Easter

Happy Easter! As Christians we all know the amazing significance of Easter but I think it's very easy in the mist of all the preparations of the holiday to slide over what an awesome hope we have in Christ. I have been able to "meet" some amazing people through reading their stories on their blogs and two couples through very heart breaking events have reminded me again of the hope the resurrection brings. Both of theses couples have just recently lost babies. One was only alive for a couple of minutes after birth and the other lived for 9 weeks. Though they are very open about their pain and difficult days, they are also very quick to say that because Christ died and was raised again they too can have confidence that their sweet baby boys have been raised to life as well. To think if Christ never came out of that tomb we would have no hope. That's what the resurrection is all about.....hope! This life can be very difficult but I am so thankful we do have the hope of being with Christ forever, the hope of never being sick or having sorrow, the hope of seeing loved ones who have gone Home and even the hope to over come life's trails here on earth.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

I know the hope Christ brings is what those two couples are clinging too during this very hard time. If you would like to visit their blogs and read some amazing testimonies here are their addresses- http://mnssams.blogspot.com/ , http://thestanfieldjourney.blogspot.com/.

We did enjoy the day watching Faith do her first Easter egg hunt. We had to show her the process of picking the egg up and putting it in her basket but she got it figured out very quickly and from there she was on a roll.

I love hunting eggs!

She was just happy picking up the eggs but then she found out they had goodies inside and that just put the icing on the cake


We didn't get her a big enough basket so her eggs kept falling out so she ended up picking them up again & again & again

Love my Aunt Callie

Stuffing her mouth with the yummy candy

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Heb. 11:1

For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Ear Wax Contest!

Callie has been getting over the sinus junk that has been going around. Although she is feeling better it left her with a clogged ear so we thought we would try a natural method that my mom use to do on my brother when he got ear infections. I know it might sound crazy but "Ear Candles" are great, they really do work! After doing one on Callie and seeing just how much wax it pulled out (by the way, Callie was able to hear much better after it removed the excess wax), we began to wonder how much "extra" wax was building up in our own ears. So......we thought we would have a Ear Wax Contest!

Just to give you a little info about ear candles before we start.....

*It does not hurt to do one, even though some smoke comes out of your ear

*Make sure you have a tin pan or something to let the burnt candle fall into or you might start a fire. That is also why we are wearing wet towels over our heads, you wouldn't want to have your hair catch on fire.

*You just gently place the tip of the candle in your ear and let the fire burn done till there is about 4 inches left.

*The fun part is pealing the candle to see what all it pulled out inside your ear.

Starting us off is Jason........

I'm next in line

Callie finishes it off

And the winner is................Callie!

(She was kind of cheating because she has been sick so she had more wax build up)

I would have loved to show you the wonderful wax that came out but I thought that might be a little much. =)

Helping Mama

There are just some moments that you never want to forget. Children can touch the heart sometimes like no one else can. Faith did a simple thing for me the other day but she doesn't know it made me feel like the most loved person in the world.

I was having a coughing spell (not unusual) and she came over and brought me a Kleenex. She has seen Jason & Callie bring me them whenever I start to cough and I guess she just thought she knew what mama needed. You never knew an 18 month old could help out in such a big way. I remember tearing up and thanking God for bringing me such a sweet helper, baby girl. It's the simple things in life that can take our breath away.

It's never easy letting go.....

We have been heading off to the park more recently since we have had some beautiful days. Faith LOVES to be outside and slides are her favorite. The letting go and going down her self has not been mastered but daddy and mama are always there to cheer her on and give her a little push if need be. 1.....2......3.....GO!!!

She is just happy to sit at the top of the slide all day long

Living on the Receiving End

Asking for help has never been my specialty but I guess the Lord thought I needed to learn what it was like to be on the receiving end.

It's hard at times for me to accept the limitations due to my CF . I will push myself to the limit before resigning and this last year and a half have been challenging in many ways but the most frustrating is having to accept the fact that I can not do certain things anymore. Therefore my need for physical support and help have greatly increased. Being young but feeling like you have a 100 year old body causes conflicting emotions. Most CF people I know try to blend in the best they can with their disease and I am no exception. (Not going to tell you the tricks I use to accomplish this task, hehe) However, I have not being able to "hide" as many things anymore from the public and God has humbled me in many ways. The first time I went out in public with my O2 was like going on a first date knowing you had this HUGE zit on your face! Of course, hoping your date won't notice and hoping even more he won't say anything about it, you go anyway because there is nothing you can do about it. I get the normal looks and you can see the question on their face," Why is such a young woman wearing oxygen? I wonder what her story is?" That is just one example of the changes my health has brought this last year, but with that said I am thankful to have had the support from family and friends during these times.

God allows us seasons to give, bless others (that's my favorite season) but then He also allows us the opportunity to be blessed by others and to receive support when we need it most. I still tend to get frustrated when I can't physically help others right now but I just pray the Lord will give me the opportunity to give back to all who have blessed me and my family in so many ways during this time. I am once again struck with the reality of what I am waiting for, and that is waiting to receive new lungs. A humbling thought to think someones family who don't know you will give you the gift of a second chance at life. Isn't that the same amazing picture of what Christ did for us on the cross. Before we ever knew Christ or knew we needed saving He made the choice to give up His Son so that we might have life. So, whether it's needing oxygen, cleaning my house, going to the store, helping with Faith, accepting Christ as my Savior, or just daily strength from the Lord to fight today, I am on the receiving end in every aspect I can think of. However small it may seem I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has helped us-

THANK YOU!!!

~For all the meals we have received

~The ladies who cleaned my house

~Have sent flowers and cards

~For the anonymous card that would come with money

~Helping out with Faith

~Sitting with us in the ER and visiting us in the hospital

~Phone calls & e-mails

~And of course your on going prayers and love

It has all been greatly appreciated! As I continue to learn more of what it means to be on the receiving end I do know that God has a purpose for every season of life I go through and I hope not to miss what He longs to show me through this time.

Baby Sign Language

Faith and I have enjoyed learning "baby sign language." For those of you are not familiar with baby sign language, it is form of signing that you can teach babies (as early as 9 months) to help them communicate before they can talk. You always speak the word that you are signing so they know what it sounds like but babies are able to make signs for things quicker then speaking them. My mom thought it was a funny idea but she has been surprised at how well it really works! It has helped us communicate easier with her and it's been fun to learn together. Here is a very close up video of Faith doing some of her signs.

So sweet

She likes to do the open mouth poses

Chevy trucks....there's nothing better!

I get asked quite often what keeps Jason busy these days besides caring for his girls and so I thought I would show you what is keeping him occupied and probably sane living with 4 girls (including Annie, Callie's dog). Jason's love (besides me) and hobby is restoring old trucks. He would want me to make it very clear he is a Chevy (GMC) guy only! NO Fords! Right now he is working on a 1971 GMC Jimmy. This is his second vehicle to restore and I have to say he does an amazing job. As you can tell he just painted his engine orange, which I have learned is called "Chevy Orange" and that is what the manufactures painted the engines in the 60s. It still has a long way to go but he has made some good progress since he has been home. It just needs the 2 ingredients that every hobby calls for, time and money.

Good job Jay!

5 Years

On February 15, 2003 Jason & I were married! It's amazing the journey that begins when God brings two people together. I think we both would say our journey of 5 years so far has been full of fun, challenges, surprises, laughter, & tears. To recap some of our memories we will never forget are-

*Coming home from our honeymoon and finding out Jason's friend's daughter (8 months old) was dying. We were thankful to be with them as she went home to be with the Lord. We will never forget you, sweet Ansley.

*Living with Jason's sister, husband and their son for a couple of months when we were first married (Thank You)

*Having 4 job changes within CFA

*Moving 3 times (Moving isn't my thing)

*Being there for my sister as she went through brain surgery to remove a tumor (Praise the Lord He brought her through it and she has been cancer free for 4 years!)

*Moving out to AL, away from everything I've known. (Now that was an advanture traveling here. We looked like the hill billies moving in with our 4 car carivan)

*Having to change my health care when we moved. It might not be a big deal for most people but for me with my health and being use to the same medical care all my life it was a little scary. Thankfully the Lord provided as He always does and I have had a great experience with the health care here.

*Finding out we were pregnant!

*The miracle of having Faith

*Going through the lung transplant evaluation again (once in Dallas)

*Finding out we will be moving back to TX

*Waiting for new lungs

A lot has changed since we began our lives together 5 years ago but one thing has not changed and that is being very happy and thankful I was able to marry Jason!

We enjoyed a night out on the town to celebrate our anniversary

and we ended it with going to the movies in our pj's!

"This is my lover, this is my friend." Song of Songs 5:16

Beautiful in Red

I was given these winter accessories from my mother in-law but Faith thought they would look better on her. Of course, I won't disagree they do look quite cute on her. It's amazing how little girls love to dress up at such an early age.

Don't I look beautiful?

Love, Hearts, Flowers, & Big Monkeys!

Holidays always tend to be a big deal at our house and this year was no execption. (Holidays seem to be more fun when you have little ones around) We gave Faith a big stuffed monkey for Valentines Day and well....I'll let you see how she liked it.

I love it!

Of course the monkey had to be in the picture

Lot's of Hugs!