Goofy Faces

Please enjoy the following array of Lily's expressions as she looked into the camera screen that I flipped outward so she could see herself.  You're welcome.

Miss Talker

Justin went out of town this weekend to go hunting and Lily was trying to text him in the above photos. :)  Since she's come such a long way lately with her ability to carry on a dialogue, I thought it was a good time to call him so they could talk.  In the past month or so, she surprises me every day with new things she does and how grown up she is becoming!  She had a complete conversation with Justin telling him that she took a bath, she missed him, loved him and was going night-night.  Such a sweetie we have!

Who Stole the Cookies?

I Love You, Mama

This is my favorite phrase that Lily is saying right now.  She just started telling me this last week.  It's especially great when she does it without me asking her to!

Prayer Warrior In Eli's Army

Today I experienced that glorious emotion of laughing through tears.  The tears were for a sweet boy named Eli who left our world to go and be home with Jesus.  His family attended our church before they had to relocate in order to receive the treatment he needed for cancer.  His almost-8-year-old body had endured so much since his diagnosis in 2007.  That kid was a fighter through and through.  And his spirit!  Boy, oh boy, did he love life!

There had been ups and downs throughout his whole journey but his quiet death early this morning was unexpected.  He gently slipped into Heaven.  I've been following the updates that Eli's dad would post over the past 3 years and through that, I think I developed such hope that he would beat cancer.  But God had ordained Eli's days before one of them came to be.  He knew that January 18th, 2012 would be the day Eli would get to meet him face to face.  So even though my heart breaks for his family, I rejoice in knowing that he is pain-free and living it up with our Savior in Paradise.

My laughter today came from hearing Eli's favorite song, Tunnel by Third Day.  I think of him whenever I hear it and it's almost like the lyrics were penned just for him.  It's a fun sight to envision him rocking out to it.  And then some other news from Justin that one of his friends welcomed a new son into their family today, and what did they name him?  You guessed it.....ELI.  Within a couple hours of each other, one Eli left this world and another entered.  God is so good and beautiful in how he orchestrates creation. 

Eli is an inspiration to me, as he touched the lives of so many people in such a short amount of time. As my brother in Christ, I look forward to the day when those of us sporting his 'Prayer Warrior in Eli's Army' bracelets will see his sweet face again.  Until then, we'll keep praying for peace to surround his family as they learn to live life in a new way.  Fly high, Eli!

Soap!

Jolly Holiday Lights

So as you can tell, my posts are a little out of order here.  I could not get this video to upload for the longest time so, hence, the reason why I'm a little late on getting it posted for you to see.  It was so cute, Lily probably said "Whoa" 50 times on our drive through Jolly Holiday Lights.  Unfortunately it's too dark to see her face but you can hear the excitement in her voice. :) She was very fascinated by it all!

Crazy, Wonderful Weather

 I must say, this winter so far, has been so lovely!  Especially the days that have felt more like spring and we can actually get outside and play - we couldn't ask for better than that!  Lily and I were so happy this past Thursday when it was warm enough to play at the park all morning....66 degrees in January...are you kidding me?!  Ahhhh, just thinking about it puts a smile on my face.  Lily was soaking up every second, running & giggling.  We are blessed!

 

I often have to translate what she's saying these days!  In this video, she points out the birds in the sky and then makes her bird sound.  Sorry for the windy background!

All Dolled Up In Baby Blue

Thanks, Grandma Niki, for the adorable little outfit!

C'mere Puppy

The last few times we've gone on a walk around our neighborhood block, Lily remembers that this particular house has a puppy (which is actually a big chocolate lab :))and she stops to call for him.  Usually he'll push his rubber ball out from underneath the fence with his nose and she thinks that's great fun.  This day, however, he was nowhere to be found; she concluded that he must be taking a nap. :)

Resolution to Be Content

Wooohoo, the first post of 2012 and I'm not even the one who wrote it!......Here's a post about all of the ways we can be resolve to be content.  I couldn't have said it better myself. :)