Beautiful by MercyMe (Lyrics)

This song touched me so much that I thought it was perfect to post on my blog. It was shared on my brother, Paul's Facebook page. I need to remember this every time I fall short. I hope it inspires you!

It’s Not a Diet, But Rather a Lifestyle Change

I had made my mind up in November of 2010 that I wanted to have bariatric surgery. But before I follow through with a commitment like that, I wanted to make sure I was in the right frame of mind on many levels. I had started to lose some weight in December, where I actually did lose 7 lbs., which was over the holiday. For me, that is a defeat in itself! I mean, not only was I dealing with the holidays, but a ton of birthdays too including Jake and me. Somehow, I did manage to lose 7 lbs which the surgeon was impressed with. Heck, I was impressed! Well, that all went out the window within a few weeks. I don’t know why, but I noticed that I was eating more, especially at night. I quickly started putting those 7 lbs. back on. I was so excited about my decision to have the surgery that I had all my pre-op done within 1 month of my decision. If I were allowed, I would have had the surgery the day I made my decision. But something held me back. I knew I was not ready for this surgery, mostly because I was not mentally prepared. If I can’t follow a food plan now, why would it be any different when I have the surgery?

Most of you are aware of my brother, Paul’s condition. He is morbidly obese due to his addiction to food. He is 28 years old and currently weighs over 800 lbs. I am scared to death for him. His weight will not let him live another 28 years if something isn’t done soon. My brother is a great guy and has a lot going for him. I think seeing his condition has given me that much more motivation to lose weight. How can I lecture him about his weight when I am obese myself? Wouldn’t that be hypocritical of me? I realize that I’m not nearly has heavy as him, but I’m still overweight and considered morbidly obese as well. If I don’t do something about my weight now and get my eating under control, I could potentially struggle with the same health risks that are plaguing my brother. Simple things that we take for granted, like going to the bathroom, is a chore for my brother. He needs assistance in cleaning himself. This saddens me deeply. I just wish I knew how to help him.

I realize that before I can even consider the surgery further, I need to get to the root of why I eat. I mean, who doesn’t love to eat, right? But I do know that I tend to eat more when my emotions are out of control. I know that January and February were not great months for me, which was due in part, to a medication I was taking to help me feel more awake during the day. But regardless, I know my eating habits tend to depend on how my emotions are going. I don’t know what happened three weeks ago, but it finally hit me that I need to get control of my life again. I need to get control of my eating habits. I was starting to feel the weight in my knees, which hurt when I would go up and down steps. I also figured it could have a lot to do with why I’m constantly tired and why my fibromyalgia is flaring up. I am going to be 40 years old this year (I know, that’s crazy, right?!) and losing weight is going to be much harder if I don’t start now.

I am currently seeking mental health on a weekly basis. I still can’t tell you why I overeat or why I use food to comfort my emotions, but just talking to someone about life has helped me tremendously. I have started Weight Watchers about 3 weeks ago, and so far, from my heaviest weight, I am down 16.6 lbs. I love the new program with fruits and vegetables being zero points. But just like anything, you can’t over eat fruits and veggies either! Now, I know this kind of weight loss will be slowing down, because it’s not healthy to keep losing 3-5 lbs a week, but it feels great to have a great start! I started exercising 2x a week including weights, but plan to get to at least 3 times a week! This is huge for me! I don’t like to exercise…I really don’t. I wish I could love it. Maybe I will grow to love it, but I hate it right now. I would love to find an activity that I love which would give me the exercise I need. I’m searching. I thought I might like tennis, but I can’t afford lessons. Does anyone know how to play and would be willing to teach me? I’m a quicker learner!

What I need from you, my family, friends, acquaintances, I need prayer and support. I need words of encouragement and cheers when I lose. I need people to call and ask to me exercise with them or even just go for a walk. I need you to pray for my brother that he will have the strength and courage to change his life. I want him to rely on God and relinquish his addiction. I want God to use me to help him. I don’t know how right now other than to be an example, but if there is something else, I hope God will open the door and walk me through. I love my brother and I want him to be around for a long time!

As for the surgery, I have not made a firm decision yet. Maybe I can continue to do this journey without the help of surgery. My friends, who I love dearly, are rooting for me and are encouraging me to do it on my own without the surgery. I’m praying that God will continue to give me the strength to keep moving forward and that He will help me think twice before putting anything into my mouth.

Thank you for the support and encouragement I have been receiving, which is invaluable to me. Talking about my weight and weaknesses is no easy task!

More Awesome News!

I’m so excited for Jake! He has made the baseball team with his middle school. Our school district only has one team which is composed of both 7th and 8th graders. Not sure why this is the case since most districts do have a separate team for both…I think anyway. Apparently they said there just isn’t enough interest, but I find that hard to believe since over forty 7th graders tried out for the team this year! The first cut was made after the first week of practice and only ten boys were chosen and of course, Jake was one of them. The ten had to endure yet another week of practice before the final seven 7th graders were chosen. Jake found out yesterday morning that he was one of the seven! We are totally psyched for him. He really doesn’t think he deserved to make the team. I wish I knew why he sells himself short all the time. He has so much natural ability and a huge amount of potential. Obviously the coach saw those attributes too! You go Jake! We know you will do awesome and we know that you will make us and your team proud.

Another milestone for Jake this past weekend is that he got contacts! Honestly, I don’t know how this kid played sports and did well in school because his eyes have deteriorated horribly over the last year and a half since his last eye exam. He went from a -1.75 to -2.25 and -2.50! The eye doctor couldn’t believe he was dealing with this for so long. I don’t think Jake realized how blind he was! When we left the eye doctor on Saturday, he couldn’t believe the crispness and sharpness of everything around him. He called me upon his return home from school yesterday and said “I didn’t realize how big the clock was at school and I can see the numbers on it!” I wish I had known he was struggling! He NEVER wore his glasses in school because it’s just “not cool!” Maybe if he had worn them, his eyes wouldn’t have deteriorated the way they had. Anyway, I think the contacts are going to give him more confidence in all he does. The doctor said we will probably see a huge difference in all he does including school and sports.

Yesterday was a big day for Dave and me! We are the proud owners of a 2008 Nissan Altima. We are not the type to turnover cars every few years. In fact, both of our cars were 14 years old! We traded our 1998 Chevrolet Malibu in for a 2008 Nissan Quest minivan which we absolutely love! The spacious room is exactly what we need, especially for traveling and whatnot. Dave and I constantly battled over whose turn it was to drive it! I knew that my 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier’s time was up, because poor Jake had no room in the back seat. At 13 years old, he’s already just about at 5’10” tall and probably still growing. His knees were pretty much in his chest whenever he road in the backseat of the Cavalier. It is so nice not having car payments, but it’s so nice driving a newer model car. Heck, I’m excited that I have a CD player! I’ve had a cassette player all this time. I don’t even think you can buy cassette tapes anymore! LOL. Anyway, we are excited and blessed that we are able to afford a “new” car and hope that we get 14 years out this one! The Altima is very nice! It’s white with a moon roof. It’s definitely not top of the line, but it has some fun features like a “push” start button. You don’t need a key to start the engine or unlock the doors! As long as the remote is in your pocket or purse, you can open the car or start the engine. It rides so smoothly compared to the Cavalier. We feel so blessed that God has blessed our finances that have allowed us to make this investment! If things go right, I’m praying that we can outright purchase our next car and not finance!

A Proud Moment – March 12, 2011

We celebrated the end of basketball season for Upward on Saturday with a ceremony held at church for all 450+ students. Each child is recognized by name and asked to cross the stage to receive an award. This year a “sport” bag was given to each player which was a great gift, because they are perfect for summer camps. There is always some type of program planned and this year was an awesome juggler and unicyclist. He was quite funny too! He did a great job capturing the attention of all the kids and parents. Each year, each head coach from each team is asked to nominate one player who is deserving of the “Christ-Like Award.” This player doesn’t just display athleticism, but rather more important qualities like character, good sportsmanship, a positive role model, honorable behavior, etc. One boy and one girl is chose for this award each year and this year, our son, Jake, was awarded the “Christ-Like” award. I can’t begin to put into words how proud and elated we are that Jake received this honorable award this year. As parents, we work hard to instill positive attributes and morals in our children hoping and praying that they grow up to be the kind of child and adult you would want them to be, but rather yet, a Christian that God asks us to be.

As Jake’s parents, we truly believe Jake is very deserving of this award. Upward is a different caliber of basketball than the competitive leagues Jake was getting used to this year. The teams are made up of an array of kids from athletic to not so athletic and even children with special needs. Upward does a great job in teaching our children that “all kids are winners.” Jake was blessed with great athletic ability and he was able to pull back and remember that he is not the only kid on his team, the Stings. Being one of the tallest on the team was a huge advantage for getting most of the rebounds. Most times you would just go up for a shot, but Jake held back and passed the ball consistently to other players, even though the shot would have been easy for him to make. He did such a great job involving his team and being a great role model. It was a pleasure watching him and just witnessing the character Jake displayed on the court each week. We are incredibly proud of our son. I pray that God continues to work in his heart and follows him through his life and leads him in all is decision-making.

Jake, your dad and I are immensely proud of you. You are turning into the young man we have prayed about. Watching you morph into the young man you are becoming has been such an honor and privilege. I know you think we are tough on you and you may think we are unfair and unwavering, but everything we do is because we love and care for you more than words will ever convey. I hope that you will always have “Christ” in your heart and that you allow him to lead you in life and all your decisions. Without God, we are empty and worthless. Let the award given to you on Saturday be a reminder of how special you are and that all things are possible through Him. We love you, Jake and we are truly honored to be your parents. We thank God everyday for you!

Jacob Crist – Most Christ-like Player

2011 Upward Basketball

Upward Basketball is about helping children to grow in Christ as they learn the game. Some young people come in as complete novices in both areas and others are well on their way spiritually and physically.

In describing the Christ-likeness, I think that you always have to examine lives in terms of where thy have come from and the possibilities of where they can go.

We had a young man on our team who had to model Christ in a very tangible way. Christ is the model of power under control; of submission when he could be an authority; and in the same way, Jacob Crist is in the process of learning what it means to relinquish using his God-given talent in order for his team to be successful and for the other teams not be overwhelmed. For any young person who is learning how to be what it means to be a Christian while playing competitive sport, there are real life lessons that have to be learned that are reflected in the stars that Upward awards.

The Blue Star – Effort: Jake never lacked effort on either end of the court. He was the first down on offense and defense. In practice, he asked for more suicides.

 The Red Star – Defense: Jake’s defense originally was taking out frustrations for what he perceived as unfair treatment out on the other team. This shifted by the end of the season by getting his team mates more involved.

The Gray Star – Offense: Jake started to actively suggest ways to improve the team by sharing what he was learning from playing on other teams.

The Gold Star – Sportsmanship: Jake never lashed out after hard fouls or calls that didn’t go his way.

I believe that in the process of maturing from a babe in Christ to maturity, one has to work out the details of his own salvation. Jake is well along in that process.

He has the physical attributes that will make him a stand-out athlete but he is also developing the Christian attitude that will make him an asset to his team.

Arthur Mitchell

Sting Coach

March, 2011

This is a shot of Jake on the big screen!  I don't think he knew what to think right away!

This is a picture of Jake taken by the technical crew!  So cool!

This was Jake, Dave, Rachel & I on stage where Jake was received his award.  Such an awesome moment for parents!

Just a Couple Quick Thoughts

I can’t believe that we are already a week into March. I love that we are already seeing glimpses of spring every now and then too. I do love the snow, but by this time, I’m ready for the reprieve from the wind and snow. There was a day where I even opened all my windows because it was warm enough. The house definitely needs fresh air after being closed up for the last 4 months. I can’t wait to hang my laundry outside too. I know, how crazy is that? I love hanging my clothes outside. Do you know how much you save in electricity?! And your clothes will last longer too if they aren’t put in the dryer. You want to hang them inside out though, because if not, they will fade in the sun. Try it! They smell wonderful.

Dave just called me on Monday, March 07, 2011 to tell me two little cute comments Rachel shared with him on their way home from school today. My girl just melts my heart sometimes. Rachel was telling her daddy that a boy in her class doesn’t like her and she says “it hurts my heart.” I love it! And then after going through the drive-thru at the bank, the teller gave Rachel a lollipop. Well, it wasn’t long before she dropped it on the floor of the car and daddy says, “We can’t eat it now.” Rachel responds with “daddy, but a little dirt won’t hurt.” LOL. She probably said that because so many times she has dropped something and before I could get to her fast enough, she sticks whatever it was in her mouth. I then usually say “well, I guess a little dirt won’t hurt.” It just shows you how much our kids pick up and that they hear everything we say. Even the things you don’t want them to repeat!

We are excited for Jake because based on a coach recommendation, Jake is going to play for an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball team. This is a great opportunity for Jake, because he will learn so much more about basketball. He’s come a long way and hopefully this will teach him more of the fundamentals he needs to know to grow in his game. So, it looks like basketball will be the sport for this spring and no recreational baseball. He is going to tryout for his middle school! I’m nervous for him, because this is a big deal. There is only one team that consists of both 7th and 8th graders. Tryouts start tomorrow, so please pray for him. He really is good at baseball, but after not playing all winter, he may be a bit rusty. Hopefully he wears his glasses like he’s supposed too! He needs them regardless of whether or not he thinks they are cool. When he can put drops in his eyes without prying his eyes open to do it, we can get him contacts, but in the meantime, he needs to wear his glasses!

Winter 2010-2011

Rachel peformaing in a Christmas show at her preschool.

She made such a cute little angel!

Jake dressed for a baketball game.  He has to wear a shirt and tie for all school games.

Love this!

Love this more!

She is my girl with a horrible sweet tooth!  Just like her daddy.

Rachel wanted me to put more batter on the beater.

We love our KitchenAid Mixer...Jake does too!

Rachel trying out her new bike!

Jake was thrilled to get his X-box.

I just looked at my blog and I didn’t realize how long it’s been since I updated it last. I mean, I knew it’s been awhile, but it’s been even longer than I thought. I feel guilty about it too, but honestly though, I have not been in the right frame of mind to write. The start of the New Year was a rough one for me and my family, only because they had to suffer the “raft” of my mental state. I feel even guiltier about that! I’ll explain later.

Gosh, I just realized that I didn’t even post about Thanksgiving. It was a great holiday this year, because my sister, Sandy, and her family came into town. It was wonderful having them here to enjoy the holiday with all of us, especially to celebrate my new niece, Isis. We were even privileged to celebrate her first birthday, which was so much fun. Isis shared her first steps with us too. It’s amazing how God works, because just like Rachel, Isis fit right in with the family and she wasn’t a bit shy or upset that she was surrounded by unfamiliar faces. She is a spunky little thing who just loves to laugh and entertain. Hmm, sounds like someone else I know! Actually, I was surprised at how well Rachel did with Isis being in our house. She wasn’t too jealous considering she had to share the spotlight with the youngest addition to the family. We did have a small birthday celebration for Isis and my friends and Dave’s family were so gracious enough to celebrate with us with gifts and food! It was so much fun! I did put Sandy to work where she made her famous fried chicken, green collards, “crack mac” (macaroni and cheese) and very tasty cornbread! This is a new tradition that has started for whenever Sandy visits us here in PA. My friends still talk about our southern fried chicken dinner! Sandy does a great job, but it really is a lot of work! She only knows how to cook for an army, but we love it because we have a weeks worth of leftovers! They may be coming up for Easter this year and I’m totally psyched! I so wish they lived closer so that we could do more and get to know our niece better. Hopefully one day they will make the transition back to our old stomping ground!

Unfortunately, the rest of the year was a little stressful for us. We have so many birthdays this time of year, including Jake and myself. But, we always make sure that we celebrate in some way for Jake. Having a birthday in December myself, I know all too well how sometimes we get forgotten because of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Before celebrating Jake’s birthday, we always make sure the house is already decorated for Christmas and I always do tons of cleaning beforehand. I need to get more organized with that, so that I can eliminate some of that stress. Andrea and Phoebe came this year to help us decorate the tree. I believe this is Andrea’s 5th year in helping us decorate our tree and now Phoebe has joined our tradition. Andrea is Jewish in faith, so she doesn’t have her own tree. She remembers doing this with her grandmother, who was catholic, when she was younger and she enjoyed the tradition of tree decorating. It’s fun having your “extended” family help in decorating for Christmas. Dave and Jake had helped this year topping the tree with our star. Rachel was thrilled to have a part in putting the star on the tree. It’s hard to believe that she’s old enough to help!

Basketball season was in full swing and keeping Jake, and us, busy! Jake pretty much played ball seven days a week. I guess we didn’t learn from the fall with his busy activity/sport schedule! Basketball is Jake’s “new found love.” He tried out for the 7th grade team at school and made it, which was a big deal for him! We were so excited for him for such an accomplishment, especially considering he hasn’t played competitively for very long. His school had a great team this year and the record ended up being 10 and 1. Jake also played for a recreation league and for their travel team which he also had to try out for. He played for Upward Basketball at our church, which I tried talking him out of, but he wanted to play, especially since this is his last year because he ages out. He thought it would give him more practice, since we don’t have a good driveway for a basketball net. We are now at the tail end of the season and we aren’t sure what spring looks like yet in the way of sports. Jake may not play baseball this year for the first time since he was five years old! I’m very sad about this! He wants to pursue basketball and is hoping to find a team where he can play this spring. I just hate to see him give up baseball all together. He’s so good at it and has a natural talent for the sport. I thought he could play for school and do recreational basketball. He’s not sure about trying out for school since they only have one team which is composed of both 7th and 8th graders. I was surprised to learn this, since I thought most schools have a separate 7th and 8th grade team. Anyway, he’s afraid he wouldn’t be good enough to make the team. I say he should go for it. So what if he doesn’t make it (I do think he would make the team!) at least he would get the experience of trying out. Jake sometimes shies away from challenges, which bugs me. Hopefully he will change his mind. It would be a shame to let his talent go to waste!

Rachel is still dancing. Although, lately, she hasn’t been wanting to go to dance. Not really sure why, because she loves to dance. I guess it could be a phase. She still loves school and continues to learn more and more each week. She is so funny. She loves to sing and every day we get to hear the songs she has learned at school. I am amazed at how many songs this girl knows and is willing to sing to anyone who will listen. We get such a laugh out of our spirited girl. Just last night while eating dinner, she announced that she was finished. I told her that she needed to eat at least 3 mores bites. In the end, she ended up eating almost every bite on her plate. I complimented and praised her for this and she says “I’m the best and no one is better than me.” I explained that this really isn’t a very nice thing to say out loud and she responded with “stop criticizing me!” All Dave and I could do was laugh. The words that come out of my girl’s mouth at three years old is unbelievable. She is a pistol and I think this is just the beginning that we are in trouble for what is to come!!!! Everyone keeps telling me this and it scares me to death.

I’ve been sharing Rachel’s adoption story with her just about every night. We have implemented “snuggle time” in her bed which lasts about 10 minutes or so each night. During that time, we say our nightly prayers. She is so cute, because every night she wants to pray for several families who lost their house in a fire back in the fall/early winter. We pass by these homes everyday and each day she asks about it and wonders if they are getting help. I love that she thinks of these families and shows empathy towards them at her age. So each night since she saw these homes, she is sure to include them in our prayers. I love it! Anyway, the second part of our “snuggle time” is spent sharing her adoption journey. She loves to hear about her adoption journey and how we waited and how she “grew in our hearts.” When I talk about us entering the Chinese Adoption Civil Affairs Office in China, I talk about how we knew she was our little girl because she was the only “bald” baby in the room! When I get to that part, she yells “that was me…that was me!” I share with her how she cried for a little while and she always intervenes and says “because I didn’t know you yet.” I go on to tell her the rest of her story and how we loved her before we even laid eyes on her. She is always telling me “but I grew in your heart.” Back in December, I switched out the picture with the kids and Santa with the new one from this year. I found the one of Jake with Santa when Jake was only a year old behind all the others. I laid it on the table and Rachel asked “is that me?” I explained that the picture was Jake when he was a baby and she responds “he’s from China too?!” LOL. Without too much detail, I tell her that no, Jake grew in my belly and you grew in China. She pondered that for a moment and after a few seconds, she grabbed my face and said “but I grew in your heart for a long time.” Did I tell you how much I love this girl?! My heart skipped a beat when she said this. I pray to God that that will always be enough for her. I hope that by sharing her adoption story with her, she will never be ashamed of it, but know that she was chosen out of pure love. I pray to God that she will be proud to share her story and that her story will always be a part of her and one that she will proudly treasure. I know I always will. Right now, I’m cherishing the moments during “snuggle-time” in her bed where we lovingly share her adoption story and pray that God will continue to give her that sense of love and belonging as she gets older.

We celebrated another Chinese New Year with Living Hope at the Chinese Buffet earlier in February. It’s always great to see the families, especially the children because they usually have grown or changed so much. I hardly see Rachel when we go because she is all over the place running with her little friends, especially Elizabeth. This year I’m excited, because I’m helping with the planning of the next reunion this summer. This coming weekend we are taking a ride to visit one facility that is a big possibility for the reunion. I’m praying that we can find something that will be fun but financially affordable for everyone.  I’m excited about this role and I’m looking forward to meeting and coordinating activities with other families.  I love the networking and the growing relationships that have come from our adoption process.  I think it’s so important for us, particularly Rachel, to network with families who have the same family dynamics as ours. I pray that Rachel, and us, develop lifelong relationships as we continue to grow and network with other multi-cultured families. We have already developed some great friendships and it’s been a blast!

I am happy that we are at the tail end of winter already. It’s been a tough start this year. I’ve been struggling mentally on so many levels, but thank God, I think I got to the root of the problem. I struggle with severe fatigue and after having a sleep study done last September, it was determined that I have Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). It’s very similar to Restless Leg Syndrome, but it occurs while I am sleeping. They sleep study revealed that this PLMD wakes me up about 15 times per hour because of the jolting movement of my legs and arms. So, the doctor put me on a stimulant, which is supposed to help keep more awake during the day. The drug worked like a charm, or at least I thought so. It worked great in keeping me awake, but the side effects had caused some severe mental issues including aggressive behavior. My poor family took the brunt of my behavior and outbursts. I’m ashamed and embarrassed by the whole thing. My mood swings were so severe that I would go on rampages that would last a long time and then end in severe depression and crying fits. One Saturday morning, I was so aggressive and agitated that I tried getting out of our moving car! That day, I knew something was seriously wrong with me. My aggressive behavior made me so upset and ashamed; I would then fall into a deep depression where I would hide away from my family and friends. I started researching my medication, and once I realized it was the medication and I stopped taking it, within three days I was back to myself! I still can’t believe that I dealt with this for 6 long weeks. I can’t believe how horrible I was to my family and myself. I have the best husband in the world for putting up with me. When I think back over those 6 weeks, it makes me cry. Thank God my family is loving and forgiving. I asked Jake if he saw a difference in me after few days after I stopped my medication and he said “oh yeah!” I can’t ask for forgiveness enough. I would rather be exhausted then to put me or my family through that again. Thank you to those who prayed for me during those rough weeks.

It is hard to believe that we are at the end of February and that spring will be upon us before we know it. I have faith that things will in fact improve as time gets on. We have some exciting things coming up for the spring and summer, including my sister and her family visiting for Easter, and an Easter surprise for the kids (I will share later)!. My hubby forgave me enough to purchase a gift for me, which is a digital photography class! I can’t wait for April 17th! My friend has inspired me to want to learn to get my DSLR out of “auto-mode.” I’m going to make plans to go visit my friend, Tina, in Chambersburg and we are planning the Living Hope reunion for August. So, we have some great things to look forward to and honestly, they are very much deserved! We need to embrace life and count our blessings each day.

Please keep my father in your prayers. After a nasty fall while working, an MRI showed spots on his spine. He has an appointment with a specialist next week. Please pray to God, that it is nothing serious and that if it is serious, that God will give him and everyone around him the strength to handle whatever he is faced with. Please continue to pray for my brother, Paul, who is dealing with severe and dangerous obesity. Pray that he can stick to his food plan and lose the weight that will allow him to live a more comfortable and normal life.

Rachel and her dance class performed for senior citizens at Christmas.  They were so cute.

My sassy girl!

She was front and center showing us her moves!

Notice Jake's size compared to everyone else!  It's quite comical.

Jake going for a lay-up.

Upward Team!

My boo boo face!

She looks like a little cheerleader here!



First family shot in a long time, but of course the princess wouldn't cooperate.



My girl.

 

Rachel LOVES her new motorcycle.

When she realized there was a turbo button, there was no stopping her!

Love seeing the mess on Christmas morning.

Andrea, Phoebe & Rachel

My little angel bugs.

Merry Christmas to You and Yours

I hope we all remember "the reason for this season."  Our family wishes you a Merry Christmas a Blessed 2011 New Year!

Love,

Dave, Sherry, Jake & Rachel

2010

Rachel's Version of the Pledge of Allegiance

Officially a Teenager




13 Years and Counting

 

I remember like yesterday when we found out we were pregnant with you. I’m not sure you know this Jake, but we honestly thought we were going to lose you. We tried for exactly one year to get pregnant and the very last month, if I wasn’t pregnant, we were going to seek medical help. We found out right around our 3rd Wedding Anniversary that I was pregnant and we couldn’t be more thrilled. A week or so later, I went for my first blood test, which didn’t come back normal, so the next day they repeated the blood test. The levels that should go up were not, so the doctor wanted me to have an ultrasound to confirm that things were okay. Things were not okay from the ultrasound and yet another round of blood tests was ordered. Long story short, I was told that I was either having a tubular pregnancy or that I would be having a miscarriage. The doctor wanted to be safe and ordered me to have a procedure done, which basically would clean out my tubes and uterus. Your dad and I were devastated and incredibly heart broken over this news. I was scheduled to be in the doctor’s office the next morning where the doctor would go over the latest blood results and from there I would head to the hospital to have this awful procedure. I was scared out of my mind and my heart was broken in a million pieces.

At this point, we had shared the bittersweet news with Mommom and Poppop. Mommom had accompanied us to our appointment that morning. We arrived for our 8 AM dr.’s appt. where the doctor basically told us the grim news and he did one last exam and determined that the procedure needed to be done. Dr. Guifrida had the nurse call the hospital to tell them that I was on my way. I was crying hysterically while putting on my coat. As we were about to leave, Dr. Guifrida says, “you know what, I want to do my own ultrasound here in the office. Take your coat off and follow the technician to the ultrasound lab.” I was confused, but did what I was told. Without getting into too much personal detail that I’m sure you would be grossed out by, when the doctor placed the probe, there appeared this little fluttering thing on the screen which I found out was your little heartbeat! I was confused but the doctor was smiling and started to cry. We were told that I was in fact pregnant and that everything looked completely normal. There we all are, surrounding this ultrasound machine watching your heart flutter with not a dry eye in the room. We had all just experienced a tremendous miracle.

I can’t tell you how close we came to losing you and how you wouldn’t even be here today if God hadn’t intervened. That was my first real glimpse that there is a God and that he heard my prayers. Things were touch and go for a little while, but we were indeed pregnant and we couldn’t have been more elated. When I think of that time, I get goose bumps and still choke up thinking how close we were to not having you here with us today. I thank God every day for you.

You are amazing! I know I give you a hard time and that I can unreasonable at times, but one thing is for sure…I love you with all my heart and want nothing more than for you to be happy and to succeed. Your dad and I are so proud of you and just elated about the young man you are becoming. When I see you interact with others, especially children, I am in awe at how sensitive and compassionate you are. You have this charisma about you that is so appealing and intriguing. No wonder the girls seem to love you! Although, if I had to be honest, I wish the girls could wait a few more years! LOL. But I know in my heart, you will do what is best and what God wants you to do. As long as you keep God first in your life, you will be a wonderful gentleman! I love you, Jake, and I wish you a Happy 13th Birthday! We love you!

Gods Heart: Adoption

God calls us to take in his children. We all were orphans until God "adopted" us. This is an amazing song a wonderful message about adoption and God's children.