A little reminder

Landry has been sick on and off since Thanksgiving.  Starting Thursday of last week and continuing into this week has been extremely challenging.  Today I lost it.  When I got out of bed she was fussing and continued to fuss for most of the day.  We are all tired and I have grown weary.  She broke down over something simple and then I (the adult) broke down too!  I ended up holding her and we both cried until she fell asleep in my arms.  Thank God for His grace!  A child is so quick to forgive and forget.

After waking from her nap we went outside and enjoyed our 60+ degree weather.  Once we came back in, she ate a snack!  It was the first time she really wanted to eat, so hopefully she is getting better!  While eating we listened to music and the song written by Laurie, "Like Nothing Else," began to play.  I have written about this song before and once again it served as a reminder of God's grace and love.  It is such a beautiful song and when it was written I was struggling with a lot of depression.  I had just had the surgery for the endometriosis and having a child didn't seem possible.  We were being sent to an infertility specialist and I was in a low place.  I knew the only way to survive was to cling to God.  He sustained me in those dark times.  He sustains me still and I forget daily that He is constantly with me.

As the song played, I looked over at this child of mine and instantly had to kiss her.   A little over two years ago when the valley was so deep and I felt like no hope for a child was ever to be seen, I had no idea what God had in store.  I had no way of knowing that I soon would be blessed with a sweet baby girl.  Today was difficult, but I wouldn't trade it, because all the tears of today were shed with my little girl.

Every day she teaches me about God's grace, mercy, forgiveness, and much more.  I may have to write once a year about his song.

I will rest in Your arms
oh God of mercy
there's no one that I trust but
You to hold me
You are my everything
forever I will bless this pain  
for bringing me to You

The day we brought her home

One year

Two years

Father,
Time flies and I am thankful for Your many blessings!  When days are difficult, You are there.  When days are easy, You are there.  Thank You for new mercies that are new every day.  Thank You for sweet reminders and friends who can write wonderful music.  Thank You for giggles and tears.  Thank You for grace and mercy.  Thank You for using children to teach us.  Thank You for forgiveness.  Thank You for memories.

Baby Brady and Christmas

I didn't do a great job taking pictures for Christmas this year.  Landry was sick on Christmas day and the day after so we just didn't take many.  On December 19 we got a new baby!  Brady is such a sweet little baby and we are so glad he is here!

This was one excited big brother!  He has come a long way since he was born four years ago.  He is a little fighter.  Bryce loves his baby brother and he is also a great older cousin!

Grandpa and Bryce rushing to see baby Brady!

Landry felt great on Christmas Eve so we got a few pictures from that day!  We had a lot of fun building a pop tart house!  Who needs gingerbread?  Our house ended up falling apart, but it was fun to put together.

See how much fun she was having?!

Alan drew this when he was a little boy!  His mom had it framed for us and I was super excited about it!

Landry was able to take a few pictures on Christmas day!  She got a pony from Mae Mae and Grandpa that stole her heart!

She wasn't happy about this picture, but it had to happen!  Sorry baby girl!

Hannah and I made our Memommy's butter cake.  It was good, but it just can't compare to the one she would make for us every birthday!  This cake takes a lot of work and she made it anytime we asked.

She finally started feeling better!

This little girl had eight Christmas parties plus gifts from mom and dad!  I'm a little sad that I didn't get pictures of what she had under the tree on Christmas day.  It was kind of pitiful, because on that day she just wanted to snuggle and forget about the gifts.  I am so thankful she is better!  The first gift she opened at my moms was the sweetest!  It was probably one of the cheapest and my mom really got it as a little something extra, but Landry was so excited!  She was so appreciative of the first few gifts.  After opening gifts for almost eight straight days a change was evident!  She just wanted more and a week later she still asked "open present?"  We are just recovering from all the spoiling that occurred, but it was fun!  

I posted some other BIG gifts on instagram that were given to her this past Christmas.  She now has a unicorn from Pops and Maimes that I can ride!  She wasn't so sure about it at first, but she has warmed up to it!  She likes when someone is on it with her!  Her Missy and Papa gave her a keyboard that she loves! Grandpa and Mae Mae gave her a leapster computer that rarely leaves her side.  Out of everything I still think the very first thing she opened, which was a little cell phone from my mom, has been her favorite toy!  She sleeps with it!  No kidding!  She sleeps with the phone!  It doesn't make noise or do anything fancy, but she loves it!  I love how the simple things in life can bring so much joy!