UPDATE ON BEA

 

 

It's clear from browsing through photos on my phone that Bea is a very relational child.

Almost every photo I have of her, she is interacting with someone...and likely,
that someone is Nova. They are such precious sister-friends those two.

 

Bea doesn't tend to sit or play alone. She's often reaching for a hug.
She readily nurtures others and seeks nurturance from others as well.

(Daddy's girl)

It's not uncommon for Bea to run her hands over the details of our faces
or wrap them tightly around a loved one's neck.

 

 

Bea is very affectionate! She loves being loved. (Don't we all?!)
She's also tidy, obedient, tenderhearted, kind, diligent, and an all around likable sweetie pie.
 

 

Our lives are all blessed by Bea's generosity toward others, her willing spirit, her helpfulness, her radiant joy.

 

The follow up visit to the cardiologist yesterday after last week's surgery revealed mostly what we expected for Bea. Her heart condition is extremely serious and will require either 2 surgeries in the coming months, or possibly 1 major surgery, depending. She will also need a heart transplant within the next 10 years. The difference between her issues and Beck's are that hers, although severe, are identifiable, obvious, and fairly straight forward. In other words, she isn't the mystery our Beck appears to be...but she is a miracle. :)

 

Sweetest Bea, we all ADORE you, little one. I remember telling you through Google Translate when you first came home that we would "take very good care of you always". I remember you hugging me tightly, telling me you loved me (in Mandarin), and smiling with glee at the thought. Indeed we will, Bea. Through surgery after surgery and simply day by day, we will take very good care of you...always.
 

 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16



UPDATE ON BECK

"Why is he so cool?" Aida asks as she shows me the results of her photo session fun with Beck.

 

 

She's right. He just is. He has a magnetic personality, our Beck.

 

 

He is extremely lovable, a bundle of pure joy in our home, musical, charming, happy.

 

 

We fought for Beck. We prayed intensely for this child.
We LOVED him with deep love from afar, long before we knew him like we do.

 

 

And now he's here. He's ours. We're his.

 

 

We call him our stuffed animal because he has a tendency to just sit there and look cute. :)

Plus, he's cuddly, affectionate, adorable, and innocent.

 

 

I praise God for bringing Beck back to us after we had lost him for a stint in our adoption process.

He was SO worth fighting for...and we will continue to fight for him through surgery after surgery.

At the follow up appointment today from last week's surgery, the update on Beck's heart condition and game plan was partially what we expected (extremely complicated) and partly astonishing in that we hadn't imagined him needing to fly elsewhere in order to be operated on by the leading heart surgeon for his type of issues. Ya, we definitely didn't see that coming.

But God...

He did. He always knows. We trust Him. We love Him. And, we love our precious Beck. We will do whatever it takes to give him "the best chance for survival" (cardiologist's words). We will...because he's our son, and that's what mommies and daddies do.

 

I can't wait to see how the Lord uses Beck's life story to touch the lives of others...I know He will. He already has!
 

Becker, we love you with overflowing LOVE...all of us! We really, really do! And, Jesus does too!

 

"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure."

Psalm 16:8-9

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOVA!

 

You are very special today...and every day!

Your gentle spirit is such a blessing to everyone who knows you!

 

 

Mommy and Daddy love you SOSOSOSOSOSO much!!!

May your life shine brightly for Jesus all your days.

 

Happy 6th Birthday sweetest Nova!!

 

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens,

and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."
Daniel 12:3

SURGERY #1 UPDATE

Wow! It was a long day yesterday of roller coaster ups and downs. Beck's surgery went first and took twice as long as expected.
And it turns out our little guy's heart issues are much more complex than expected as well...at least to us. It's a comfort to know that God knows every detail of this child's heart that we love, that He loves. God created Beck with a beautiful heart and he's always melting ours.

After Beck, it was Bea's turn. Her procedure went the expected 3 hours and there were few surprises. Still, our precious Bea has a very complicated heart as well and will eventually need a transplant. These are difficult realities to face when we love our girl so very much!

Both Bea and Beck are exceptional additions to our family! We adore them!

They bring sweetness and smiles and hugs and affection and laughter and nurturance to us every day.
Our family is truly better because of Bea and Beck joining us. We're so grateful that God yoked us together.

Last night when Beck spiked a high fever and ended up in CVICU for the evening, we prayed for God's hand to protect and heal our son! Late last night when Bea was able to come home at 10:30pm, we rejoiced that she was doing well enough to return and recover in her own bed. I slept by my girl and held her. I prayed over her and for Beck (and for everything else under the sun...)
and I found myself trusting God with our babies. He is so good after all!

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"
Psalm 115:1

There was celebrating this morning when the wagon photo text came through!
(At the children's hospital, wagon = homecoming!)

Our Beck's chest X-ray revealed good news and his fever had gone down.
We praised the Lord for turning his health for the better and allowing him to come home!

(Loving his Oreo)

 

 

Beck brings us all so much joy! Even the thought of him coming home was smile-inducing!!

 

Nova carefully made her card for Bea before she awoke this morning.

She couldn't wait to give her sister her gift.

 

 

Bea was SO happy to be home. Bea LOVES family.

 

 

When Beck arrived home this morning, he greeted each person by name, hugging everyone and talking all about the doctor.

It was a blessed reunion indeed, full of love and gratitude that the Lord brought home safely our Bea AND our Beck!!

 

 

"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

Psalm 126:2-3

SURGERY #1 - BEA & BECK

"Be strong and courageous..." It's easier said than done.

I kiss my babies goodbye and the memories of the last goodbye's I've had before flash like lightning, 

exposing raw the soft spots on my heart...the parts that don't feel very strong or courageous.

But, I read on.

"Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

And so He is. The Great Comforter, Healer, Physician, Best Friend anyone could ever know,

HE is with me, HE is with Bea, HE is with Beck. He loves us. He is trustworthy.

The cardiologist performs 2 exploratory surgeries per Monday. Today his 2 are Bea and Beck. Their investigations are expected to take about 3 hours each and we pray for no complications, trusting that God has a perfect plan no matter the outcome.

It's so ironic, how I find myself trusting Him with the gigantic issues at hand more faithfully than I'm able to offer up the small stuff like separation from my loved ones for the day or owning peace as I attempt to live out the trust I know in my heart.

Why does the flesh battle so with the spirit?

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:41

So it is...and with acceptance of such things I choose prayer that I might not succumb to the temptation to fear that which seems worthy of trembling. But, all the more do I tremble at the thought of God's grace and omniscience, His sovereignty and how He works all things for good...even my fumbling fears. The enemy throws fiery darts, but Jehovah Jireh protects and provides.

He is sufficient. His Hand is upon the details and He cares.

They sat in the waiting room with their Bibles early this morning before dawn, these two.

Our little sweeties, so innocent and trusting us, not knowing anything of their heart conditions.

But there is something that they have undoubtedly come to know in the time they have spent in our family:

Jesus LOVES Bea and Jesus LOVES Beck.

They know it. They sing it. They cling to their Bibles, literally to the point of choosing to sleep with them each night. They look at the picture of Jesus with the children and we tell them, "Jesus loves the children." And they say, "Jesus loves Bea"/"Jesus loves Beck."

They know.

So this morning, with their Bibles and special blankies in tow, Bea and Beck entered into part of our mission in their lives, the starting point of physical restoration for their human, broken hearts. AND, we pray for them, witness to them, show them the gospel in every way we can on mission for the redemption of their spiritual hearts as well. God brought them both to us and offered us to them with purpose and today, as our beloved Bea and Beck encounter the first of a series of open heart surgeries, Lord willing, we partake in the multifaceted mission for Bea and Beck's hearts...prayerfully.

Meanwhile, God is working out His will in all of us as we choose to trust Him, choose to pray, choose to push aside anxious thoughts to focus on that which is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy instead. We believe that God is God, His plans cannot be thwarted, and that they are always good. These are the things we're choosing today as we journey through surgery #1.

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."
Job 42:2

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you."

Philippians 4:4-9

DOLLHOUSE

 

Our girls play "family" constantly.

They dress up, build forts, choose rooms, outfit and feed dolls, build their nests.

 

I pray they always will!

 

"A wise woman builds her home."

Proverbs 14:1

 

With Nova's  birthday coming up, and considering she plays with her dollhouse figurines daily, though her well-loved and sadly retired previous dollhouse officially broke one too many times to repair again, we figured a new dollhouse was just the gift for our nurturing little almost-6-year-old (and her eager siblings too.)

 

Looking around online it was obvious that we could build something to meet our desires for significantly less than buying one, and plus,

I always prefer homemade! We knew we wanted a wooden house, open on both sides so siblings could play together, facing one another (and it's always a joy for us parents to watch the children play from the front vs. just seeing them from the back).

 

Mostly, we wanted it to be...simple.

 

Some of the most creative play brews in the simplest of beginnings. And so, with sort of makeshift plans in mind,

we set to work yesterday building a home for our little mommies (and daddies) to-be to play house in...now.

 

First, the boys bought the wood, taking into account the size of the new wooden

furniture the girls had gotten for Christmas. Thanks, Oma and Funny Grandpa!

 

 

Next, measurements and plans were crafted and cut by our resident hero.

 

 

Thanks for your constant willing heart, Brodie!

 

 

Next, we assembled the sides and floors with simple screws and glue.

 

 

After dividing the rooms, we decided on a roof that allowed for play from both sides in the upper attic floor.

 

 

And there you have it!

 

We were so excited to present the finished dollhouse to our elated and earnest little ones,

we couldn't possibly wait until Nova's real b-day!

 

 

Nova, in particular, didn't leave the dollhouse play until dinner.

 

 

Busy, busy, busy...

 

 

I have a feeling this dollhouse will be in the family for a while,

simple as can be, but full of love and heart.

 

"For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God."

Hebrews 3:4

OLIA LILY

 

Olia is one of those sunshiny people that makes me feel...calm.

She's gentle and quiet, polite and sweet, feminine, lovely, and kind.

 

 

She's always reminded me of an old fashioned Danish doll, coiffed and ladylike in posture.

She flutters about in skirts and dresses, twirling through life with a whistle (literally) and song.

Olia sees the world as a happy place...If only more people could see through Olia's rose-colored lenses.

 

 

I wouldn't mind being more like Olia, carefree, whimsical, dancing wherever the wind takes her.

Her flowery, butterfly personality is contagious and she softens a room when she enters.

 

 

We had fun playing with hair before bedtime last night, my sweet daughter Ols and I. 

No matter how many children the Lord blesses me with, I'll always savor the simple alone time with each ONE.

 

It's not often elaborate and doesn't have to be planned, but I find that my most cherished, beloved, quality time mommy moments are found rather surprisingly tucked into the Quantity Time of each day...usually when I'm least expecting. Though, I'm perpetually on the lookout for such nostalgia, always intentionally seeking the moment worth seizing. The tiniest, most easily missed opportunities woven into the simplicity of "merely" a day-in-the-life collect like pools of love in my heart. I hope and pray the same for my children.

 

 

We're hoping to plant some flowers today...just us...Olsie and Mom.

She's our beautiful bouquet, and the Lord knew, when way back when we named her Olia Lily.

 

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you,
even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Luke 12:27

NOVA & BEA

 

We always hoped these two would turn out to be extra special sister-friends.

And so they are...two mini peas in a pod...sweetest Nova & Bea.

 

 "Love one another."

John 13:34

DOUBLE DIGITS

 

It's true...our Elka has hit double digits, though we all agree she seems SO much older in heart and spirit than 10.

It's practically hard to believe that she is. But she is...10...our colorful, vibrant, rainbow daughter/sister/best friend.

 

Elka, you bring much joy, nurturance, generosity, creativity, affection, and depth to our family.

We all love you immensely and are extremely grateful to have wonderful you in our lives.

 

Happy 10th Birthday to our double digit girl!!

 

"Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

DEVOTIONS

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
Psalm 119:11

 

I walked upstairs this morning to find Brodie reading a picture Bible to the boys all snuggled up on his top bunk. {melt} 

 

 

It's been sweet to see the older kids take on our commitment to early morning devotions with the Lord,

but how much sweeter even still it is to see them nurture their younger siblings in the same way.

 

This was one of those tuck-away moments where we get a peek into what the Lord is doing in the hearts of our children. Though sinners we are, with daily reason to repent, the beautiful reality is that in spite of our flaws and fails, God is at work in each life. He is creating masterpieces in each soul for His glory and it's a gift to see that cultivated in the simplicity and practice of morning time devotions.

 

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

Psalm 143:8