J.Michael's B-Day Part 2

Instead of wraping J.Michael's present we decided to do a treasure hunt. Emily our master riddler got to work on clues from the Star Spangled Banner that lead J.Michael to his gift. It was a fun adventure for all of us. Here is our hunt by video.

J.Michael's 11th Birthday

J.Michael has grown up to be a bright, handsome, brave, strong, witty young man. I am in awe of how my little boy is becoming a man right before my eyes. He has grown what seems a foot in the last year and is quickly approaching my eye level which I am sure will only be fleeting as he surpasses me by his next birthday. J.Michael and I got to spend the afternoon together, just the two of us running errands and completing preparations for his birthday. He requested an ice cream cake from Coldstone (a family favorite I would add). He also got to make the dinner menu which consisted of Fried Crawfish tails, Mom's kefir cornbread and Emily's famous tossed caesar salad.
After our delicious dinner that J.Michael and I cooked together (he is also a great helper in the kitchen-one day his wife will really appreciate that he knows his way around a kitchen) J.Michael opened his presents. He previously opened his gifts from grandparents last weekend since they were in town for Kathlena's birthday. His gift from Dad and Mom came with a twist--instead of unwrapping his gift he had to follow clues for a scavenger hunt that led to his gift. The clues Emily, our riddler, made them up from the lines of the star spangled banner. It was quite clever and fun.
The surprises continued as he opened another surprise which was a borrowed copy of the third installment of The Lord of the Rings movie. J.Michael had been looking for this movie all week and we kept him in suspense thinking we could not find a copy to watch and that we would have to do something else. He was a great sport about it all and many thanks to the Beach family who let us borrow the movie and was in on the surprise!
In the words of J.Michael "It was one of the best birthdays yet!"
J.Michael we love you and will always love you. We pray that the Lord would accomplish much for His kingdom through you in your devotion to Christ.

J.Michael-Jr. Speech Presentation

J.Michael is in his 3rd year of speech presentations and this year he chose a topic close to his mother's heart...the Benefits of Chocolate. J.Michael you did a great job researching, writing, memorizing, and presenting this very important topic. Your Father and I are so proud of you. You are growing into a young man so quickly and we are so thankful you are developing your talents to use for the glory of God.
Andrew was always ready to listen to big brother's speech. Especially since J.Michael would give out chocolate to his audience each time he presented it. Andrew memorized almost half of J.Michael's speech from listening and encouraging his brother. Only Andrew would say it was the Benefits of Shoc-o-lot. Also, a topic close to Andrew's heart!
Great Job! J.Michael keep up the good work.

We love you, Mom and Dad

Loss and Attachment

Today was the day we knew would come but have not looked forward to. We had to put our beloved bird dog, Charlie, down. A month ago we found out that he had a tumor on his heart and in his nose. The tumor came on quickly and has grown rapidly in the past month. Over the last few days it became apparent that the time had come. As the tumor on his nose has grown rapidly, spreading and disfiguring his face, we had concerns of it spreading to his brain, and we did not want to have memories of the results of that happening. We are thankful to have had 10+ yrs with Charlie and especially this past month. David tried to find a vet who would come to our house and found one, but schedules didn't work out so we decided to go ahead and take Charlie to his clinic today. Thankfully, it is close to our home-Kainer Vet Hospital . We are very grateful for the help we received from Dr. Strecker and his staff over the past month. Dr. Streker was very kind and very sensitive to our family and situation.

Losing a longtime pet is never easy, especially when you have children. It has been hardest on J.Michael, as he doesn't remember a time without Charlie. Charlie has been a wonderful companion to all of us and even Andrew and Kathlena for the past 7 months. It has been difficult to explain something as complex as tumors, death, animals dying, and how when animals die it is different than people, but it has produced good conversations for us to have as a family. For us all to talk about being good stewards of the animals under our care. To walk through loss together openly and honestly.

Charlie left us in his gentle sweet fashion, without a whimper he drifted off to sleep and was gone. Once the Vet finished he graciously left us alone and said we could have all the time we needed. After he left J.Michael hugged Charlie and sobbed, I had been in tears since this morning waiting for that heartbreaking moment. As we all sobbed and tried to comfort each other I saw Andrew watching J.Michael as tears began streaming down his cheeks. I told him it was okay to be sad and he hugged me and began to sob. His heart broke too for his brother, J.Michael, for his family and for this dog that he had only known for a little while, but had grown to love...attached to. Andrew continued to watch and pet Charlie's paw when I hear Kathlena say "Charlie Boo-Boo, nose". She has been Mommy's little helpoor in caring for Charlie this past month. I pick her up and tell her that Charlie is gone and she begins to cry and cry; she loved Charlie too. Neither her nor Andrew have responded to loss with grief in this way. The Lord gave us one final gift through Charlie...Andrew and Kathlena responding to grief and pain appropriately emotionally. To feel the sting of loving something and losing it. As part of this family our joys and triumphs as well as our pain and grief in life are shared. Earlier as we all sat waiting for the vet to come in, I was trying very hard to no avail to keep tears from continuing to leak out and run down my face; sweet Andrew reaches up without a sound and wipes away my tear...he never spoke a word or question. I remember thinking that was unusual at the time for him not to ask why or comment. Later, it all came into focus. As painful as loss is of any kind, we had a renewing today of strength to persevere, trusting the Lord to guide us through life's ups and downs, walking along the way with our children and teaching them all of these things (Deuteronomy 6).

He indeed is sovereign over all, and he uses all of His creation to glorify Himself. Often, as He did today, He uses elements of His creation to reveal something about Himself: His faithfulness, His mercy, His tenderness. As we have lost a dog we all loved, we have gained fresh insight into God's active hand in our family. He who knows when a sparrow falls can use even grief-especially grief-to remind us of truths that we often forget. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us...For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:18, 22). Charlie's body was ravished by a nasty cancer-evidence of the groaning of all of creation because of sin. But by means of the death of a dog, our God has drawn us closer to each other and to Himself, and reminded us that all of this world is under a curse of death and is passing away. But a new creation awaits all who believe! "For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" (Romans 8:24-25). And sometimes, because He is so good, He lets us see a little glimpse now, even before our waiting is complete.

We will miss our Charlie, but we praise the Lord for His faithfulness and graciousness towards us, teaching us and pointing us back to His word in all situations. Whether it is in the timing of when to let go of a beloved pet or patiently believing and waiting to see the fruit of attachment that adoptive parents by faith long to see in their children through it all we draw near to the Lord for the strength and wisdom to pursue His purposes.

David and J.Michael picked out Charlie's favorite spot in the yard, near the burning pile that he loved to sniff around for snakes, and critters and dug the hole together for Charlie. Chase (our other dog) also got to sniff Charlie good bye...he will miss him most of all.

Christmas Piano Recital

Emily and J.Michael have been hard at work learning their pieces for their Christmas Piano Recital. Their piano teacher Miss Sarah Hulin(she is the one sitting directly behind the kids in the video) has been teaching them piano in our home. She has been a tremendous blessing to our family and a great encouragement to Emily and J.Michael to pursue excellence, practice diligently and to be challenged by trying more difficult pieces to play. J.Michael played "Psalm 1 and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and Emily played "Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone and What Child is this?" . Emily also did the arrangement for What Child is This which was challenging for her but it turned out beautifully. Great Job! I am so proud of both of you and your willingness to share your gift of music with the residence of Silverado Senior Living Center. It was truly a blessed night. Silverado Senior Living Center is a place for seniors with memory diseases. Most of whom we visited were unable to have coherent conversations with us but the music blessed them and seeing the little children and being hugged on brought smiles to their faces. We were so blessed to be part of this ministry...thank you Sarah!

*remember to click pause on the playlist music in the left sidebar so you can hear the video

I apologize for the shaky footage in advance...I had a little helpoor. Nana you may need to have your doggie bag handy!

J.Michael's 10th Birthday

Just one week ago we were celebrating Kathlena's Birthday and now it is J.Michael's turn. Receiving a special birthday surprise that we would be leaving in one week to bring his brother and sister home topped his list of gifts this year. He had requested one of his favorite's for breakfast--chocolate chip pancakes(these were whole grain with kefir of course!); lunch we made his favorite taco soup followed by his most favorite of all for dinner--Fried crawfish tails. Do I have a budding chef on my hands or what?

Emily and I also made a large chocolate chip cookie with icing and candles for him to blow out on his birthday. He also had cards from family and a coffee maker/package from Grandmommie and PawPaw(hee hee, no coffee maker it was a safe sent UPS in a coffee maker box--wished I had a picture of J.Michael's face when he saw that it was to him.) His granparents know him well as he loves locks and safes! Thanks for making his 10th birthday special with surprise packages! :-)

He also received a phone call from his birthday buddy and good friend Taylor Gunnels. The boys have known each other since they were 2yrs and 3yrs old and have birthday's 2 days apart. When they were 3 and 4 or 4 and 5 they figured out that for 2 days they are the same age so each year since they call each other on their birthdays. It is quite cute...their conversations have changed through the years but what remains the same is their sweet friendship.

Today is J.Michael's 2nd birthday celebration with one more to go. Yes, we have really been excited about 10yrs!!!! He had his first little party with Nana and Dodad a few weeks ago since we would not see them for his birthday. We celebrated with cake and presents--receiving the airsoft sniper rifle he has been wanting. His Mema (Great-Grandmother Davis) celebrated with us--Thank you for the birthday money!

First cake was ice cream oreo.

Uncle Todd helping J.Michael

assemble his new airsoft rifle

First shot...works great! Thanks Dodad!

His Mom and Dad got him the "red dot" scope he was wanting for the airsoft sniper rifle. Emily also gave him a "camo" colored scarf that she knitted for him. It was so sweet...she was telling him she made it for when he goes hunting with Daddy so he doesn't get cold. So thoughtful Emily, what a sweet big sister you are to J.Michael.

We have one more cake and party to go on Saturday. Father/son airsoft war party that he has been dreaming of having for a while. It should be great fun...I think the Dad's are just as excited! J.Michael has mowed the yard and is busy setting up "hideouts" throughout the yard.