!

ingredients:

2 lb chicken

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 green pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. seasoning salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 c. chicken broth

1 c. salsa

1(8oz.)can corn, drained

1 1/2 uncooked instant rice

1 c. shredded marble cheese(optional)

directions:

In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil untill its no longer pink. Add the pepper and onions and cook untill tender. Then add the corn, broth, salsa, salt, seasoning salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand about 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Sprinkle with cheese if desired. Let stand for a few minutes or untill cheese is melted.

Happy Birthday , Anthony!

2002
2008
We had a special day with Anthony! Time goes by so fast. I am learning to cherish the moments we have, for they don't last long!
Hard to believe how big he is now. I should try wrapping him in a blanket again!:)
I put up pictures of him that we had taken through the years. It was pretty neat!
So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psa 90:12

Ahhh! 11 Months Old Today....

Kati-Lyn Marie

I can't believe she is growing up so fast.By the looks of it she can't believe it either! Believe it or not though, she was simply yawning. She is taking a few steps and saying a few words too. Only has 2 teeth so far.

All tired out after another full day!

Anthony Loves Jesus!

This evening Jamie started talking about things that scared him. I encouraged him to trust in Jesus and that we are safe . Well this led to so many questions and topics about God, I wouldn't know where to begin to tell you all the details! One of the things the boys started talking about was their 2 brothers that went to heaven. They wondered what they were doing in heaven and so on. Anthony said he wanted to go to heaven one day too, but not without us . He said we should all go at the same time.
He then started asking me about how we can go to heaven and not to a bad place. I asked him if he thought he was good enough to go to heaven and at first he said yep! I'm always good. So I asked him if he never fought with his brother, or lost his temper... things like that. He wasn't so convinced anymore that he was good enough! So I explained to him that we all had sin in our hearts, and that was why Jesus died for our sins, to wash us from our sin. We had talked about this before and he had said before that he wanted Jesus to be his saviour, but today it really sunk in and he understood why Jesus was his savior, and he wanted Jesus to be in his heart! He loves Jesus and wants to serve him and tell people all about him he said. This is the most important thing in life and so precious in children!
I pray for our kids that God will direct their paths and that they will all serve our Lord throughout their life!

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

~Nancy~

Our Snow is Back!

Kids enjoyed playing in the snow again. Wish I wasn't allergic to the cold!:) One day I'm going to go get myself more warmer clothes.
We had a very good day today. I had a burst of energy it seemed and caught up on a few things that were behind. School went great too. The boys are both doing well with most their work! Anthony is reading quite well already. I think he'll be able to read almost everything before he even gets to grade one. Emily is not in school yet but she always wants to join in with the boys.
Sunday is anthony's birthday, so I am preparing to have a few people over to celebrate with us. (He is turning 6!) Time really does fly!

~Nancy~

A Kodak Moment!

I put Kati-Lyn down for a nap before and when I went to check on her, this is how she had fallen asleep! It was so cute, had to take a picture! She is so cuddly! The joys of motherhood are great!

2008 is here!!

CHRISTMAS 2007

As you can see , I have been very slow with posting. My computer time is very limited. We had a good Christmas and 2008 is here, well on the way again! There have been challenges lately, but I have much to be thankful for! With the challenges we learn and grow in our walk with God. Dwelling on what is behind us and the things that can't be changed doesn't do anyone any good. So I will try to take things one day at a time and I ask God to give me wisdom for the things still to come.

I would like to get back into writing more again. Writing is one of my favourite things to do, but there are a few other priorities that come first.