Oops I did it again...

can't seem to get that song out of my head lately after the big birthday bash at our house this past sunday. we had twelve of Bailee's friends over for her hannah montanna birthday party...complete with hannah montana guitar hero, twister, truth or dare and karoake! of course the only song they remotely were familiar with was "oops i did it again"! so that was the song of choice, although Bailee and i have been having fun with the karaoke mic ever since the party ended!

but, oops we did do it again. more on this in future postings...

Birthday Bliss

happy birthday Bailee! oh to be 8 years old again. how exciting birthdays are when all you dream of is webkinz, high school musical 3, hannah montana and money (to save for the wii!). it is amazing to see how much she has grown up, not just physically, but wordly. she is such a compassionate and kind soul and seems to be wise beyond her eight years. her little sister really thinks the world of her and has been combing our house these past few weeks looking for treasures to wrap up to give Bailee for her birthday. she even gave her one of her own unopened Christmas gifts! sweet.

Lord, i am so thankful for the children that you have blessed me with. and i am so thankful that Bailee is celebrating another birthday. please help to remind me that everyday for them should feel like their birthday, for i know that they need to feel this special every day of their lives.

we love you Bailee!

Peace

well, it has been a sad week. my heart truly breaks for Cora's family and i have found myself crying at random times throughout the day as i think about what her mom and dad are feeling. i seem to be preoccupied with this and find myself checking their blog site often, just hoping for a small sign that they are surviving the most devastating event of their lives and that they are doing a "little" alright...if that is even possible. just looking for hope, as they seem so strong in their faith. they have truly been an inspiration to me.

while i go through the motions of my day, i am reminded of my many blessings. there are many challenges...teaching adolescents, my children, daily demands of life and household tasks, but i believe that something is changing inside me. not sure what exactly, but there is a small glimpse of peace that once was not there.

i pray that Cora's family will soon feel peace in their broken hearts.

I can only imagine...

Cora went to be with Jesus. please pray for her parents and her family as they navigate a new journey without their baby girl.

i can only imagine the pain they must be feeling.
i can only imagine the release of pain Cora is feeling in the arms of her Savior.
i can only imagine the tears that will be shed with the passing of this child.
i can only imagine the tears that Jesus has shed knowing that his child has suffered.
i can only imagine being torn between the devastation of losing a child and the celebration of her homecoming in heaven.
i can only imagine.

Cold

is how i feel today. not only physically cold, but emotionally cold as we work through some challenges with our oldest daughter and her struggles in second grade. but then i think of Cora and i wonder why these smaller struggles seem to fill us with such disdain.

Bailee is a wonderful child. she is full of love, kindness, playfulness, curiosity, life and vigor. the first 3 years of school (including preschool) were comfortable. she was praised for her well behavior and her teachers all thought the world of her. academically she seemed to be right on target, actually above grade level. and then second grade came and she is struggling. as a teacher, myself, my heart breaks as i observe her defeated and frustrated with school and the tasks that she used to be so eager to explore. what a long, exhausting road to travel if we don't find a way to properly assist her with these challenges.

and then i feel guilty of thinking about long, challenging roads, as baby Cora struggles for her own little life. what a change in perspective. i should be thankful for my own daughter's challenges because they seem so minor in comparison to bigger world issues or even little world issues, like Cora's little world.

hooked up to so many machines
that are breathing life into her as her little body fights
to have a chance at the long, challenging road of life.

i pray for baby Cora's fight against this awful cancer and i pray that i would keep this wordly perspective. i am blessed by the struggles that God has placed in my path.