T minus 2 weeks....

In less than two weeks, our little guy will have open heart surgery.  Looking at him it is hard to believe he really needs it.  However, I see it when he gets winded and asks to be held.  Or the bluish lips after he's been playing hard. The obvious gray cast of his skin when he is next to Olivia. Or the interesting sound and feel of his little heartbeat.  I know it must be.  I'm grateful it CAN be.  It's just hard and will get harder as the day quickly approaches.  Our immediate prayer is for continued health throughout pre-op testing and up to surgery so it will not be delayed...

"Whom have I in heaven but you? 
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 
    

My flesh and my heart may fail,

     but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever."

                                                   Psalm 73:25-26

Dental Visit

Wish I had taken a picture but no!  Shane and Olivia had a dental visit...Shane's first.  Dr. B is amazing and so wonderful with children taking time with them.  He seems like he really loves his job!

Anyway, Shane just got a "look and see".  Possible braces later...normal.   Grayish teeth...not normal.  Most likely lots of antibiotics and other meds in China.  Of course, China only hinted at that but I'm thinking they might give that sort of stuff liberally.

On to the Olivia quote of the day.

Dr. B:  "Olivia, you have a small cavity."
Olivia: "Where?"
Dr. B:  "See this dark spot between these two molars? It's small."
Olivia:   ( woefully looking over at me) " I guess I missed a spot."  ; o )

Off to School!

After sending four children off to college, you would think it 'd get easier. Nope!!  Since this was a long trip in a short time frame and on the heels of our Boston adventure (another long drive), I chose to stay behind with the little people.  Not to mention the large amount of "stuff" that filled the car---not sure there was even room for three more!

Anyway, as we said our goodbyes, I could feel the familiar lump in my throat forming and the tears welling up.  Funny how all of the clashes we have with our kids suddenly slip from memory and we long for things to just remain the same.  It is in that moment that I believe love "feels" the most unconditional! 

Enjoy the Belmont journey, Josiah!  We love you!

One Special Day

Under the crunch time of leaving in 5 days for college, Josiah wanted to be baptized.  His desire was to be immersed and due to various reasons, it looked as if it would not happen before going to school.  Now, Josiah has wanted to be baptized for a while and without going into all of the reasons why it hadn't happened up until now, he was READY.  

In short, the pastor we had while living in Northern Virginia had moved to church near us and was available this past Sunday.  Thanks, Mark!!  We had a nice quiet service at the beach and then celebrated with frozen yogurt!  A great time!!!  Here are a few pics and a funny Olivia-ism to follow...

Over breakfast, I was explaining to Olivia that we would be celebrating Josiah's baptism in the afternoon. She listened carefully as I explained about baptism---that once we have yielded our lives to Christ and made Him Lord then we are baptised as a sign of our choosing to follow Him.  We are symbolically "burying" our sinful nature and being "raised up" to new life in Christ.  I tried to carefully show her the comparison of going under the water and coming up as burying and raising.  She seemed to understand and was satisfied.

Fast forward to the afternoon following Josiah's baptism.

A bit disappointed, Olivia carefully examines Josiah as he emerges from the surf and says, " You don't look any different to me.  I thought you were going to get a new body."  

....Hmmm. Maybe we still need to go over this a few more times  ; )!