Crazy yet Blessed

Crazy yet blessed would be the best way to describe the last few days. 

This little girl had her follow-up checkup with her cardiologist and amazingly the little VSD (tiny hole in her lower chamber of her heart) has closed up!!!  The cardiologist released her from seeing him and her heart is now healed by God!  The EKG was not her favorite but she was a good little patient:)  We have known about this since her birth and frankly the last few years David's cancer has kind of trumped this VSD in her heart.  We have prayed it would close and blessedly it has. 

 

This is the picture of true friendship.  I signed up for a 5K for Wytheville Community College and roped Misty into doing it with me.  It was a FRIGID 23 degrees but we did it and we finished second and third in our age group!  In full disclosure I must admit there were only three in our age group:) 

 

After the 5K, we watched Kyles 8th grade Hornets team play their last game.  Mike has coached these boys for five years and he is really going to miss these guys.  Thankfully we will get to keep cheering them on in their high school careers but we have really been blessed with some great memories. 

 

After the last game, we headed to church Saturday night for the coffee house to benefit the youth group and our summer mission trip.  It was amazing!  There were decadent desserts, local coffee, and some amazing talent!  Here is Bryan singing some Beatles tunes.  I am not a baker but I did manage to make some peanut butter brownie cups. 

 

David of course loved the desserts and sweets and somehow sweet talked Victoria into letting him take a "piece" of cake home with him!  Look how huge!!!  Not only do we have some wonderful talent at church, but we have some wonderful dessert makers as well. 

 

This afternoon after church we had our annual Down Syndrome Easter egg hunt!  I had this cutie in preschool last year and it was awesome to see her again!  She is adorable and full of spunk and personality. 

 

Of course Angie had to get in on the picture as well!  Angie is the life of any party!  She is hilarious!!  She was talking about her hot new boyfriend and her love of the show Dance Moms.  She and I are close in age and I love me some Angie!!  Our Down Syndrome events are the best party in town. 

 

Not only should you notice David's outfit of choice -red shorts and burgundy basketball jersey, but notice that big brother Kyle was helping him find eggs.  Kyle was sweet and patient enough to not only hide the eggs, but then follow after David carrying his basket for him. 

 

The lighting in this picture is terrible but here is a picture of our gang! We are so blessed with awesome families in our Down Syndrome group. 

 

This picture makes me smile.  At our Down Syndrome events, we always have awesome food and today we had sandwiches, brownies, jello jigglers, and ice cream sundaes!  Mike and Caroline sat and chatted for the longest time about life.  She is a 7th grader like Kyle and she is precious.  She told Mike that her boyfriend is his son!  Kyle and Caroline has been together since kindergarten and I love to hear Kyle tell us Caroline stories from school. 

 

The last few days have been full of activities but between Hope's awesome news from the cardiologist, to our egg hunt with our awesome Down Syndrome group, basketball, a chilly 5K, church, and the awesome coffee house at church we are blessed.  God is so very good.

 

Do You Believe?

This afternoon I was given a wonderful gift of one-on-one time with my oldest.  We were originally scheduled to see the movie Do You Believe with the youth group after school and I was slated to be a chaperone.  I had a babysitter lined up for Hope and David and Wednesdays are Mike's teaching days. 

Then Kyle's youth group leader got sick and the plans had to change.  I decided last minute to just take Kyle to the movie and have some precious time with just him.  Thirteen is a HARD age-he is a great kid but he is in the middle of puberty.  His voice dropped just about a month ago and he looks more like a grown man now than a boy.  Typical for teens, he would rather spend time in his man cave than with dear ole mom.  I am no longer allowed to take pictures of him and it feels harder for me to connect with him. 

So off to the movie we went and we were both in awe of this powerful movie.  It gave us a great springboard to have a conversation about matters of faith as we chatted about the different characters in the movie. 





What a blessing this afternoon was.  I love the chance to spend one-on-one time with each of my children.  Because of our schedules I have lots of time with Hope, and even with David but between Kyle's sports activities and busy schedule, I do not have as many opportunities with Kyle.  Sitting in that theater this afternoon felt like pure bliss.  There were only a handful of folks in the entire place and the movie was AMAZING!!  Kyle and I got to spend precious time together talking about the movie and some upcoming things in our lives like David's next scan.  What a gift to step into a dark theater and block out the world for a few hours and focus on a strong and intense movie about Jesus. 

Parenting is hard.  It is a hard and long marathon.  You can never rest on your laurels.  Parenting requires prayers, diligence, consistency, and time.  Lots and lots of time to connect and pour all the love and hope in Jesus that you can in a very short amount of time.  Mike and I take our parenting roles straight from the bible and they involve us training up our children.  Training takes immense time and investment but sitting with my first born today in a theater reminded me that it is all worth it.  My desperate desire is that our children will grow up and know, love, and serve Jesus all the days of their lives.   Today I was thankful that my sweet thirteen year old agreed and hopefully enjoyed this awesome date movie as much as this Momma did. 

JMU Madithon!!

We have had a fun little getaway this weekend to James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia to help those students raise money for UVA Children's Hospital.  We are a Children's Miracle Network Family and we love and are so honored to participate in events to raise money and awareness for the Children's Hospital.  After all that UVA did for our David it is really the least we can do. 

 

Pardon the wrinkles around my eyes (yikes-when did that happen?) but the kids were so excited for a weekend in a hotel!!  Mike and Kyle had a baseball tournament, so GG rode along with us. 

 

 

 

If you are ever near Staunton, there is a little family-owned restaurant named Mrs. Rowes that is awesome.  Wow.  We ate lunch on the way to JMU there.  The bakery is to die for.  We did not partake in any bakery goods but wow they looked beautiful and yummy. 

 

It has been years since I have been on JMU's campus, and we were really impressed!  It was pretty with lots of purple everywhere:) Here is David with the Duke. 

 

The students danced from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. to raise money for UVA children's hospital.  Here are all the miracle kids that were there for the event.  It still blows my  mind that my son fought cancer.  Seeing his name on something like this still jolts me. 

 

Hope was very shy and hung on me for most of the event.  She did love to dance with me and she did let go of my leg enough to play balloon with some of the college girls.

 

This picture makes me smile because here are our fellow cancer warriors that are also miracle kids.  Tyler is on the left and he fought retinoblastoma.  He is now finished treatment!!!  He is a crazy good basketball player and dancer:) Beside Tyler, is sweet little Wes who is fighting neuroblastoma.  He is still in treatment but the end is getting so close.  He has handled treatment very well and we will be so happy for him when he is done!!  Next is Anna who fought Leukemia and is also finished with treatment.  She just signed up for kindergarten for next year!  The last little girl on the right is Raygan "Ray Ray" who also fought neuroblastoma.  She has been off treatment for five months and she has scans on April 10th-the same day David does.  Please add Ray Ray to your prayer list for clean scans when you lift up David in prayer please.  We love seeing our UVA family but we do not like seeing them at the hospital for scan days.  These folks are from all over Virginia but we share a bond because they speak our language and know the fear that we all have hidden behind our smiles.  Scans never ever get easier. 

 

David was of course shy and made now new friends!  Ha!  Actually he played basketball for hours and would get mad if me or GG went over to remind him to drink.  He was in his grove with the college kids and did not need a mom around:)  He was actually a stinker and we had to threaten him a couple of times to participate and to take the necessary photos:)

 

To introduce each miracle child all the students made a huge line that they could run through to get to the stage.  It was so sweet and of course David loved that! 

 

All the miracle kids on stage with the Madithon organizers.  It blows me away to think that these students get it and choose to dance for twelve straight hours to raise money for our kids.  Impressive!

 

Dave of course loved the ladies!!  We danced on an off all day-it was really fun. 

 

David had several pen pals write to him before the event and Taylor is one of the gals that we got to meet.  Nice to meet you Taylor!! She was the only pen pal we got to meet but all the students were so great with Hope and David.

 

After playing basketball, dancing, socializing, and raising money the kids were excited to go to our hotel and swim.  Some of the families were leaving and going out to eat together but these two were running on fumes and they needed  a quick swim and dinner before an early bedtime. 

 

It was a nice getaway this weekend and it is always an awesome thing when lots of money is raised for UVA Children's hospital.  Thanks JMU for dancing for our kids and raising critical funds for the hospital.  You rock!

My Hearts...

Yesterday was parent watch week at Hope's Ballet studio.  What a joy to watch these sweet little dancers perform their tap dance to I am a Little Teapot. 

 

For our shy little girl to get up on stage and dance warms my heart so much.  This summer they will perform these dances for the Chatauqua festival in Wytheville. 

 

There is nothing sweeter than little ballerinas:)

Practicing her kicks with the student teacher helper. 

 

Her ballet dance is to the song Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid.  My heart can barely contain my joy watching it.

 

This morning I had another heart moment getting Hope and David ready for spring pictures at school.  David insisted to dress like his Daddy in a shirt and tie.  My heart is so full. 

 

Hope wanted a French braid for pictures and a sweet dress.  I was really proud of myself for getting them ready for pictures with a perfect French braid:)

 

My heart is also so full watching the signup sheet for Challenger baseball getting full!!!  Only God could have orchestrated this and we are so excited for a fun season of baseball.  My heart is so touched because of this awesome community special needs children are going to have the opportunity to play ball!

 

Happy Friday!

Spring and Challenger Update

We are certainly enjoying the spring-like temperatures here in Virginia!  We have  been busy with spring sports starting.  The huge news around our house is that Challenger baseball is coming together.  My cup runneth over thinking that in a few short weeks children that would never get the opportunity to play ball will be taking the field!!

Our fields are being upgraded now to accommodate wheelchairs and to make our entire field handicapped accessible!  We have been blessed by God and by some awesome community boards, non-profits groups, and some awesome individuals to raise a significant amount of money to upgrade our fields!  If you are local and want to become a buddy to a special needs child to assist them on the field, please come to the volunteer training Monday, March 30th at 6:00 at First United Methodist Church.  God used a conversation I had last summer with a Little League official to start the ball rolling on this endeavor! 

 

Last week was Dr. Seuss week at Hope and David's elementary school.  Hope loved all the dress up days and all the fun and learning. 

 

Saturday Hope was invited to a birthday party for a school friend to see the movie, Cinderella.  The girls dressed as princesses and Hope chose to wear Cinderellas wedding dress from her birthday last year.  The Cinderella movie is awesome and it is truly one of my favorites movies ever.  Disney rocked this one for sure!  We had a full girly day with some friends at the party and then at a stop off for some pizza. 

While the  girls were doing the princess party, my boys went shopping for baseball gear.  They came home with new cleats and this air soft pistol.  I am not a huge gun fan at all, but they are loving shooting at a target with a gun that really could not hurt them.  This picture of David cracks me up!

Even Hope had to get in on the action!!

 

This week we have really enjoyed the sunshine.  We hit our favorite spot, Hungry Mother park for some sunshine and outdoor play. 

 

Somehow this little girl found her way to the creek and accidentally "fell in" ":)

 

We are looking forward to fun on the horizon.  Baseball is starting for all three of our kiddos-Kyle playing travel baseball, David playing Challenger, and Hope playing Tball!  I never dreamed this time last year that David would have an opportunity to play baseball here locally in a league made just for him.  Only God could have orchestrated something this beautiful for our boy. God never ceases to amaze me with His blessings!  

Happenings

We have really had an action packed last few days.  Last Friday we had a snow day again (and we so hope it will be our last one) so we headed to Radford so the wreath queen, GG, could help me make a spring wreath.  My thought is that if I start decorating for spring the snow will stop and the sun will come out! 

I painted this cross last Easter and used my Cricut to put the words on it using vinyl.  This year with GG's help, I made it into a wreath using burlap, those purple flowers and I made the polka dot bow to go on it.  We had a fun crafting day with three generations-my Mom, me and sweet Hope.  Hope loves a craft store just as much as I do!!

 

Saturday morning was a fun morning spent with friends at a birthday party.  This picture is hilarious and terrible, but Hope had fun with some old preschool pals at a party where there were two bounce houses! 

 

After the birthday party and then a quick wedding shower for a friend, I loaded the church bus to head to Johnson City with some friends to see Chris Tomlin! My friend Sarah drove us and she did a great job! 

 

Before the concert we had reservations at Bonefish Grille which was amazing.  This was my lobster bisque soup that I loved.  I am already planning a return visit soon to this yummy place! The fellowship was sweet and the food was awesome. 

 

I adore Christian concerts.  There is nothing better to me than spending an evening worshipping with friends.  Mike is not a concert kind of guy so I often go with friends from church. 

 

Chris Tomlin rocked the house! The music was amazing and we danced, praised, and sang our guts out.  I jokingly said the next concert I will wear tank top and shorts we got so hot!  Between the fellowship on the bus, the yummy meal, and wonderful worship it was a great Saturday night. 

 

Sunday was just as busy and I was dragging from my late concert night!  I came home after midnight which was really after 1 a.m. because of daylight savings time.  I am a little old to be out past midnight:) After church, David had his upward game.  He loves it so  much. 

Sunday was youth day at upward and all the youth did jobs to help the game day go smoothly.  Mike and Kyle refereed David's game and I was watching Kyle out there with his Dad wondering where the time has gone? 

 

We couldn't miss Dave in those hideous neon green socks!  Dave has his own fashion style:)

 

The youth even did the halftime devotional and here is my sweet youth reading his part. 

 

After church and upward basketball David and Hope headed to church for musical practice.  The kids are putting on a musical for Mother's Day based on Shadrach, Meschach and Abendago called It's Cool in the Furnace.  They are so excited!  (GG and Pops if you are reading this, put Mother's Day on your calendar)!

 

After the musical practice Mike came and picked up the little kids and Kyle and I stayed at church for a mission tip meeting.  It blessed me to think that church offers our family so many opportunities to serve and learn.  I am so thankful that children and youth are seen as a priority at church. 

 

Kyle and I stayed for a mission trip meeting and I am not sure who is more excited-me or Kyle?! We were originally headed to South Dakota to serve on the indian reservation.  Because time was short and the funds needed were large, the group decided to put that trip off until next year.  So this year, we are headed to Clarksville, Georgia to work and serve in a Hispanic community.  We will be doing home repairs and....... providing a bible school to the children!  My Spanish is rusty but my heart is open and ready for this.  Kyle is unsure what to expect he is just excited and a little nervous.  Kyle will have Spanish 1 next year so what a great opportunity for him! 

 

 

Back to Life.... Back to Reality!

After our extended two weeks "snowcation" we are excitedly pulling out the backpacks and lunchboxes to head back to school tomorrow!

We have gotten on each other's nerves, but we have made some awesome memories with friends and here at home.

 

One day last week we met some friends at Bounce Bristol.  Dave has more fashion sense than any of us!  He is such a character.

 

We certainly miss our Jonas friends.  They are nearby in Bristol thankfully.

Hope picked out her sports shirt from Daniel and Pam and wore to jump!  She had a ball bouncing around in that place and of course we had some chick fil a for lunch:)

 

 

Mike was gone for several days last week and the kids missed him so much.  I love that our little reader had to show off her reading skills to her daddy when he got home. 

This past weekend has been full of awesomeness-lots of basketball, awesome church service, Salsaritas with my best girl and shopping!  We were holding hands walking into Hobby Lobby and she said "Mommy I love it when we are just girls together doing girl stuff!"  She is truly such a joy!

 

Love this special group of basketball players.  We may not always win the championship, but I love these boys and our Hornet family so very much.  What a joy to see them all blossoming into men right before our very eyes.  We have been together as a team since they were early elementary school and they are all very special to our family.  I often joke that Mike resembles a lunatic when he is coaching but it is because he has such a passion for the game and adores these boys like his own.  We know that we WILL miss this time with our Hornet family when high school ball starts down the road and AAU tournaments will be a distant memory.  These boys and basketball have brought my man so much joy. 

 

A photographer was at the tournament this weekend taking photos and I bought a few of them.  It is hard to take good pictures in a gym and I was thankful that he captured my son doing something he loves. 

 

Tomorrow it is back to life, back to reality for us all.  I just got off of the phone with Mike's brother's family in Shreveport.  God is up to some exciting things in the Robinson families and I can't wait to see what plans he has for us all.  Jeremiah 29:11 is my go to verse for when I want to control situations and not wait patiently for God's awesome plan to be revealed.  For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

I am so thankful that in the unknowns and question marks in life, God does have a plan for us.  I just need to sit sit, or chillax as David says, and let God be God.  He is so capable of anything beyond my wildest dreams.  Amen.