Jesus Loves Guitar Solos

I dare you to name three tiny Asians that can rock an Elmo guitar solo during a hymnal melody on the way to school in the morning. Any three will do.

Ok...name just one:

 (forgive the shakiness...it's getting more & more difficult to drive and be entertained by this child!)

A Mile In The Woods

It's been a particularly wet winter, even by Seattle standards. I think I read somewhere that we have had twice as much snow as some parts of upstate New York, and we are expecting another 3 inches tonight. (Sorry to steal your thunder upstate NY). 

But today was dry. And sunny. And if your hands were in your pockets just right, warm. So we escaped to the woods and mucked around for a while. I was so impressed...Isaac trekked the entire mile around the lake without whining or being carried once! I NEED someone to understand the victory in that statement. He walked 5,280 feet BY. HIM.SELF. That's huge. For all the reasons that include my back, right hip & shoulders, but also that his physical stamina is increasing. Activity intolerance is a real issue with Down syndrome. When your muscles don't have all the functioning & twitching fibers that the rest of us do, even playing in the backyard like a typical kid can wear you out fast. But not today...

Spring is trying REALLY hard to come!

Boys with sticks in the woods makes me happy :)

It occurred to me as I watched him explore the woods, that exactly 4 & 1/2 years ago today was the first time he touched grass...to which he immediately crawled up me like I had placed his feet in a tub of spiders.  He has come a long way. 

We walked hand in hand the last quarter mile of the hike and I would squeeze his hand three times...I. Love. You.  He would squeeze back three times and use his bestest & loudest monster voice to say the same. And because I am a boymom, I loved it <3 

Come To Me

Getting to share a little bit over at Village21:

We all knew Down syndrome adoption was going to be hard. It's a hard we choose. The hard is worth it because our child is worth it. I would shout it truthfully from the mountaintops!

But sometimes...the hard days become hard weeks...

And hard weeks become hard months. And you are so emotionally exhausted your body physically hurts.

The voices of medical appointments, and unexpected diagnoses, and IEPs and school reports, and family stress, and financial strain and poor personal care can be SO. UTTERLY.  DISORIENTING you no longer know where you came from much less where you are going.

You don't complain because this is what you signed up for.  But there are those moments as you are crying into your pillow at night, that you fear that dark place of "this isn't what I signed up" will seep out. 

Then the quiet voice whispers... "Come to ME" 

Come...take two seconds. Turn your eyes, your heart, your mind towards the One who created you. The Father who called you to this journey. The God who promised to sustain you; who measures every beat of your heart and treasures every tear that falls from your weary eyes as a sacrifice to Him. Come.

To...set aside the burdens of today for just a moment. You won't be judged for laying down your armor. Even the strongest of soldiers need respite; a drink of cool water; a breath of fresh air. Let Him minister to you as you daily minister to your child.

Me...remember WHO He is and who YOU are in Him. He is loving, kind, compassionate, slow to anger and full of justice. You are righteous, redeemed, whole, promised and His most precious. He who has called you to this ministry WILL provide the strength, grace and passion to continue--because it is His love for you that can fuel your heart.  

"Come To Me"

-Bethel Music
 

I am the Lord your God, I go before you now
I stand beside you, I'm all around you
Though you feel I'm far away,
I'm closer than your breath
I am with you, more than you know

I am the Lord your peace, no evil will conquer you
Steady now your heart and mind, come into My rest
Oh, let your faith arise, lift up your weary head
I am with you wherever you go

Come to Me, I'm all you need
Come to Me, I'm everything
Come to Me, I'm all you need
Come to Me, I'm your everything

I am your anchor, in the wind and the waves
I am your steadfast, so don't be afraid
Though your heart and flesh may fail you
I'm your faithful strength
I am with you wherever you go

Great Wolf Lodge

We plotted and schemed and planned this secret family getaway for nearly three months. A hot find on Groupon and some flexible scheduling for the three adults made it possible...wanting to give our kids a memory to build on was the goal!

The big kids thought dad took the day off to do errands with the family (cuz that's normal!). The little guy didn't know what was going on. And Isaac nearly flew out of his clothes to see his Momma, Auntie, Uncle AND cousins waiting to pick him up early at school on Thursday!  

A family adventure to Great Wolf Lodge was about to commence! Cheers abounded!!  (Except when I told my 7 year old niece that I'd be more than happy to just drive by the water park and go to her dentist instead...)

 
This boy sure does love his cousins...and I love the way they love him too <3

Isaac did some SERIOUS swimming.  He wanted nothing to do with the kiddie splash pad, thank you very much. Swimming under water (like your big cousins) can only be accomplished if you are in the big pools---this is so very true. Even daring to float on his back in the wave pool DURING the waves!

Underwater camera fun!!

Isaac was finally big enough to ride on the BIG slide with the rest of us! I wish i could have recorded the absolute squeals of joy that came out of his face as we flushed down the giant tube---at the end of the ride he repeatedly signed "Fun! Again! Again! Fun!".  Three times he climbed up the steps and three times we went down the slide!

Getaway memories with some of your cousins...it's kinda the best. 

Snow Day!

We had a very unexpected snow day today. As in 10 inches of very unexpected snow! There was some slush flurries on the way to church yesterday and I thought "aww, that's nice". But then it didn't stop...for like 24 hours. It just kept coming!  My street got 10 inches. Our friends 5 miles east got 14. Our friend 5 miles west of us...zero inches. Pacific Northwest weather is so weird!

I dug out the 4T snowsuit Isaac never got to use last year and we played hard in the winter sun:

Isaac got a quick lesson on what happens when you take you glove off:

Somehow, I didn't have to teach him this...

Getting hit by the "Isaac, stop eating the snow!" snowball

We took advantage of a toboggan that Isaac got for his 2nd birthday that has literally been sitting in the corner of the garage for 4 years, and trudged over to some church friends that live near by:

Tiny little goof balls!

And of course, our first snowman...with pool noodle arms and water balloon maker hair!

A very appropriate hot chocolate to marshmallow ratio, if you ask me.

He seriously chugged his. CHUGGED.

Snow days are the BEST, especially when they are unexpected. Movies and crafts and homemade tomato soup with hot corn bread. Hmmmmm.  PERFECT.