life happens

I've been reminded in the last month that I am not in control of life. 

Ann's cancer took charge at the end of January - it had spread to her brain. While things were getting worse for her I was waiting for my next OB appointment to see if my doctor would clear me to travel. Brent and I wanted to get to Belgium as fast as possible.

At the same time my dad had been having some out of the ordinary things with his heart that caused concern for a cardiologist to suggest he needed an angiogram.

And my best friend's mom passed away very suddenly.

Sadness and fear filled me up.

My OB said baby and I were perfectly healthy to travel. My dad's tests all came back okay. Erin and her family are filled with the faith their mom had - God will provide.

Brent and I booked tickets and arranged care for the kids and left three days later.  We sat with Koen and talked, had discussions and made decisions for Ann's care, we cried and we laughed.  Ann passed away on Saturday, February 16, 2013.  I am glad we were there.  She was only 41 and her courageous battle was just four months long.

My parents returned from Belgium to news that my grandpa was in the hospital.  Six days after Ann died, my grandfather passed away. 

Psalm 116: 1-2: I love the LORD because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath.

I love the picture that God, in all His glory, is bending down to listen to us. Even when we don’t know what to say, He hears us.

 

Ann and Koen

My grandparents with some of their 16 great grandchildren.

 

My Valentines

I love my husband. I would tell you that any day of the year. There are certainly days where we are more in love than other days but through thick and thin there is always love.

He was very persistent that we come to Belgium to see my sister. My second visit, his first. I had such mixed emotions about this trip. My brother and I had a great visit in November. I have pleasant memories of that trip. She is nearing the end of her fight with this cancer. It has consumed much of her body, most recently her brain, and I just didn't know if I had the strength to see her. Brent never thought twice about us coming and supporting her and Koen. We are in Belgium as I write this. While there are very difficult and sad moments, I'm so glad to be here. And I'm glad Brent is with me. He thinks about things clearly and has such a tender, caring heart.

Lucas. When I saw the Valentine heart in the hallway at daycare, I was so happy for what he loves. His name on left.

Hannah colored this picture for Aunt Ann. She looks so big and older than two. She was so proud and sat still while I took the photo - and that's an achievement for this moving & shaking kind of girl.

These are my Valentines. I'm so blessed and so loved!

good news

While a lot of other things in our life seem uncertain and upside down right now (health related for family members), we do have one GREAT thing to report. 

We had an ultrasound this week and baby is doing great! 

 

We feel so blessed!

Aleida's challenge | a challenge to you

I never knew Aleida Franklin but she left a legacy of love for her kids that I think any mom would be envious of.  I stumbled upon Aleida's story from a friend's blog and then another blog and another... you know how this blog world is connected! 

 

Aleida made it a goal for herself to take a picture of herself with her children at least once a month.  She said using excuses about how we look, as women, is ridiculous since our children will never care what we looked like, but only that we have physical evidence of the bond between mother and child.   

"Have you ever seen a photograph of your own mother and thought to yourself how fat she looked? Or how she wasn't wearing make-up? Or wasn't dressed in a glamorous outfit?"

 

Seriously.  Food for thought, huh?

 

On September 5th, 2008 Aleida blogged a photo of herself, smiling, that read "Live today like there is no tomorrow." Just a week later, on September 12th, Aleida was struck by another car on her way to work and passed away, leaving two small children and a grieving husband. She was 41 years old.  How precious the photos of her and her kiddos! 

Instead of always being behind the camera, I'm going to put the camera in front of me and my kids!  I am now trying to take photos of myself with my children....double chins, bed-head, messy house in the background and all.  My kids will never doubt how much their mama loves them and I hope they have hundreds of photos of us together to remind them. 

 

I invite Mothers (and Fathers) everywhere to take Aleida's Challenge.