What have we been doing? Well... Henry has learned to climb the entire height of our garden fence. He is also learning several new words every day. Our teacher, Elizabeth, quizes him daily on new words and old words and gets very excited every time he says one correctly.
There are not enough mountain trails for Elizabeth to climb. After climbing Lazy, and both our legs shaking to the point we could hardly walk, she asked to climb another mountain. A true billy goat! She LOVES the library and the playgrounds around town. Anyone around her becomes a friend. One day she was playing tag with two girls at least double her age, and all were loving it. We have been dog sitting and playing with the neighbor dogs a lot lately and she LOVES it! The neighbors little weinerdoodle is her very favorite toy! I say poor dog! If and when we get a dog, it will be a very big dog that she cannot pick up and tote around.
We spent last Saturday at Colony Days parade and carnival. Both kids loved it! And Henry slept through the carnival rides, so Elizabeth was able to run around and enjoy them at her pace. There were two large inflatable rides she enjoyed the most, a big slide and an obstacle course. She always cut in line, and while most kids slowly bounced through the obstacle course she went through as fast as she could and then ran around to go again! She never waited in line for the slide (worst case of cutting ever!), and she passed all the kids climbing the ladder ahead of her. She's amazing! Then Henry woke up, we enjoyed some kettle corn and cotton candy and went home. She is still asking for the big slide!
I am trying to keep up with the weeding, feeding, watering, teaching, cooking, cleaning, you get the picture. But still making sure to take time to "Be still and know that I am God." This afternoon we played in the trees and grass by the library for a while, and played at the Amoosement park. While a bit crazy and busy sometimes, life is wonderful! (Will be better when J gets home in a week!) Henry's counts are normal, and he's growing like a weed!
There are more pictures from the parade I just have to find them on my computer. And buy a new card reader. It has been an eventful and fun summer thus far. We are praying for more fun and excitement! Such joy fills our home and our hearts most days. Every day we have to spend together and play and learn and grow is a bonus!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
It shall give you experience
Everyone faces trial, temptation, frustration, heartache, life; but not everyone is grateful for those experiences. While none of the above mentioned are a bucket of fun, they are, as the Lord promised, for our experience and our good. The trials we face can bring us closer to our Father in Heaven and if endured well, bring great joy. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma says "And now, my son Helaman, behold thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me (every parent/teachers plea); for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him , and he will still deliver me."
As the Prophet Joseph Smith sat in Liberty Jail, the Lord tells him this; "And if though shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good."
Again he says "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."
What a blessing it has been in my life to experience and endure trial with the Lords help. I am not boasting in my own strength, left to my own, I would not endure them very well (I am the worst complainer!). However, through the last few years I have learned to put my trust in the Lord, completely trusting in his will and what he has in store for me. And as I tried to completely trust, the Lord poured out his love and peace upon me. What seemed insurmountable at first, became manageable. The Lord has filled our lives with love and joy and I repeat what Alma says, "I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." I know because he carried me through and allowed me to learn and grow and draw nearer to him. I was too weak to face the trial alone, so he carried me through and not only carried me through but then blessed my family because we turned to him. The opportunity to learn and grow and draw near to the Lord cannot be accomplished any other way. He must test and try us, so that we have the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy. So that we may prove to the Lord that we love him and are willing to endure whatever comes.
I could not have endured sitting by my sons bedside, watching him endure great pain and continually fight for his life, with out the strength of my Savior, my Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. His mercy and love, his peace and comfort are the only thing that carried me through. He is the reason my son is here today, He is the reason I am able to be grateful for my trials and tribulations. Through Him all things are possible, all things can be endured, for he endured them all. He suffered ALL, so that he could comfort us in our trials and through our heartaches.
My neighbor asked if every day was like a bonus. Every day is a blessing. Every day I watch my son and my daughter grown and progress and I think to myself, I hope they know one day the Love the Lord poured out upon our family, I hope they know the miracles that have filled our lives. And I hope one day to teach them as Alma taught his son, to trust in the Lord with all their might, mind and strength.
I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him , and he will still deliver me."
As the Prophet Joseph Smith sat in Liberty Jail, the Lord tells him this; "And if though shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good."
Again he says "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."
What a blessing it has been in my life to experience and endure trial with the Lords help. I am not boasting in my own strength, left to my own, I would not endure them very well (I am the worst complainer!). However, through the last few years I have learned to put my trust in the Lord, completely trusting in his will and what he has in store for me. And as I tried to completely trust, the Lord poured out his love and peace upon me. What seemed insurmountable at first, became manageable. The Lord has filled our lives with love and joy and I repeat what Alma says, "I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." I know because he carried me through and allowed me to learn and grow and draw nearer to him. I was too weak to face the trial alone, so he carried me through and not only carried me through but then blessed my family because we turned to him. The opportunity to learn and grow and draw near to the Lord cannot be accomplished any other way. He must test and try us, so that we have the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy. So that we may prove to the Lord that we love him and are willing to endure whatever comes.
I could not have endured sitting by my sons bedside, watching him endure great pain and continually fight for his life, with out the strength of my Savior, my Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. His mercy and love, his peace and comfort are the only thing that carried me through. He is the reason my son is here today, He is the reason I am able to be grateful for my trials and tribulations. Through Him all things are possible, all things can be endured, for he endured them all. He suffered ALL, so that he could comfort us in our trials and through our heartaches.
My neighbor asked if every day was like a bonus. Every day is a blessing. Every day I watch my son and my daughter grown and progress and I think to myself, I hope they know one day the Love the Lord poured out upon our family, I hope they know the miracles that have filled our lives. And I hope one day to teach them as Alma taught his son, to trust in the Lord with all their might, mind and strength.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Pics as Promised
Our first trek up the Butte! Elizabeth and Henry did awesome! Henry climbed at least half by himself, and Elizabeth was so bothered by my slowness... that she was giving me "the look." It was sooo beautiful! I love Alaska!
Me and Henry at the top... Elizabeth refused to take a picture with us.. oh well.
Jumpin off the sand dunes at Jim Creek, this is our version of "the beach" or so Elizabeth calls it. And she loves it so much she asks to go back every day!
Sand everywhere.. in fact I think they both got mouth fulls at one point or another..
Henry didn't jump, but loved to start at the top and slide all the way down.. it was still 70 at least at 9pm on Memorial Day... and everyone was gone from Jim Creek by then. It was wonderful!
This is for J... he keeps asking how big the pigs are getting.. pictures don't quite capture it!
And this is my little "piggy sue". The one and only pig I have named, and the little pig that required me to give her the hymlic maneuver! Yes she was choking on a turkey dog...but we got it out and she's just fine and eating like crazy again! Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Summer Lovin'
For those of you who do not live in Alaska or have not been here during the month of May, let me just tell you...it's Heavenly! The best month of the year by far! Trees and flowers budding, planting and preparing gardens, hot weather and lots of good ol' sunshine!
I believe we are living in a period of bliss! The blessed life that follows great tribulation. I do not know how long this may last... but oh how wonderful life is! Henry continues to progress so much! Let me just recap for you...
Over New Years, Henry was in the PICU because he had fluid around his heart, a pericardial effusion.
February, Henry still had an NG tube in his nose and he didn't know how to eat on his own. Nor could he speak.
November, after being released from the hospital after what looked like serious sepsis, he was just learning how to scoot on the floor and could not stand on his own.
TODAY... Henry walks and climbs everything, eats anything you give him, he especially likes Mango Salsa, he's beginning to speak and best of all his blood counts are normal!
Consider if you will the beginning of his speaking life as Feb. Most children do not speak until the NG tube comes out, if they haven't already learned to talk. Bugs the vocal cords or something. Over the last few weeks he has progressed to saying "bubble", "turtle", "alligator", and much much more. We started using a website called starfall.com and it's wonderful. Both Henry and Elizabeth sit at the computer and learn letters and sounds and words. I think they will both be reading at the same time, or Henry will surpass Elizabeth. He's a sponge hungry to learn.
Elizabeth keeps our neighbors busy, rarely is there day that goes by when she isn't knocking on their door, questioning them about the mysteries of life. No they aren't kids, they are adults and she loves them SOOOOO much. Recently we purchased the movie "Matilda" and I'm concerned that one of these days she will provide me with adoption papers, asking to go live next door.
We have been so busy gardening and playing that we have rarely been indoors since our last post. We went to Jim Creek and played on the dunes and now Elizabeth asks daily to go back to the beach. OR to climb the mountain, a week or so ago we went and climbed the butte and then headed up to Hatchers and hiked the Mint Trail for a few miles. Elizabeth was not at all excited about flat trails, she simply wants to go UP the mountain.
We are beginning to see our seeds sprout and the miracle of growth. Our piggies are growing and being completely spoiled!
So much to write about, I know I should write more often... well pictures will be coming next and they are really fun! I do hope you all had a wonderful Memorial day, what a blessed land we live in, and how grateful I am for the men and women who serve every day to protect it!
I believe we are living in a period of bliss! The blessed life that follows great tribulation. I do not know how long this may last... but oh how wonderful life is! Henry continues to progress so much! Let me just recap for you...
Over New Years, Henry was in the PICU because he had fluid around his heart, a pericardial effusion.
February, Henry still had an NG tube in his nose and he didn't know how to eat on his own. Nor could he speak.
November, after being released from the hospital after what looked like serious sepsis, he was just learning how to scoot on the floor and could not stand on his own.
TODAY... Henry walks and climbs everything, eats anything you give him, he especially likes Mango Salsa, he's beginning to speak and best of all his blood counts are normal!
Consider if you will the beginning of his speaking life as Feb. Most children do not speak until the NG tube comes out, if they haven't already learned to talk. Bugs the vocal cords or something. Over the last few weeks he has progressed to saying "bubble", "turtle", "alligator", and much much more. We started using a website called starfall.com and it's wonderful. Both Henry and Elizabeth sit at the computer and learn letters and sounds and words. I think they will both be reading at the same time, or Henry will surpass Elizabeth. He's a sponge hungry to learn.
Elizabeth keeps our neighbors busy, rarely is there day that goes by when she isn't knocking on their door, questioning them about the mysteries of life. No they aren't kids, they are adults and she loves them SOOOOO much. Recently we purchased the movie "Matilda" and I'm concerned that one of these days she will provide me with adoption papers, asking to go live next door.
We have been so busy gardening and playing that we have rarely been indoors since our last post. We went to Jim Creek and played on the dunes and now Elizabeth asks daily to go back to the beach. OR to climb the mountain, a week or so ago we went and climbed the butte and then headed up to Hatchers and hiked the Mint Trail for a few miles. Elizabeth was not at all excited about flat trails, she simply wants to go UP the mountain.
We are beginning to see our seeds sprout and the miracle of growth. Our piggies are growing and being completely spoiled!
So much to write about, I know I should write more often... well pictures will be coming next and they are really fun! I do hope you all had a wonderful Memorial day, what a blessed land we live in, and how grateful I am for the men and women who serve every day to protect it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)