Stews in Review…

It has been fairly obvious I have not written the story of our family for the last 6 months. Don’t get me wrong, the story has been written, just not in a neat, concise way. It has been messy, but we have walked each day confident that God is with us and He will never leave us. Here are a few highlights:

Parker completed the fourth grade on the Principal’s list for ALL A’s ALL year. Amazing that girl is, as Yoda would say. She played rec league soccer and continues to show a love and desire the game. She was also able to be a guest player on the travel team in our area and LOVED it. To say that God is at work in her heart would be an understatement. She is starting to GET it. She, as much as she can at 10, is beginning to understand the call to be a disciple of Jesus, what it means, how it is played out and He is very REAL for her. We are watching her recognize her strengths and her weaknesses, and each day, try to work it out.

She has grown in GRACE.

Emery…where do I start. She loves Gymnastics and competed in two competitions. She is level 2 and really enjoys it. She always wants to try new things. She completed the third grade, on the honor roll,  but missed the last two weeks of school due to a Ruptured Appendix. We spent 11 days at Vandy Chidlren’s and then another 11 days with IV antibiotics…while we were at the beach. I am flat out amazed at how she handled the pain she was in, endured, toughed it out and did a great job at having a good attitude while feeling crummy. She didn’t eat for a week and had additional infection…but would get this look of resolve on her face that would bring tears to this Mom’s eyes. She is the TOUGHEST person I know.

She has grown  in DETERMINATION and PERSEVERANCE.

Bradley completed Kindergarten and did excellent on his final Kindergarten test, getting all his math correct. His precious teacher has said she can now write a book on how to teach math using football (a field goal + a touchdown= 9).  He played Flag Football and was a beast. He was total game face, into it and was just a joy to watch. He also went to his first NBA game with his Daddy and LOVED it all.  We have seen him begin to understand what it means to be a big brother and choose to lay down some things that he really would rather hold tightly.  He makes friends so easily and is ALL boy!!

He is growing in SERVICE.

Judson turned 3!!! He loves Mother’s Day Out and going to church. He is 90% potty trained and loves to play outside. His Language blows me away. We had him evaluated and developmentally, he is almost on target, even after only hearing English for 5 months…he is crazy smart. He is continuing to sleep well and making good progress in learning what it means to be in a family, but more specifically, OUR family. He is a TODDLER and we have a lot of moments of aggression and yelling, but we have learned SO much of how to handle those moments in a more positive manner.  He had a seizure, an ambulance ride and his chin glued shut also! He is silly, charming, loves to be the center of attention and is about as CUTE as any little boy should be! We are all walking the dance of attachment daily and focusing on each DAY. He has shot up from the 20% in height to the 60%, so we are seeing him catch up in so many ways.

He is growing in LOVE.

There are times in the life of your family where that is what it is about …FAMILY.  The Lord has narrowed our lives to each day and the realization that we are NOTHING apart from HIM. I have learned so much about myself these last six months and have realized many truths about this journey of faith. It is rocky, it is steep, it is long, it is joy, it is sorrow, it is sacrifice, it is abundant, it is rich and it is often full of changes we never saw coming…..