3 Years Ago

Three years ago it was Easter today. I remember that it was a gorgeous day and I wanted so desperately to be able to enjoy the glorious day with my family, but my heart was full of hope and worry as I clung on with desperate faith.

It is hard to believe sometimes that it ever happened as I look at my son today. But sometimes it seems like we just barely got home from the hospital. Funny how time plays tricks with you.

This year Easter was on the day that Jacob was rushed to the hospital three years ago.

It was an odd sensation going to the hospital this year to volunteer on Easter Sunday. Being so close to his surgery date, being the anniversary of the day it all started, most of all it being Easter.

How can I describe how marvelous it is to not only celebrate the rising of our Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ, but to also celebrate the life of our son on Easter.

I know that our Saviour lives and loves us, and I know that even though we all go through hard times where we wonder how on earth can we can possibly make it through, that he understands. He is with us every step of the way and when we have no more strength to walk on our own he gathers us into his loving arms and carries us. He and our ever loving Heavenly Father want so desperately to help, comfort, and guide us. We simply need to ask.

I know I am a bit late with my Easter tribute. But Christ the Lord is indeed risen, and I as words fail to express how my heart feels, I rely on a favorite hymn:

“I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

I marvel that he would descend from his throne devine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
So mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!”

And he is risen! How glorious it is!

A Flat

Dorothy got whacked in the head. Actually she got whacked in the mouth. She came crying to Daddy for some much needed comfort.

“Now I am going to have a flat,” she cried as Daddy gave her a big hug.

Dad got a confused look on his face and held her out at arms reach. “A what?”

“A flat,” she repeated and pointed to her lip.

“You mean a fat lip,” he said laughing.

“Yeah, a flat lip!” Dorothy said.

Zoo in the Rain

The kids desperately needed an outing – or maybe it was Paul and I that needed it. Anyway, Saturday found us heading to the zoo armed with jackets and umbrellas. We didn’t stay long, just an hour or two, but it was long enough to get some fresh air and see some fun animals.

We spotted some really wild animals near the rhinocerous

Some of our wildlife was sleeping sweetly…

… and being adorably cute!

Shiver Me Timbers Thar Be a Party

Arrr! I came to me home and found that a mess of scurvy lads ‘n lasses had sailed in to plunder me family room.

Captain Jacob commands his ship

The littlest Pirate will strike smiles in your heart

“Arrr!”

Pin the pirate on the treasure – at least he knows we consider him to be a treasure.

The game uncovered a secret map to the hidden tresure – GOLD!!

BOOTY!!

YoHo! A Pirate ship for me. And with a mighty blow the canons’ fire is put out and Captain Jacob is victoriuos.

The Kraken Attacks

I should have recognized the signs that Davey Jones was out to get me when I realized I had no powder – powder sugar that is. My friend came to my rescue and I thought all would be well.

We are having a pirate party for Jacob tonight and I was making him a pirate ship cake. I cut my two rounds in half and slapped some icing on them. Then I stacked the four halves together and turned them, curved side down, on my cake plate. I proceeded to ice the cake and was priding myself on one of my best icing jobs ever. Suddenly the cake cracked across the middle of all for halves and I watched in horror as my cake split apart. I looked like the kraken had attacked. I did my best to prop it up, but then the sides began to fall. I quickly propped them up.

I sighed. The cake looked a wreck. A wreck! Any mom can make a pirate ship cake, but a cool mom will make one that is being attacked by the kraken.

Birthday Boy is taking a peek (he approved with a hearty “Arrr!”)

Well, I suppose my wreck of a cake turned out okay after all. 🙂

3 Years Old!

It is hard to believe that our little tyke is three all ready. To commemerate his journey I created this slide show… (if you click on the slide show you can change the pace, hover over a pic, and see a photo caption, etc.)

Oh, also, I was going to have “Angels Among Us” playing in the background but I wasn’t able, so just sing the song in your head… 😛

He’s come a long way.

Happy Birthday Little Buddy! We Sure Do Love YOU!!

Pay it Forward

I thought this was a really fun idea. So, here’s a chance to get something in the mail from me. My gift is coming from Karen.

Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment that says you want to receive something from me and you want to Pay It Forward. The first THREE to agree to Pay It Forward at their blogs will get a gift from me. I need your home address, so I will respond to your comments by email and request your addresses.

2. The three winners must do the same thing on their blogs, so the Pay It Forward challenge will continue.

Heatin’ it up

Almost every morning in the winter I wake up and shuffle out side and bring in a load of wood. I crumple up a bunch of paper and shove it into the wood stove, pile some kindling on top and proceed to get the fire started. This year I have had an interested little boy looking over my shoulder and often sitting beside me offering to help. But, as it is fire I gracefully decline his offers and tell to “keep away” and “not to touch.” Rather dissapointed he will often shrug his little shoulders and shuffle off with his head down to find something else to do.

Yesterday we had some friends over for dinner. They have five children also so we decided the best thing would be to grill up some hamburgers and hotdogs. Paul went out onto the deck to fire up the grill and found this:

Maybe he got cold one day and thought he could warm things up out there, or maybe he had a hankering for a hotdog and mom just wasn’t getting it. I have a feeling I better keep the matches hidden for a looooong time! 🙂

What is in there?

Jacob is fascinated with speakers. Every once in a while he will go up to our big black speakers and put his ear on them (we don’t have up very load because of this), fascinatedby the sound coming out. We were using just our little boom-box type CD player the other day. He got this amazed look on his face and put his ear up to the considerably smaller speaker. I wonder if he is thinking the same thing I always thought as a kid, “How do they get everyone in that little box to make the music?”

It is even funnier to watch him switch back and forth between the two big stereo speakers – amazed that two sets of people are making the exact same music!

Yay!

I have the hardest time finding Jacob Sunday clothes – especially if I want a tie. It seems that a lot of people don’t sell that kind of thing for little tykes. I can find them occasionally at Sears for a decent price, but non-mall stores only seem to carry them at Easter time and even them I am pushing my luck at finding anything.

Well, I found a new place for finding Sunday stuff – we have a Burlington Coat Factory warehouse not too far away and they have loads of Sunday clothes. 4 piece sets (dress shirt, vest, tie, and pants) for under $25 – I could even buy the little tyke a suite coat and slacks for only $25 – but a dry clean only suit coat for a 4-year old seems a tad bit risky. He’d look dang cute in it though. But I have hit my Sunday clothes happy place as every thing is discounted greatly and I can find things year-round, because unfortunately Jacob doesn’t outgrow stuff only during certain Holidays…