We are STILL praying baby Zeke!

Your mama is a brave woman. Braver than I think I could be. She told me today you are having a rough few days. That healing isn't coming as fast as she wishes it would. Friends... his platelet counts are very low, his blood pressure too low and even his oxygen saturation is too low. He is on a vent and still those O2 sats remain low..electrolytes are low too.....He has even has a blood transfusion. Tomorrow an EKG and echo are scheduled to check his heart function. They have started antibiotics for a possible bacterial infection. Pray!!!! God Knows the exact circumstances.

also pray for their other sweet boy (#6) baby Sam, He needs another surgery as this 11 month old 11 lb little guy has started to lose weight once again.

Pray for their 5 other blessings as they are bounced around and cared for by church friends as Shelly and Donald cope with the challenges with 2 hospitalized children. Pray for those trying to minister to the children and care for them in their parents abscence. And pray for Shelly & Donald... as they face this storm that they remember that God is in control.

PLEASE PRAY!!!!

Bringing baby starfish home

I have a new friend at church. A special lady named Mary  She and her husband have created an amazing blog as they adopt a baby from Uganda. Can you help them out?

... Please "like" or leave a comment on our posts on Earth Monkey Mom's page today. Whoever gets the most action gets free advertising on their blog for a week! We could REALLY use this since we had almost no fundraising action for quite a while now... Thank you! ♥

Or you can check out her fundraising site here

Help them bring baby starfish to his new home.

Read their blog. and share their story!

A mama's heart

*****update 5/27/2011*****
Baby zeke made it through phase 1 of surgery today.
 He was in surgery for over 8 hours, He has a ton of recovery left to do!
 He will be sedated for the next two weeks which will hopefully give his little body time to recover and grow. KEEP PRAYING!
***************************

Meet my dear friends.

In this photo there are 7 baby blessings... but one you cant see.

During the pregnancy Shelly learned that baby "zeke" had a heart defect.

But she has trusted God and remains faithful.

On May 24 2011

little Ezekiel Caleb

*God strengthen's the heart*

was born.

His Aunt said, "He's tiny but feisty"

and at 3lbs 14 ozs

he arrived

7 weeks ahead of schedule.

so far he is stable.

but he has a long way to go.

And on Friday he will be having heart surgery.

His mama trusts God.

But her heart hurts.

She has barely even held this tiny blessing.

She earnestly wants to pray that the Lord's will is done

but

that is so very hard.



"Unless plans change, Ezekiel's surgery will be this Friday.  We will move to PICU tomorrow, recover there then most likely return to NICU due to being early and his size. His heart defect is slightly different than they thought ...in laymens terms they have to reconstruct his broken heart. IN semi medical jargon--congenitally corrected transportation of the great arteries-aorta connected to r ventricle, pulmonary artery connected to the L ventricle. his L ventricle is connected to his R atrium &; his R ventricle (which is hypoplastic-too small) is connceted to his L atrium (this is backwards!). His mitral valve &; tricuspid valves are reversed. His tricuspid valve is stenotic (blocked, non functional) &; some word that meant misplaced, flaps the wrong way or something like that (sorry a bit overwhelmed). his aorta is hypoplastic (too small ascending &; descending) &; he has coarctation of the aorta (the way the aorta arches is wrong) he has a VSD (ventral septal defect)-a hole bw/ the lower chambers of his heart. he has patent foramen ovale (but that is due meds &; a good thing bcuz it keeps the blood flowing freely til surgery) he has experienced some hypertension &; apnea due meds -so he is on additional meds. he had some metabolic acidosis episodes as well. tpn (total parenteral nutrition--IV nutrition) may be started today. It is a total blessing that my ob was wise enough to administer betamethasone (steroid to mature lungs in utero). Zeke is still breathing on his own. (w/ heart kids the Oxygen/intubation can do harm as well as good). had kidney U/S, will have head U/S. results of those later"

As you can see she is a bit overwhelmed. So I am asking you all to join me in prayer. Her 11 month old is still itty bitty (Samuel 11 months old and 11lbs) missing chromosomes and has had a year filled with his very own medical issues. Pray for her husband Donald as he cares for him and the other 5 children. Pray for dear friends as they watch the older 5 children while their daddy travels back and forth to the hospital over 3 hours away from *home* (which is relative as they have no immediate family nearby because they are active duty military)  AND takes care of baby Sammy.

                                                          baby Sammy Above                                                           
She has been unable to hold Ezekiel except for the moments right after he was first born.

She has asked us to pray that her children get to see Ezekiel before he goes to PICU before he goes to preop prep tomorrow. Pray for his heart surgery. That Jesus is the great physician and carefully uses the surgeons hands to knit his heart back together. Pray for the stress on the mama and the entire family. That they come together and remain faithful during this time of the storm. To remember that "God is in control in all things" (her words exactly) and that his "big" brother sammy continues to thrive and grow while she is away.
she sings this song to baby ezekiel. would you listen to it. pray for her and commit his little life to the Father... that he live to glorify God. That Shelly and Donald can rest in the Father's arms in an embrace filled with comfort, love and peace.

Will You?

a day not so long ago we met. 2 women - but very different paths.
her blue eyes pierced my heart.

I have 6 children that have been raised in and by the church, and while daddy has been away serving overseas he is still a very constant part of our family

she has a bunch of children, 5... I think. their daddy is away right now too. serving. but not in the military. these children more like orphans clinging to those people willing to invest in them but at the same time guarded.

We have a steady income. clothes on our back. a roof over our head. food in the cupboard.

she is on welfare. caught in a system. living in the worst section of town. her power was off for a week. they took cold showers. no heat. and her cupboards are bare.

my children still have a sense of wide eyed wonder about so much.

hers are hardened and have their innocence robbed by the world they exist in.

I have chosen a path even before Christ of the straight and narrow.

she struggles with addiction
and yet...

I am drawn to her and her children.
not because it's safe.

and its a messy, sticky and uncomfortable situation.
             but
   I am here. drawn into the heart of it.
I can see even where God would ask me

WILL YOU?

Will I what, Lord?
      be a friend?
         sure.
at first it was just at church.
   where for me it was "safe"

But is that really what God asks?

  WILL YOU?

Will I what Lord?
       encourage your children to be friends with her children?
     really Lord?
          HE will protect them.
   HE will keep them safe.

But still that nagging

  WILL YOU?

take it not one step further ... but way more.
   help her past the point of my comfort zone.
take the extra mile
  not just offer a smile and a hug in passing.
will you go to her house.
be her friend...
   so if the opportunity arises...
you might be there to be a mentor...
   even to disciple her?

.................... but I am not worthy of that.
and to be honest it scares me.

and I hear the Lord remind me that He will be my strength...
He will be the teacher.
     He will be the redeemer...
He will rescue.
   He will save.
He can show her
all I have to do is have a willing and open heart and give HIM all the glory...
 cuz... in my own strength
I am nothing.

I love the church we have found.

every week there are little shiny pebbles that are vivid reminded that this is where God has placed us.


just this afternoon I sat at lunch with a wonderful lady
who told me that they followed us to church last week
she said she told her son she was stalking us :)

I can't wait to get to know her better!


and the week before that met an energetic vivacious lady that introduced herself by telling me she had been stalking me ... our boys played together for the past few weeks and have really hit it off... only to find out she has other children with similar ages, and they homeschool.


teehee.

not in a creepy lock up your children sort of way.

but it's neat to see how the Lord is putting us right where we belong.


and we do feel like we belong.


just last week I got to sit with a young woman who leads a group of sophomore girls.
and I think to myself how amazing it is that God brought us here. now.


I can see for the past few years that our journey was not in vain. In fact each step required faith and growth.  I can even clearly see the trials we endured and how they worked together for good.
And now I long to drop roots and be deeply planted.

I can see friendships forming.


I want to let the Son reflect in all I do.

and I thank God for those shiny spots in the streambed that he allows me to see.

where we belong

For the last two years we have driven to the desert for the first of the year, and as a friend graciously opened her home to our crazy little crew, little did I know what kind of changes would be taking place in my life...

we have decided to move back to the desert.

Son Reigns Ranch is gone. we are not returning to what was.

I must have been asked a dozen times this week, if I am leaving this sunny beachy paradise ON PURPOSE to return to the desert.

Truth is I LOVE it here.
I do.
I love the ocean breezes.
the smell of the air.
the ambience of the wharf.
the convience of city life.
the relatively short distance to everything.
the fact that there are so many educational opportunities.
the beach.
the sunsets.

BUT

every.single.time. I drive to the desert I just feel like I am going home.
I mostly love the people there.
the people that became our friends and family.
I love the simpleness.
the smell of a creosote bush just before it rains.
the sounds of coyotes.
the quial running across the highway.
I love the joshua trees, each one different and unique... a piece of God's amazing masterpiece.
I love the horses and the lifestyle, even if it is harder.
I love the golden pink sunsets.
but mostly I miss my desert friends.

It was where we fit. like that puzzlepiece that just is part of the puzzle.
I cry every time I leave.
and I dont cry.
but I do when I leave the desert.

so.
it appears God is a God of second chances
(which I know but often need a reminder)
and we are being presented with an opportunity to buy a micro ranch on 1.25 acres out there again.
and we are excited.
in fact I have already started packing!

Once my guy gets back from the sandy spot, the kids and I will move back up there and he will come home on weekends. there will be a lot of moving parts... but it is doable. and I am quite excited.

I will miss the ocean.
a lot.
but having my dear friends (who are really more like family) will be more than worth it!

Desert Dreams

This free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox

So much change is coming our way, but for now just look at a few glimpses from the amazing week we have had with our desert family....

Praying for Mighty Sam

Please join me in prayer for this special little guy. He arrived early. His momma has 5 other children and is a dear friend of mine. He spent his first few weeks in the NICU while momma ran back and forth to the hopsital deperately trying to keep her family together while her Hubby was away at training - USMC style. Well today, due to less than adequate weight gain- baby Samuel is getting a 3 day (minimum) stay back in the hospital. Thankfully daddy is home with her little ones and this wonderful momma can stay with her precious Samuel but would you please join me in praying for this precious little guy! thanks!

the dangers of social networking

yesterday evening I updated my status on facebook... it read...

why, when people die, do we automatically assume they went to heaven?

well I sparked a debate. an unitended debate. apparently one of my "friends" had posted about someone she knew dying and automatically assumed I had seen her post.

I had not.

and when going to check what she said I found she had unfriended me...

and when I went to write her a message....

I found out she had completely blocked any inbound emails from me....

it was NOT a personal attack on whatever her status said, I hadnt even read her status... I had simply updated mine from the application on my phone... which hadn't shown me the update on her status... which I have officially never seen.

what bothers me is that ONE single comment can end a friendship.

are we so shallow that we end friendships based on status updates. I find that utterly incredible.

now I understand my status update had to be pretty close in succession to hers on facebook to have her take it so very personal - but what kind of friend doesnt even ask you to work it out???

and if this friend is "outa here" over a facebook post I wonder how many other faux friends I have out of the 200+ friends.... most all of which I have know in real life.... so I have decided to cool it for a week and take a break from facebook cuz it so isn't worth this kind of stress.

and as much as I love that facebook keeps me connected with friends, I despise that it divides people just as quickly.

so small

lately I have been overwhelmed with the little things....

schoolwork not getting completed
dishes in the sink for a meal or two too long
mounds of laundry (ya know, with 9 people living in the same house)
kids not listening or obeying as soon as I ask

and then I read Heather's journey with Emma Grace

or Ashleigh's journey as she heads into another long deployment

or my dear friend Casey's journey in the past few weeks as her family was surprised by her 7 yr old daughter's sudden paralysis

and then.
comparitively.
my world seems so perfect...
so rather than blogging...
I have been praying for them.

It looks like friendship

So this afternoon I found myself pondering friendship

What it takes to be a good friend

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend sticketh closer than a brother.

The value of having good friends

Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

I am not always trusting, BUT I am pretty outgoing. And a little over a year ago we left the desert, and while I have been trying to make friends there seems to be - for me- all too often a disconnect. In the desert I had a friends, but life happened- and we don't talk as much as we used to- and things happened to change those relationships to a degree- but I still love them with a sisterly love- but things have changed. They have moved on. They need me a little less.

I however fear finding new friends
I try.
but often fail.
I try to hold onto those old friendships praying nothing will change...
but
it always does.
then it hurts.
and I would prefer not to hurt.
but that means I choose not to love either.

recently I have met up with a bunch of new homeschoolers.

They have made me realize I was choosing not to love.
that - HONESTLY- I hadnt been as open as I thought about new friendships
so we stayed home a lot this past year.
I blamed it on life happening, our trials, not 'finding' other homeschoolers...
I even lied to myself a little and tried believing I was genuinely looking for friends, and I was to a certain extent, but I was also holding back... a lot.

So, to be a friend you have to be friendly.

The haze is lifting. ever so slowly. I have found a group of amazing homeschooling women and feel so at home with them... and yet...
there is that fear holding me back.
fear of getting to close.
pray.
fear of trusting...
keep praying...
fear of losing control...
having someone move away...
a misunderstnading...
anything...

and as the warmth of friendships rays wrap around me God says...it's ok...
trust them, you may get hurt but to be a friend you need to be vulnerable.

OH How hard that is.

Praying for Stellan* Updated

UPDATED: See for yourself, Stellan appears to be doing much better again!





Stellan has been in SVT again for some time now. MckMama & family need our prayers again as they plan to head to Boston.
http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/07/no-matter-what.html

I'm not who I was....

Tonight as I logged on to my facebook account an "old friend" started chatting with me. This was someone I knew back in high school that at some point (like so many others ) I was horrible to- As we were chatting he said "can I call you? Can we talk? " I agreed. somewhat reluctantly, as I have tucked that area of my life away with a giant DO NOT DISTURB sign on it. I am not proud of who I was back then. I was very sure of myself, self righteous, indignant, unafraid and couldn't care less about what people thought about me. Or so I thought.

I ran from that life, and honestly since marrying my husband - had rarely even glanced back (except with one friend -Hi MaryTara!!!). The rest as far as I was concerned could stayed buried in the past - but as always God has a different plan.

And then I found this cool tool on the net called facebook. And while I was looking for old friends from churches I stumbled across names and profiles of people I once knew when i was the person they remember, not who I am now.... And it was fun at first, to see who married who where they live now, photos of them their kids....

but tonight I was faced with the other side. The horrible reality of who I was. As I was talking to Tony (an old friend that went to the 'brother' school of the 'all girls' school I went to) I realized how badly I had hurt him, like I did to so many others. I have apologized to some -the ones that I could find- and those people have been gracious and even told me they forgive me. But I left a path of wreckage in my wake.

SO ... if you are here and you are someone I knew in high school or college PLEASE forgive me if I have wronged you, hurt you, crushed you, or not stood beside you in your dark hours. I am not that person anymore.

If you came here expecting to find that person you won't. You will find a heart filled with sorrow for wrongs I have done to others, wrongs I laid at the cross over 11 years ago but maybe did not come to seek your forgiveness personally. You will find someone that is still passionate about things she believes in- although none of those things in my life that today I strongly believe in- I would have stood for ...then. You will find a girl that has been hurt, beaten down, abused and survived because God has restored my life into something of beauty, not because I ever deserved it, but none of us do. That really is what grace is all about. You will find someone that believes in purity and teaching not only to wait for your spouse but from the moment God creates you he has your spouse picked out for you. You have a girl humbled that knows what it means to fall facedown before a Holy and Righteous God and while tested by fire, finds that the Refiner's Fire burns away all the impurities and things I do not need in my life. You will find a wife who chooses to love and honor her husband and follow him where he leads us through our journeys, who prays for him and cherishes him. You will find a mother, that fiercely loves her children- takes her job of a scripture teaching, God honoring, math tutoring, homeschooling, stay at home mom as a place of honor. You will find a woman who has made many mistakes in friendships, both before and after coming to know Jesus. You will find someone who gets joy from the journey, and understands a peace that passes understanding, and loves without limits. You will find a woman that still makes mistakes- no longer with malicious intent- a woman that finally understands AMAZING GRACE.

That woman, if you are seeking her, is here.

Our Thanksgiving Day

our friend Steve is gonna kill me for posting this
we were being silly
this looks like Po in Kung Fu Panda as
Mantis does the acupuncture and pokes his facial nerve

perhaps you can see some similarities...

still waiting for turkey....

standing on her daddy: on top of the world

watching charades: don't they look like they're having fun?

more charades

Their cat black bear wanted to go for a drive.
let's just say he was disappointed.

So what do you do on thanksgiving?
Charades?
Pictionary anyone?

this is just a too cute picture of Micah with his daddy

some of the boys waiting patiently to eat

It was not only thanksgiving,
it was this special young lady's 8th Birthday

friends side by side

after a long day
best buddies cuddle and share the days stories

smiles as we hung out

those of you who knew me would never believe this is something I absolutely enjoy doing...now

but here was out day of thanks celebration

We have good friends that have almost become our family out here. Being military the holidays can be so lonesome but not with friends like these. They are a terrific homeschooling family with 8 children. what is so neat about our families it that they get along and share tons of the same ideals. They built most of their own home- intially it was just a simple cabin- and they have been turning it into the neatest house around. They live 'off the grid' (and for those of you that dont know that term- it means they generate their own electric with solar power and don't rely on the power company). Since the blog started these kids have been in many of our blog photos. But today I would just like to say how very thankful I am for each and every one of them. I cannot imagine my life without them, and our lives are so much richer with them in it, and no, I didn't just say all that 'cuz they fed us turkey yesterday! When family is 3000 miles away it is comforting to know that God provides 'family' wherever we are.

kids coloring (thanksgiving theme)

Over the river and through the woods
to our good friends house we go
they horse doesn't know the way
so we took the truck instead
up to the mountain we go...oooh!

The cool mountain air
the fellowship there
and pumpkin pie to eat

so if we're away
and cannot say
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Here is a note
to tell you you're missed
and wish you a thankful turkey day!!!
Micah was thanking God not only for our family but also for 2 other special families we know and love who both happen to have 8 children each!!!! Daddy looked at it and asked,
"Is this how many children he wants in our family?"

Hezekiah colored this scripture

Arianna did a terrific job coloring these praying pilgrims
{I stand corrected... Arianna said "Justyn colored THAT one!"}

Justyn got creative and gave this turkey a 3D beak & gobbler

A cross by Hezekiah

Discovering our History

We are blessed to have friends out here that are not only locals, they know the history of this beautiful area. Monday, they took us off roading to see some of the historical mines and other places that are now only in ruins, back from when miners were prevalent during gold rush times, and cattlemen were in high demand. We learned where the natural spring was that they hauled water from for years before they go a well, that there are still cattle driven on those lands today, the ruins of a once very prosperous little town, several mines (one we actually explored a little bit) and so much more. We had a terrific day! A terrific tour guide! Great fellowship and fun! Between our 3 families including the little ones there were 16 kids. We have our own bonafide little homeschool group. Here are just a few photos of our terrific Monday adventures!

God's incredible creation was everywhere especially as we took this long and winding road up a couple thousand feet in elevation. The air cooled off and it was just breathtaking. Sometimes it's almost too much for me to believe that the God of the universe that created such majesty cares just for me... but Zepheniah 3:17 says "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
The God of the universe that created every part of this incredible world sings over me. not that I deserve it, but He loves me anyway.

jennifer

Weekend Campout in Burns Canyon

We have some good friends who live off the grid in Burns Canyon- a BEAUTIFUL area of this desert. Typically it is 12-15 degrees cooler at their place. Saturday we went up late afternoon, set up camp on their land and hung out til late Sunday afternoon. They have 8 kidlets and we have our 5 (that are present anyways) so there is never a dull moment. There are about 150 photo's from the weekend. Here are the 1st 5. (new at this bloggy thing remember?)
Jennifer