Ava | Beautiful Things

We have just been plugging along. God has been answering your prayers and we have had some really wonderful family time. The kids have been able to be with us more and that has been so wonderful. Thank you for lifting us up before the throne!

I took Ava to her eye doctor appointment today (which went well and no changes PTL!). We also made time to have a girl date at Starbucks before we made a run to Target. I just love spending time with my little girl. We have such a good time together! So, I’m taking the time to do a little proud mommy bragging…cause, ya know, it’s my blog so I can do that 🙂

Ava: 3 1/2, very petite, and full of more energy than she knows what to do with. She is so sweet and sensitive most of the time. She always knows when something is not right or if someone is sad or not feeling well. When she was a baby and I would look into her eyes, I always said she had an old soul. It’s like she has always known things and understood things well beyond her age. I see that look sometimes now when she is looking at her Daddy. She’s always asking him if he’s OK, or if he needs anything. She is a little busy-body and always has to know where everyone is and what everyone is doing. Her latest obsession is chewing gum. She enjoys playing in the snow…her favorite part is throwing snowballs. She wants to eat all the time and is such a little moocher! For those of you who don’t know, Ava had an NG tube (feeding tube in her nose) for the first 20 months of her life and then had a g-tube (feeding tube in her belly) until just a few months ago. We only stopped using her feeding tube on a daily basis about a year ago and before that food usually made her gag. So, she has come a LONG way and we are so thankful for that. She is always learning and surprises us with what she knows. She definitely learns at her own pace (surprise, surprise) and needs a lot of repetition before she gets a concept. She adores her brother and we talk a lot about how she needs to be a good example for him. They play together really well most of the time.

She is dealing with all of this in her own way. She’s pretty flexible, but she does struggle with a lot of changes in her routine. We are trying to bring as much consistency to her life as possible. I know she loves being at home with us and sleeping in her own bed. The first night we brought her home after Josiah came home from Hospice, she said “I’m so excited about my Mom!” and then “I’m so excited about my Dad!”. She’s our little sweet-heart! Keep praying for her too. She has some hard and confusing concepts that she is trying to grasp. Please pray for us too as we try to be wise in our parenting of her.

We just love our Girl and are so thankful for her!

We had the kids come last night and Josiah talked with both of them individually for what will probably be the last time on this earth. It was one of the most precious and heart-wrenching scenes I have ever witnessed. He loves his children so much. I want to write down what his words were to them in case I forget. I want to be able to remind them later.

Ava was very excited to see her Daddy. She is not intimidated by new places and ran right to him when I brought her back to Josiah’s room. She cuddled very sweetly on his lap while they had one of their “talks”. Josiah has been talking with her about heaven and death for a couple weeks now. Just little bits at a time. When she got settled, he first gave her the plan of salvation right off the bat. He told her what Jesus had done for her on the cross and that she needed His forgiveness for her sins. He told her that she needed to then live her life for Jesus. She heartily agreed to all of this…not sure how much she understands at this point, but she is getting truth in her head. Josiah went on to tell her how much he loves her. He reminded her of the name he called her when she was a baby (“baby Ava”). He told her to love Mommy and to obey her. He told her that God had a special plan for her life. He then kissed her hair, her hands, and her sweet little face. The three of us read a little book together and then she gave her Daddy a bear hug and a big kiss and happily skipped out of the room.

On the way back to the waiting room she asked if there were other sick people there. I explained to her again, in simple terms, about death and heaven. I told her that she had just had a special, special talk with Daddy and that someday I would remind her of it. She was happy with that answer and went to spread some much needed joy and love in the waiting room.

For Lincoln, I had planned out with my Mom to bring him hungry so Josiah could feed him a bottle. For the past several months Lincoln’s bedtime bottle has been their special Father-Son time, so I thought that would be a nice calm things for them to do together. Lincoln was a little unsure, but as soon as he saw his Daddy, his face lit up! Link cuddled and drank his bottle and Josiah talked with him. He challenged him to be the man of the house. To watch out and take care of his mother and big sister. He emphasized to him several times to respect his mother, to obey her, and grow in wisdom so he could give wise counsel to her. That he had picked out his mother from everyone else to be his wife and Lincoln’s mother. He told him to make sure that no one harmed his sister. He told him about the love of Jesus and how God sent Him to earth to die for him. He told him to be a warrior for the Lord. Josiah told him how proud he was of him and how much he loved him. He told him that he was “his beloved son, in whom he was well pleased”. How he was carrying on his name and when it was the right time, he was to pick out a “special little lady”. Josiah prayed that Lincoln would be a man of honor and integrity. That he would be a man’s man…strong and gentle. That he would never be bitter or angry because his Daddy died so early. That both Link and Ava would know Christ at an early age and live for Him all their days. Josiah prayed that I would have wisdom in raising them.

Josiah took off Lincoln’s little slipper and sock and tickled his foot. He wanted to hear Link giggle and he did. Josiah kissed him and cuddled with him and after Lincoln was done with his bottle I took him back out. Lincoln grinned all the way out. I told Lincoln on our way back to the waiting room that he had just a very special talk with his Daddy and that I would remind him of it one day.

God gave Josiah strength to have these special moments with his beloved children. I am very thankful for that.

I don’t think Josiah could have ever finished everything he had on his list. But we will not have any regrets. Whatever gets accomplished is what was supposed to happen. The rest….God will provide.