Forget about Everything Else

We have a lot going on these days...lots of things filling my hours and my mind.

Some exciting. Some hard. Some I can't wait to share with you, but...Chase is on a stretch of not sleeping well, and my brain can't formulate my thoughts.

So for today let's just forget everything else and delight in life!! (And in the delightful blessing of aunts!) [Yet in the joy, I will be praying at the same time for those families grieving in Oklahoma today.]

  Deep conversations with Aunt Jenna!

 

 

They Make Me Laugh

Me: Reese, when you get married some day, it's very important that you marry a guy who loves Jesus.
Reese: (very distressed) But, Mom, how will I know??

Me: Jackson, pick up your toys in the living room please.
Jackson: Okay. (Few minutes later...) Reese, come help me pick up my toys.
Reese: I already picked up my stuff.
Jackson: Please, Reese. What would Jesus do??

Jackson: I want to be a person who writes books when I grow up. (How did so much of me as a kid get put into this little guy?!!)

Reese: (running into the room and jumping up and down): I just have to say this out loud! Mom, you are the Best. Mom. Ever!

Reese: (comparing our scraggly yard to the lush grass in a neighbor's lawn): We grow thin grass in our yard.

Reese: Kara, do you have an ipod?
Kara: No, I don't have one.
Reese: Oh. Can you buy me one?

Chase hasn't said anything funny, but he has a funny game he likes to play! It's called Roll the Ball Down the Hill. Jackson suggested we write about the game online for other kids to learn about. He thinks it's a great game for kids to play with their special needs siblings.

Basically Chase picks up the ball. Licks it. (Yes, he still likes to lick any kind of ball. Every time!) Then he rolls the ball down the little hill in our yard. He'll wait for someone to throw it back up to him, or he'll come after it. Jackson says it's great therapy (which it is...walking up and down the hill) and he says it's a fun way to play with Chase. So there you go. Jackson's game is now described online!

He's getting so big!

What Mama Did

I am guest blogging over at Pruning Princesses about MY awesome mom!

You were the baby we almost didn’t have. I’ve heard mom say that more than once, her voice happy with remembering. She recalls my birth story, and the little girl in me wants to throw off my thirty-some years and crawl up on her lap. To feel her arms around me, to hear the story, to anticipate the shiver of suspense though I know how the story ends, to relish the delight of being wanted.

[Read More...]

The Truth about Mother's Day

My kids will celebrate me tomorrow - I think! I will celebrate my mom. The kids will celebrate their grandmas.

But Mother's Day hasn't always been celebration for me. And for lots of women it's actually a painful holiday. Death, singleness, broken relationships - Mother's Day is not always the mush of Hallmark cards.

Years ago, before marriage, I wondered if I would get a chance to be a mom.

Nine years ago I lost our first child to miscarriage on Mother's Day. So painful. I still haven't written in depth about that day.

Eight years ago I held Jackson, just a few weeks old, on Mother's Day and tried to balance the battling emotions...the intense love I felt for him and the guilt my joy brought when I realized that I would not have had Jackson had our first child lived.

 

This year my emotions lean towards amusement. It really is funny celebrating a rose-rimmed holiday when my life is a little more muddy and finger-streaked. (This post at A Holy Experience gives a great perspective on Mother's Day!)

 

So it would be so nice to say I'm a picture-perfect mother on Mother's Day weekend.

 

 

But really! Who am I kidding? Those flowers above...they are actually surrounded by dirty dishes. Not exactly picture-perfect. (They are smooshed up against the window so Chase can't grab them and fling them across the room. Because he will if I give him a chance.)

 

 

And I won those flowers at a Mother/Daughter banquet on Friday - not because I received an award for being a stellar mom but because I was the first to whip a diaper out of my purse during a game! Having a three-year-old in diapers has its rewards!

 

I made pizza tonight (the kids' favorite), but being the awesome mom that I am, I started the pizza before I realized we were nearly out of mozzarella cheese...so we had cheddar cheese on our pizza! Yep, pretty amazing mom right here!

 

(In case you're wondering, the little section with the mushrooms is for me! I LOVE mushrooms! My family does not share my love in this regard, but I still make sure I get what I want! Not exactly a selfless mom right here!)

 

This year Mother's Day has me laughing at myself and thanking God for my blessings...and pleading with Him to never let me take them for granted.

 

(This is my very first Mother's Day card from Chase. I think it will hang on my fridge forever! Thank you to his teacher for capturing him perfectly!)

Whirlwind of Milestones

We had an awesome, exhausting, rewarding, blessed weekend! It was a whirlwind of celebrating significant milestones in our family!

Matt's Graduation

Friday we celebrated Matt's graduation from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He now can add a Th.M degree to his M.Div. So proud of his hard work (and glad it's over!)

 It was a really long day since we arrived in Grand Rapids around 10:30 a.m. for rehearsal, and the ceremony didn't start until 7 p.m. The kids and I filled the hours with lots of bug, bird and car watching until Matt finished up with rehearsal. Then we made a stop at the zoo! That was a huge hit! (I did not like how the mountain lion kept eying Chase!)

By the time Matt's graduation rolled around, the kids were hot and tired. Chase about lost it, but Aunt Kara and Aunt Jenna swooped in to the rescue! They let me watch the ceremony, and they worked at keeping Chase entertained!

Eleven years ago Dr. Stowell congratulated Matt at Moody Bible Institute's 2002 graduation. Now maybe Matt is ending his educational career with another Stowell handshake. (And then again, maybe this is not the end!)

Jenna worked her magic with Chase! He finally fell asleep right before the ceremony ended.

Poor kiddo! Wakes up to a mass of people milling around. Fortunately grandpa was holding him!

Jackson's Birthday

Friday was also Jackson's birthday. In 2005 Matt graduated from seminary the same day we brought Jackson home from the hospital. Now eight years later, Matt and Jackson got to share the special day! Jackson loved skipping school, going to the zoo and eating out! (I do not know why he likes to pose like this!)

Tired...but holding his eyes open for his free birthday dessert from Applebees!

 

Kara's Graduation

On Saturday, Kara, Matt's sister, graduated with her masters in counseling. Matt got to attend...and enjoy sitting in fabulous box seats thanks to Kara's boss. Matt was very impressed with the food!

Nevins Lake Church

On Sunday we celebrated the 125th anniversary of Nevins Lake Church. This is the church we attended when Matt was in seminary the first time.

When we had no kids. When it was just the two of us.

Matt preached during the morning service. It was so good to be back. We love those people! I had fun showing off my kiddos! And seeing my former youth group gals married and carrying babies of their own around! Thanking God for blessing Nevins and the people there. And for their investment in a young married couple who were really new to the whole aspect of serving in an official role at a church. They were kind, generous and gracious!

Amazing weekend! Glad to spin out of the whirlwind though!

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

My little man turns 8 today!! Jackson introduced me to motherhood, and I wouldn't trade him for all the world! He has my heart...every little inch of it!

His 3rd birthday!

Here's a look back at the last year:

The Good of an IEP

Monday morning found Matt, Jenna and me at Chase's school for his IEP (individualized education plan) meeting.

(Jenna came along because I figured she might like to see an IEP meeting in action since she'll have plenty of those in her future as a teacher!)

I love Chase's teacher. I love his therapists.

But the thought of an IEP always makes me nervous...probably because I've read too many horror stories connected to these meetings. And nearly every blog post and article about IEPs stresses the importance of the parent's role in the IEP. I must be his advocate. I must make sure he gets everything he'll need to have a successful school year. I must know if the school's recommendations are what's best for Chase.

So. Much. Pressure! Or at least I make it into a lot of pressure.

But Chase's IEP went so well!

I loved hearing the teacher and therapists rave about Chase's smile and belly laugh! I loved seeing how much they care about him and how proud they are of his progress.

Granted, parts of the meeting are hard. It's no fun listening to evaluations of Chase and hearing how far behind he is. But his teacher and therapists so kindly gave me copies of the reports ahead of time, so I knew what they were going to say and recommend. That way I could get my emotions out of the way at home rather than at the meeting!

So the good in the IEP:

• We got to thank his teacher and therapists for all the work they have done with Chase.

Chase (i.e., mommy) used this picture to make a thank you card for his educators! And we brought along some snacks and treats, too!
 

• We walked away from the meeting so thankful for all the time and expertise and care that is invested in our son.
   
• We have a clear picture of what we want to accomplish in his school year this fall.
   
• We are happy that his goals seem more attainable than the goals made at his previous IEP.
  
  (This point is both good and bad. I'll admit it's hard seeing the goal go from last year's "Chase will increase his expressive vocabulary by 100+ words" to this year's "Chase will use 5 gestures in imitation to make requests in the classroom."
   
  That's a big change in expectations.
  
  So I'm sad he hasn't made the progress that they thought he would, but I'm also glad that they are tailoring the goals to fit who he is now that they know him better.)

We have an awesome team working with Chase, and I am thankful!!!!! We are ready for Year Two of special ed preschool!