Sunday, May 27, 2007

Photos by Bre

Bre took these at lunch yesterday....
Bre reports that the common feeling among MC students is that Mike is intimidating.....what? I have no trouble with him at all. ::snort::

A Letter from Bre

From Bre's My Space...Bre has written letters on each of the younger ones birth days for their "baby book" - which I never compile. ::snort::

To an unborn child...a tribute to my miscarried brothers & sisters

May 24, 2007
Dear Little One:

In a way it is ironic that I call you "little one" as if I am wiser than you. Already I am sure you have more wisdom than I will ever acquire in this life as you are in the presence of God. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Prov 9:10) "By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding He set the heaven's in place; by His knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop their dew." (Prov 3:19-20) However, to me you will always be the baby I never got to hold, the soul I never got to know, the life that seemingly never blossomed.

I take comfort in the fact that you will never know the pain of stubbing your toe, breaking your arm, or spraining your ankle. You will never fear frost bite or catching a fever. You will never know sorrow, betrayal, or a broken heart. However, it seems to me that you will miss out on so much of life. You never even drew in a breath of air.

It seems senseless. Why are other people who will not care for their children, who will abuse and scar their children, given children? While my parents (who have proven themselves good stewards of the children they have received) and my family (who already love you) lose a child. Why? Why does God give life only to take it away before you even had a chance to see the morning? But who am I to make this judgment call…I who does not see things as the Sustainer of the Universe sees? God's timing is perfect. He knew the perfect amount of days for you. "The days of the blameless are known to the Lord," (Prov 37:18a) God knew these days and I believe these are the days you were meant to have. I do believe that life begins at conception, that you have a soul that now resides in heaven. I also believe that every life has a purpose and that God's purpose for that life will prevail. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Prov 19:21) You may have never received a name to be known by, but your legacy lives on in the testimony of those who were touched by you life and death. It lives on in the hearts of those of us who were brought to a new place of trusting God because of your existence. You are a gift that we never got to hold in our arms, but that we will always hold in our hearts. I love you.

~Bre

To those of you who have not yet received word: my family is mourning the loss of the child that was to be born this December. Watching my parents is baffling. They have such faith, such trust in God, such submission despite the way their hearts are breaking and Mom's body is feeling. Surely this is the result of the maturity that comes from walking with the Lord for many years. They continue to choose joy and thank the Lord for the blessings He has sent. Please pray for them and for all of our siblings as we walk through this.

Life is precious and none of us know how many days we are really given.

What am I doing with these days I have?

Saturday, May 26, 2007

When He is Out, He is Out...

One Tired Little Trooper...

Flippy boy

Who Knew?
Krista and Zander on the trampoline....
Who knew Zander could do this?????

Saturday

We've decided to celebrate all 5 boys' birthdays tomorrow. Their birthdays are Jan 4th, Feb 8, 9, 11, and 20th. They elected not to celebrate while Mike was deployed and we've not gotten around to it YET......SO....tomorrow is contingency Sunday on base. No chapel personnel go in - to see what would happen if all were suddenly deployed.

We're going to open gifts, go out to eat, party, and then take the girls to the airport.

Today Mike, the girls and I went out to lunch. We checked at Lowes for a screen door...didn't buy one. Then the girls and I went shopping for boy's gifts. Mike ended up finishing up as I simply wore out. I came home and rested. He took the girls to more stores.

We had a family memorial service today for our babies. Maybe I'll write more on that later, maybe I won't.

We came home and wrapped gifts.....well the kids and I did. Mike and Jared made butter, ice cream, and then turned that ice cream into an ice cream cake for tomorrow's celebration.

Stacia thinks the toys are all going to be for her....

It looks like Christmas around here....


Spikey Guy

Zander amused us with a story. It seems he has a t-rex (his red trike). It behaves. It is now Stacia's bike.


BUT....
He has a new green bike that is called Spikey Guy. This Spikey Guy has a "bad attitude". It rides up and down the alley when it is not supposed to and Zander screams "No, don't go out there, Mom doesn't want you riding out here".......but the Spikey Guy just doesn't listen and rides Zander out there anyway.

Hmmmm......

Bowling

We went bowling last Sunday with the Chapel RE. The photos are dark but I want to share them anyway.....Melanie's advice to scrap during this time of loss was SO good - but I don't have the energy to sit up and scrap.....so I'm putting photos on the blog. LOL

The base bowling ally has installed love seats and coffee tables...pretty cushy.
Nolan
Jared
Josiah
Bre and Stacia clap for all