Mission Trip

Cooper and I on our first mission trip...

What an incredible week we have had here in South Carolina.  Can't wait to share all that we have seen and felt and experienced here, if I can find a way to put it all in into words.  This is our last day here and it will be so hard to leave these kids we have grown to love and care about over the past few days.  

God is moving here in and amongst these communities through the servants He has placed in these churches and it has been our privilege to come here and serve along side them.

Thank you for your prayers for our group this week.

Sixth Grade Mission Trip

I absolutely love the beginning of summer.  Everyone is excited to be out of school, there's the anticipation of all the fun things to come like swimming, getting together with friends and family and vacations, there is no schedule, no homework and no one is bored...yet.

We have jumped in with both feet, grabbing hold of our fun, busy summer with both hands.  We won't let go until it is pried out of our tight fists some time in August when that school bells rings once again.  So here we go...last week was VBS and next week is the 6th grade mission trip.  Plans have been in the works since last summer for me to work out a way to go on this trip with Cooper.  We have prayed and have asked friends and family to pray for mountains to be moved in order for me to be able to make this trip happen with my oldest son.  

I have heard about this mission trip that others in our church have taken with their 6th graders and what a wonderful thing it has been, but mountains needed to be moved. The requirements to go on this trip are as follows: regular church attendance, memorizing the Bible verses of the Romans Road, earning half the money for the trip themselves, doing devotions, writing their testimony and planning everything we are going to do from Bible stories to crafts to recreation.  These 6th graders are planning, running and doing this mission trip themselves.  They are transitioning from being served to serving, how neat is that!  They are learning what's is like to not only say you're a follower of Christ but to live it out as well.  

Mountains are moving, plans are taking shape and I am thrilled that I am going to be able to take this trip with him. Things you can pray for:
*That God will be glorified in all that we do
*That hearts are already being prepared and tendered to hearing the Gospel
*That we are obedient to what God wants us to do, that we are led by His direction and His agenda not our own
*That we all stay healthy
*SK and those who will be caring for her
*Cooper and all the other 6th graders going on the trip

The logistics involved in such a trip can be overwhelming. As the time approaches for us to leave so many things fill my head, so many lists and concerns constantly running through my mind, so many things competing for my attention.  I have never left SK for this long before. Not in her entire life have I ever been away from her for such a stretch of time, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.  It's not that I don't think she will cared for, I know she will.  It's not that I think others are not capable, they are...it's just a Mama thing.  

I pray and I hope you will too that all these things will be settled in my mind that I can be who God needs me to be on this trip...for Cooper, for the other 6th graders, for the children and families we are going to serve and for the One who called us on this trip and made a way through family and friends for Cooper and I to be able to go together.

The song that has been chosen to be the theme of our trip is "The Great I Am" by Phillips, Craig and Dean.  There's a line in the song that says "The mountains shake before You..."  Going on this trip seemed an impossible task last summer and it is when I try to take it on myself, but nothing is impossible with God.  Mountains crumble in the presence of the Great I Am.  Humbled, thrilled and anxiously anticipating the great work God is going to do as we seek His will and His way with one spirit and one mind.

Luke 9:23 "Then He said to them all, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"

Christ's Love in Us

We've just finished a week of Vacation Bible School (VBS) at our church...that has been the reason for the silence on the blog this week.  It has been all I could do to get us up and out the door at 8:30 everyday, because after school lets out you think you're done and then VBS hits and it's like you forgot how to get everyone up and ready to go all of a sudden.  It was so worth it though, it always is to see God work and move in the lives of our children.  

I didn't work with Sophie Kate's group, but each day I tried to find some time to pop in just to make sure everything was going well with her.  One morning I snuck in during the Bible story.  Sophie Kate is in the special needs VBS class and the teacher of that group has such an ease about her when it comes to these children.  She knows how to talk to them, she told the Bible story in her own words in a way that they could understand and in a way that they could participate and respond...and they did, it was a wonderful thing to see. 

Let me tell y'all what's got my attention these days, what's running over and over in and through my mind, what I am fascinated by are those who don't have care that do care. Does that make sense?  Those people who don't have to reach out to us, who don't have to include us, who don't have to love our girl and our family, but do anyway.  The volunteers in SK's VBS class who don't have to serve in special needs but want to...what makes them want to?  The folks we met just this week that said, "Hey we just put a pool in and we want to see kids in it every single day, come over and swim with us," what makes them open their home up to me and my group?  I got a Mother's Day card in the mail last month (no signature and no return address) with a kind note in it as well as money that said, "Hope you can use this for your family this summer." Who does that? What compels those folks to give and offer and include us and think of us in such a way?  

I know by asking these questions it just brings my own selfishness out even more because I have to admit I'm not like these people.  I didn't do things like this for others before SK came into our world. I don't get these people who do things for others with absolutely no expectation for anything in return because the world tells us to live for ourselves, put ourselves first and our wants above others.  

So what compels these people to do what they do?  It's Christ in them that compels them.  They don't just say they care they show it.  They don't just say they have the love of Christ in them and then go about their life as they see fit. The love of Christ in them is active and living and doing. They love others because God loved them first.  They serve others because that's what God calls us to do.  It's not even something they think about or would feel comfortable being praised for, it's just who they are.  Christ's love is active and alive and touches others and looks different than anything that could possibly be offered by this world. What a testimony to Christ living in us and through us that we do for others when we don't have to...we are blessed by His people doing His work.

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves."

Sophie Kate's Graduation

Summer has officially started here.  We have completed 6th grade, 4th grade, 1st grade and 4K and yes I say "we" because it has been a group effort for sure.  It will be a different kind of summer for us this year with Cooper playing school football and basketball but we are glad to have him with us right now.  We missed him in the afternoons during spring training.  It was strange not having him come home from school like he always has. The brothers asked where he was almost every day, they missed him and so did I.  It was different us all not being together, but we're adjusting.

Sophie Kate graduated from 4K and I think I held it together pretty good.  I had my moments like when Grey pushed her in during the processional.

Yep, I bawled but then got a hold of myself.  It was the sweetest thing and so very appropriate because he has been so involved in her class this year.  She wouldn't have had it any other way.

SK's 2013 4K class, everyone is headed to Kindergarten next year!

My friend Letitia joined us as we donated two books about special needs children to SK's teacher...one in memory of her son Dante and one in honor of SK.  It's been to my gain to get to know her precious Dante through her and her family.  I value Letitia's friendship so much.  I was thrilled she could come and as always was blessed by her selfless and uplifting spirit.

The other moment that I lost it, Sophie Kate and her teacher of three years saying their goodbyes.  Look how intently SK is looking at her and listening to her...not many people get to be looked at like that by her...so moved by the the love and respect between them.  

 Grey and his #1 girl...the feeling is mutual I can assure you.

A wonderful accomplishment for our sweet Sophie Kate.  It was truly a team effort to get her to this point.  There are so many people to thank...teachers, therapists, our fantastic school system, SK's nurse and our family and friends that have supported our girl and our family and have prayed nonstop for us.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Changes

I just don't do very well with the ending of things.  While I cannot wait for the ease of our unscheduled summer days, that's not how I am feeling this week.  I know without a doubt that we will smoothly transition into movie nights and sleeping late and I am looking forward to that, but it's not how I feel on this day.  On this day I am feeling nostalgic towards the little girl that started preschool 3 years ago.  As I literally count down the days we have left, I remember back to that little chubby cheeked girl and her mother unsure of the road that lay ahead (a place I have become very familiar with over the last 5+ years). 

 (SK the year she started Preschool)

Next school year I will have one in 7th grade, 5th grade, 2nd grade and Kindergarten...that cannot be possible, there must be a mistake somewhere.  They are different today than they were when school started back last August. Not a bad different just different and things have changed in our house and with our routines as the kids have changed.  Once again not a bad change but a change nevertheless.  A bit more grown up, a bit more independent...Cooper still needs us it's just in a different way.  I can feel things shifting in the house, kids growing up way to fast.

 All of these feelings will come to fulfillment when Sophie Kate graduates from preschool on Wednesday afternoon.  I will be an absolute mess.  A part of me wants to skip the whole thing and pretend like it isn't happening, but she's come too far for me to do that.  She has worked hard and I am very proud of her as I am her brothers.  Next week, it will be summer and all will be well, but this week I am feeling that sentimental pull on my heart that these babies of mine won't take their time in growing up. 

Mother's Day

Blessed that these three call me mama...

Would give anything to hear this one say those words too...

She satisfies my mothering heart with her touch, her smile and her presence that just fills up a room.

Yes we have the exact same hair, can't tell where one ends and the other one begins.  He told me just the other day that when he grows up he wants to have one special needs child, adore his gigantic heart.

This one got glasses for the first time last week, wears a hearing aid in one ear and doesn't let any of it get him down.  Love his easy going spirit.

So stinkin' proud of this guy for making the 7th grade basketball team and doing 7th grade football that I can hardly stand it!

I can't imagine a higher or more humbling call on my life than to mother these four children...my cup runs over.

Preschool to Kindergarten

Sophie Kate is doing better and went back to school on Wednesday of last week, that is also the day that we had her IEP meeting for next year.  It went really well and I am certainly looking forward to the new things SK will get to be a part of next year.  The only downside to next year is that we will be leaving our wonderful preschool class and teacher that we have been with for three years. 

The life of our family changed for the better three years ago when SK entered this class.  Her teacher and friends have been such a blessing to our family.  They have set wonderful achievable goals for our girl and work diligently and consistently with her each and every day that she attends.  As we sat around the conference table last Wednesday surrounded by SK's teachers and therapists I could feel in their expressions and their words how much they truly care about our girl.  They don't just teach her, they don't just stretch her, they don't leave her in her wheelchair to be a bystander to all the activity in the classroom.  They have made a commitment to these children with their lives and careers and it is evident everyday in their words and actions.  With tears that would come and go as the meeting went on, I felt so grateful for all of them and what they have contributed to the life of my daughter and our family.

It's a wonderful thing that she is able to attend school at all. It's even more wonderful that I can leave her confident in the care she is getting when I'm not there.  It's been a good thing for both of us.  Five years ago I would have never believed that we would be talking Kindergarten for SK next year, so excited for her.

This verse comes to mind when I think about those who have taught, loved and cared for our girl for the past three years, especially her teacher.  Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."

Mrs. B thank you for always regarding Sophie Kate in such a way.