my blonde-haired boy

Fierce. Passionate. Gifted.

If you ask me what are the words that describe Elliot Hale, these are the first that come to mind.

He loves what he loves.

He hates what he hates.

He wants what he wants.

Don't bother trying to coax him into changing his mind; pretty much the only way for his mind to be changed is through a clashing of wills. Sometimes I almost think there's something in the way he's wired that looks for the fight.

My little prophet Elijah, my tiny protective shepherd-boy David, ready to take on the enemy of his hour.

Even before he was talking much, he would notice patterns and eagerly point them out to me: logos, designs, hair styles, colors and shapes and sizes on various objects and signs.

He knows every sound that every letter makes, not because I've taught him, but because he has gleaned much from my work with Aubrey. His little mind gathering, absorbing, filing away.

And, of course, he's been comfortable with a ball in his hand longer than he's been walking.

These days, though, there are new words that come to mind equally fast when I think of Elliot.

Affectionate. Excited. Celebratory. Growing.

I see his little heart being shaped and it is breathtaking. Let me be honest and say that I wish I'd had faith for this more before now, but the truth is that at times I've simply hung onto the truths of the Word of God in relation to training because it was just so hard. But now? Now when he sets his jaw and very purposefully puts his hand in mine to cross the street, it is almost more precious to me because I know the deep inward yielding it represents.

I tell him often, "Elliot, I want you to obey me because I want you to obey God," and these days he says it with me, so familiar are the words.

He loves to celebrate people, which is a new thing erupting from his little heart. His proudest moment perhaps ever was when he "helped" Daniel make my birthday cake. "Mama, I made birthday cake for you!"

When one of the other kids makes a good play in a game or creates a nice piece of artwork or is brave while enduring something unpleasant, he is very quick to take note and shower said person with encouragement.

Often when he is struggling with disappointment or the agony of submitting to my leadership or just having a rough day, the surest way to minister to him is to pull him onto my lap, hold him close, and sing his favorite hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness. He melts in those moments, his little arms pulling my head down close to his.

We share some tight heart strings, my Elliot Hale and I. He has challenged me and I have challenged him. He has forgiven and loved me, and I have forgiven and loved him. Such a powerful person in an altogether not-so-big package.

There is much more to be accomplished in him and me as we walk this journey, mother and son, together, but lately I have been so reminded in a multitude of little things that God is at work in us both and He will be faithful.

And she cleared it!

When Aubrey was in the NICU as a newborn, her team of cardiologists began calling her "The Unsinkable Aubrey Paladin" because she seemed to defy medical odds and projections at every turn. In the most recent letter we received from them (in which they asked to do the heart catheterization because of their concerns about increasing pressure in her heart) they wrote, "Aubrey continues to stump the stars."

We know beyond a shadow of a doubt Who is upholding this precious girl. The One who fashioned her, deposited His likeness in her, and knew long before we did that there was anything wrong with her has sustained her and caused her to thrive even when she shouldn't.

Well, Aubrey faced another hurdle-- and she has cleared another hurdle!

Just... tears and relief and incredible, mind-blowing, breath-evaporating awe that she continues to have this testimony. It's like every single time they make a projection or have a concern about Aubrey's declining health, God just keeps strengthening and renewing her.

The specific concern-- dangerously increasing pressure in her heart-- has been totally alleviated by the heart catheterization done this morning. In the words of her doctor to Daniel just in the last hour, spoken with a chuckle, "We are free to continue with our game plan, which is... to Sit Tight!"

My little trooper did a great job at enduring the procedure. Her doctors did a terrific job and the nurses are currently spoiling her like crazy.

Most of all, God continues to show Himself strong on Aubrey's behalf. May He be glorified more and more and more in her life!

Another hurdle

Tomorrow morning, Aubrey will face a small hurdle in this race she's running. Her cardiologists have asked to do a heart catheterization in order to investigate what has looked, in recent echocardiograms, like increasing pressure in her pulmonary artery. It is a very minor procedure in the grand scheme of things, but the outcome could bear significantly on how soon she would need major heart surgery.

We prayed for her yesterday in church and I humbly ask that if she comes to mind, you pray with me for her tomorrow, as well.

She has been counting down the days, but not in fear. On the contrary, she is making a special, "just her" trip with Daddy and has been beyond excited as she looks forward to it! In turn, I am beyond blessed by this amazing man who has helped carry her (and me) through each day of her life.

I just love her scrunched-up-with-happiness nose in this picture as her daddy arrived home and then whisked her off on this adventure a bit ago!

I'll do my best to update on the results whenever we get them.

photo dump (and some accompanying verses)

So many beautiful, breathtaking moments this fall-- wedged into the busyness of life as a homeschooling family of nine. Moments that kept bringing my heart back to its center, moments gifted by a Heavenly Father who is daily, line upon line, precept upon precept, teaching me to not get overwhelmed or unduly anxious or inappropriately frustrated, moments that help me remember Who this is all about.

It's not about me.

It's not about my kids.

It's not about my generation or their generation.

It's about Him.

We are part of His story, and the sooner and better we learn that, the more joy we experience in each and every bit of our existence.

What's funny is that these moments are usually very much tied to this life I've been given, these children I'm stewarding, this mission we're about-- and yet when He is fixing my vision, I see right through the temporal, to the One who is eternal and forever praiseworthy; glimpses of the permanent right in the midst of that which is passing away.

For only a penny you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent. As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!

 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me. What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father's care.

Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

 The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

 

They find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night.

They are like trees that grow beside a stream,

that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up.

(emphasis mine)

Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him;

Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.

He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm,

And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.

 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

 For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock. Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

 The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.

 Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

 The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

"Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am."

Claire Evangeline = "bright bringer of good news"

Claire turned five years old on November 1st!

I was smitten by her as a baby, then I adored her as a toddler, and now I am daily delighted in her as a little girl. She is funny, forgiving, affectionate, warm, friendly, forthright, and generous.

Oh! So generous!

We celebrated with a small gathering of some of her favorite people, all of whom are adults and yet considered by her to be her best friends.

She wanted pizza ("Sergi's, Mom. Not yours." Well, then.) and salad with lettuce and carrots and peppers. Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (smart girl). And musical chairs before presents.

And although it was altogether a very simple affair, the table was set with pretty pink napkins and pink chevron straws, the chalkboard was updated to duly note the big day, the guests were incredibly obliging, and she was queen for the night!

She has asked over and over and over again throughout the past couple years for an "American doll" like her big sisters. (They're not actually American Girl dolls but Gotz dolls, but she doesn't really care about the details.) This birthday was the special occasion in which she received her very own doll-- Marianne-- and she has already logged countless hours playing with her.

We are so thankful for our Claire Evangline, a true ray of sunshine in the lives of every person she encounters. A part of me wants to freeze her as the cute little girl who says the funny things (every sentence these days seems to begin with "Also?" as though her listeners have been part of the ongoing conversation in her head/day right along with her!), but I am equally eager to see her continue to develop into all that God has created her to be: a beacon of light declaring Good News to a world that is growing darker and darker all around her.