Happy Birthday Jonah!!!

Today we got to celebrate my little buddy turning FIVE!!! We are SO thankful for Jonah, and the enormous blessing he has been in our lives. He makes us laugh everyday and has brought us so much joy.

We celebrated a little bit earlier in the month with the rest of the family... a "Monster Party" with the DeKocks, and a party for Jonah and his cousin Eli on Thanksgiving with the Driys. Today Jonah got to be the special helper at school, which meant I got to come along. He was pretty excited to wear a special birthday crown at school and have everyone sing to him. :) We then had some special mommy & Jonah time going out for lunch & dessert, and then he chose to go out to "the Buffalo Restaurant" for supper tonight. It was his lucky night... a balloon man was there and made him a birthday hat, a penguin, and did some magic tricks for him. And of course some more presents from mommy and daddy... he's getting a little too used to being spoiled since his birthday has been spread out for a couple weeks! ;)

We Love You, Jonah!!!! Hope you have a fun year being 5!!! Happy Birthday!!

Madison's First Birthday

On October 26th we celebrated Madison's 1st birthday. Where has the time gone?? On some days the pain of missing her makes it seem like it was just yesterday that we held her in our arms, on others it feels surreal, like it was a lifetime ago. I wonder everyday what she'd be doing... what her smile and laugh would be like, if she'd still have her curly, dark hair, if she would be walking yet, if she would be an easy baby or a little trouble-maker, how her and Jonah would get along... do you think they take pictures up in heaven? I like to think God or someone else up in heaven is making a scrapbook for me for all those moments we are missing out on...

On her birthday we celebrated Madison by going to her grave with the whole family and singing Happy Birthday and sending balloons up to heaven for her. We also carved a pumpkin for her, and then went for dinner with just the 3 of us.

I thank God everyday for Madison, and for the short time we had with her. I know God has a good and perfect plan, and though I will probably never understand why part of that plan included taking my baby girl home so quickly, I can still PRAISE Him for the promise of eternal life and that we will see Madison again.

Thank you to so many who have been thinking and praying for us over the last year... for the many cards, messages, flowers, meals, hugs... and to our wonderful small group who also planned a special birthday celebration for Madison. Thank you all, it is so appreciated.

Happy Birthday sweet girl, we love and miss you everyday... and can't wait to see you again!!

Preschool!

Jonah had his first week of Preschool this week! He was so excited to see some of his friends from last year and meet his new teacher, Mrs. Wiersema. On the first day the kids got to bring their mommy's or daddy's along to help everyone adjust and learn together how the school days would go. We got to do a little scavenger hunt finding things in the classroom, did a craft, and sang some songs. The rest of the week Jonah was on his own... what a difference from the beginning of school last year! He has no problem with me leaving in the morning and can't wait to get started on his projects for the day. He is absolutely loving it, though getting back on a school schedule has been a bit of an adjustment for him... he was so tired tonight he was in bed by 7 o'clock! ;)

Madison's Garden

Last spring we cut down a huge, dying pine tree in our front yard, and in its place we planted a garden in memory of Madison. Our wonderful neighbors had gotten us a gift certificate for a tree, and after reading "I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith {amazing book for any baby loss mamas reading this}, I knew I wanted to get a Japanese Cherry Blossom tree. It will have beautiful pink flowers in the spring, but they will only last a short time... just like we only had a short time with our beautiful baby girl.

We want to thank our neighbors, family, and friends for your contributions to the garden, and help taking down the old tree. You have all been such a blessing to us. We are so thankful to have this beautiful garden to remember our little girl.

Summer

Well, school has officially started, so I guess its time to do a quick update on our summer! As always summer has flown by, but we have had a great one. Lots of weekends up in Cadillac spending time with family on the beach and in the lake, my sister Liz & her husband Javi's wedding, swimming lessons, trips to the zoo, the beach with friends, hanging out with neighbors, camping with friends from our small group... lots of fun stuff! Rather than try to remember lots of details from the last few months I'll just share some pictures :)

{playing Wipe Out in Cadillac}

{swimming lessons}

{Binder Zoo}

{my little triceratops}

{camping at Hungry Horse}

Last Day of School & Memorial Day Parade

How can it be that my little boy has already finished his first year of school?? My how he has changed since the beginning of the school year!! At the beginning of the year it was very hard for him when I would bring him to school... lots of hugs, wanting mommy to stay, and sometimes even tears or chasing me down the hallway. By the end of the year I hardly got a "bye mommy!" before he was off playing with his friends or working on his crafts. We were blessed with some AWESOME teachers, Mrs. Scholten and Mrs. Dykstra, that made Jonah's first experience with school such a great one. Now hopefully he'll still love it this much in about 10 years... ;)

One the last day of school we were supposed to have a field trip to Timbertown with Jonah's class, along with any parents or siblings that could come along. Even though Friday turned out to be a beautiful day, we had a lot of rain for a couple days before that, leaving the park pretty soggy. So we had to move our picnic to school instead. Jonah was pretty bummed at first, but it ended up a really fun day. We blew bubbles outside, made some fun games to play out in the hallways, did a scavenger hunt, face paint and went to the gym to play with a big parachute. Such a fun day!! Jonah sure is going to miss it this summer!

After Jonah's last day of school last week Friday he didn't have to say good-bye to his teachers and friends for too long... he got to ride on a wagon in the Memorial Day parade on Monday. He was SO excited to get to be in a parade, and loved waving to everyone as he rode by!

{Showing of his shaker he made for the parade.}

{Everyone under the parachute!}

{Jonah and Mrs. Scholten}

{Mrs. Dykstra and Jonah}

{Ethan and Jonah}

Spring Celebration Program

Jonah was in his first church program tonight! The first song he just stood there looking cute... straight face, no singing, no motions... But later he came back and sang This Little Light of Mine and the New Doxology with all of his heart! I'm such a proud mommy! :)

Praise God, Praise God.. Praise God who saved my soul! Praise God, Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Bike Parade

On Friday Jonah had his big bike parade! I got go to school a little bit early to help Jonah and the other kids in the class decorate their bikes and scooters. We covered them in balloons, crepe paper, streamers and ribbons...

Then they got to ride back and forth down the bus drive with mommys, daddys, grandparents, and younger siblings clapping and cheering for them. Such a fun day :)

Easter

Easter brought on a whole new meaning for us this year... a day to celebrate our risen Savior... because He died for us, we can look forward to spending eternity with Him. Because God gave His son, we will get to hold our daughter again. What an AMAZING gift!!

We started the festivities with an Easter egg hunt at the Smeyers' house, with Ty, Josiah and lots of other friends! It was kind of a drizzly day, but the kids had a great time anyway and they found all the eggs in no time!

After the egg hunt we went in the garage to decorate cupcakes and do some Easter crafts!
The next week was another Easter egg hunt at our neighbor's church. There was a field FULL of eggs... 5000 to be exact!

Jonah and I decorated some Easter eggs...
Then on Easter day we celebrated first with my family for lunch... here's Jonah with his dinosaur Easter basket! isn't he a STUDMUFFIN?? ;)
And then to the Driy's at night, and another Easter egg hunt with his cousins Eli and Abe. (No, those are not the shoes he wore to church.. we need to keep the other ones looking nice for Auntie's wedding coming up!)

Madison's gravestone also was put in Easter weekend. Oh, how we miss you little girl. She also would have had her 6 month birthday last week... its so hard not to imagine what she'd be doing... all the things we are missing. But someday we will hold her again... see her smile... CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT DAY!!! Come quickly Lord Jesus!!!

one year ago...

A year ago today I got a phone call that changed my life forever, though not at all in the way I thought that it would. I had just gotten Jonah into bed for his nap when the phone rang.. it was Amy from Dr. D's office telling me I was pregnant!! Probably the best phone call of my life. In case anyone is wondering why I got a phone call to tell me this, rather than waiting 3 minutes for a line to show up on a stick, its because Madison was conceived through IVF.. a home pregnancy test could have given me a false positive because of the medications I was on. I quickly got Jonah out of bed to share the news with him that he was going to be a big brother, and let him skip his nap so we could go shopping for a new shirt for him to show daddy...Madison would have been 18 weeks old today. We love and miss you every day, baby girl. I thank God everyday for the time we got to have with you, though it wasn't nearly enough. I cannot wait for the day when we will all be together again!!

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

As you do not know the path of the wind,

or how the body is formed in a mother's womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

the Maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Merry Christmas from Heaven

I received this from a couple different friends this week... I can't think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than with Jesus himself. Merry Christmas Madison!

Merry Christmas from Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees, around the world below:

With tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away your tears,

For I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs, that people hold so dear,

But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

For I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear an angel sing.

I know how much you miss me; I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away, we are really not apart.

So be happy for me, everyone... you know I hold you dear,

And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you all a special gift from my heavenly home above,

I send you each a memory of my undying love.

For after all "Love" is the gift more precious than gold,

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

So please love and help each other, as my Father said to do,

For I cannot count the blessings, or the Love he has for you.

So have a Merry Christmas, and wipe away those tears,

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I can't tell you of the splendor, or the peace here in this place,

Can you just imagine Christmas, with our Savior face to face!

I'll ask him to lift your spirit and give you a hug, as I tell him of your love,

So then pray for one another, as you lift your eyes above.

So please try to let your hearts be joyful, and let your spirits sing,

FOR I'M SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN,

AND WALKING AND PLAYING WITH MY KING!!

Merry Christmas!

Love Always,

Madison

Florida

A few weeks ago we had a kind of last minute getaway to Florida with my parents. It was in celebration of Chris passing his Series 7 exam, Jonah's 4th birthday, and just to get away and enjoy some time with family. We left for the airport right after Jonah celebrated his birthday with his class at school, and the next day we went to DISNEY! Jonah absolutely LOVED seeing Mickey, Minnie, Chip & Dale, Buzz & Woody and all the other characters. Though probably the first thing he'd tell you about Disney is that his NOT favorite part of it was seeing Zurg from Toy Story, because he was shooting at us on the Buzz Lightyear ride. For the most part he loved the other rides, except for a few where it got really dark and the 3D show where he thought forks were going to hit him. The night ended with seeing Cinderella's Castle all lit up for Christmas (beautiful!!) and watching the Electrical parade.

We stayed a few more days in Orlando at a very cool condo.. they had pirate ships in the pools with slides and water cannons, and activities like painting a treasure chest and treasure hunts around the pools. We spent some days relaxing by the pool and went to Downtown Disney and checked out Christmas decorations at some of the Disney hotels in the evenings.

After a few days in Orlando we spent a week in Fort Myers Beach. Unfortunately it was quite cool when we were there (low 60's most of the time) so we didn't get to spend a whole lot of time on the beach, but we still had a great time doing some shopping, going to the Naples Zoo, and going in the pool - the pool is outside, but the water was much warmer than the air so it wasn't too bad- until we got out :) Luckily our last day was beautiful, so we spent it on the beach in the sun!

Thanks for another great vacation Mom & Dad!