august 29, 2003
1 year old
2 years old
may 2006 Coronado Island
"goodbye two and hello three!"...this is ella. she came into the world three weeks early and she hasn't stopped running yet! the above photo is the epitome of my daughter; beautiful, full of energy, adventurous, two feet off the ground at all times, running to be saved by her daddy from the approaching wave only to go right back out to attempt to catch the wave again. today is her 3rd birthday, and the family is in agreement that she is growing up too fast. she doesn't yet comprehend how loved she is by her two big brothers but i wanted to remember today in
their words: clay said to ella, "you are more beautiful today than yesterday." damon said regarding ella, "mom, her legs have grown longer!"
a gift from God...we have many friends, some old and some new, but i'm hesitant to attempt to put into words how i feel about the reinert family. they spent the weekend in our home as they have many times over the year and a half that we have lived in different states. we had many good laughs, sat out to gaze at the stars with a fire in the chimnea, painted nails, the house was filled with beautiful music, we reminised about our children who are growing up way too fast, ate more than we should have, the kids turned the back yard into one big tent, we shared what Father is impressing on our hearts and encouraged one another, all in just a couple of days. these are our friends we don't have to entertain--when they are over it is like coming home again, they know
everything about us, they have made us better people, they encourage us as children of God, when we are together, and even apart, we are the body of Christ--we are family. to gene, lisa and serenity--we love you and miss you even though you've only been gone 7 hours, 13 minutes and counting, till we see you again! thank you for blessing our lives this weekend.
healing the sick...as we drove to the doctor for the second time this week, clay (7 1/2) asked me why the people killed Jesus on the cross?? because we have read this story in the Bible a few times and discussed it together, i wasn't sure where he was going with this question--but we talked about it briefly again. he then said, "I know He did it for us but I just wish that they didn't kill Jesus and He was still alive today, healing people." it then became more clear to me, although clay understands at some level that Jesus
is alive and
does heal us today, that he wanted Jesus to touch his body and heal it. he has been struggling to breathe because he has pneumonia. this has been a rough week for my little guy with IV fluids and medicines, x-ray, breathing treatments and mom and dad beating on his back for respiration therapy. we are happy to report that Jesus is healing the infection in clay's lungs! he is asking some really deep questions about God, our family history, nature, etc.--i am so thankful for the joy and laughter clay brings to our family. needless to say, i haven't had a good night's sleep since sunday, so i'm going to bed now...
