The Fullness of Joy

 "Then you will look and be radiant, 

your heart will throb and swell with joy."  

Isaiah 60:4-5

This is how I feel every time I pick up Si.  I mean that...literally every time I put my hands on him and look him in the face...I feel this way... exactly.  I thought what I was feeling was an overwhelming love.  Joy is so much better.  It describes it perfectly.  I'm doing a Beth Moore study on Tuesday mornings and this verse hit me.  I had to stop and thank God for revealing His Word too me.  I had, flippantly, told Rob that every time I pick up Si I have to tell him "I love you so much".  I didn't realize that God had given me more than love when He gave us Si, but He had given us this utterly, complete sense of JOY.  I feel it, Rob feels is.... our entire family feels it.  I'm so thankful for this gift.  For this Fruit of the Spirit that has been made so known to us.  This is the closest thing I've experienced to feeling how FREE Grace is and the fruits of the Spirit are.

I didn't ask for Si.  I'll confess that I was so unhappy when I found out I was pregnant.  I was selfish.  I was a hypocrite.  I had lost 3 babies and I can't believe the nerve I had to not want a pregnancy that God had given me.  But I didn't.  God went full force though.  I had never had my hormone numbers be so high as they were with Si.  I had low numbers with 5 of my other babies....losing 3 of them within the first 12 weeks.  Si's numbers soared.  I should have know that something great was coming.  But I continued to be down, to be self centered...I didn't want to be sick.  I didn't want it too be hard.  I had lost 3 babies... what would be one more.  It wouldn't be as hard as 9 months of pain and discomfort.  Satan really got a hold of me.  I'm so ashamed.  I look at this "Joy" that I've been given, despite myself.  I look at him and I feel my "heart throb and swell with joy".  I'm so thankful that I'm not in charge of my life.  I'm thankful that God knows what I need and what my family needs.  I'm thankful that God gives us these free gifts even when we whine and complain.  He knows me.  He knows I'm a sinner that loses my battles more often than I should.  He still gives freely.  He gives perfectly.

Beth Moore sited Psalm 30:11... "Joy Cometh".

Yes Joy cometh, but I'm thankful for the bits of Joy that are here already.  

Toe Grabber.

I always wanted a baby that grabbed their toes in pictures.  My very first client in Scottsdale, AZ was a toe grabber.  I thought that all babies did this for pictures.  If you put a baby on their back, then 

Wal-Law! Toes in Hand!  I was very mistaken.  I didn't have kids at this point.  I realized quickly that there are few kids that do this.  So I was always thankful for the "look at how cute my toes and little hands are" pose, when I got it.  To my dismay, not one of my 3 babies would grab anything!  

Imagine my surprise when my sweet baby Si grabbed is little toes....(my most favorite physical Down Syndrome characteristic, by the way... the toes, I mean)  So I am most happy to present Si's 8 month old photographs!  I did 8 months, instead of 9 because I was afraid I'd miss my toe to hand window of opportunity.  Enjoy my most exciting photographs yet of my Sweet Si.

And his official, "I'm totally sitting up now" shots.

Cowboy Seth.

We had a great time Saturday for Seth's Cowboy Party.  He had several friends and a couple family members join us for a morning of ropin' and ridin'.  There are also a few from our "family" party at Chuck E. Cheese.  

3 Years ago.

My answered prayer was born.  He was the sweetest baby boy I had ever seen.  My sweet Seth has has a crazier life than my other babies.   He was born 1 month early.  He was healthy, happy and sleepy.  I'm so proud of him and I know God has something special in store for him.  He has turned out to be a perfect big brother to Si and loves Ian and Lily with all his heart.

 I can't wait to see what his future holds for him.  My prayer for him is for God to help us continue to mold his strong will.  That he grows in stature and in mind.  I pray that he continues to be a thinker and uses his will and heart to serve God.  But mostly, that he grows more in love with Him everyday.  Happy 3rd Birthday, Robert Seth.

Montgomery Buddy Walk

Join Team Si for the 10th Annual Buddy Walk!

Saturday, October 12

Faulkner University

John Mark Stallings Football Field

9am-1pm

Rob and I are so excited for our family's first Buddy Walk.  Ian and Lily weren't excited about "walking" until they found out about the Bouncers, Food, Rock Wall, etc.  Now they are excited too.

Please join us, however you can, in supporting Down Syndrome Awareness and Inclusion.  Money raised also goes toward research and education programs.  There are several ways to be involved.

1. $14 to walk with Team Si on the 12th
-includes t-shirt
-entry into the field for the fun stuff

2. Pledge money on behalf of Team Si
-any amount

3. Become a sponsor of The Walk if you are a business owner
-minimum $500
-several opportunities to advertise your business.
(see the link above for details)

You can also come the day of the event and walk on for $10.  T-shirts may be available there but are limited.

We would love for you to be involved in any way possible.  Just comment on here if you have any questions.  Click on the link above to see more information or to see what the Montgomery Area Down Syndrome Outreach Group is doing in Alabama.

Click below to see the cutest Si in town.

They can't stand him.

Right.  Can you tell?  They think this baby can do no wrong.  I am tempted to agree, but have to keep my right mind.  He'll be trying to yell at me soon enough.

Si thinks they are pretty great too though.  I do believe that Seth is his favorite.  I can't wait till they are old enough to be buddies.  Although they will also be partners in crime.  :/

Great.

Family Time

It was good times in ole Springfield, Missouri.  Not only did we get to see all of our family, we also did a little site seeing.  It was nice to go to some old places from the past and also see some new additions to our home town.  The kids enjoyed themselves.  Rob and I saw several old friends.  Ian, Lily and Seth loved Silver Dollar City.  Si was spoiled by every member of my family.  So overall it was a great trip.