a little of everyday...

Since the weather has been warmer, we've seen some bees buzzing around.  Stella is terrified of them to the point where she'll make this odd scream/moan as if one has attacked her very soul.  So, I told her we were going to find some books on bees to learn more..which ones stung, etc.  Here's out little day of Bee school. :) 

stamping with a cup to make a beehive

learning all about bees from our library books...

the finished product :) I love Stella's stinger :)

Haven insisted on Popsicles and that's what we got- I think they were all pretty happy about her suggestion :)

 

Stella had her first dance pics..she was more than excited about wearing a little make-up!

 dancing...so sweet

a few days back, Stella wanted to write all the princess' names... the first one is "tiana princess" then she wrote "mom" on the next one and drew me a wand. :)  She's really  been working on drawing stars lately...I think she did pretty good :)



It's a little harder these days to get our little group together, but we pulled it off one afternoon last week and had the perfect time.  The weather was great, the sky was beautiful and there were just enough strawberries to fill our baskets....barely :)

the transformed snowman to the berryman :)

Stella worked hard and filled her basket up almost all by herself...Sawyer kind of wandered through the rows looking for something to eat :)

he'd pick a few every once in a while...

Happy May :)

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day was so sweet this year... the kids picked out what they wanted me to have and drew me pictures that I love.  (Stella picked out the bag :)

 

Here's Sawyer's drawing on the back of my card with a few nice things they said. :)

 

Of course, we are thankful with everything going on with Mom, that we could celebrate her!

  Another sweet mother to celebrate...Nena with Stella and Sawyer :)

Bruce had his surgery this past week and is recovering smoothly.  Thank you so much for your prayers!

random...

A few weeks back we headed to Discovery Place Kids...I couldn't believe I had waited to so long to go back.  I think Stella would've stayed at each station for at least 20 minutes.

Stella with Ariel :)

We were blessed to be given a new toy!!!  Stella and Sawyer love it...I do too :)

Stella was asleep one day, so Sawyer and I sat at the kitchen table ...I did some paperwork and this is what he worked on.  The was the first time he has actually sat and colored for a long period of time.  He carefully colored everything red, then got a little crazy with the black maker towards the end. I was so proud :)

another chapter in life...

I haven't let the blog world into what life has been like since January 29th of this year, but I thought I'd document to remind myself, how quickly life changes and to remind us all how great our God is.  Since that day, Mom was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.  Typing and even saying it, still seems like I'm telling a story. Since then, I've counted 18 doctor or hospital visits, including 2 surgeries. The doctor appointments came fast and everything was a blur, then all of sudden, words like lymph node study, calcification's, lumpectomy, TC chemo, TAC chemo, ductal carcinoma, etc. were a part of our everyday conversation.  A roller coaster of emotions is the easiest way to explain how we've felt through all of this.  Of course, at first, it's easy to question...why?...almost an empty feeling... what I've believed and trusted in has let me down.  But, through prayers and what I know is real, God reminds me in so many ways He loves us...Oh, how he loves us.  The words of Mom's songs have brought comfort, and what I knew was a great song, have become words to live by and to hang onto... even Stella goes around singing them.  "He is there, in the midst of your confusion, He is there, He sees your tears and hears your faintest prayer...when it seems you've been forsaken and life just isn't fair, don't be alarmed, rest in His arms...the great I am is there." 

I have a book with prayers along with scriptures related to specific needs...in times of doubt, in times of discouragement, etc.  My favorite thing I've read so far is this:

 

"Worship is an act of faith where we demonstrate to our heavenly father that although we don't always see His answers to our prayers, we still know His plans for us are for good." 

 

I have to admit, that is hard to believe...I say it in my head...but do I really believe that in my heart?  Yes, I have to believe it.  I have to believe it.

Here's Mom taking round 3 of the chemo.  Her nurse Angelia, has been a comfort through it all.  We both stay busy during the treatments...neither of us can just sit and do nothing :) I'll review my workout video, do the budget or read...while Mom calls and checks the messages and returns customers calls...and of course, she continues to write songs through it all. 

 

Mom only has one more round of chemo to go, then radiation.   She is doing amazingly well. Some days are tough, but she always gets through it.  

In the middle of it all, I look at the joy Stella and Sawyer bring....their innocence... so pure.  I feel like I could just look at their little feet for hours or sit and read with them in my lap for a day, because all of a sudden I know how fast things can change.
 

I am also thankful for friends who are my family...who I know are praying for us when we don't really know the words to use or have the strength to pray. 

The peace that we are unable to describe is what Mom has...I know it.  She has kept her sense of humor in it all, and her attitude makes all the difference.

So thankful God has brought us this far... way to go Mom!