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this week’s
picture me {im}perfectly
post has been cancelled
(feel free to still link up though)
because…
it’s my sweet little L’s 3rd birthday!
(and mine, too!)
three years ago, today
i was in a different state of mind.
a very different state of mind.
actually, we weren’t even sure
if our little L would make it.
and B and i were learning a new medical vocabulary.
one that no person really wants to learn.
but today?
today we can see
God’s grace and light
so beautifully illuminated in our little guy.
every.
single.
day.
and for that, we are so forever grateful to God.
i mean, seriously.
how can you not smile at that face?
it’s impossible.
we have come so far
(and there’s plenty more to go through – this, i am sure of)
but we know that
we are not stronger
for having gone through all of this.
no, in fact, we are recognizing
more and more, daily
how weak we really are.
but, oh how strong God is.
and how fiercely He loves and adores us all.
happy, happy birthday
to my little boy
who has taught me so very much about Jesus
through these chromosomal and brain abnormalities.
But he said to me,
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
2186. birthdays
2187. our church
2188. friends at church
2189. His joy revealed through L’s smile
2190. remembering
not a lot gets to me these days.
not like it used to.
i mean, the kind of stuff that
really cuts way down in the heart.
even answering how old L was
to a stranger
caused my voice to crack and warble.
and the words “brain abnormality”?
you’ve got to be kidding me.
but a lot has changed.
in my heart.
because of what Christ is doing to me.
how He is refining me.
slowly.
surely.
but this.
this totally got to me.
but in a completely different way.
actually, in the exact opposite way
than anything regarding L
has ever affected me before.
while pouring over a recent assessment for little L
(never fun)
i came across these words:
“L’s entire family
(parents and his siblings)
have learned sign language
and use signs
to communicate with L
using a total communication approach.”
the joy that sprung from my eyes
in the form of tears
was just so big
and so mighty
and so relentless
and so freely there.
evidently grace filled.
and i just couldn’t hold it in.
and we do.
we all
use any form of communication
with L that we can.
and the bigs so happily and effortlessly do.
and until the moment
that i read it on the assessment,
i hadn’t once stopped
to think about how incredible they are with L.
the bigs.
with L.
their love and acceptance
for their little brother is so very evident.
they are really incredible.
i mean really, really incredible.
and they are willing
to go to the ends of the earth.
and back.
for their little brother.
what a beautiful example they are.
what a beautiful example they are for me.
and oh, how God is working in their hearts.
so… i’m going to take
a little blogging break
(it will be sporadic for the next two weeks)
because right now,
these four really need me.
and i need them, too.
i’ll be back on monday, june 25th (in two weeks).
don’t fret.
i’ll miss you, too.
and, if you want a signed book
for Father’s Day,
Simply send $25 via PayPal to
dontmesswithtravis@gmail.com
include a return address and any personalizations
(e.g. “To Uncle Bud on your 112th Birthday”)
in the PayPal memo.
for multiple copies, add $20 per book
(e.g. 2 books=$45, 3 books=$65, 4 books=$85)
books will be sent priority mail
and you’ll be sure to get it by Father’s Day!
All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
Psalm 38:9
2181. almost tasting summer
2182. hopeful futures
2183. quite in-between moments
2184. family time
2185. lots and lots of bubbles
well, after a very patriotic day
(more on this really soon)
we are gearing up for
a wild, wild week.
wilder than normal.
with the promise of
lots of highs
and
plenty of lows.
should be interesting.
very interesting.
but i am so grateful
that i have a Savior
who cares so very much about me.
and who guides me.
and leads me.
and pours His perfect peace over me
whenever i humble myself and turn to Him.
that is what i am looking forward to this week.
definitely.
My soul will boast in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Psalm 34:2
2161. chicken tacos enjoyed on the sidewalk
2162. the sun not beating down on us
2163. family surrounding
2164. receiving such an incredibly gorgeous invitation
(thanks to my sister!)
2165. being home again
remember this family?
well, i was blessed enough
to do another little shoot for them.
but this time,
she wanted to take photos of me, too.
so she brought her camera.
and this is what i look like!
this sweet little love was newly walking
and nothing was going to stop him from tromping all over.
we headed all over those woods.
my new favorite place to go.
and then we found some glorious wildflowers.
this was one of my
absolute favorites
from the shoot.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
Ecclesiastes 1:5
2141. seeing old friends
2142. hearing about their new adventure
2143. a quieter house
2144. making muffins with K’s help
2145. magnifying glasses
my little cowboy and i
just returned from an incredible trip to texas.
B kindly took us along on his book tour.
much, much, much more to come.
including wildflowers.
i promise you that.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
2121. airplane rides
2122. help at the airport
2123. leaving home
2124. coming home
2125. very smooth travels
oh.
my.
goodness.
how i love a good photobooth.
Mr. and Mrs. E
little J with D.
fabulous.
K and momma
(we weren’t quite ready for the first one!)
Auntie B on the other hand,
can totally pull off the “i’m not quite ready” look.
i told B i would meet him in the photobooth.
and then i got chatting away with someone else.
so he continued on without me.
happily.
Auntie B and Uncle J.
they were made for photobooths.
amazing.
more D and little J.
these boys loved the props.
Uncle S and E.
gettin’ ready for their big day!
Papa with the bride + groom.
Aunt CC and Uncle N
(who were also taken by surprise on that first shot!)
ahhh.
aren’t we so cute?
Uncle S and (almost) Aunt E.
nice cohesiveness.
i give it up a thumbs up.
D said “i’m a picture!”
am i right?
or
am i right?
nailed it.
the newlyweds.
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150
2101. swimming with the bigs
2102. a new bright blue bag
2103. falling asleep so easily
2104. parties
2105. a solution to a new problem
