Thankful

It's early. Andrew threw up in bed sometime last night. He's in my bed. Load of bedding is being washed. This is not how my Friday was supposed to begin. I have company coming tonight, which will probably have to be cancelled.

Now that my griping is done I HAVE to think of something to be thankful for because to be honest, I'm not feeling that thankful right now. IT's been a hard couple of weeks. So, here I go...

1. I am thankful that I got to spend 3 wonderful hours with my best friend from high school last weekend. We don't get to see each other that often, but when we do, we can just pick up from where we left off. We talked the whole time and laughed a lot. It was good therapy for me!

2. My parents have been great through all the tragedy that has surrounded me. They came up to help while I was grieving for my friend Rachel. That was so helpful to me!

3. I am thankful that I got to spend a morning with my friend's kids. I took them to the zoo and we had a wonderful time. I like taking Andrew to the zoo, but he just likes to run and look at the fish. This time, I was able to interact with the 4 year little girl. It was refreshing to my soul. Thanks Melanie for asking me.

4. My best friend is home from Papua New Guinea! I am SO THANKFUL for that! We have talked on the phone just about every day. What a blessing.

5. I'm thankful for First Missionary Church and that it has been our home for 11 years. We are saying goodbye this summer. We need to find a place where we can get little Andrew's needs met. It has not been an easy decision, but it's the right one for our family. We have loved the people at FMC dearly and still do. Thank you for being like a second family to us!

Andrew loves our neighbors

Here's a note from our neighbor, Cathleen from Friday:

Becky,I have to tell you about this - it was so funny. Drew came over and rang our doorbell. The kids answered and he came right in. He went straight for the Veggie Tales dvds, found one and took it. Meanwhile, your father-in-law was at the door by then, but he wanted to sit down and watch it. We got him back to the door, got him to let us make sure the dvd was in there, and he was off...Well, guess he likes us now!!! Thought you'd get a chuckle out of that. I thought it was fairly classic myself!

This gave me the biggest laugh of the week. Now, I guess we are on a month to month fee for movie rentals from across the street!

I miss you, Rachel

On Saturday, April 18 my dear friend, Rachel went home to be with Jesus. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 10 years, Scott; her daughter, Aleah (6), son, Bruce (4) and daughter, Caynah (1 week).

I will miss her laugh, encouragement, fashion and make-up advice, and our phone conversations. Rachel loved her family, friends and her Lord. She will be missed by so many, but is now dancing and singing in Heaven with her Savior.

five on Friday

1. I am thankful for a great time of sharing at our fellowship for Bible study on Thursday. I am in a very neat group of women. I feel blessed to call them my friends. My mom came up from Indy to pick up Andrew from school so I could host the group at my house. Thanks, Mom!

2. I actually went to a movie on Wednesday night. I saw Slumdog Millionare. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the movie! Apparently, the slums of India were shown true to form in the movie. What an eye opener for me. I take so much for granted! Thank you, Jesus for my many many blessings here in the U.S.

3. My very cool hubby bought me an MP3 player this week. I'm not exactly sure how to use it yet, but it will be fun tohave. I would like to start walking in the mornings after the boys go to school and now I will some music to listen to as I walk!

4. Even though Jarod was sick on Easter and we missed services at church, it was nice to have a relaxing day at home.

5. I am so thankful for the sun and this warmer weather. I was able to walk around Jefferson Pointe today. It was wonderful!

Random pics...

It's not every day that Andrew likes to be this close to his brother. I just love when Andrew and Jarod can sit together on the couch in their jammies and watch Veggie Tales. What a blessing to catch this rare moment!
I was able to spend some time with my dear college friend, Mary on Good Friday. She has a daughter with special needs and has been a great prayer warrior in regards to Andrew. Mary and I, along with Valerie, had a wonderful senior year at Huntington. We spent at least once a week talking, praying together, encouraging, reading scripture, laughing until we cried and crying until we were exhausted. Those were special times!

Mary and I just talked and talked on Friday. It was so refreshing! Andrew felt right at home in their house. He even found an apple in their refrigerator. Andrew also bonded with Mary right away and allowed her to hold him and pick him up. Mary was veyr touched by that! We both had tears in our eyes!

I walked in Mary's house to find that the little girl I once knew was now a beautiful young "tween". Nikole was the first baby born to the three of us college gals. Now she is in the fourth grade and has a very sweet disposition. BryAnna is now almost six. She was born on my brother's birthday. I can remember the day Bry was born and how scared everyone was. After some surgeries and therapies and two parents who pushed hard to fight the school system, Bry is a spunky, TALKING, tom-boy of a darling. It was so cool to see her without fear and trying to interact with Andrew.

It was a special time for me! I hope we can get together again soon!

Good Friday 5

1. First and foremost, I am thankful for the sacrifice of Christ for my sins. I am nothing without Him! What an amazing God we have!

2. I was able to spend several hours with my college friend, Mary today. It has been way too long since we have seen each other. She only lives an hour a way, but our schedules just don't match up. We had a wonderful of talking and laughing. Drew warmed up to her right away and even let her tickle him. Mary has a child with special needs and it always makes me feel refreshed when I'm with her. She knows and understands the trials and the joys of little successes.

3. Jarod received a great report card this week. I am so thankful that he likes school and has a great teacher. Second graders do not receive letter grades yet, so next year will be interesting to see how he does. Eric and I are always telling Jarod to just to his best; that's all we ask.

4. I love my hairstylist! I've been seeing her long enough now that I can tell her to surprise me with a hair color and she knows just how far to push the envelope that I don't freak out. I was fortunate to get a cut and color this week. I needed a pick me up! I am so thankful for her!

5. I am thankful for God and his promises, faithfulness, sovreignty, love, majesty, trust, control, and His son, Jesus.

Friday's 5

1. I am thankful for a great spring break! We went to Indy the first part of the week and spent time with the grandparents. We even braved all the other spring breakers at the Children's Museum. I love having the kids home and being on our own schedule instead of a school schedule.

2. It's Sharie's birthday today! I'm thankful for such a loving sister-in-law who fits so naturally into our family. She and my brother, Mitch are great parents to two great kids, Kylie and Trent! I just wish they all lived closer!

3. I don't like it when my kiddos are sick. However, it is nice to have snuggle time! Andrew's had a bad cold this week. Grandma even got to snuggle with Drew while he dozed off for a nap. Yes, Andrew took a nap! I am very thankful for that!

4. I am thankful for IHOP, Stake n Shake, Pizza Hut and other resteraunts in Fort Wayne that worked with Austism Speaks on Thursday night. They gave 10% of sales that night to help the cause of autism. Stacey and Cathleen: Thank you for supporting our family by eating at IHOP! You guys are such good friends!

5. I got to talk with Pamela the other night! I am so thankful that they made it to Hawaii safely and are having a wonderful time with Phil's sister. I am looking forward to being able to talk with Pamela regularly and face to face. it's been way too long! Just a few more weeks and she will be here in Fort Wayne!