Our Year in Review

Merry Christmas To all our Friends and Family!

We pray this finds you happy, healthy and blessed as we are.  This year has been a year of learning for our family.  We’ve learned how very important our Jesus is when you are going through the valleys.  It took us this whole year to grieve our sweet boy Elliott Aamodt.  To say this year was happy would not be true.  It was sad, it was hard, it was nothing like any of us have ever been through.  But, the best news is we made it through.  We persevered…we learned, we worshipped our Jesus through the good and the bad.  And, He, as always came through.  We are looking forward to 2013 with GREAT anticipation of what our Jesus has in store for our family.  We will begin the process to adopt another sweet little baby into our family in January.  We ask that you pray for us as we navigate this journey yet again.  We can’t wait to fill our little home with more love and laughter.  Halle is more than giddy to have a little brother or sister to care for and, most importantly, we know Jesus has called us to do this. 

Right now, this world and its troubles seem like such a sad and disappointing place to be.  I’m trying really hard to focus on our Jesus, the REAL reason for this season. To remember the blessings He has given us. The roof I have over my head, the computer I’m using right now…my sweet husband and little brown girl.  My family.  They may be crazy, well sometimes, but….they are all mine.  Life is precious, and this year has really shown us this.  Would you do the same?  Be blessed.  Be thankful.  For those things you have, not what you are missing.  Take some time and sit at HIS feet, in HIS presence, worshipping the Gift He has given to US. 

Blessings to you and yours,

April for all three of us 

Another One

These last four weeks have been hard for a dear friend of mine and her family.  We grew up together and the Mama (Marj) of this family babysat for my sister and I while our Mom worked....we are all like siblings.  About four weeks ago Stacy, pregnant with her first baby after trying for so long had her 20 week ultrasound.  That ultrasound did not provide them with exciting news as it should have.  They learned their baby was a girl, but...her growth was at least two weeks behind where it should have been.   When you get news like this it hits you like a huge punch in the gut....one that takes the breath right out of you.  Trust me.  I certainly know what it feels like.  Marj works with me and had been sharing baby girl's progress with me.  I knew that our Jesus wanted me to encourage Stacy.  But, I got busy and time got away from me until she had another Dr's appointment and I felt Him speaking to me even stronger than before.  I gathered my thoughts and sent her a text.  Our Jesus knew.  She was having a bad day and it was exactly what she needed.   Through those four weeks she had many ups and downs....good days and bad.  I continued to send her scripture, encouragement or whatever Jesus laid on my heart.  Eventually, she was admitted to the hospital to await delivery of her baby until she was viable.  Those of us who have lost babies hate that word.  It makes you cringe.  Unfortunately, little girl had decels in her heart rate and Stacy was wheeled in for an emergency c-section last Friday.  Little girl was actually a little boy.  Gabriel Raymond weighed just 13 oz and was the very same length as our Elliott, 9 1/2".  He was prefect in every.single.way.  And such a miracle.  He entered this world crying which no baby that little ever does.  He was a fighter and his name is such a testimony of that. Little Gabriel only lived for 24 hours.  Those hours were filled with hugs and kisses from his Mommy, Daddy, Oma, Opa & Grandparents.  He was so loved.

On Tuesday, Gabriel's Oma, Marj, came back to work.  She stood in front of all of her co-workers and shared Gabriel's story.  One of courage. Gabriel means "God is my strength".  That is so true.  Marj shared all of this with us. What a testimony.  She went on to explain her Bible reading that morning and how the Angel Gabriel was center-stage in that reading.  There were lots of tears that day.  But, so many, many seeds that were planted.  Over the past nine months that office has experienced not one, but now two very similar instances.  They know Jesus is a big part of my life and Marj's.  And they are learning how our Jesus is faithful to carry us through these times.  And in the words of Dr. Suess "A person's a person, no matter how small".  We'll share our thoughts and pictures of both Elliott and Gabriel because they are a part of our story.  One that shapes us and makes us who we are today.

Please pray for Mike & Stacy and their extended family.  Their hearts are breaking right now.  I'm reminded of this verse and what it meant to us during this time.  What a reminder.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness.  We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.  That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.  As it is, there's not much chance of that.  You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at.  We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.  What they did  to Jesus they do to us-trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us-he lives!  Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us.  While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best! 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (Message)

Our New Pets

That's right folks. We are the proud owners of two goldfish.  Darby and Tutu.  They reside in Halle's room. And to say she loves them is probably a gross understatement.  She talks to these fish like they are people.  "Look at my hair"...."Good night fishies"....."See you in the morning".  You may be wondering where we came up with such clever names.  Well....Hal and I were having a conversation about naming them on the way home for the pet store.  She wanted to name one "Dorothy"...like Elmo's fish.  I wasn't so keen on that.  But, I did start thinking about "The Wizard of Oz"....and Dorothy and Toto.  But, then my brain went into overdrive.  One of Halle's most favorite Veggie Tale's DVD's is "The Wizard of Ha's". Which, as I'm sure you've guessed, is a spoof on "The Wizard of Oz".  AHA. The little boy in the movie is "Darby" and his companion, not a dog, but...a Pig....named, that's right folks, "Tutu".  Perfect.  Just like the pink and purple rocks with the matching plant.  Sigh.  You can't win them all, right?

So....the online silent auction is now open and the bidding has begun.  I don't want you, my bloggy friends to miss out.  Hop on over there and bid on your favorite thing.  AND...help us bring home our baby!

Adoption Fundraiser Update

Well, we changed things up a little.  We just really did not get enough response on our auction/dinner.  Tickets were not selling and we were getting anxious & nervous.  So, we made the decision to change to an online auction.  This will begin on Friday July 27 and run for a week.  You can bid from your own home and do some window shopping before.  Maybe even a sneak peek??  We'll see.

Silly Sunday!

Because....sometimes we all need a laugh....and let's face it.  Tutus work well as wigs & hats too!

A WHOLE Bunch of Silly!

That's right.  Paige, Paityn & Lincoln came to our house to play for a Saturday so our Titi could sleep & their Daddy could work.  Look at this silly bunch!  We definitely had our hands full!

Tickets for Fundraiser!

Some more information.  I think I wasn't very clear....thanks Janelle for letting me know!  You can purchase tickets from me.  Please leave your name and contact information in the comments I can get back to you.  I'm pretty sure I have this set up so even "anonymous" readers can post comments. If you would just like to make a donation towards our adoption you can use the Paypal link on the right hand side of the blog!! Thanks!!

Dad's Day!

This is all about Dad's.  Let's face it....they really don't get enough credit.  It seems good Dads and Husbands are few and far between these days. I hit the jackpot.  Let me tell you.  My husband and Halle & Elliott's Daddy is a rare find.  When Halle was small I went back to work after six weeks.  Right before that Halle started sleeping through the night.  Phew.  But, before that Aaron graciously got up for his shift.  He plays with Halle and explains lots and lots of questions she has.  Let me tell you, this is no small feat.  More importantly, he shows our daughter the love of Jesus and what it means to know Him.  These two share an incredible bond that I believe could not be any deeper even if Halle was our biological daughter.  From the moment Aaron looked in her eyes on November 10, 2008 she had him...hook, line & sinker.  She is so her Daddy's girl. Where ever he is....she wants to be.  Hence, her love for all things music and those garage related.  The other day she was using the wire cutters right along with her Daddy.  And recently she asked while listening to a classic rock station "Dad, do you hear those guitars?"  That's our girl.  She is very quick to climb up into his lap and give him the biggest hug you have ever seen....and on the days she is home with me she runs to greet him on his arrival home from work.  What a blessing it is to me to see Halle and Aaron together.  I love to see them snuggled up on the couch, playing Legos or playing guitar together.  Thank you Aaron for being an incredible Daddy to our little girl and our little boy up in Heaven.  You stood by my bedside while we welcomed our sweet boy and comforted me while I sobbed.  You are truly God's Best.

And my Dad, who is no longer here with us to celebrate this Father's Day.  I miss you.  You are and will always be my hero.  You fought such a long and hard battle with cancer and never, ever did you give up.  What a champion you are....through and through.  Let me tell you a little bit about this Godly man I call Dad.  He bbq'd the BEST chicken you would ever taste.  Incredible, I tell you.  He liked sampling it too....as you can see above.  Many times, my Grandpa tried to replicate it.  It never, ever tasted as good.  He was a strict parent.  Now I am thankful for that.  He knew the value of hard work and earning your pay and responsibility as a teen-ager.  When I turned sixteen and bought my first car he co-signed on my loan and I was made responsible to pay the payment each month.  He loved to sing and had the very best laugh.  His favorite breakfast was french toast and I swear my Mom made it for him every.single. Saturday morning.  He favored sweat pants and flannel shirts and loved his recliner and watching every sport known to man.  He would have been an incredible Grampie.  I so know it.  And he and Halle would have gotten along swimmingly.  You would never, ever beat him in a game because let's face it, we all know, he cheated.  Big time.  He stacked the deck in card games he played with me and hid his money during the "Game of Life".  He loved Altoids and never, ever drank a cup of coffee.  Coke was a dirty word and Pepsi ruled in his book....sometimes Mountain Dew.  Gold Medal Ribbon ice cream was his favorite and his pizza MUST have extra, extra mushrooms. He loved his Jesus and was not afraid to share that with everyone he knew...including those who cared for him during his illness.  He was the best.

Dinner/Silent Auction...Adoption Fundraiser!

This is what I've been working on for a few months now! Tickets are now on sale...contact me if you need one...or two...or heck, how about TEN???  The Mulder's are our neighbors and we are so excited to be working on this with them.  Please help us bring our babies home.  Even if you can't come you can still buy tickets.  How you say?  Well, I just happen to have a handy PayPal link here on my blog.  Thank you in advance for your help and prayers.  We covet them.

Our bike riding, tutu wearing Big Girl!

Yep, that's her...tutu, stripes and all.  She's all ours and we LOVE her exactly the way she is!!

HIS Glory

Last week as I was recovering from the yucky stomach flu I got a phone call from our amazing church videographer, Evan.  He asked if our Pastor had spoken with me over the last couple of days.  Nope.  I had not spoken with Pastor Kim.  Evan explained that the message at church on Easter Sunday would be about never forgetting what Jesus had done.  He then asked if Aaron and I would be willing to share our testimony via video with our church family.  Immediately I wanted to scream, YES!  I knew this is what Jesus wanted us to do.  I knew we needed to do this, but...I also had to check with Aaron first.  He responded quickly knowing just like I did that we had to do this.  It was our story...and one we needed to share with many who needed to hear it.  I won't keep you waiting...here it is.  But, I must tell you that the only way Aaron and I were able to share this was with our Jesus' help.  The same Jesus who carried us through that October week carried us through this testimony.  Giving all praise and glory to the one who gave us our precious gift, Elliott Aamodt.


Aaron and April's Story from North County Christ the King on Vimeo.

Easter Weekend in Pictures

Our Easter Weekend was packed FULL.  Of our Jesus, family & lots of fun stuff!!

 Walking so fast they're blurry!

 This sums of these four PERFECTLY.  Crazy fun!!

 Pure joy on the little brown girl's face!

Little Lincoln!  Poor only boy with these silly girls!

A Hard Month

Wow.  This month has been one for the record books.  One I care not to visit again.  Ever.  I knew it was going to be hard with my due date being in March, but...I kinda wasn't expecting it to be this hard.  The anxiety, fear & depression came crashing upon me on my due date and it didn't let up until this past week.  I prayed, quoted scripture and clung to my Jesus.  And if that wasn't enough Halle and I both had the stomach flu.  The first time for our sweet girl.  And, let's just say this Mommy doesn't do very well with the throw up.  Yuck.  At least we didn't have it at the very same time.  Thank you Jesus.  I learned of two other Mommies that lost sweet babies to Jesus this month.  Way too soon.....I don't know either of them, but...my heart aches with them and longs for Heaven where we can see our sweet babies again....whole and well.  I can't wait.  Sometimes heaven seems so far away.

Do any of you watch "19 Kids and Counting" on TLC??  I absolutely love this show.  I love the Duggar's.  Having 19 children is definitely not for us, but...this family does it well.  And...I don't necessarily agree with having more children when you are 45.  But, it is definitely not my place to judge them...they are sticking to their faith and convictions and we all need more of that in this fallen world.  I was concerned when Michelle announced she was pregnant again, especially in light of her pregnancy and early birth of Josie.  I was pregnant with Elliott at the time and for some reason this made me even more concerned for her.  When they found out that sweet Jubilee Shalom had went to be with Jesus, I could certainly identify with her as we had been in the same place just two months before.  My heart ached for her, Jim Bob and the entire Duggar Family.  What a great loss.  As Jubilee's story unfolded via media I was so glad they had celebrated her life.  And...I so looked forward to watching this story on their show.  When it aired this week I sat on the couch prepared with a box of kleenex.  I knew I would need it.  I could hardly make it through the previews without sobbing.  So many emotions swirled through my head.  So many similarities between our situations.  Even the words Michelle spoke as she was laying on the exam table after her ultrasound.  I spoke the very same words after the ER Doctor told Aaron and I that I was having a miscarriage.  "The Lord gives and takes away....Blessed be the name of the Lord".  Michelle also spoke of her thankfulness.....that she got to see Jubilee and her sweet features.  That she looked just like a little Duggar.  I so loved that.  Especially since I could see features of both Aaron and I in our sweet Elliott, truth be told....I think he would have probably looked more like his Daddy.  He certainly had his lips....and still every.single.time. I look at Aaron's face and see his side view I get so happy knowing he has a son that looks like him.  To me I love that reminder.  I wish the Duggar's did not experience this same loss....and I wish we didn't either, but...I know our Jesus has a much bigger plan for our family and theirs.  And I also know that He does not promise us a world without trials and tribulations.  I know that He will carry you and me and every single one of us through these trials and tribulations if we only seek Him with all our hearts.  Cling to Him my friends.

Will you continue to pray for our family, please?  A friend of ours posted on FB a week or so ago that families that have lost a baby are in a very lonely place.  It's true.  This week Aaron and I are preparing to share our testimony, well it's really Elliott's testimony via video for our church family.  We know that this is what Jesus wants us to do, but...I expect it will not be an easy task.  Please pray He will give us the words to say that will touch others and help them understand that Jesus truly can carry you.  And while your at it.  Bind the devil.  We are doing Jesus' work and I know he won't like it one bit.  But, too bad.  Take that nasty, old devil.  The score:  One for Jesus....BIG FAT ZERO for you devil.

March 3

Because it's late and sleep is evading me.  Or, more like I'm avoiding it.  And....my due date is looming right ahead of me.  The house is quiet, less Hal's coughing down the hall and Elliott's soundtrack playing on iTunes.  And my sobbing.  I'm trying to do it quietly so I don't wake up my sweet, tired husband.  I miss our sweet Elliott terribly.  More than anyone will ever know.  My heart hurts.  My emotions are swirling around inside my head.  I once thought I may forget him.  Never.  Not a chance.  Ever.  I just looked at his pictures and silently sobbed for what we don't have. A little boy who looks like his Daddy.  Chubby arms and legs playing with cars and trucks.  Sweet jammies with guitars on them. The chance of red hair and brown eyes.  Hugs around my neck and slobbery kisses on my cheek.  Dirt.  Lots of dirt.  A little brother for our Halle girl.  Oh, sweet boy....you are missing out on all of this.  I'm so sorry.  I know heaven is a indescribable place filled with kindness, love, Your Grampie and most importantly, our Jesus.  But, you're there and we're here.  It's just not fair.  I didn't get to feel you snuggle up close to me while I whispered in your ear, "I love you buddy"....or sweetly kiss your sweet head while Mama fed you at night.

This thing called grief is a crazy, unpredictable thing. It stinks.  No ifs, ands or buts about it.  It can rear it's ugly head when you least expect it. It can turn me into a mushy, sobbing mess.  If you're not careful it can consume you.  This week I'm trying very hard to find JOY.  But, as March 3, Elliott's due date approaches it's getting harder and harder for me to do so.  So, I'm going with it.  I'm crying, processing and remembering. I'm trying so hard to find that JOY.  But, right now I choose to be sad and feel all the emotions Elliott's birth brings me.  I'm fondly remembering the nurses and the care we received at the hospital.  We are still so thankful for all of them.  And all my Doctor's.  Our Jesus knew what I needed.  Every single step of the way.  Our amazing church family.  Our friends who still hold us close and remember us in their prayers. Thank you, sweet Amy, for asking me how I was doing this week....as you knew March 3 was approaching.  That meant the world to me.  I tried so hard to be strong and courageous, but...I'm losing that battle right now.  And I would say that's ok.  My Jesus knows my hurt and more importantly, my heart.  So many, many great things have come from Elliott's too short, yet so meaningful life.  Those are the things that bring me great JOY.

Wordless Wednesday -- New Hat!

My girl and her NEW hat.  She loves it.

Gratitude

This my friends may be hard for some of you to read.  I hope you plug on through and try, just try to understand my heart and where I am coming from.  I have been pregnant four times.  Yes four.  I have not once brought that baby home from the hospital with me.  I do not have five kids to care for at home.  Instead, I have four babies in heaven with their Grampie, a grave for my son and the label of "infertile".  I am not looking for sympathy or trying to make any of you feel guilty.  I am simply sharing my heart.  Infertility and pregnancy loss is not an easy thing to talk about for most.  For me, it's simple.  It's my life.  It's my testimony.  It's why I am the way I am.  Am I sad that my body is not able to carry my children.  Yes.  Do I cry?  Yes.  Is it hard for me to understand?  Yes. 

To be pregnant, let's face it, to get pregnant is a miracle.  Not just for me.  For any woman.  Do you know, seriously know, how the female body works?  What all has to fall in place for a woman to conceive during the small window in which this can happen during her cycle?  Just a sidenote: if you don't...you should read "Taking Charge of your Fertility".  It lays it all out for you.  A miracle.  That's right.  Let's go back to that.  Maybe losing babies makes you more aware of this.  But, I'm telling each and every one of you...it shouldn't.  Again I say, to be pregnant is a miracle.  I know being pregnant is not fun for some.  And I think most women would agree that it's work.  Hard work.  In the beginning you're tired, nauseous, crabby and even more crabby(!)....ask my husband about that!  No. On second thought you better not.  You have indigestion and gas.  Your guts are moving up to provide room.  Your hormones are running a muck and you are growing a little person inside your belly.  Seriously.  This is amazing.  The first moment you see that little peanut via ultrasound with it's itty bitty heart beating it's all worth it.  You cry.  As you get further along, your back begins hurting.  You're carrying around more weight and the more weight you put on your belly the more you feel it on your back.  This makes you more crabby.  You visit the Chiropractor and the Massage Therapist, looking for relief.  But, it's part of carrying your miracle.  Did I have back pain? YES.  Was I uncomfortable?  YES. As your belly gets bigger your muscles hurt as they stretch.  And I only carried Elliott for 19 weeks.  I can't imagine what my back would have felt like when I was 38 weeks or 40+ weeks.

I can tell you how grateful I am.  That our Jesus gave us Elliott.  That I carried him for 19 weeks.  Moving and kicking in my belly.  I feel so privileged.  So thankful.  So full of gratitude.  Even for the nausea, tiredness and back pain.  Because of this I feel sad.  Sad for women I see complaining openly about their aches and pains while they are pregnant.  Sharing with everyone they know how "done they are" with carrying their miracle.  It hurts my heart so.  I long for them to see the gratitude in their pregnancy.  To know the thankfulness Jesus has given me.  To realize the gift growing inside them.  If you asked my friends who are pregnant now and have been before they would share my feelings.  They have spent time with me.  They know my heart.  They have aches and pains like I did.  Wouldn't it be better if you focused on the good? The grateful?  Count down the days until you deliver with happiness?  And get to hold your son or daughter?  That you get to have your baby inside of you still?  Growing and moving?  Kicking you to remind you he/she is there?  I sure think so.

Happy Valentine's Day....

From the cutest little brown girl EVER!

Anxiety, Fear and the Devil

Since the first of the year, Aaron and I have made changes in our quiet time...we actually have it now.  Before, it seemed we just couldn't find the time.  I work 32 hours a week in three days. That means I'm at work by 6am and usually I don't get home until about 6pm.  When I get home...Halle needs dinner right away and Mommy and Daddy need to eat too.  Bed time comes shortly after and if I am working the next day I need to get all Halle's stuff ready for the next day and mine too.  I'm busy.  So is Aaron.  But, we were using our busyness as an excuse.  We are making the time to read our bibles and study the word.  It's becoming a habit for us and I'm so thankful.  I won't tell you it's been easy, because sadly it hasn't.  I have been in such a spiritual battle.  This past week I experienced more anxiety and fear than I have in probably 7 years.  It was paralyzing me.  Have any of you experienced this??  My word.  It stinks.  After a few days of battling this on my own I approached Aaron and shared with him what I was going through.  I am so thankful that my Husband is a Man of God, full of prayer.  I know when I ask him to pray for me, he does.  I can feel it.  My entire thought process has changed since Elliott.  Being more bold in my faith is causing the mean ol' devil to take notice of things I'm doing.  How I'm speaking out, sharing my faith...even the words I type on this blog.

Not long after Aaron and I were first married I went through a really rough time.  I had so much fear and anxiety...and depression.  My Dad was fighting for his life, battling his way through cancer and I had a lot of health issues I was dealing with.  It was hard enough for me to get out of bed, let alone go to work.  I prayed a lot.  This scripture became my lifeline:  Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus....Philippians 4:6-7, NIV  And this was a very close second:  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind....2 Timothy 1:7, NKJ  I have grown up in the church.  In a spirit filled, hand raising, speaking in tongues church.  One where people have "fallen in the spirit" after being prayed for.  One where words of prophesy were prevalent.  I think you're getting the picture.  I know what a spiritual battle is.  I knew then and now that I was going through one.  How do you come against this? Pray without ceasing.  Bury yourself deeper in the word.  Sing praises to our Jesus, pray in the spirit.  Do not believe what the devil is telling you. He is a liar, pure and simple.  He came to steal and destroy....Our Jesus came to bring us life....more abundantly.  And, that mean ol' devil will not destroy me.  Folks we are in a spiritual battle.  It's time to put on the full armor of God.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Epeshians 6:10-18

Adoption Fund

It's time folks.  We will be starting the process again soon to adopt.  Without a shadow of a doubt, we know our Jesus has called us to do this again.  We are extremely excited and can not wait to fill our home with another sweet little person.  How can you help? As we walk this journey again we will need lots and lots of support and prayer.  We are calling all prayer warriors to stand by us and uphold us.  The ups and downs of adoption can be somewhat daunting.  With the unexpected bills from my hospital stay and Elliott's burial costs we are strapped financially.  But, we have faith that God will bring us the funds we need.  If you would like to help out in this way I have updated the Paypal link on the sidebar of our blog....you do not need a Paypal account and may donate by credit card if you wish. If you choose to remain anonymous (Paypal does not allow for this), but...would like to help out you can also mail a check (please reference our name in the note field) directly to our Adoption Agency at the address here:

Christian Homes and Family Services
Attn:  Margaret Ballew
1202 Estates Dr.
Abilene, TX 79602

Thank you for your continued love and support.  We appreciate each and every one of you. Stay tuned for some adoption fundraisers...namely tutus and personalized t-shirts!

Jesus and the Boat

Can I just tell you how very much I love this little picture??  With it comes a story.  On Sunday we went to pick Halle up from her Sunday School Class....she, like always, runs up to meet us callling "Mommy, Daddy!".  I love that this never gets old for her....She never tires of greeting us after we've been away.  Even for a short time.  On this morning, she handed me the above picture.  I looked at it and asked her what it was. Her answer was simple.  Jesus and a boat.  I then asked what Jesus was doing.  "Walking on the water!" She answered with such passion and excitement...and even jumped up and down clapping her hands.  This I also LOVE.  She is such a passionate, right on kind-of-girl.  Inside and out I was beaming.  Our little girl was listening, she was getting this thing we call faith.  Understanding the reason why we go to this place called church.

Resting in Him

When Aaron and I began trying to conceive (ttc) about 1 1/2 years after we were married I felt kind of lost.  I knew it probably wouldn't be an easy task.  It had taken my Mom some time to get pregnant with me, my cycles were wonky to say the least and everyone around me seemed to simply blink and they were expecting.  I turned to the internet.  I can't remember why, or who told me to, but I decided it would be a good idea to chart my cycles using a basal body thermometer.  I devoured this book.  By the way, as a side note...this book should be required material for any woman in her twenties whether or not she is TTC.  It is incredible.  Never have I learned more about how my body works.  I could tell you all my tricks of the trade, but...read it for yourself.  It's a good one to have in your library.  I searched the internet and found a website called Fertility Friend.  I charted my cycle there as it was much easier than on paper.  Through that website I found Two Week Wait.  It was there I found a group of Christian women who were in the very same place that I was.  We all shared our faith and TTC.  Little did I know these women would be part of my life for years to come.  It's amazing to me how our Jesus brought us all together.  He orchestrated this perfectly.  The founder of the website Two Week Wait lives in Austin, TX...as do many other women in this very group.  We currently have a private Facebook group with 18 of the very same women that I began this group with some 6 years (I'm guessing) ago.  WOW.  These women have lifted me up when I've been so down.  They prayed me through infertility, the death of my Dad, three miscarriages and Elliott's graduation day.  They were the first people I told I was pregnant each and every time...except for Aaron of course!  They probably know more about me than most of my very close friends.  AND...I have only met TWO of them in person.  

When we flew to Texas to pick up our sweet Halle girl, Rachel who I only knew from Two Week Wait offered her home to Aaron, Halle and I. Wow.  I remember when she called me up and talked with me for the very first time.  I felt like I'd known her forever.  It was as if she was one of my closest friends.  And you know what?? She is.  During my pregnancy with Elliott and all the complications and his delivery she covered me in prayer.  I know without a shadow of a doubt she did.  She called many times during our crisis and just talked with me.  About Elliott, about his birth....asked me what he looked like.  Cried with me.  I love her and I've only spent one week of my life with her face-to-face. When we were in Texas I also met Elle, the founder of Two Week Wait who has Ella Bella Photography, and still a member of "Resting in Him".  She generously took amazing photos of Halle one of the first days she was placed with us.  When Elliott passed away this amazing group of women not only sent us flowers, but....two days later I received a box of GIGANTIC chocolate covered strawberries with a note simply saying...we all need some chocolate.  AND...now one of my most treasured possessions.  This beautiful necklace made especially for me with not only Halle, but....Elliott's name as well.  If you are in a similar place in life that I was in I encourage you to reach out to others.  Find a place where you can share your struggles and triumphs.  Where others know what you are going through....a place like Two Week Wait.  More than that, I encourage you to be honest and forthright.  To share with your friends and family, if you feel comfortable doing so...let them know what you are going through.  It helps so much for them to know how to approach you.  More than that, I'm available if you need someone to e-mail or talk to. Leave me a comment here.  I honestly don't know how many or who reads my blog. I would love to "meet" you so to speak, pray for you and stand with you as you walk the unknown, most likely, bumpy road of trying to grow your family while dealing with infertility.  And to my Resting in Him girls...Yes, our Jesus knew what he was doing.  I'm so very thankful for each and every one of you.  

 Rachel (dark hair) with her son Hudson, Elle holding Hunter & her son Hayden next to Halle.

 One of the amazing photos Elle took of Halle.  I can't believe she was ever this small. Sigh.

Those GIGANTIC chocolate covered strawberries.

My necklace as Halle reads it...."Love, Halle & Elliott".  I say perfect.