Here We Go Again...

Just 5 months ago, we were here with our amazing Miss Lizzie and her soccer bear, Mia.

This time it is with beautiful Miss Lucy and her So*ia the First Bear.

Once again, the wheelchair is ready and I am hoping my back is too.

My sweet girl has worked so hard to get as far as she has in a year and a half.

It breaks my heart to know that she will be starting over again with leg and foot surgery, 2 non weight bearing leg casts and lots of intense therapy to come...

but she has done it once and I know she can do it again.

She is learning to be determined...

She is learning to be strong...

She is learning to trust that even when things aren't exactly the way you want them...

there is hope and there is a reason to look past the moment....

and trust that there is a better tomorrow....

lots more better tomorrows!

It has been hard with sweet Lucy...

learning to look forward and not live in the mind set that comes from living in this, day in and day out......

with no hope of a better tomorrow...

 but we are getting there, with every procedure, with every surgery, with every band aid placed, we are getting there.

  My sweet Lucy was more worried about the fact that I wasn't feeling well and that it would be hard on me to have to pick her up and carry her everywhere, than her own discomfort.

 Her hope is in her new found family and that takes precedent over her own comfort...

 most days anyway.

*grin*

My dear little Lucy rest well knowing that the Lord has a beautiful and perfect plan for you my love...

 and this is just a part of it all, a not so fun but necessary piece of the puzzle and now...

there are so many better tomorrows to hold on to.

 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Your family loves you sweet girl and will be rooting you on!

Charlie!

So last weekend Charlie was confirmed into our Church.

There were 18 others joining our sweet boy and each one had a testimony to share.

Charlie was called up last to share his, cause that is just how it goes with Charlie!

Nothing at all against the 18 other testimonies but this Momma thought they saved the best for last.

*grin*

He talked about our faith walk and the struggles that had gotten us on the right path.

He talked about his sisters' adoptions and watching as the Lord provided when we could not...

and he said it in his own “Charlie” kind of way.

*grin again*

He was poised and confident and funny and just so “Charlie” and we had so many remark about his testimony afterward and how it had touched their hearts.

Charlie loves to laugh and just takes life as it comes but there is a depth and a maturity there that most don't recognized cause Charlie is just so “Charlie”.

We are so proud of our sweet boy and his decision to reaffirm his faith.

I am beginning to see the gifts that he was given and I believe his will be a remarkable path.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10

Now later that same day...

Charlie got to just have fun...

doing what he loves to do...

play soccer.

His team made it to State Cup and in preparation, his coach asked another (girls) team to scrimmage and it was fun and it was good practice...

especially for Charlie as both teams lined up and shot on Charlie...

over

and over

and over again...

and he loved it!

 So this weekend the team headed up to State.

 It was a rough first day...
 

wet and cold....

 but they won and went on...

 to win the second...

 and they were pumped!

 However in the third...

 they were knocked out by one goal...

 and in this Momma's opinion...

 some not so great calls...

 but hey, the boys had fun....

 and we got to spend time with family that we don't get to see nearly enough of...
 

it was all good...

 trophy or no trophy...

 cause in the grand scheme of things...

 Charlie started the week with a win....

 in a fight that has already been fought...

 and a game that has already been won.

This is the verse I wrote in the front of the Bible that we gave to Charlie on Sunday:

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Ephesians 5:8

 Your walk is just beginning sweet boy and we are so proud of the direction you are choosing.

Thankful

I am so incredibly thankful...

and not just because it is Thanksgiving and Mom fixed sweet potato casserole, but because I have so many blessings to be thankful for...

all through out the year...

and while life ain't always easy...

I know how truly blessed we are....

and I know how thankful I should be....

all the time...

I have worked so hard this past year to try and be thankful in all circumstances...

 

 

 and while I have not always been successful at this, I am learning that it is through the tough stuff that we see the good stuff.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So I am thankful...

even when I am doing the third load of laundry for the day, even when the kids aren't being very thankful, even when the dish washer breaks, even when the microwave breaks, even when Hubby swears he is right and he is so not (wink), even when the cars don't run quite right - ever and even when the worries of the future creep in...

I am thankful.

I mean after all, I have a washing machine, I have kids, I have a dish washer, I have a microwave, I have a Hubby, I have a car and I have dreams of a future.

I am blessed y'all!

With all that is going on in the world today, what the heck do I have to complain about...

EVER

So, today, we officially gave thanks and after eating much of what we were thankful for (hehe)...

we got to have fun...

with our family...

 

 

 playing football....

 

 

 and just enjoying each other....

 

 

 and the time that we had together...

 

 

  to laugh...

 

 

 and to recognize all that we have been given and the love that He has surrounded us with.

 

 

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!