Sometimes I like to think....

I'm a good wife. :)

Happy Birthday [a little early] to my amazing husband!

I love you baby!

Totally Random...

My husband will be 32 in a little over 3 weeks! I'm pretty sure what I'm getting him, but since he reads this I'm not saying anything.

Katy [my little sister] will be 21 in just 2 1/2 weeks!! I have no clue what I'm getting her!

Jake turned 6 months on Monday. I can't believe how much he's grown in just the past few weeks. He's starting to somewhat sit up, although he hasn't mastered it yet. He's really paying attention to what goes on around him. He focuses on what you're doing now instead of just your face. Last night, mom was eating and he was staring her lasagna down big time. He watched the boys at church play basketball and was just fascinated. I just love seeing his little personality emerge more and more.

he's taking after me already with the self-portraits
definitely my favorite
there he goes again wanting to take pictures himself

i love this one even though randy looks constipated

love those eyes!!

me & Jesi [my friend's baby girl]

Charli is doing really well. She got her stitches [in her head] taken out this week, and she goes back next week for an MRI [to see if there's any tumor left and how much] and to have her other stitches [in her back, from the drain] taken out. The doctor said she's doing really well, but she has been trying to do too much so she needs to chill some.

Randy has to work a 12hr shift on Monday [Labor Day] so I'm going to the lake with Nanny, Poppy, Mom, Katy and Ryan. I love the lake, and I honestly thought when we went a couple weekends ago, that'd be the last trip for the summer, so I'm really excited to have one more opportunity to play in the water and get a little darker.

Something Special to Share...

Charli & I after church Sunday morning

Charli, Jake, & I

Jake & my daughter Shelby
Charli, Jake, me, & Shelby

I cannot even begin to tell each of you just how...well, I don't even have a word that comes close to describing what I'm feeling. We sang "Shout to the Lord" Sunday morning and I could barely even swallow and sing over the emotional lump in my throat when it came to "I sing for joy at the work of your hands." Charli surviving this surgery is a miracle. God has been so incredibly amazing in showing Himself the last week and a half. We were so scared she wouldn't make it, or if she did she wouldn't be "our Charli" anymore. Just looking at these pictures I can hardly keep from crying. Charli is back. Charli, Charli. Not confused little girl Charli (because she has seemed very "young" since the surgery -- just really really needing to not be alone, being afraid and calling when I'm not there, etc) but normal, regular, spunky Charli. I couldn't stop hugging her Sunday morning. God has been so good to allow us to keep her here with us. I am so thankful for His amazing grace.
She looks so good, you might not even be able to tell, but the only visible sign from surgery is that her left eye is still a little swollen and she's still having a little trouble controlling it. She has a wicked cool scar behind her left ear, but I don't have any pics of that.
Because she's told me herself, I know that Charli is so incredibly thankful and blown away by how many of you have prayed for her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

For the occasional reader...

Charli went home from the hospital Monday, only to be re-admitted this morning around 1:15. She has a brain leak and they had to put in a drain. It'll take roughly 5 days for everything to drain, so right now she's just on orders to rest. Please please pray that they'll be able to drain all of the fluid and that she heals quickly. I know she hates being in the hospital and most especially being away from Jake.

Thanks!

Tomorrow

Somewhere between 6am and 8am one of my closest friends will be going into surgery to remove a tumor from her brain. Charli is 24, married, and has a 5 month old little boy (my godson) Jake.

It's a very serious, very extensive surgery that should only last 6-10 hours, but could last up to 24 hours if complications arise. Please please pray with me that God will not only give Charli peace as she goes into surgery, but that He will make His presence known to those of us who will be sitting at the hospital waiting. He's promised where two or more are gathered in His name, He'll be there also. Many will gather tomorrow.

After prayers and lots of thought...

I am happy to say Randy & I have decided to be Jacob's godparents. :) We are very happy with this decision as are his parents. Thank you for those who prayed. Here are a few pics of the little man:

6 days old, my first time to hold him :)

4 months old (he'll be 5 months on the 25th)

Big decision...

I had a conversation with a good friend of mine last night that could change mine and my husband's life forever. Charli is 24, and gave birth in February to a precious baby boy Jake. She found out shortly after that she has a brain tumor. The location, specifics, etc I'm not terribly sure of, but she'll be having a major operation in August (on the 6th) to remove the tumor. Last night Charli asked that Randy and I pray about being Jake's godparents. I think the definition of "godparent" has become quite a bit different than it originally was. Originally being a godparent, meant you supported the child's parents throughout his/her life, helping to ensure that the child's religious education was carried out, and caring for the child should he/she be orphaned. Nowadays, (just from what I've heard) being a godparent is more along the lines of supporting the parents and being someone special in their lives. Charli is asking us to be Jake's godparents in the original sense. She is asking that should something happen to her, and her husband couldn't care for him for whatever reason, that Randy and I raise him. Wow. At first thought, I'm like "absolutely, of course." I love this baby. I love him so much and would do anything for him, it's just scary to think of raising him. I am praying with all I am that Charli's surgery is a huge success and that she makes a full recovery and raises her child herself. That is my #1 wish. I just have to look at all aspects of what could happen. I'm sure most people would agree to care for a loved ones children in the event that they are orphaned, but don't ever expect that to happen. As we are faced with Charli's health situation, we see that it is even more real in our situation. We have to really really think and pray hard about this.

I really just needed to put my thoughts down more than anything right now. We're just praying that God will guide us to the right decision. Please pray for us.