we're here!!!

We are really starting to settle in. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity- contractors coming and going, friends helping unpack boxes, family over for fun times together.  We are starting to feel at home here at the house. I am laying in my bed right now and it is the first time since Josh's accident that I feel like we have a normal bedroom. :-) We don't just have a normal bedroom, we have a beautiful bedroom!  I am really looking forward to posting some pictures but I want to wait until after the Open House. I don't want to spoil the fun for anyone who is wanting to see it firsthand.  Come and see this amazing gift that God has given us- through you.

The Open House starts at noon this Saturday. There is a dedication service from 12 to about 12:20 and then they will open up the house. All of the specialty items purchased to help Josh will be working. There will be someone in each of the rooms with equipment, demonstrating how things work. The ceiling lift will be going, the I-Bot (balancing wheelchair) will be performing many a stunt, and the elevator will be available for viewing. I hope many of you can see what an incredible blessing this house is and will be for many years to come. 

Josh is really loving some space of his own. He has spent much of this week working on a graphic arts project for a company selling a type of honey as a cough suppressant for children. It is so great for him to have some space of his own to get work done in and have meetings in. This is the only room not completed but he's not complaining! He loves having a door he can close and get to work in. 

The kids are adjusting quite well. Zoe seems to be having the hardest time. We went to a neighborhood picnic on Sunday night and she just sat in Josh's lap and would act like she was sleeping. She continuously asked for us to take her home. There are numerous girls in the neighborhood, but they are all older than she. Please be praying for her to make some special friends who will make her feel welcome.

Noah is adjusting to school with flying colors. This is his fourth year of school already so he's an old pro. He has been jumping on the bus with little to no hesitation and already has his bus driver wrapped around his little finger. She is already letting him open up the door to the bus- he thinks he's big stuff. In the mornings, he goes to a Kinder-care class. This is a class for kids whose parents work and are in half-day kindergarten. No, we don't work but Noah has already been in all-day school and we don't want to lessen the amount of time he spends at school. In the mornings is when he gets socialization with other kids who are part of the general ed. population. In the afternoons, he goes to an Intensive Kindergarten. This a self-contained class with 10 students so he is getting plenty of one on one attention. So far, we are very happy with his transition.

Ephram continues on his happy way, indifferent to the changes around him. He is starting to talk so much. He thinks he needs to hang with the big kids and has taken to screaming when they shut him out or don't let him try something himself. He continues to crack us up. He is still not walking (little stinker) but crawls at a shockingly fast speed. He loves to get in his stroller and walk his brother and sister to the bus stop. 

We are starting to eat at home, as a family more which is great. Before the move, things were so chaotic it seemed like that fell off some. We are back to making it a priority and loving our time around the dinner table together. It makes me realize how special it is to take the time to sit together and just "be." Zoe has been setting an extra place for Ava so we all don't forget her.  She was telling a neighbor she has a sister and then said so matter of fact that she is "dead" but she lives in heaven with Jesus. This poor woman did not know what to say. :-) We did not say that word at first but found that we avoided the concrete words because they were hard for us. We have since started saying the harder words because this is what our kids seem to understand the easiest and they don't have all the social understandings of what's appropriate and what's not. We have just disregarded the social norms and did what we thought was best for our kids.

I feel as though I have carried on and wrote a novel. Sorry about the lapse in posting. Our internet was very flighty at first and we finally have the glitches worked out (now if we could just get Comcast to bury that stupid wire...another story all together!). Blessings to you all...
Posted on September 9, 2008 .

moving in

Since Josh and Shelly still don't have internet connections, I thought I'd quickly let you all know that moving day went well. Actually, it was fabulous. Wonderful. Excellent. Amazing. Lots of strong arms from Greenhouse showed up to help. Plus two kind men and their big truck. Plus two of my old friends (old as in they've been friends a long time!) with delicious food for everyone. Everything was out of the old rental house and into the new house by around 4 or 5. By 7 p.m. all beds were made and the kitchen was pretty much unpacked. I'll let Shelly fill in the details of the kids' reactions and all the other feelings, but those are the bare details of a very wonderful day.

I've been at Shelly's every day since helping to get everything in its place. I watched on Saturday as she stood in her new kitchen making sandwiches, a very ordinary but  very special sight. A friend called it claiming her territory in her new home. We're slowly making it feel like home, especially as we get out favorite items that have been packed away since the last move to the rental house. I'm so grateful to all those who have shown the love of God that lives in them by loving on our kids. What a gift of happiness in the midst of so much difficulty!

Jean (Shelly's mom)

Posted on August 26, 2008 .

the big day!!!

Tomorrow is the big day!!! As of 12 hours from now, we will officially be moving!!!!!!!! (How many more exclamation points can I post?) People are arriving around 9:00 a.m. and we will officially be underway. It will be a huge job, but we have many willing hands! Last night, a group of prayer-warriors did a prayer "walk-through." They prayed in every room, and for every family member. We are so blessed. They also gave us a gift called a mezuzah. It is a ceramic plaque, about 2 inches by about 6 inches. In the back of it is a small opening to put a piece of paper with the scripture of Deuteronomy 6:4. "Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One." You place this mezuzah in your doorway and touch it on your way in. The significance of this gift is so touching. We have received many wonderful gifts for our new home but this one will always hold a special place. I will post a picture of it after we place it at our door. The last few days have been full of packing, organizing, and planning. I don't always work so well under this type of pressure. It stresses me out. Josh said sarcastically, "Yeah, we've endured a lot. Paralysis and all... but it was moving day that was the end of us!" Giggle giggle. The kids are excited about the move. Noah can't wait for the swing in his new room and Zoe wants to see the rainbow painted on her wall. Ephram just sits around grinning. We will be trained tomorrow in the use of all the features of the house that will make Josh's life easier. Because we have not been trained, we have not been able to see them in action. So starting tomorrow, Josh will have a ceiling lift, an elevator, doors that open by remote, sinks and stoves he can pull under...the list goes on. The blessing of this house is beyond comprehension. For some reason, God chose to place us on the heart of a spiritual leader who felt it was his job to get something started. The "something" is a beautiful home for our family. Thank you to all of you who have prayed so diligently through this process. The people we have worked with have been wonderful. Everyone has been so generous and genuine. We have made great friends in the process. We are grateful. So grateful. The dream is becoming a reality.
Posted on August 21, 2008 .

happy birthday part 2

Josh got so many birthday wishes I couldn't figure out how to post them all. I gave up and decided to post.

32 years ago, around 8:00 in the evening if I remember correctly, Josh entered this world. He has brought so much joy to my life. He continues to make me laugh, encourage me, and lift me up to our heavenly Father. He continues to be a dedicated father and husband, and makes me proud almost every minute of the day. He continues to handle this hurdle in his life with dignity and poise which is only God given.  

We are moving in on Friday if all goes as planned. The lower level will be finished in the beginning of September, but the upper level is very livable.  I can't believe this if finally happening.  I cannot wait for people to come in and see the house that God's people built. Pretty incredible. 

I took the two older kids to Target this morning to buy daddy some presents.  Each picked him out a DVD about Earthy produced by PBS and we all watched it together this afternoon.  Zoe was the wrapping master and wrote out cards to Daddy (even filling out the one from me, signing it from "Shelly") and was beyond proud of herself!  We went out to Carrabba's for dinner with my mom and dad and Holly and Jay.  It was very nice.  We then went on to meet a large group of friends later at a restaurant and had cake shaped like a bear (long story, don't ask!). 

I am heading off to sleep. I have plenty to do to keep me busy before Friday so this little momma is hitting the hay!
Posted on August 19, 2008 .