Wednesday Were Pretty Normal

I just finished my copy of Michael's new book Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal. I've read it before. In fact, I've read it several times in multiple versions. First, as Michael shared some of his journal entries after several months of struggling to communicate about all that was going on in his heart. Then, as chapter to a book that he dreamed may become a reality, but even if it didn't that Joshua would be able to read his story through his father's eyes. Next, as chapters to a book with a publisher. That time, I was asked to read with a critical eye about details and wording. Finally, this week's copy of the book.

This time, Michael had given the copy to me, but I could not find the right time to sit and read it with the busyness of the 3 kids around me. Then, last night, I couldn't sleep. My mind was racing back to memories of years earlier. Maybe it was because Andi was up coughing, or maybe it was indeed, a leading of the Spirit. Either way, I found myself sitting upright on the couch with this book in hand. I didn't stop reading.

As I read, I found myself remembering each detail as if it were yesterday: the diagnosis, the pain of needles and meds for our 2 year old, the lonely days in the hospital, the endless hours of Joshua on steroids. But, for the first time reading it, I saw my husband. The pages of this book show Michael as a fearful child caring for a fearful family. It is full of real and unedited feelings. But the most amazing thing is to be able to wake up next to the man that God has faithfully changed through this experience.

Michael is a father that knows how to walk into our home and bring peace. He knows that each day is numbered and therefore worth treasuring with our kids and with me. At a time when Michael could have hid from all that the Lord desired to show him through Joshua's illness, instead, Michael found a way to press into the Father. He didn't skip any stage of what the Lord was showing to him. Wednesday Were Pretty Normal reveals each of these steps and encourages us all to walk each day in faith, knowing that Christ will meet us there.

I am thankful that Joshua's story is written in a way to show God's faithfulness through healing, through a generous community, and a loving father. Read this book and know that whatever may come we can remember that, "we are loved by a God who loves us enough to wrestle us for our faith, and that our limps and wounds remind us that He is, in any circumstance, ultimately, divinely, lovingly, abidingly able."

Out With the Old...

Well here it is friends, the new kitchen. We are so thankful for it and can't wait to share it with our friends and family. Bring on the parties!

We had to let the kids take part in the destruction. Here they are coloring

on the walls and taking a hammer to it. Great memories in the making!

Before...After...

Before...

After...Before...

After...

Before...

After...

After...

After...

After...

Happy Birthday Christian!

Celebrating our 3rd child's first birthday was very sweet. Instead of lots of people and elaborate plans, we had family and homemade cupcakes. Wonderful memories!

Siblings and cousins ready to partake in the bounty of a birthday party. Of course, they all enjoyed the cupcakes and presents more than our little man.

Don't get me wrong, Christian loves a yummy treat as much as the next kid. As hard as it may be to believe, like most 1 year olds, it took some convincing for him to get this messy.

We love this little man!

Another memorable moment...Joshua held Christian while he drank his last bottle.

All Done Dance

There are 3 things that I have learned about Christian during his first year.

1. He is not interested in doing something he doesn't want to do no matter how much you want him to do it. This became most apparent in teaching him his baby sign language.

2. He loves music.

3. He loves even more to dance to said music.

In order to combat #1, I enlisted our whole family to combine #2 and #3 to teach Christian the sign for "all done." Which, if you are unfamiliar, it is shaking your hands above your head. Here is what we came up with...

Shadows

This is my new favorite song from David Crowder *Band. It is beautifully poetic, but also speaks so much to the way I am seeing the world be experienced by so many dear friends around me. The experience of shadows in life seem to overwhelm the light. The sorrow feels like it is engulfing the joy. BUT, O the memories of God's faithful provision. We are just like the Isrealites who continued to forget and were commanded to remember. At the foundation of our memories we see that the shadow is yet another memory of God's greatest provision at the cross.

Life is full of light and shadow
O the joy and O the sorrow
O the sorrow

And yet will He bring
Dark to light
And yet will He bring
Day from night

When shadows fall on us
We will not fear
We will remember

When darkness falls on us
We will not fear
We will remember

When all seems lost
When we're thrown and we're tossed
We remember the cost
We rest in Him
Shadow of the cross

The Year in Review 2010

This has not been our favorite year. I guess a flood can make you think that way. But, as I started pondering about it more, along with some difficulties, there have been some amazing blessings. So, here is our year in review.

January--First month in years without chemo pills in our home! Christian is born!

February--Lots of family visits to meet the new little one. Joshua has his port taken out.

March--A quick road trip to visit sweet friends in South Carolina.

April--Our first Easter as a family of five.

May--Andi turns 3! The infamous flood strikes Nashville and our bottom floor.

June--Living it up at Davy's house.

July--Joshua turns 6! Still living it up at Davy's house.

August--Christian learns to crawl. We move back into our top floor. Joshua start kindergarten.

September--Andi start preschool. Joshua loses his first tooth. We're hosting community group.

October--Our bottom floor is completed. Dollywood with friends!

November--Michael is chosen to serves as an elder at GCC. The entire Kelley family celebrates Thanksgiving in Nashville.

December--Christmas. The most wonderful time of year.

With a quick overview there are many things to be thankful for. Christ continues to richly bless our lives through joys and heartaches. More than anything though I'm grateful for my precious family. After nearly 12 years of marriage to a man greater than my dreams could imagine and 6 years of parenting these amazing kids. I know that whatever the coming years bring, we will never be short of thanksgiving.

I have several goals for the coming year. As I consider each of them, I am trying my best to remember knowing and making Christ known as the ultimate goal...

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

Christmas 2010

We made the big drive to Texas again this year. Our Christmas was wonderful. We spent time with cousins by the dozens. Which, in my children's minds is a gift unto itself. Here is a random conglomeration of pictures from our week out west.

This is just an assortment of cousin photos. My big camera is on the blink for now so I didn't spend nearly as much time snapping photos. Shame on me.

I was able to visit my dad several times throughout the week and help him move into his new assisted living home. It is much smaller and suits him very well.

I really love this picture. My dad's voice is very frail and you can almost never hear him, especially over any kids in the room. Here, he's trying to talk, but I can't hear him. All I know is that there is a glimmer in his eye. Oh, the little moments! I'll take it anytime.

Our Christmas baby is growing up. He'll be 1 in just a few days.

This picture is actually from this week since we've been home. The kids chose this Lego beach house for my Christmas gift. I told Michael they could do this every year. It was so much fun to put it together with them. After it was finished, Joshua pulled out his Star Wars Lego men and they all had a beach party. Hilarious!

What an amazing season to remember the gift of Christ to a fallen world. We're praying that these sweet little ones will know the joy of Jesus in their lives in the coming years.

Merry Christmas!

A Festive Fall

As soon as September hits in our house, smiles widen and life gets quite a bit busier. We love the change in the weather and the beautiful colors that begin to explode on all the trees. It is also the time when Michael travels more on the weekends. Therefore, when Michael has a weekend free, we make the very best of it.

First, we went to Dollywood with some dear friends. Michael's brother, Jeffrey, describes it as a giant Cracker Barrel with rides...a perfect description of a wonderful place!

Michael and Joshua on the scrambler.

Here's Joshua dancing and singing in one of the shows at the park. I guess he's not going to be our shy one.

These are a few photos from a Saturday at a local pumpkin patch. It is no small event. There was face painting, crafts, mazes, food, hay rides, slides and swings. So much fun! Even better, it is owned by the family of Joshua's former Pre-K teacher. She fixed us up for a fun day with extra tickets for free food and fun :-)

Last, but certainly not least, HALLOWEEN! Our kids love wearing costume. Halloween just seems to be an excuse to add to the costume closets. This year, Joshua chose to be Snake Eyes, the GI Joe Ninja. Andi was a flying pony. Or a princess riding a flying pony. Or a princess flying pony. It was never quite clear, we just know she was super cute! And then there was Christian. We decided to just buy him a Super Man t-shirt and call it a day. Next year, he'll have his pick of the litter.