Last Care Group Meeting

Last night was our last care group meeting. What a bittersweet evening we enjoyed! We began with a potluck dinner that was amazing in its abundance and goodness. The kiddos joined us for that time which was fun for them and for me - I was entertained by their interactions with people. Chloe invited Miss Jessi to sit at the kids table (a very small table designed for children) and Jessi graciously agreed. Chloe and Jake love Jessi. This was obvious in the way Chloe followed her around and then again when Jessi finished eating and stood by her husband (only a step away) and I sat in her chair. Both children made clear that I was sitting in Miss Jessi's seat. Chloe said to me, "I like Miss Jessi. But I like you too Mommy". She was so matter-of-fact about it! We put the kids to bed after dinner and then prepared to begin our last meeting together. Kevin created a "Memory Lane Trivia" game which we enjoyed laughing over. We took some time to express our affection for these couples whom we've grown to love so much. When we had taken as much time as possible, Kev handed things over to Jim Winn, who will be taking leadership of the group with the help of his wife, Tessa. We are so grateful for this couple. It is a joy to leave the group in such capable, loving hands. The group took time to express their affection for us - a time that we cherished and were deeply humbled by. At the end, they presented us with a gift. Julie Giove handcrafted a scrapbook that is both beautiful and filled with memories. We are so grateful! We looked through it with the group before everyone left and then poured over it when we were alone. We laughed a lot and talked about the memories we have with each couple. What a joy it has been to serve them!

One of the things I am most grateful for from the evening was the opportunity to praise God for the work he has done. As we looked back over the time we had with each couple (which varies from nearly 2 years to 5 months) we can see clearly God's work. It was sweet to give glory to the One to whom it is due. As the group pointed out evidence of grace in Kevin and me, I could not help but praise God. Some of the things they said were in areas I know I have been previously weak - or still feel very weak - and it was God's kindness to me last night to let me see a bit of his work. Father, thank you for being faithful to change people. Thank you for promising to make us like your Son. Please continue this work!

I cried a lot last night and it was a hinderance to what I could say at the time. So, to my ladies, um, the Winn's ladies: I am tremendously grateful to God for the privilege it was to serve you. You are my friends and I am looking forward to continuing in friendship, though it will certainly look differently now. You are ladies who love the Lord and are passionate about pursuing Him. You have hidden his Word in your hearts and are seeking to apply it to your lives. You love abundantly and without reservation and you pour out your time to serve others. I am going to miss meeting with you weekly. I am going to especially miss our ladies meetings. (Patricia, I'm not sure you read this blog, but if you do, you came up last night because we have been missing you for a long time at ladies meetings. They never were the same!) Thank you for embracing me and for allowing me to care for you. For those of you new to the group, thank you for jumping in so completely. It feels like you've been there all along. I thought about our group all night and woke up thinking about you again. It just doesn't seem real - that it is really over. I'm not sure I know what my week should look like now! Ladies, please feel free to email or call or text anytime. I love you very much and deeply respect each of you.

With much love and affection,

Jami

Happy Birthday Mom!

I just wanted to tell you how much I love you. You are a wonderful mom and Mimi. I appreciate your desire to be with the kids and love that you are so involved even though you are 5 hours away. I love how much they love you! Thank you for everything you do for us and for all of your love and affection. We benefit greatly from your care!

I love you, Mom!

I published this and then realized that I would be falling short if I did not mention my Aunt Dawn. Dawn is my mom's twin sister and today is, of course, her birthday too. Happy birthday Dawn! I love you!

For Poppa Rick

So, I have this video I have been meaning to send to my father-in-law for some time now. Since Father's Day to be exact - 2 months ago. I thought perhaps the best way to get it in front of him would be to post it here.

I have the best in-law a girl could dream up. They LOVE our children and treat me like family, like the daughter they never had. I love being part of the family. My father-in-law, Rick, is wonderful with the kiddos. He has always loved children. He used to play with strangers' kids when we went out for dinner. He seems to have a radar for them. Now, Chloe and Jake receive the full benefit of his affections. They adore him. Here is the video they made for him 2 months ago:

Rick, thanks for all the joy you bring into our lives! We love you!

Pics of Jake's Hand

Here are some pictures of Jake's hand on July 7th, 4 days after he burned it:

The blisters have popped.

These two are from July 10th, a week after the burn:

Little man was such a trooper! He didn't try to remove his bandage and actually ran to me when I told him it was time to change it! Brave boy!

I'm back!

I'm sorry for my long absence. We have not fallen off of the face of the earth. We did not lose all Internet access. We have, however, been many places - just not home. We went on vacation for 2 weeks and then returned for a few days and left again for a few days. Really, we are just settling back in since our exit on June 26th! How I love being home! So, we are really due for some updates:

1. Romans. I am indeed still planning to finish memorizing the book. I am on chapter 11 and have a plan to press on. I have begun reviewing chapter 11 and will continue to do so until I catch up (I think verse 24. I am on verse 15). When I reach verse 25 I will begin memorizing one verse per day. I have 130 verses left to memorize (meaning that I have 303 verses done! Wow). The baby is due on January 4th and I would like to have it done before that (for fear that once the baby comes I'll have difficulty memorizing even one verse per day!). So, my new goal is December 31st giving me 159 days. Thanks to those of you who have asked me about this and encouraged me in it. I am grateful for the support.

2. Baby. Our littlest one is doing very well! I feel movement frequently and enjoy knowing he or she is happily swimming around in there. Our appointment for THE ultrasound is on August 10th and we very much hope to find out the sex that day. This is, more importantly, the one where they look at all of the baby's vital organs - heart, brain, kidneys, etc. We pray for a healthy baby who's parts are where they should be and in perfect working order. We know this is not guaranteed so we would appreciate your prayers as well.

3. Chloe. Not much new with girlie. She is growing and talking more and more (I know, it seems impossible!) She is insistent that the baby I'm carrying is a boy - and the baby in her tummy is a girl! :-) I love watching her become more caring. She takes good care of Jacob and is eager for a new baby to mother.

4. Jake. Now for the big story of the last few weeks. Jake. Our accident prone toddler burned his tiny hand. It was truly a freak accident. We stayed at a beautiful cabin in the Smoky Mountains and had enjoyed 4 days there. As we were packing up to leave, my father-in-law, Rick, cleaned out the refrigerator, putting some things in the cooler to take with us. Jake was "helping". The door was open for a while and he left it that way to put something in the cooler. As he did, Jake started crying. Rick went to him and thought he had pinched his hand between the shelves. I heard him cry from downstairs, but when he stopped, I went about my packing. A few minutes later, I heard him crying again so I went up to check on him. By this time, his hand is white and I know he has been burned. Rick had gone outside with Chloe, so I didn't know what could have happened. Jake is crying really hard. If you remember back a few months to when he fell down the steps, you may remember that he barely cried. Last year he was stung by a wasp and didn't cry at all. Well, that day (July 3rd to be exact) he cried for a solid hour. He cried until we got him to a doctor's office and the nurse put silvadene on it. To back up a bit, and to make a very long story short, Kevin held Jake and tried to sooth him until we could leave. We figured out that Jake must have stepped up into the fridge and grabbed the light bulb. (Would you ever think you could get burned in the fridge?) Rick made a phone call and found a clinic we could take him to. So, we abruptly ended our stay at the cabin and raced to the clinic, which turned out not to be a clinic but a private doctor's office. They were closed according to the sign in the window. My heart sank and, by this point, I was also crying. Rick pulled around back and saw a nurse. Rick asked her some questions and she began giving us directions to another place. Then, Rick made his most brilliant move. He opened the sliding door to reveal the crying baby with his obviously swollen, blistered, burned hand. She told us to come in! Praise God! I carried Jake while Kevin filled out paper work. The nurse slapped slivadene on is hand and INSTANTLY he stopped crying! My heart began to slow back down and Jake smiled for the first time in too long. She wrapped his poor hand and gave me what I needed to do it again and again for the next few weeks.

I think that is enough for one day. There is more to tell about our lives and many, many pictures to share. Thanks for even checking in!