Can't Not Remember

October 29, 2007 was the due date for our second son. I can't not remember this day, thinking of the boy I've not yet gotten to see or hold.




And yet this was just the sweetest day celebrating what IS seen--spending the day with the children, and then this evening our whole family went to the park / dog park together. When we first got there we released a blue balloon took a moment to remember our angel baby, and then went and had a blast! The weather was perfect and beautiful, and the kids and our dog Jack were delighted to run around. It was just the perfect evening.


Remembering isn't some black armband thing for me, but it is something I can't see not doing. To each his own, but for me, I choose to remember. Because remembering means hugging Trevor and Aila extra tight, spending a little extra time rocking with them at bedtime, and giving thanks to God that I get to SEE beauty for ashes and HOLD the oil and gladness instead of mourning and look into the face of redemption every single day.



And it means remembering I'm a mom of three.

Echo in Your Heart

Aila, let love and faithfulness never leave you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:3-6
I prayed these words over Aila even as a newborn--I'd just speak them over and over. She doesn't get it. Doesn't matter. I'll keep speaking because I know they'll echo in her little heart. His truth has a way of reverberating in our souls for days, weeks, months, and years, and I just can't wait to see her life unfold--a life that bears fruit of the truth we're trying to sow in her heart now.

More Pumpkin Patchin'

Today we went to Berry Patch with friends from our small group. We started out with donuts and then headed out for some free fall family fun. Can't beat that!

I know this look. It means, "Woman, put the camera away." :)

Birthday Presents and Coincidental Timing

Trevor had to read this to find out what his present was (We helped with the word "you"). See the video below. And yes, it is mostly because we'd like a bit more security after the cars were broken into this week. But anyway, he was SO excited--and THEN...

... here was the interesting timing: At that very moment, we saw a FedEx truck pull up outside. Trevor's eyes widened and he asked, "Is that my dog???" I said no, but then he said, "Yes, it is--there is a big dog on that FedEx truck! My new dog must be in there!"

Turns out that the FedEx driver was delivering a beautiful dollhouse my mom had sent to the kids. No dog!

So anyway, we are praying about finding the right dog for our family. One who will alert us if there is something going on that we should know about, one who will be gentle with the kids, one who doesn't mow through dog food, and one who is a good bit smaller than our previous pooches (who we loved, but I am looking for smaller this time around). So I told Trevor he could be in on the praying. So we've been looking every day--nothing in time for his birthday, but I think it will be good to have him praying with us about it.


Trevor also got some remote control cars from Pop & Essie and Mermaid, a Lightning McQueen shirt from the Maddens, and here he is zipping around on his Plasma Car he got from Mimi & Papa!

Happy Birthday, Trevor Samuel!

2:01 pm on October 24th. That's what time he was born, so I turned around and snapped this shot of Trevor at 2:01 pm today. He is so precious to me.

And today at the Pumpkin Patch I got Trevor a chili dog for lunch. He's never had one before, but he liked it--and I had to smile because I was eating a chili dog the moment I found out I was pregnant with Trevor. :)

Happy birthday, my dear one! May you continue to grown in the likeness of Jesus Christ!

Trevor's Birthday at School

On Thursday we took cupcakes in for Trevor's birthday at school. I know it seems like he goes to an all-boys school, but there actually are 4 girls in his class. They were all just sitting at the other table.
Mrs. Sandy is wonderful. We love Mrs. Robyn too, but she was out sick this day.

Saying the blessing (I'd point out that they don't have their eyes closed but neither did I as I was taking pictures during prayer!!!)

On a side note, I smiled when I saw this in the classroom. Truth, truth, truth. Love it. He's not always going to be surrounded by truth, so I'm thankful He's marinating in it now.

Your Works Are Wonderful

In honor of Trevor's birthday coming up this weekend, here's a post that is dear to my heart.

When I was 28 weeks pregnant with Trevor, I went and had one of those 3D/4D ultrasounds done. It nearly took my breath away to see how perfectly formed my child was, even 12 weeks before I'd hold him in my arms. It was like getting a glimpse of that "I knit you together in your mother's womb" process. Absolutely miraculous. We didn't even have Trevor's middle name picked out at this point (it's Samuel), didn't have the carseat installed or the nursery ready. We still had three months to go. And yet he was already Trevor, just in miniature form. Only a pound or two, but fully Trevor. Fingers, toes, ears and nose--all there.

Throughout my pregnancy I sang a Chris Tomlin song (but changed a few words):

"Indescribable, uncontainable,

You placed this child within me and You know him by name--

You are amazing, God!"

And You are. More and more I see Your mercies as his little life unfolds. His life is meant for Your purposes, Lord. His days are meant to bring You glory. Set him apart to do Your will.

Alternative to School Pictures

Okay, so maybe I'm cheap. But when I saw the prices for Trevor's school pictures, I nearly cried until I realized that I could go have his done at the Target studio for $3.99 a sheet (plus a free 8x10). So I sent back his proofs from the school photographer with a polite, "No, thank you!" and headed off to Target. I really like how his pic turned out. Plus as an added bonus I got Aila in a few shots, too. We haven't had pictures of Aila taken since March, nor Trevor since last Christmas, so it was fun to have a few taken today.

Goofballs!

Sweet kids. 90% of the time they really do like each other. :)

Kicking Off Birthday Week

Yesterday I turned the big 3-3. It was an absolutely beautiful day--perfect weather, a surprise dinner (I am still trying to upload the pic from dinner--the waitress took the pic on some strange mode and it won't upload--I've tried twice!!!) with Justin, Trevor, Aila, Tim, Briahnna, Jadyn and Isaiah, phone calls from family and friends--and then just to settle in at the end of the day at home with the family I love. A great day!

Justin made me a yummy chocolate cake, and Trevor wanted to take a pic of me with Aila and the cake. Just as he was going to snap the picture, Aila dove in for the frosting (hence the look on my face)...

Then Trevor dove in. And the result: My kids looked they had bizarre facial hair.

Psalm 139:13-16

"For You created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in Your book

before one of them came to be."

Up next in Birthday Week: Trevor's turning FOUR!

Fun, Freezing Weekend

Okay, so I have not yet thawed out from Saturday. A lot of fun--went to a "confusing" carnival with a lot of rules ("The rules help CONTROL the fun!" -Monica on Friends) and then the Taste of Acworth with the Villegas family (no camera, no pics--bummer!!). Then family time on Sunday. But it was so stinkin' cold out there this weekend that I had to turn on the heater, which I was determined not to do until November.

But when it's 58 in the house, you gotta cave.

Trevor asked for spikey hair for church, so we put some "jello" (gel) in his hair. It's getting really long, and Lord help him, it's really curly.

Oh my goodness, Brrrr!!!!

Hey, Macarena (Ay)!

No, it's not 1996 all over again, when a huge dance craze was sweeping the nation. Actually, this would be pretty funny if this post had pics and/or videos of Justin doing the Macarena back in the day. No such luck.

Here are the kids getting Macarena lessons at the Children's Museum of Atlanta. Just thankful they weren't learning the Lambada. :)

Pigtails :)

It seemed the day might never come, but I discovered that Aila now has enough hair for little pigtails!

Not that she leaves them in for long....

I do realize that these I've got a lot to learn about doing a little girl's hair. The most I've ever had to do to Trevor's hair is buzz it about every 6 weeks.