...one is snuggly pajama's. I just love pajama's. Two is bedtime stories, my grandma started reading to me at bedtime when I was six months old and I started reading to Hailey when she was two months old... Three is these precious babies... they are truly my heart and soul. And so, I had to share this picture I took tonight that includes all three... my sweet angel babies all clean and lotioned up, in their new snuggly pajama's reading bedtime stories together...aaahhh, my cup runeth over!
Love and Blessings,
Teresa
God puts us right where he wants us, right when he wants us there... regardless of our protests, our whining or our questioning. Almost a year ago when it became apparent that the Lord wanted Zack and I to move our family to Galesburg I was surprised and a bit resistant.. And though I questioned him then, I am praising him now. I have been, and my whole family has been so blessed by us moving closer to the Burnett family.(they are right across the road) Debbie and Jesse have become like another set of parents to Zack and I and grandparents to my children. Zack and Dave have been best friends for many years, and so Debbie and Jesse had taken him in years ago like he was their son, and when me and the kids came along, they just took us in too (as they do most all other strays :~) It has been a blessing to us, and has been a blessing to them... you see Jesse got sick a few years ago with a disease called Devics Syndrome- and due to that he is paralyzed from the waist down. He went from a working, farming healthy man, to being bound to a chair.(motorized of course) He has undergone so many medical procedures, hospitalizations, medications, testing, traveling to other hospitals, even other states. I cannot even begin to tell you, mainly because I don't even know all that he and Debbie have endured and done along the way these last few years, but I do know that it has not been easy- for either of them. Jesse sits in his chair everyday looking out at his animals and farm equipment and at all the things that need to be done, and all the things that need to be fixed, and yet all he can do is sit and watch and wish he could get up to do it himself. Dave helps allot to keep the farm going. And Zack helps also when needed, they are building fence right now, working on vehicles when they break, and before that it was building a corral, and vaccinating cows, and on and on... Deb (along with her three jobs) researches new medicines, new procedures and prays prays prays for a miracle, for healing and for him to not give up hope. Of all the things I don't know, I do know that this disease is a cousin to MS, and it could very well spread up his body. He has terrible mucsle spasms, and pain everyday. He has to take quite a mix of daily medication and feels sick allot, but these things I only know becuase mom (Deb) tells me, I have never heard him complain, never seen him appear to be sick. He wouldn't let on...he is a man's man, doesn't want to draw attention to himself, ask for or even need special treatment.
So, now for the prayer needs- they are going back to Mayo Clinic (in Minnesota) this Sunday. They are going up there to see if he could possibly be a candidate for a stem cell transplant. This will be their second trip, as they went about a year and a half ago or so. They were supposed to be up there for a week last time, and ended up being there for a month. For this trip, they have no idea how long they will stay- could be a day if he is not a good candidate for stem cell. Could be weeks or longer if he is and they go through with the processes and procedures that are involved. I am going over tommorrow to help mom prepare the house by cleaning and get the van packed up (yes, they are driving), we will be helping to take care of the house and the pets (6 dogs, 5 cats, 2 goats, 2 donkeys, 1 miniature horse, chickens and cows) along with Dave/Gina and Kyra/Marc. We will all have our assigned duties while mom and dad are away.
I am asking that you pray for their trip, travel mercies so that they arrive safe and sound without incident or delays. I pray for their spirits as they face the unknown, and as they leave their home for an unknown amount of time. I pray for progress, for healing, for a miracle for Jesse. I know that our God who healed so many sick while he walked this earth, still heals today, and I pray that Jesse would recieve that truth, that his hope would be renewed and his spirit lifted to a place where in faith he could reach up and ask and believe God for healing, and know that even if God does not heal him in his earthly body, he will be healed in heaven, and will walk again..with his Father. Please pray also for Debbie to have strength and peace as she prepares for the journey and this unknown time of waiting and hoping. She is having a really hard time at the thought of leaving her family, her babies. I pray for her spirit to be renewed as well, she has grown weary, as we all would when dealing with such a disease and such a dramatic lifestyle change as they have undergone in the past few years. And I know there are so many other needs that I am missing- as I am no prayer warrior yet- but I just ask that you pray that the Lord our God will fullfill their every need as their Father, protector, healer, comforter, teacher, provider, their hope, their salvation, their victory!
Thank you for lifting up these two who are so dear to us.
In His name,
Teresa
I don't think there are many (if any) pictures of the four of us together as a family since Hayden has been born and so, until we get some family portraits done...here is a quick snapshot of us... Hayden waving his arms like a wildman, Hailey refusing to look at the camera, Zack in his work uniform... yep- thats us...and its as good as it gets. :~)
Today is a day to record in the baby books- for both Hayden and Hailey! I found something new in Hayden's mouth today as he sucked on my finger from the backseat while I was driving.... his first tooth! Yes, he has finally broke through his gums with one little razor sharp tooth. He has been working so hard these last three to four months, what with all the drooling, and chewing and drooling and chewing and drooling, that poor baby was due for a sign of progress and we got it today! So Yay for Hayden!!! He has been requiring at least three to four shirt/outfit changes a day due to the soaking of his clothes with drool, and the bibs just delay the inevitalbe costume change...poor baby has had a rash on his chest and under his neck from the constant moisture- the only thing I can think of to remedy the situation is to hang him upside down, but don't think that is really an option! So maybe now he will get a bit of a break before the next one comes in..
Next item on the list for the day is a potty training update: Hailey wore her 'big girl panties' all day after naptime today and did not make one mess!!! NO ACCIDENTS all day, and after her bath tonight she said she wanted to try to sleep in her panties and not put a diaper on...(I am wondering what we will wake up to in the morning.) She is very proud of herself (and loving the M&M's she gets for a prize each time). So Yay for Hailey! What a big day for both my growing little ones... and on Mommy and Daddy's wedding anniversary at that.
I tel you what, it's a good thing Tyler is mostly house trained and has all his teeth, I don't think I can handle much more excitement in one day! :~) Oh, but there is one thing... I just about forgot... he is grounded from his computer :~( for his grades and lack of 'doing and turning in homework' skills. He is experiencing some tough love right now, but he's doing alright with it.... he knew the rules and the consequences for not taking care of his school work... he is really doing well overall though, he only had two classes that he needs to really work on and it really boils down to applying himself more. I am proud of him, he has made alot of changes in his life lately, and is trying to sort out who he is and what he wants which is a pretty big job for anyone, much less a 16 year old boy. So, please keep him in your prayers as he continues to adjust and search for what his 'truth' is. (And pray for me that I don't choke him when he doesn't flush the toilet, or leaves the kitchen cabinet doors open ) :~)
Love to all,
Teresa
There are precious moments like this one that make me smile from the inside out some days with these two precious babies... Today while I was cleaning the house, Hayden was playing in his Excersaucer and Hailey was flitting around the house doing a bit of everything. Hayden was getting a little upset and wanting a change of scenery, or to be held. And so, Hailey, being the big sister she is, went and got her chair and a book (my favorite, You Are My I Love You) and she pulled her little chair up in front of him and started to read to him! Of course I had to grab the camera, because moments like these are ones that I don't want to forget.
...I met my husband. Nothing romantic about the meeting, no blind date, or anything else along those lines, but the night I met him I knew I would marry him. He surprised me tonight by giving me a card and roses for our 'anniversary' of the nine years we have been 'together' eventhough our seven year wedding anniversary is on Monday. I think it is the first time since we have been married that he has done anything to celebrate this anniversary. I have joked and told him that I am going to be getting him Benedryl for this year as a gift, just in case he has any problems with the 'seven year itch'...but I don't think I have to worry about that. I am a lucky girl, I have been blessed with a very good man, and let me tell you, those are few and far between! So please bear with me this post as I get all mushy on you about love and marriage and all that....I just really love this man!
~Mrs. Wright~