A Storybook of Grace

 Andrew’s first ever baseball game is in the books!  It was a loss, but still such a great time and a beautiful day!  Final score - Winthrop Harbor 13 Antioch 9. ⚾️💚⚾️

  Our 7th child, born on 9/11, Lucas John……..HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY LIL MAN!!!!!     Oh what to say - I don’t want to get too wordy!!!    His first year of life was spent in three NICUs - East TN, Vandy, and Boston.    His first year of life he underwent two heart surgeries.    He lived at home with us on oxygen and a feeding tube.    He didn’t start eating solid food until he was 3.5 years old.    He just started walking this summer.    He doesn’t talk much.    He’s not where he should be developmentally.    He has many scars from all of his hospitalizations.    Where his chest was cracked open for his heart surgeries, it still bulges out.    He has Down Syndrome.    And until this last summer I could just stop there and say “The End”.    My heart was full of bitterness, brokenness, and anger.    I didn’t understand why God chose me to be his mom and ashamedly I really didn’t want to be.    But praise the Lord that is not the end.    This summer, unbeknownst to him, one of our foster kids

 This guy is officially in the double digits!  He has always been my little buddy.  He loves to cuddle, talk, and just spend time with me. And even though he is 10, he still has a lot of little boy in him and I am more than OK with that.  No need to rush growing up!  You are a blessing my third child.  Happy 10th birthday Andrew Joseph!  💚

  We’ve made it a tradition to go on a train every year for the past 10 years for Andrew’s birthday, so today we got to do it again!  And as pictures show, we had some real goofballs today.  So happy Dad (Pappy) could join us!  Can’t wait to continue celebrations on his actual birthday this Wednesday!!  🚂 😜   💚