To settle down to sleep we would often find ourselves sitting his bouncy chair underneath the kitchen exhaust fan or placing him in the bathroom (for a short while) with the exhaust fan on as well. Within a couple of months he was pushing himself to standing up while strapped into his bouncy chair. This guy found a way to wiggle out of things. And he would get his leg moving in that bouncy chair and it would rock so hard and almost fall over. When he sat up for the first time I was delighted that I would have several lovely months (as I did with the daughter) to enjoy him sitting, but not moving around the house getting in to things. But then a couple of weeks later he was crawling! As soon as he could stand he found his sister’s doll highchair, got behind it and zoomed all over the house. His grunts and coos were constant and it seemed he could never calm himself down, nor sleep through the night. This was a new adventure to me.

And (as a former hyperactive child and strong willed one) I was reading Dr. Dobson’s “The Strong Willed Child” learning how to possibly parent him differently than the first. I had assumed a lot of him in the 12 short months he was alive.

And then a year came. And things totally changed. He slept through the night. No more fist pumping and endless crying. He was walking and so much happier and he was talking….a lot and all of the time. He put words together quickly into sentences and then into phrases and then into complex thoughts. I can only think he had so much to say that first year that he just wasn’t able to get out.

And since that first hard year since his birth, we have had the most delightful following four years. This may sound cliche, but to know this guy is to love him. To us (grandparents & sister included) he is one of the most interesting individuals we have ever met. His thoughts are so intriguing and complex. He wakes up in the morning ready to go for the day and he plays….every minute he can. In fact, when we took a short trip overnight he cried when we arrived at the hotel, because he didn’t “get his playtime in.” He loves his sister dearly and holds his own playing with her despite the age difference.

Those who teach him in class or come across him often get a twinkle in their eye when they speak of him. He finds humor in things and loves adventure and travel. His heart is so tender and he always tells you (and often others–cringe) exactly what is on his mind. He will challenge you on your knowledge of animals and he always has time for cuddling with mom and dad. He breaks out in “expressive dance” regularly when you are not looking. Several years ago while singing “Living La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin he said “Living Va Lida Locust”. Nothing says it clearer.

When I think of the past 5 years of his life, my overarching feeling and thought is, “Thank you Lord for this wonderful gift of our son. How did we ever get so blessed to be his parents?” So today, happy 5th birthday Young Jedi. You are truly amazing.

-julie

God had planned the timing because she died, much to my shock, on the very day our family was in flight over the Atlantic Ocean back to Wales. My mom took her to the doctor that morning after taking us to the airport only to find out that another tumor was growing. After struggling with her food for days, by night she was barely reacting. When you only weigh 3.5 pounds, days of little food have a great effect on your body.

I have to admit that it was a strange homecoming to Wales mourning the death of one’s beloved dog.

It was always hard for us leaving her in Texas with my parents when we moved to Wales because we knew it would be a dreadful adjustment for her coming to Wales, but God had amazing grace on Brad and I as we were able to enjoy her fully for the 6 months we spent in the US. She was happy and herself until the very end and loved our children very much.

I said goodbye to her on the morning we left the country, knowing that I would never see her again, but God, in his extreme kindness allowed me to be with her for all of her last days. And how amazing was that?

My parents were saints through it all and loved her immensely. They had to say goodbye to their children and grandchildren as they left on a plane in the morning and goodbye forever to their precious little adopted dog as night came around. What wonderful memories we have with such a small dog who held a large place in our heart.

-julie

Goodbye store bought sushi…..hello homemade!

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Several years ago my family began sponsoring a little girl through World Vision that is the same age as our daughter. This year we’ve started sponsoring a little boy the same age as our son. For us, it’s a great way to be involved in the life of a child in need, for our children to get a sense that the world is a very small place, and to live out our call to be Jesus in all spheres and domains of life.

More information: Compassion International // World Vision

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New York
To that tall skyline I come
Flying in from London to your door
New York
Looking down on Central Park…..

For the last week our house has been humming this tune by Simon and Garfunkel in great anticipation of our weekend trip to The Big Apple. Brad and I have been three times, but this Friday will mark the first time our children will get to experience this city and I am overjoyed. Some may say I am crazy for taking young children to this place, but I can hardly wait to show our kids what has become our favorite city in the world. Sure, Brad and I will have to have an extra dose of patience and I know there will be moments of whining about tired feet and the threat of rain, but I have learned through their short lives that world travel does indeed shape who they are, their worldview, and oftentimes their personal preferences. This hit home to me as I was admiring the beautiful hills and large unattached homes on the spacious Texas land a few weeks ago to the daughter, and she exclaimed that she preferred when all of the homes were stuck together in a row straight down a street. Much like her time in Europe. I was simply shocked.

The kids love tall buildings, crowded streets, and underground transportation and as they are getting older (7 & 4) I thought we would throw a little map reading into the fun. In fact, we have been studying maps in our “school time” (we are home schooling the kids while we are in the US). They will each have their own little kid friendly laminated home-made map with all of their favorite places to visit. And if you ever take your kids to visit, may I recommend Kathy Jakobsen’s My New York kid book? It is amazing and can get anyone giddy with her illustrations.

Soon we will post photos and of course I’ll be working on a video. The daughter is most looking forward to visiting Chinatown. Cringe. The jury is out…will she end up liking it? What is Brad’s least favorite area of NYC? You guessed it, Chinatown. Should be quite humorous.

New York
Like a scene from all those movies
But you’re real enough to me
But there’s a heart
A heart that lives in New York

As a family we make sure that we eat breakfast together. Of course, with a seven year old and a four year old this is pretty easy. As we finish breakfast we read a passage or chapter from a book of the Bible. Then, starting with Julie and ending with me, each of us pray about the day.

And as a family we finish the day when the kids go to bed with me praying for the family and then me reading another passage or chapter from a book in the Bible.

Over the last few days we’ve been reading the Gospel of John, both in the morning and at bedtime. One of the things we’ve asked the kids to listen for is the things that Jesus says about himself. There’s no better way to understand Jesus than by understanding how he viewed himself. So far the kids have seen that Jesus refers to himself as:

• water
• bread
• light
• the good shepherd

By simply showing the kids these four things and talking through them our kids have a better understanding of the character of Jesus. Not complicated, not time consuming, but well worth it.

I haven’t been shocked by much since it has only been three years since we have lived in America. But because I have gotten used to the way things were in Wales, several things continue to surprise me:

–the size of apples are absolutely huge. I have a constant internal battle to whether I should eat 1/2, 3/4, or a whole one for lunch. They look abnormal to me.

–whoever that Ed Hardy guy is, people must like him because his name is on everything…notebooks, beach towels, fragrance, clothing, etc. Everywhere I look, there is his stuff. I am assuming he is very rich by now.

–the endless supply of hot water to shower, do laundry, and do dishes is wonderful. For the past 3 years I have been treating my use of limited hot water in my house in Wales like a new mother feeding her newborn: very scheduled. Each day I would have to mentally work out what I was going to wash and be careful not to use too much hot water in bathing or even cleaning the house, or the hot water would run out, only to be replenished by pushing “Boost” and then seeing the cost reflected in our next bill. Being able to to do many loads of laundry (quickly too), take a shower, and wash dishes and rinse them in hot water from the faucet, not the kettle, makes me giddy. I don’t even mind those once dreaded tasks.

-the sunshine is amazing. Even though we have come back at the hottest time of the year, having predictable sunshine just touches that happy place in my soul. I don’t even care that I am hot and sweating. At least it is predictable. I just simply do not know how the Brits do it with so much rain and so much grey. They are amazing people. When it is sunny in Wales, we run to the window to soak it in, we stop everything we are doing to go outside, and we cram in as many things into that time outside. Because we know it may be days (and in the winter, weeks) before we will see it again.

It was a shocker to the art world when this exhibit opened with the staff of the museum, excluding the director, not even knowing about it and the public learning about it one day before the opening. And since the opening several weeks ago, thousands have flocked to the humble Bristol Museum, including us, to stand in line over an hour. It was worth the wait. Please enjoy this video.

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