"Not really My Thing"?

When Kevin comes homes each week from a trip he takes over bedtime for me. I may put Eli down, but he reads and prays with the kids, which is usually about a half-hour or more process--ok "process" is not a good word, how about "tradition"(?). I love to hear them praying together. Kevin was in their room extra long the other night. He later told me that Alexis' prayers have been getting longer and longer, he says "like her momma's." And he said that she says "Lord" this and "Lord" that and is using phrases such as "lift-up." That's my girl, talk to Him like He is sitting beside you!!!! Well this particular long night, she had a lot on her mind. She prayed for anyone she could think of that needed it (which is a long list these days) and then she began to pray about this, and I quote:
"And Lord, please give me dreams about my birthday party coming up. Give me a dream about how you think I should do it. Show me how you think I can make it cool, and fun for my friends. Because Lord , the last dream you gave me about it isn't really working for me, that's not really 'my thing.' "
HMMM? Kevin said he almost stopped her to chat with her about what she was praying for, but he stopped himself and just delighted in the fact that she was chatting with her Lord. And as for the whole dream thing? Well, that is between her and Him. But, I would sure love to know what the first dream entailed...
So, yesterday was a great day for Eli. The inflamation was down and not only did he take a three hour nap (Hallelujah!) he SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT last night! (Another HALLELUJAH!) It's been a month since he has slept through the night. I was so thankful. I felt rejuvenated the last couple days and am beginning to get a little bit done. You know it is bad when your 6 year old is embarrased to have a freind over and therefore, begins to frantically clean the entire downstairs before her friend comes the next day. Lexi, Aaron, and I cleaned till 10 o'clock last night. We had fun, believe it or not.
Anyway, I am thankful for a good night's rest, a scratch-free night and a clean house.

On a lighter note..

As many of you know, Kevin travels some during the week. He wanted a way to connect to the
kids better while he was on the road. He saw a commercial a while back that gave him a good idea. He grabbed "Raffey" and well, here you go...

The kids cain't wait to see these each day. There are more, but I just put up a few. Can't wait to see what Raffey is up to next week.

Midnight Plea

It's the middle of the night and I am not able to go back to sleep after being up for the past hour with a miserable little boy. I struggle writing this because everyday I come across someone who knows someone who has a child who faces life or death, and for Eli we are not faced with a life or death situation--just a daily battle with miserable eczema. These past few weeks of Spring have been an all out assualt on Eli's skin--he is covered in it--even his ears. The enzymes haven't managed it quite like they were a month ago. The guy who is working on this with Eli basically said that Eli gets it from both sides--internally and externally. Not only is Eli highly allergic to the very foods he needs right now--eggs and dairy, he is also highly sensitive to every chemical, pollen, fragrance, and whatever else is floating around in our environment. We allready know that when we take him out of his environment at home we can expect things to get worse for him. Our trips to Tennesse and Houston this year are evidence of this, but also even taking him to church takes a toll on him. Sundays are usually his worst days. I watch this little boy claw through his pajamas till he bleeds and am completely helpless. I can't even find something to make him comfortable. I can't rescue my son. It is a terrible feeling. It has taken a toll on all of us as well. You can't imagine what this kind of disease can do to your soul. I am beginning to understand the isolation that those lepers felt--and I don't even have the issues. But my struggles don't compare to Eli's. I keep hearing that he will grow out of it one day, but in the mean time, what do I do? Because I have no guaruantee he ever will . He is a visual of this broken world that we live in. And I think it will take His Saviour to restore him to the way he was intended. I am thankful for all we have learned in the process--how to take care of our bodies, nourishing them with healthy foods, being mindful of what goes into these "temples" we have been given. All these things have blessed us. But I still have a son who needs new skin, and who needs to be nourished from the foods he can't eat, who needs to run and play outside, who needs a full night's sleep, and good resting. Not even benadryl gives him that. I have prayed thousands of prayers for him and I know that the Lord has given him lots of reprieves--for that I am grateful. The only thing we feel led to do is to take him forward Sunday morning for prayers. We can't rescue him, but we know someone who can and so we are going to offer him up to the one who can heal all wounds. So, I ask for your prayers for Eli as well--that God would restore whatever is missing or broken in Eli. Yet, Even through all the itching and oozing and bleeding and very limited diet, he never complains about what he can eat and he still manages to make us laugh at any given moment-- we delight in those moments.
"Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes." Psalm 17:7

Houston trip

It's been 2 weeks since we left for Houston and 1 week that we have been back, I am just now getting the chance to post about our trip. I drove the 3 kids to Tulsa to catch a flight to Grandmommy's house. We had a great flight on the way down. The best part was Aaron's reaction to the whole experience. This was the first flight he could remember. I think he was a 4 month old the last time he was on a plane. He was so excited. There was alot of "MOM, LOOK! WE ARE FLYING!". He gave the lady in front of us a good giggle with his sweet innocent questions like "will we get to fly by the sun?" or "mom, will we hit a big wall if we keep going?" and I especially loved his thoughts after we talked about the earth being like a ball, "So are people upside down?" Don't you just love the thoughts in their little heads? I remember those thoughts. I brought a dvd player, thinking that I would need the help, but never had to go there. The experience was excitement enough. Eli did great, too.

I didn't get many pics of our time with Grandmommy and Grandpa, but I did get this great pic of Eli admiring the pic of them on the fireplace.

We went to paint pottery, which is our tradition, but this time Aaron joined us, and did a great job, by the way.

In honor of Bubba, the cat Granny and Papa had to give away on account of me being highly allergic, Lexi painted this black cat to give to them. It was all her idea, and I was very touched by the sentiment.

Aaron painted a firetruck. He really want his Uncle Ryan to have it, we will see.

Here are our masterpieces (not fiered yet, will post pics of those when we get them)

Alexis's favorite part of the trip was hanging out at Aunt Beth's house. She loved it over there.

They each had time over at Aunt Beths, and my granparents. Eli's favorite past time, as you see here, is building up and knocking down.

All 3 of them ate lunch over their house before leaving to go back home. They pulled out the tv trays which is a must at any grandparent's house. And they don't get mad when one knocks over and gets yogurt all over the floor!

Last moments with Grandmommy, for now, I mean.

My sweet grandparents with me and the 3 kids. I am thankful they are still around to know my kids. We love them so much. Doesn't my MaMaMa look great after 4 broken ribs and a scary hospital stay. She is amazing Don't worry, my DaDaDa pretends he is grumpy, but we all know...

He really isn't...

See? And he looks great, too. Doesn't he?

Baby and Butterflies

Eli has become a target for teasing at mealtime. The kids know how focused he is on his food, so they take the opportunity to pick on him. They thought it would be funny one day to pull down his pants while he was standing in his seat. He got cold so he squatted. In the other pic he is wearing the tag he has to wear at church in the nursery. I guess they felt like he needed to have it on at all times. Eli takes it very well. He doesn't mind a good laugh at his expense. In fact, I think he rather enjoys it.

These are pics of our field trip to the butterfly palace in Branson. It was alot of fun. The kids loved it.

Butterflies eating bananas

The tiniest birds. And you could get really close to them and they don't budge.

some of the boys with Aaron on our trip

I think Aaron was about to yawn?