A New Puppy!

Introducing......(drum roll, please).....GRENADE! Or Nader for short. We picked out our new puppy tonight. All 10 of us! My brother and parents joined the seven of us in all the excitement of picking out a puppy. We had a choice of four puppies that still were not picked. The entire litter was adorable,


but we all think Nader was the cutest (formerly known as "Punchy" from the original owners).



Toby loved holding the puppies. We couldn't believe how soft they were. And how tiny they are! They are 5 weeks old today, so we will be able to bring Nader home on the 20th of December, just in time for Christmas!


(Grenade is the one who found the most comfy pillows...blue collar in the middle)

I have to say, even with all the excitement and happiness, I wished Todd was with us, and I was wondering what he was thinking as he watched us picking out Grenade. I'm pretty sure he agreed with our choice. Grenade/Punchy was named after a special Uncle, so he's a special puppy already. I think he was their favorite, too. It will be hard for them when all the puppies get picked up, but I know they will especially miss their Punchy, our Grenade.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this special gift at Christmas!

I know you are smiling at how cute he is! Aren't you? Admit it! :)

Toby's Pneumonia

The last couple of weeks have been crazy around here. Then again, with six kids, life is crazy all the time around here! There's always something happening and by the end of the day I wonder how in the world I could possibly raise six children without Todd. That's easy, because looking back over the past 5 1/2 yrs, it's been miracle after miracle for us....whether financially, sickness, accidents, house woes, or life and death! God has been our only strength! But that doesn't mean I don't still miss our earthly leader and provider, my greatest love, Todd.

So we've been going to soccer every Sat for the past months, and the last game for the season is tomorrow. The last several weeks have been COLD, with wind blowing across the fields and making your bones ache. Toby has insisted that she wear only her short-sleeved uniform, despite my pleadings for a jacket or coat. "But Mom, they can't see my shirt and number if I wear a coat." I tried something underneath (like the other girls), but still, "It makes me too hot. I'm fine." Toby's older sister has always been like that. Never liked coats and rarely is seen in one, so I figured she was like her sister.

Then the cough started. Then the sore throat. Then the headache. Then the fever. The fever spiked to 105.4 last Saturday, and I noticed she was breathing funny. She was breathing a lot like her older sister used to do when she struggled to breathe, nearly every night. I asked Toby if she was having trouble breathing..."sort of" was all I needed to take her to the ER. They took her right back, despite a waiting room half-filled, with even children who were bleeding! This made me even more nervous, and the nurses seemed to swarm her, taking vitals and asking questions. I don't like hospitals. I don't like ERs. I don't like the ER we took Toby to. It was the same one Todd went to where we heard that word "cancer." The memories just kept flooding back. It was like it all happened yesterday, but yet I had to focus on Toby and the NOW. After 5 hours of ER time, medications and X-rays, we took her home with a ton of instructions. We have to go back to her pediatrician next week again for another follow-up visit and possible X-ray. My seven year old has pneumonia!

I feel horrible about this. I feel like I let it happen. It's a mom's job, isn't it?, to keep their little ones healthy? I'm thankful she is doing MUCH better, no fever, breathing fine, with just a cough left.

So how does a single Mom of six children get everything right? I guess they don't.

So thankful for my heavenly Father. What would I ever do without Him?

I have come to love these verses from Psalm 116:

I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Care In Grief

It's been almost a year now that I've had an incredible burden for people who have lost loved ones....believers and unbelievers, but especially for unbelievers. I can't even imagine going through the pain of losing a loved one without my heavenly Father. At those times when I feel like it can't hurt anymore, when I'm at the lowest points, when all I can do is cry....I find comfort in knowing my Father is here with me. Even though I don't always feel His comfort and love, I know He's right beside me through every agonizing day I live without Todd.

This burden has grown into a near obsession. I keep getting ideas and write down proposed "plans," and I have finally come up with Care In Grief. I have gotten our pastor's permission to begin a group at our church, just to share our feelings with each other, that would meet every week. I'm not a counselor, nor do I have all the answers, nor do I even feel ready for this, but Father has clearly been leading and opening doors.

The other part to this is taking videos of people who have lost loved ones. I have gotten an incredible acceptance and willingness from those who I've asked, and even some "references" to ask others! There has been NO negative feedback so far, but I imagine if God is in this, then there is certain to be some ahead. But for now, all signs are a "go."

I've done my first two videos for a lady in our church who has had several losses in her life. She did a video on the loss of her daughter, and one on the loss of her husband. I was so nervous! Yet when I got to her home, there was a peace I could never describe. However, editing the videos was not an easy process for me. It took many hours, and even days, to get through the one about the loss of her husband. Lots of memories. Lots of tears. Lots of heartache. Lots of pain....all over again. I had her over for lunch the other day, and she gave me the "OK" to show these. Here is the first one I have completed:

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Signs of Fall

For some reason that I don't know or understand, the changing of the seasons always brings back tons of memories of Todd for me. Todd loved the fall (I think he loved all the seasons, but they each had a special characteristic he loved), especially the leaves and beautiful colors.

Fall begins a new school year. Toby is now in 2nd grade, Winter in 7th, and Tiffany in 10th! Trina is in college at Lancaster Bible College, doing classes online. The boys are still working and doing well.

Fall brings another birthday for Trina and Toby. Katrina recently turned 18!

Fall begins another season of soccer. Today Toby and Winter played their first games. It was a beautiful day.

Fall brings a new wardrobe. I love my hoodies! They make me feel warm and safe. I especially love wearing Todd's old ones.

Fall brings new challenges and lots of memories. I'm actually looking forward to this fall. I am so thankful for the wonderful memories I have, that can never be taken from me. I plan to hold them close through this new season. Fall also begins the holidays...always have been difficult since Todd died, but this year I pray I will remember the good things we shared, and not spend as much time missing those good times. God is good. I still am awestruck with God's creation and the clouds. The clouds. They've been beautiful. Here's another picture I took just yesterday.

Almost forgot....on Labor Day I was privileged to be together will my sister and brothers. It's the first time we have all been together in over 10 years! I don't think Vicki was ready for this picture...



Signs of fall are a blessing for me this year. I pray they will be for everyone...

So much FUN!

My first bike ride! wow. There's nothing like riding on the back of a motorcycle, other than driving it yourself, I guess. But if you don't know how to drive one yourself, then the next best thing is riding on the back! So awesome... all I can do is share the video clips. Haven't gotten them into a movie yet (I'd like to play some music in the background like "Born to Be Wild" or something), but here's the "raw footage" from a great ride last night~thanks to my nephew, Joshua.

NOTE: The last two I almost lost my camera...we were flying! Check the speedometer (it was close to 90!)

August?

Hard to believe, but another school year is almost here. Toby will be starting 2nd grade, Winter will be starting 7th grade and is now in the youth group at church! and Tiff will be in 10th grade this year. It's hard to believe that we have three children who have graduated high school. That makes me feel very old, and makes me miss Todd even more. I still can't get through a day or even an hour, without thinking about him or what things would be like with him still here. There have been a lot of big decisions that have had to be made, there are a lot of changes in our family and home life, and at times I still spend hours crying and wanting to talk to Todd. How can a house, full of loud, active, crazy children (and adults!) be so lonely? I wonder about this often. There is still a big hole missing.

So now Trina is beginning college, and the two oldest are working full time. My older brother is coming to stay with us for awhile. My parents have been here for the "hurricane season" (they live in the Keys), but are planning on going back to the peace and quiet paradise they call home. But there is always something going on here, always busy, always loud, always a bit crazy. I guess that's what keeps me going.

Tonight when I was praying with our youngest she told me she wanted Daddy to come back down here. She does this every so often, but tonight took me off-guard. She is six, and so innocent and honest. She wants to give him a hug. She wants him to hold her. She wants him to read her books. She lost a tooth last week, and then pulled the one next to it out. I need to take an updated picture, but she keeps me smiling!

I can only end this post tonight by being thankful for my children. They are all wonderful and such a blessing to me, each in their own special way. I love my family. So I am trying to focus on all that God has given me today, not on all that I am missing. (it's not working...but I'm trying!) Looking at the clouds helps...

I can't get this song out of my head....I Sure Miss You, by Jason Crabb, probably because it sums things up pretty well.

If life could only bring again, the days I took for granted when
To hear your voice was just a call away
Oh what I'd give for just some time, to say the things that slipped my mind
There's so much now I'd really like to say
But I can never go back when we did the things we did back then
I'll store those precious memories in my mind
I'll take what you've instilled in me; I'll try to be all I can be
And walk the path that you have left behind

Chorus
I sure miss you; life will never be the same with you not here
Each passing day has brought much pain
But with God's grace my strength remains
I sure miss you, but heaven's sweeter with you there

The little things that seemed so small are now gold in a memory vault
I cherish every one I have of you
Now I can see and recognize the part you played to shape my life
I often see you in the things I do
In God's design and master plan He saw the hurting hearts of man
As we would say goodbye to those so dear
So with our family and friends we'll be together once again
We'll view all heaven's splendor hand in hand

Clouds

This has been an interesting summer. So many things are bringing back lots of memories and seem to be making everything "fresh" again in my heart and mind. The void Todd left seems to be getting bigger as the kids grow older. C.S. Lewis talked about grief being a spiral, then questioned for himself, is this an upward spiral or downward spiral? Good question. I'm not sure, but I'm definitely coming back again to all the pain and missing Todd so very, very much.

Lately I've been fascinated with the clouds. Maybe because that's where my heart is? I long to see Jesus and heaven and be re-united once again with Todd and so many others that have gone before us into heaven. I've been taking pictures of clouds for weeks now and my kids think I'm crazy (especially when I take them while we are driving!). Late last night I put together this slide show. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Despite the pain, the missing, the void, the longing to talk with Todd again and see him again, things truly are "Well With My Soul" through it all!

Baptism

Well, now we can rejoice that all six of our children have made professions of Jesus as their Lord and Savior and, as of today, all have been baptized to publicly stand for Him.

Today was very emotional. But wait, I'll let you see for yourselves. You may have to turn all your volumes up to hear their testimonies, but they both mentioned their father. It just stinks that he was not here with us today. He was very missed.

Wild and Crazy Days!

This past Saturday Toby played her last soccer game for the spring, and her team won! It was exciting to watch her play and enjoy the game of soccer as her other siblings did.
It was fun, but it lacked the excitement that Todd would bring to the games, screaming, shouting, etc. But Toby had a great season, and I am sure Todd either was told about her or even witnessed it!

Then I had an unexpected blessing. One of my favorite singers ever is Steve Green. I found out he was doing a concert in our area, so after church on Sunday night, we went to see what was going on. I ended up getting a ticket, and then afterwards even got my picture taken with him!!! . I've gone to several of his concerts, and I must say the crowd wasn't nearly as previous ones. Maybe I'm getting old? Whatever, it was a blessing to hear him sing, although this was the first time without Todd, and it made me miss my buddy more than anything. Todd was not as big a fan as I am, but he loved to hear Steve sing "God and God Alone." ...and that's what he ended his concert that night singing. Awesome. Just such a blessing.

Now, ever taken a long trip in a car? van? ...more than just a few hours? Last weekend I drove in a van with 8 kids to South Carolina!! Why? We went to pick up my friends' son from Bob Jones University. My friend was too sick to drive that far (don't know where we would have fit her anyway), so driving that far away from home without any other adult, was, well, interesting. We put together a short video:



So, it's been one crazy or wild thing after another lately. Even with all the fun, all the pain in missing Todd during the fun, all the near heartattacks and all the heartbreak, I am so thankful and praising God for the family He has so richly blessed me with. He is way too good to me.

In Jehovah do I take refuge:...If the foundations be destroyed,4 Jehovah is in his holy temple; Jehovah trieth the righteous; ... For Jehovah is righteous; he loveth righteousness: Psalm 11

Why?

I used to ask this question way too much, but am learning that I do not need to know why. I do not need to understand. I need to rest in knowing that God DOES know and that He does have a plan, and that He is in control! It's called trust, and it's not easy to do. I have found a lot of comfort in knowing God's Word and His promises and in knowing God personally. I also find comfort in the words to this song, Love Will Find A Way.

Love will find a way
To follow where you run
Love will cover you
And shield you from the sun
This will all be done
Just to heal you, to heal you
Love will lift the veil
You try to hide behind
Love will kiss your tears
And turn them into wine
This will all be done
To reveal you, reveal you

REFRAIN
Love will take your shame
Love will lift your head
Love will take the blow
That was meant for you instead

Love will never leave
No matter what you say
Love will look beyond
Your brokenness today
This will all be done
Just to name you,
This will all be done
To reclaim you, reclaim you