I haven't updated people for awhile on Josiah.
Well, some big news is he now has nursing care, and it has been a big help. He was amazingly approved for 40-48 hours a week and so there have been two nurses who are coming to help during the day. It has been a big help so I can do other things with Hannah and Elijah, housework and the other thousand little things I have to do.
Of course, it is a little different having people in your house all the time, but overall I am really grateful for the help because things were becoming very overwhelming with his care.
He is still being fed through a g-tube and his vision is very poor, the pediatrician thinks he is legally blind even though his eyes sometimes work. We think the problem with his vision is more on the side of the brain rather than the eyes. This condition is called CVI (Cortical Visual Impairment). Here is a link to the explanation for those who are interested. :) http://www.aph.org/cvi/define.html
About a month ago Josiah started to throw up very badly. For a while it was after every single feeding, and sometimes not only once, but multiple times after each feeding. He has started to do better, sometimes he can hold down his feedings, but sometimes he can't. Often he struggles with holding down his medication. This causes a lot of struggles because he needs his medication to be seizure free and comfortable. If he doesn't get his medication he is often in pain.
We are trying to figure out what to do about his reflux. Some medication seem to help, but none help totally. He has been approved for a fundoplication, but I don't know if his reflux is severe enough for that. Different doctors have different opinions. So, we would appreciate for wisdom.
I hope you all have a really wonderful weekend. Take care my friends.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
4 year old boys and the things they say....
Mommy, you are a thousand trillion years old, and you look so nice and you are cute.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Year End Questions
Many people rush into the new year with lofty ambitions and new
year’s resolutions without properly evaluating, and learning from, the
past year’s experiences. When we don’t intentionally unpack our previous
season, we aren’t fully prepared to grow into the new season life
affords us. With that in mind, I want to share with you some questions
of introspection I like to use at the end of every year. I believe that
when we deal with these questions in a very purposeful way, we are best
equipped to set new goals and clothe ourselves with the right approach
to enter the new year with determined resolve and clean spirits.
Questions for Introspection and Implementation
1. What are my fondest memories of .....? Who and what made them special?
2. Was there a beautiful moment(s) in which God revealed himself more deeply to me? (a relationship, a revelation, a serve opportunity, etc.)
3. What were some of the most meaningful projects, accomplishments, or activities I engaged myself in this past year? What underlying factors made them meaningful and how can I build these factors into my core values for the new year?
4. What did I procrastinate on and fail to get done this past year? What discipline can I add to my life to eliminate procrastination in the new year?
5. Am I closer to my friends and family from my activities this past year? If so, what activities brought me closer so that I can practice them more in .....? If not, what goals do I need to set to achieve greater relational intimacy in the new year?
6. The things that excite me most reveal much about my priorities. What did I celebrate most in 2011? What does this reveal about my priorities? Are they things that God values (such as one sinner coming to repentance or a person becoming more devoted to Christ, His Church, and His cause)?
7. How committed have I been to my local church: Christ’s primary and greatest agent for changing the world? How can I become more committed to Jesus, His Great Commission, and His Bride: the local church?
8. Who am I taking responsibility to mentor (discipleship)?
9. What happened this year that needs to be remembered, memorialized, perhaps recorded in a journal so I can return to it in the future and recall the blessing (or the rebuke) of God? Making such a record is like those monuments and altars God had the Israelites raise up when great things worth remembering had happened.
10. What have my prevailing feelings been (and what are they at the present)? What has been my dominant mood this year? Has there been a preponderance of sadness, of depression, of fear, of anger, of regret, of joy, of gratitude, of emptiness, of enthusiasm? How has that mood affected others?
11. What have been the “blessings,” those acts of grace that have come through others or—as I perceive it—directly from God himself? Can I express praise and appreciation (sometimes even written in a thank-you note or other expression of gratitude to someone)?
12. Who inspired or mentored me this year? Should I let them know how much they influenced my life?
13. Have things happened for which I need to accept responsibility, perhaps leading to repentance? Why did they happen? Were they avoidable and how can they be prevented in the future?
14. Is there a possibility that I am living in denial of certain realities? Painful criticism, sloppy work, habitual patterns that are hurting me and others?
15. Are there any resentments or ill feelings toward others that remain unaddressed, unforgiven? If I don’t deal with them appropriately, I will carry toxins into my new season in 2012. What must I do to deal with them? Do I need to release someone who has hurt me or apologize to someone I knowingly hurt?
16. Is there an overarching message God has been speaking into my life this year? Through Scripture? Through books? Through sermons? What has he been saying through those in my inner circle of relationships? Through critics? What insights swirl up and out of the deepest parts of my soul? Which of them needs to be repudiated, and which needs to be cultivated?
17. What are the things I might do and say that would make the people in my inner circle feel more loved, valued, appreciated, and even empowered going into ....?
18. Am I mindful of the socially awkward, the poor, the suffering, the oppressed in my local world and in the larger world? Am I in tune with appropriate current events in the world and perceiving them through the lens of biblical perspective? If not, what can I put in place this new year to help me become more attuned people, community, and events.
19. Am I closer to God now than I was at the beginning of ....? Why?
20. Now, what will be my goals and resolutions as I move forward into ....?
Questions for Introspection and Implementation
1. What are my fondest memories of .....? Who and what made them special?
2. Was there a beautiful moment(s) in which God revealed himself more deeply to me? (a relationship, a revelation, a serve opportunity, etc.)
3. What were some of the most meaningful projects, accomplishments, or activities I engaged myself in this past year? What underlying factors made them meaningful and how can I build these factors into my core values for the new year?
4. What did I procrastinate on and fail to get done this past year? What discipline can I add to my life to eliminate procrastination in the new year?
5. Am I closer to my friends and family from my activities this past year? If so, what activities brought me closer so that I can practice them more in .....? If not, what goals do I need to set to achieve greater relational intimacy in the new year?
6. The things that excite me most reveal much about my priorities. What did I celebrate most in 2011? What does this reveal about my priorities? Are they things that God values (such as one sinner coming to repentance or a person becoming more devoted to Christ, His Church, and His cause)?
7. How committed have I been to my local church: Christ’s primary and greatest agent for changing the world? How can I become more committed to Jesus, His Great Commission, and His Bride: the local church?
8. Who am I taking responsibility to mentor (discipleship)?
9. What happened this year that needs to be remembered, memorialized, perhaps recorded in a journal so I can return to it in the future and recall the blessing (or the rebuke) of God? Making such a record is like those monuments and altars God had the Israelites raise up when great things worth remembering had happened.
10. What have my prevailing feelings been (and what are they at the present)? What has been my dominant mood this year? Has there been a preponderance of sadness, of depression, of fear, of anger, of regret, of joy, of gratitude, of emptiness, of enthusiasm? How has that mood affected others?
11. What have been the “blessings,” those acts of grace that have come through others or—as I perceive it—directly from God himself? Can I express praise and appreciation (sometimes even written in a thank-you note or other expression of gratitude to someone)?
12. Who inspired or mentored me this year? Should I let them know how much they influenced my life?
13. Have things happened for which I need to accept responsibility, perhaps leading to repentance? Why did they happen? Were they avoidable and how can they be prevented in the future?
14. Is there a possibility that I am living in denial of certain realities? Painful criticism, sloppy work, habitual patterns that are hurting me and others?
15. Are there any resentments or ill feelings toward others that remain unaddressed, unforgiven? If I don’t deal with them appropriately, I will carry toxins into my new season in 2012. What must I do to deal with them? Do I need to release someone who has hurt me or apologize to someone I knowingly hurt?
16. Is there an overarching message God has been speaking into my life this year? Through Scripture? Through books? Through sermons? What has he been saying through those in my inner circle of relationships? Through critics? What insights swirl up and out of the deepest parts of my soul? Which of them needs to be repudiated, and which needs to be cultivated?
17. What are the things I might do and say that would make the people in my inner circle feel more loved, valued, appreciated, and even empowered going into ....?
18. Am I mindful of the socially awkward, the poor, the suffering, the oppressed in my local world and in the larger world? Am I in tune with appropriate current events in the world and perceiving them through the lens of biblical perspective? If not, what can I put in place this new year to help me become more attuned people, community, and events.
19. Am I closer to God now than I was at the beginning of ....? Why?
20. Now, what will be my goals and resolutions as I move forward into ....?
Wherever you go your shadow falls on others....
There is a powerful, silent, personal
influence, like a shadow, which emanates from everyone--and this
influence is always leaving results wherever it touches another person.
You cannot live a day--and not touch some other life with this
influence. Wherever you go, your shadow falls on others--and they are
either better or worse for your presence.
Our influence depends upon what we are--more than upon what we do. It is by living a beautiful life, that we bless the world. I do not underestimate good works. Good deeds must characterize every true life. But if your life itself is noble, beautiful, holy, Christlike, one that is itself a blessing and an inspiration--then the worth of your influence is multiplied many times!
There is not a Christian who cannot preach sermons every day, at home and among neighbors and friends most eloquently--by the beauty of holiness in his or her own everyday life. Wherever a Christian goes--his life ought to be an inspiration. Our silent influence ought to touch other lives with blessing. People ought to feel stronger, happier, and more uplifted--after meeting us. Our very faces ought to shed light, shining like holy lamps into sad, weary hearts. Our lives ought to be blessings to repair human sorrow and need all around us.
--JR Miller
Our influence depends upon what we are--more than upon what we do. It is by living a beautiful life, that we bless the world. I do not underestimate good works. Good deeds must characterize every true life. But if your life itself is noble, beautiful, holy, Christlike, one that is itself a blessing and an inspiration--then the worth of your influence is multiplied many times!
There is not a Christian who cannot preach sermons every day, at home and among neighbors and friends most eloquently--by the beauty of holiness in his or her own everyday life. Wherever a Christian goes--his life ought to be an inspiration. Our silent influence ought to touch other lives with blessing. People ought to feel stronger, happier, and more uplifted--after meeting us. Our very faces ought to shed light, shining like holy lamps into sad, weary hearts. Our lives ought to be blessings to repair human sorrow and need all around us.
--JR Miller
Thoughts after the death of a grandparent who is loved
My grandma died last Thursday. And today was the memorial and the funeral.
Of course, a death and funeral is always something that makes me stop and think. All of the sudden, the everyday things in life seem different. I realize that this will all end someday. That this truly is a journey. That someday I will be the one laying there and having people says things about me, and having my body be taken away and laid into the cold ground.
Obviously, death comes to all people. It is something we cannot escape, unless the Lord decides to rapture, but I never want to be presumptuous on that.
I keep thinking of the legacy my grandma left.loved me so much. She wrote a story with her life, and if I can sit still long enough to listen to the story, i believe I will learn much.
Grandma was always such a good listener. I was grateful that she was willing to listen to me so much, she was always caring about me.
I am sorry for the times that I hurt her. I never meant to, but I think there were times that I did.
I pray that I will learn the most important lesson, that of loving people, of living for eternity. of realizing that I am not here on this earth forever.
Lord, help me to somehow live for eternity, in the midst of the everyday. Somehow let other people be blessed.
Betty Scott Stams prayer
*~ Prayer of Betty Scott Stam ~*
"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposesAll my own desires and hopes and accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all
Utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit
Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt
And work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost now
and forever."
~Betty Scott Stam
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