Pictures with Papa

At my Dad's funeral, one of the things I wanted most were pictures of him with us for those who knew him most and those who were getting to know him still (we were amazed by the group of coworkers from Amazon who came).  While our minister of music sang, these photos were displayed on a big screen behind him.

I miss you Dad so much!

See You Later, Dad!

After mentioning my blog to a friend, I clicked on it and realized there should be an update.  When my Dad had his heart attack and then stroke, I began a Caring Bridge website (www.caringbridge.org/visit/richallen) and faithfully updated there.  Last post here found me telling Dad to hang on!  We all hung on through those 2 1/2 weeks in the Neuro ICU, but on June 27, my Dad left this world to enter Heaven and meet Jesus face to face!  None of us would have chosen to say goodbye this soon but the time of visitation and then Dad's funeral were simply more than I would have imagined.  Yes it was all heartwrenching, but just to see, hear and feel how his life affected so many people was powerful!

This is a picture my Aunt Maureen took just a week before my Dad's heart attack.  Sister and brother had met in the mountains of Georgia for a weekend of walking to waterfalls and catching up after having not spent much time together through the years.  The time together was a gift to each of them, and the beautiful photos Aunt Maureen took are such a gift to all of us now.  We do not always understand God's timing (or even like it for that matter), but it is always perfect.  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

9 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 

As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

    It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

13 

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

    for an everlasting sign,

    that will endure forever.”

(Isaiah 55:8-13)

Hold On, Dad!!

Last week, our church had Vacation Bible School.  Each year there is a theme statement for the night which the children follow with the motto for the week.  The themes were:

God Has the Power to Provide

God Has the Power to Comfort

God Has the Power to Heal

God Has the Power to Forgive

God Has the Power to Love Forever

The week's motto was: HOLD ON!

On Wednesday afternoon just before I was going to get in the shower to begin getting ready for VBS, my mom called saying news no one wants to hear but everyone thinks they may get one day.  My dad had fallen at work due to a heart attack and now he was in the ER.  

The last six days have been like scenes from a movie.  He did have a heart attack followed that night with a stroke.  He has been on life support in the Neuro ICU ever since.  I'm letting everyone know of all the details on a Caring Bridge journal.  Please follow us there.  I'll post here for general everyday stuff about our family, but Dad's journey to health will be on Caring Bridge.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/richallen

Dad, we want you to keep fighting and HOLD ON!!!  We know the Lord Jesus can work a miracle if He chooses to. 

My Right Hand Girl

Braewyn and I have had an up and down relationship.  However despite all that, I know she loves me and I love her so much it makes my heart hurt sometimes.  She is strong physically and sensitive emotionally.  When she puts her mind to something, Braewyn will continue to try until she makes it work.  She does a great job looking after her little sister and brothers.  Braewyn and Philip either get along wonderfully or just about try to kill each other.  I know they'd be miserable without the other. People wonder how I can manage having five kids.  Without Braewyn by my side, it would be a whole lot harder.  I thank the Lord for giving me the privilege of being this girl's mom and hopefully years from now, her friend.  Here's a little recap of her awesome birthday weekend.  Can't believe my big girl is now 8 years old!!

Day ONE, night before her birthday:  FIRST CONCERT!!  We took Braewyn, her best friend Anna, Philip and poor little Sully to a Newsboys concert (the band featured in the movie, "God's Not Dead".)  It was an awesome concert and I think Braewyn had the best time.  Her name was on the screen before the concert when Matthew tweeted something about it being her birthday.  Anything with #newsboys made it on the big screen!  Cool!  (Oh and a stop at Waffle House first.)

 Day TWO, her actual birthday: girl ran her first 5K!  I dropped her off at a field where she would be meeting her gymnastics class.  I was told they would run outside this Saturday instead of staying inside the gym since the weather would be so nice.  I wasn't told they were running unofficially with the Girls Run program of our county for a 5K.  Only once we picked her up did we find out what had taken place: Braewyn's first 5K, blast of a birthday morning, and temporary highlights in her hair!  Family birthday time later that night with a yummy cookie cake.  HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY, BRAEWYN!

Day THREE, Sunday afternoon children's choir program: Braewyn's first solo performance!  Last fall, Braewyn and three other girls performed some sign language during one of the songs of their children's choir program at church.  For this spring semester, Braewyn tried out for interpretive movement again (what they call sign language during a song).  The choir director told Braewyn that she did have a song for her, but this time she would be doing the motions alone.  I was nervous for her but she did an awesome job!  Philip was also cast in the drama part of the program as Zaccheus.  You'll see part of his scene first.  This once super shy, bashful girl glorified God before everyone in attendance.  So proud of you, Braewyn!!

Passover, Sully and Egg Hunt

Easter weekend was full of keepsake memories. Some I wish to last a lifetime, others are for the children to think back on fondly.  Easter Sunday is such a pivotal day for Christians because it is the celebration of Jesus's resurrection and makes following Him worth living for everyday.  This year we added an extra celebration to our weekend:  our own Passover meal.  The Jewish people were instructed to kill a lamb and spread its blood over their doorposts one evening while still living in Egypt as slaves (Exodus 12).  The angel of the Lord came through the land and killed the first born child in every house which did not have the blood on the doorposts.  The angel passed over the doors with blood.  God instructed the people to have a special memorial dinner every year thereafter to commemorate that event on the same day of the year.  Orthodox Jews still celebrate Passover yet our dinner helped us to understand how Jesus came and fulfilled many Old Testament prophesies such as being the Lamb of God who died to take away the sins of the world.  Not sure how much the kids will remember from our Passover dinner, but it was very special for me and I'll always have the pictures!

Adding the finishing touches to the table.

Our Seder plate.

Washing the hands by the head of the household...

seemed to be one of the most...

exciting parts of the meal!

Waiting patiently to eat as we listened to Daddy read.

Examining sprigs of parsley.

The meal "script" and preparation instructions were found in Celebrating Biblical Feasts, a book which came in our home school curriculum this year.

Our Passover was enjoyed by our parents too who joined us.  The dinner made for a fun, multi-generational experience.  

I get the Passover celebration as Jesus was crucified on Passover weekend, fulfilling the prophesy of Him being the ultimate passover lamb.  What I don't really understand is why we dye and decorate eggs and give our children baskets of candies and trinkets.  Nevertheless, we did both. (And no, I've never told my kids that the Easter Bunny is real... actually denounced that fact. And yet they said they like getting things from him.  Although Philip was bummed this year to receive the homemade playdough Surprise Eggs which he doesn't like.  Blame it on the Easter Bunny!)

As my Dad has been working many Sundays at Amazon but had Easter Sunday off, we decided to have Sully's Baby Dedication at church on this day.  As Baptists, we do not believe in infant baptism (baptism is something to do once a person has personally decided to follow Jesus), but we do have a special ceremony in which the parents promise to raise the child to know Jesus and the church promises to support the family in doing so.  Our pastor, Dr. Hank Williams, has dedicated each of our children to the Lord.  His prayer over them and us is so encouraging as well as humbling.  Such an incredible blessing and responsibility to raise a child to know and love Jesus!

Our amazing church family.

Pastor Hank reads the life verse we picked for Sully, James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

He then explained Sully's name.  Sullivan means "eyes like a hawk" so Pastor Hank told Philip that Sully would always be watching him.  James means "follower".  Sully has two big brothers and two big sisters.  He's not lacking for someone to follow after!

The dedication is finished with Pastor Hank holding our baby and praying for the Lord's blessing over him.  Such a special moment.  I want above all else for my children to seek the Lord's direction for their lives and follow it with all their might.

 To finish the weekend, we enjoyed a yummy Easter lunch at my parents' house along with Uncle Mike, Aunt Andrea, cousins Holden and Luke, and Grandma Ruth Ann.  My kids look forward to the backyard egg hunt all year.  Seems like it comes around much more quickly than just once a year.

Long extended table to fit us all.

The littles Juliet and cousin Luke

Rylan still needs a bit of assistance so he's staying put with Mommy and Daddy.

Philip's barefoot approach.

Rylan examined his eggs closely.

Cousin Holden looks like a pro egg hunter.

Braewyn is happy to show off her stash.

Sully missed all the action but appears to be enjoying his nap.

Until next year!

Big Boy Beds

More kids means more beds, and better to go up than out in my mind.  The girls have enjoyed sharing bunk beds so we knew in time Philip and Rylan would share a set too.  However this time around we were expecting Sully so not knowing if he was a girl or boy, we waited to decide what kind of bed to buy until after he was born.  Hooray another little boy who would not be far behind Rylan in moving into a big kid bed.  This helped our decision: we needed bunk beds with a full bed on bottom for these two little brothers to share.  Upon visiting furniture stores, we discovered that full over full bunk beds were an option.  Philip got wind of this and his mind was set.  Full over full would deter the idea of jumping off a top twin bed onto a bottom full bed, and we also liked the idea of giving Philip, our oldest and firstborn, the chance to have a big bed to himself (Rylan also has a full to himself but only until Sully outgrows the crib). We feel completely blessed by Jesus to have been chosen to raise this great bunch of kids.  Never would I have thought as a teenager that one day my house would be filled with bunk beds!  Funny how things work out.  Here's how that boy bedroom looks these days.

Time to kiss that crib goodbye!

Here you can see the room layout with bunk beds and crib.  Sully will be moving into the crib from the bassinet in our room in a month or so.

All decked out with bedding and boys!

Bunk brothers.

And here's how we found Rylan the first night.

We'll try again the next day at naptime.  He looks cozy.

A few days ago, Matthew was coming to bed and he said I had to come see something.  Is it the wicked witch of the east with a house on top?

Sleeping soundly just not exactly in the right spot.  I think this bed will work out just fine.  Rylan has been doing great staying in other than these two nights.