Weeks 37 & 38, Blessed Be Your Name

So, I haven’t really been in the mood to write lately.  I’m not totally sure why, but I just haven’t been feeling it.   So, this blog entry is going to be much different than my usual posts.  For one, I’m combining weeks for the first time.  I hadn't wanted to do that, but the truth is, all of the days are running together, and I can’t remember what happened in which week.  Also, instead of writing everything out like usual, I’m just going to give you the bullet points!  So, here’s what has been going on over the past couple of weeks:

• ·         Tommy was super adorable while he was consoling me one night.  I had accidentally put dish soap into the dish washer, causing suds to fill the inside of the dish washer.  Luckily I noticed right away, but it still took me I think 6 loads of rinsing and drying cycles to get them all out.  Anyway,  I was really tired and thought I was about to be done with housework for the evening when that happened, so I’m not proud to admit it, but I started crying.  Tommy came up to me, gave me a hug, and said, “It’s okay Mommy, just a little bit accident—it’s okayyyy.”  He then proceeded to try to make me laugh by pretending to go all cookie monster on a giant fake carrot!  Anyway, he was so precious that I obviously couldn't be sad <3
• ·         Tommy did great in both speech and OT!  Both of his therapists have been so impressed with his progress J.  We just love Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Emily—so blessed to have them working with Tommy!   
• ·         Here’s where the boys are at in their “schooling”:  both boys know their numbers 1-20, all of their letters, all of the letter sounds, and about 45 sight words!  Tommy has been picking out the words in his books, so that’s cool to hear him “reading”!  We've been working on sounding out other words, but I don’t think he quite gets that yet.  He’s still behind in fine motor, but we’re working on it!  Not shockingly, he doesn't like to work outside of his strengths, but Mrs. Emily has given us some wonderfully creative ideas to try out.  The good news is, it seems to mainly just be a hand strength issue. 
• ·         A few new “milestones” from the park—Tommy climbed up the tall rock wall and a rope ladder.  Those were the last couple of gross motor skills that they’re supposed to have before Kindergarten that he didn't quite have yet, so we were pretty excited about those!  And, although he’s always been friendly to other kids (and adults) at the park, he finally started introducing himself...very loudly...“I’M TOMMY!!”...and, repeatedly J
• ·         We all got hit with a stomach bug (thanks so much Monkey Joe’s), and believe it or not, it was our first time having to deal with the boys throwing up.  Although, it was obviously gross, I have to admit I loved that Ethan was out of it enough to want to be still and snuggle for a few days <3
• ·         We've enjoyed watching the N.C. State football games on TV with the boys.  They don’t really understand what is going on, but when State scores, we all go crazy, and they join right in!   It is so stinkin’ cute...“Gooooo State….SCORE...Wolfpack in the house”—yeah, we’re raising them right!
• ·         I've completed 3.5 weeks of the C25K program without missing one workout.  By the end of next week, I’m supposed to run for 22 minutes without stopping…umm…we’ll see!
• ·         The real food has continued to go well.  It does take a lot of prepping and planning, but we've actually been able to stay on budget!
• ·         We are proceeding with building a retaining wall in the backyard, so that we can actually have a backyard.  We are likely going to put the house on the market in the spring, and we think that the wall will help it to sell quickly.  That said, if we change our minds, or if it doesn’t sell, it’ll make our lives much better to have that additional outside space!

So, that’s the update!  But, what would a blog be without pictures?!

Tommy covering his ears so the bugs can't get in...SMH!

Ethan didn't seem to have a problem with the bugs :)

All 3 of my boys at the park for a little pre-game fun!

My babies hanging out at the top of the big-dog slide!

They seem to have come to the conclusion that it wasn't a wise idea :)

This better be the only motorcycle Tommy ever rides!!

Ethan going down the slide

Go State!

Daddy helping our big boy on the big boy swing <3

GO TOMMY!!!

That was a pretty tall wall, but he did it!

The boys in their "movie seats" for a rainy day movie treat :)

Tommy LOVED this hat he found in his closet...

obviously, he wouldn't even take it off for bedtime!

He's so adorable, but I wish I would've taken a picture of his hair in the morning!

Me and the boys wrestling on the couch during the State game :)

Tommy seems quite pleased with his "sack" of Ethan!

Tommy looks so cute in Goggi's Mexico hat!

Where'd Ethan go?!

There he is!!

The boys at Monkey Joe's for another special treat :)

Tommy coming through the stick barriers

By the way, these pictures were taken on at least 3 separate days  despite the fact that they're wearing their State outfits in all of them :)  We dress for "gameday" every week!

Ethan hopping up and down :)

I love that the boys like to do things together now <3

Tommy as he came down the biggest slide for the first time!

The boys were BEAT after only an hour--they played their little hearts out!

So, the life lesson for this week is pretty near to my heart.  In fact it's been on my mind for weeks now, which actually might be part of the reason I haven't felt like writing.  Most of you who read this blog will also know another reason this week is significant.  It marks both the 6^th anniversary of Drew Howard’s passing, as well as what would’ve been his 15^th birthday. For those of you who don’t know, Davey’s cousin, Drew, passed away 4 hours before his 9^th birthday from a “common” virus that reacted extremely uncommonly in his little body.  It’s a rough week, every year.  In fact, the longer I've been a Mom, the harder it has hit me.  That said, this time of year is obviously the hardest on the four remaining Howards—Peter, Donna, Kathryn, and Emily.  Even still, I have learned so much from watching them over the past 6 years...

Life Lesson #12:  Practice what you preach

So, I’ve said things like this before, but it is one thing to say the right thing, but it is quite another thing to do the right thing.  As Christians, we know how we ought to respond when faced with tragedy, but when it actually happens to you, it is a whole different ballgame.  When Andrew Boyd Howard died six years ago, the Howard family’s faith was viciously thrown into public view for all to see.  At the most devastating moment of their lives, and truly I can think of hardly anything as terrible and unfair as a child dying before a parent, they had to wrestle with how to act, how to speak, and how to move forward.  How would Davey and I act if we suddenly lost Tommy or Ethan?  I shudder to think about it, and I hope I never ever have to find out.  But I do know how we’d hope we’d act—exactly like Peter and Donna Howard.  Under the most dire and depressing of circumstances, they were the epitome of Godliness here on earth.  They continued to praise God, and in truly the most incredible moment of strength and tenderness Davey and I have ever witnessed, Peter sang at his son’s funeral.  He sang for his son, and he sang for his Father:

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

It was just such an amazing and powerful showing of love—of their love for Drew, of their love for the Lord, and of God’s love for them—for how else in the world could he have gotten through that song at his son’s funeral without God holding him up.  The Howard’s have lived out this song the entire time.  It’s easy to live out the “giving” parts—it’s not so easy to live it out in the “taking away” parts.  They have not become bitter, and they continue to find joy and love in this fallen world.  They have not lost sight of the final prize—seeing their son, and seeing their God for all of eternity.  Thank you Howard family for being such incredible examples of love, grace, and sincerity.  I long to hear the words that I am in no doubt you will hear from the Father—“Well done, good and faithful servants.”