you...

don't care that your hair is messy. that others sometime stare at you. that you really don't care what you eat...as long as you do. you don't mind letting others help you. you enjoy laughing, smiling. you see life through a different perspective than me. you are remarkable. you let others push you til you get it right (yes, sometimes fighting..ha). you don't seem to mind letting others make decisions for you when you don't know. you love life. you love it when i sing to you...even off key, but you don't mind. you are beautiful....
you make me dream bigger.
you make me push harder than i've pushed before.
you make me see life through different eyes.

you are my gift...
you..are!

heart warming...

my daily visits with brooke have been to die for!
she has been so loving..
caring, full of laughter..
great looks, funny sounds..
unique humor, and timeless smiles!

i have been out of pocket recently because our break schedule has been a bit different lately...but come mid september i'll be back with fun pictures.

lunch

my weekly lunch with brooke was just fulfilling! this girl loves to eat...and loves her veggies. it was great to spend some time w/her yesterday at the group home and then today at the school. i appreciate those that work w/brooke and others at The Learning Tree to help children like Brooke.

brooke, you make me smile.

(this picture was taken yesterday at the group home)

visits

i got to visit w/brooke briefly today before i had to return back to work. this summers schedule has been difficult to see her for long periods of time because of our job. however, monday the boys return back to school and my time will ease up a bit. i hope to visit with brooke daily again in her group home/school.

the Lord is doing many things within our family. i'm watching His hand move and i will be eager to share all what He has spoken in secret at the right time.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Is. 55.8-9

Brooke, Jesus has got you baby..

lesson from a turtle

we have a new pet in our backyard. a box turtle. i've enjoyed watching him for the past few weeks after the boys captured him. the boys have asked many questions about him but one question in particular has stuck with me and i can't seem to escape the answer. the question was..."why does he have to carry around the hard shell on his back?" my answer..."protection, boys!"

on a somewhat personal side...these past few months i've allowed myself to believe in false securities/false protection. in doing so i only got further away from the "real" protection i needed. it left me vulnerable. i was in constant fear...always looking over my shoulder...trying to cover up with self-protection. thinking i was happy...i was really miserable. it wasn't until i let Jesus pull me back under His wing, shelter, refuge, and ultimately His authority that i felt His protection.

as the mother of brooke, i am always trying to protect her from getting hurt...and rightfully so. we, as parents, should watch over what we have been entrusted with. i'm grateful that Jesus has gone above and beyond to protect His own! He goes before us, behind us..."For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" Is. 52.12

a friend told me just a few days ago, "He's got our backs"....i'm sure our little box turtle is thinking the same thing.

how fun!

my visit w/brooke tonight was oh so fun!!!

she had just gotten out of the shower so i got to dry her hair and fix it...then we sat on the couch and she just laughed saying "tank you, tank you"! looking at me and smiling...and then laughing some more. at one point she reached her hand behind my neck and then grabbed me toward her to kiss me...and oh boy she did! it was OH so fun!!

i laid down w/her in her bed...told her i loved her and she said as clear as day..."i know"...i smiled and she repeated...broken English....but still the words were there!

she made my day. she always has a way to cut me to the core...