Thursday, December 29, 2011

Sorrowfully Joyful

My wife and I were asked how we were doing during the week my first son was born. The phrase, “wonderfully exhausted” came to mind. It best described the intensity of those first couple of days. David was 5 weeks premature and spent his precious first moments on this earth in the NICU at Swedish hospital. That first week I went through the darkest and greatest emotions as I helplessly watched my son struggle to adapt to living in this world. Both the joy of his arrival and the fear of losing him broke my spirit and brought me to my knees. It was at that moment my mortality hit me.


Dan was there in that moment for me. He rushed up to the hospital to be by my side and lend support to Donna and I. Here was a man that from an outsiders perspective was helpless and frail supporting me, but there was nothing helpless and frail about Dan. Although his body didn’t work like most of our, his passion and love for others and his LORD was stronger then anyone’s I’ve ever met. Like being “wonderfully exhausted” with the birth of my son I am “sorrowfully joyful” with the loss of Dan. Sorrow filled at not being able to hang out, talk with, watch movies, pray and just be with Dan and “joy filled” at having had those times with him and knowing that he is now with his LORD and savior Jesus Christ. I miss him so much. I am so blessed to have been able to have been loved on by him over the years and for him to have been around my family. Today on the celebration of Dan’s arrival in Glory I am “sorrowfully joyful”, still and will always be I think, having been able to have been able to call Dan my friend. Missing him terribly especially with the birth of my daughter, who Bob and Becky were the first outside of “blood family” to meet her in the NICU when she was born.

May the God who vibrantly lived in my friend Dan give you Love, Joy and Peace and may God comfort Dan’s family on this “sorrowfully joyful” day.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Happy Birthday, David!

Happy Birthday, David!

We have such a fun week celebrating our little man.
Dandad and Grandma Joy came up for a visit
and the boys had a blast with them,
of course!

We had David's party on Saturday;
his first party with "all my friends"!
(Thank you, cousin Austin for Mater and Red!
Wish you could have been with us!)

On Monday (his actual birthday)
we went to the "green park"
and to the "new McDonalds"
with "all my family"
(Mom, Dad, Liam, Grandma and Papa, Grandma Joy and Dandad!)





More than anything, he wanted
"Happy Birthday balloons"!
We had such a fun couple of days with our boys
and our parents!
We are so blessed to have our kids
grow up with 2 sets of loving grandparents!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Love My Life

The boys and I went for a walk today in the
BEAUTIFUL Colorado sunshine.
The boys had a blast climbing the rocks
and playing on the playground.

I just love this kid!
We realized just last week that he
is no longer a toddler.
No, we have a full fledged little boy
on our hands.
And couldn't be more excited as he explores
his world and learns more and more
every day!


Our little snuggler
(who also happens to always be eating!)
Another discovery: He's not a baby anymore.
He's a walking, talking (trying anyway)
almost running little man!
He LOVES reading books
and can say 'tractor'
thanks to Grandma Joy!
He hugs anything soft
and says "ahhhh"
as he does it!
It's the sweetest thing ever!



I couldn't ask for anything more.
I love my husband who is my very best friend and
am so enjoying this time in the boys' life.
Thank you, Jesus, for blessing us!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Grandma and Dandad's "Just Because" Visit!

(I won't even try to catch up the last few months....so we'll just start from here!)

Last week my parents came to visit and we had a WONDERFUL time! It was relaxing and they were able to just spend time with their 2 favorite little boys!!


Dandad took the boys for a train ride at the mall!

Liam at the zoo

Grandma and Dandad took the boys on a train ride at the zoo
(are we seeing a pattern!)

Grandma's punkin

Dandad's little man




Yes, we had to remind him more than once to not climb into the animal's home!



Grandma got a kick out of the boys in the "car cart"




I am so thankful my parents are able to come up every few months (or more often!) to be an intricate part of their grandsons' lives! David is already excited to see them again the middle of May for his birthday!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Cookies with the boys

I love staying home with my boys.

As a 'stay-at-home' mom, we find ourselves on the go quite often. And now that it is cold out most days, we can't just leave the house and go for walks around the lake to the cookie store or to the digger park. So we layer up and head to the 'train' mall to run around or to the 'puppy' mall to play in the indoor play area.

Every once in awhile, we actually do stay home.

So...

WE MAKE COOKIES

Just like their momma,
the boys love the dough!
My favorite picture of the boys!
Liam wanted to join in the fun
so I found my biggest cutting board
and made him a seat!
And Auntie Yo Yo perfectly called him 'hot buns!'

I think we are going to have more stay home days!