Lane and Ava - Best Friends!

 

Lane and Ava love each other very much! In fact, they adore each other! They really are best friends. I can't begin to recount the number of times I have been surprised by the depth of their affection for one another. So, here are a few of their "sweet moments" from this past week...

Tonight: Lane was rewarded with a very small box of nerds. I mentioned to him that it would be very kind if he would share some with Ava. Without hesitation he said he would. I was thinking he would give her a few and that would be that. I was wrong. A few minutes went by and I went to find them. They were sitting on the couch in the living room passing the box back and forth taking turns. I told Lane how much his kindness honored God and he just smiled and said, "Uh, huh... Mom, it goes Lane, Ava, Lane, Ava... We are doing a pattern!" How cute is that?! A little while later they were delighted to play in the tub together. (As pictured above.)

Yesterday: Lane was headed to ask for the forgiveness of the Parmer children and Ava. He said, "I am going to talk to Ava first because she is my favorite." Fast forward... After they had waved goodbye to their friends they instantly disappeared into Ava's room. I kept waiting for the giggles to turn to angry screams and it never happened. They played in there together for something like an hour throwing things out of her bed and playing doctor. I think they set a new record for themselves! Most days after lunch and before nap does seems to be their best play time together.

Thursday: Ava and I went to pick Lane up from school. Ava's patience was tried to it's limit while we stood there waiting for Lane to be dismissed. She started bellowing, "LANE...LANE...LANE!" Finally, he came running out, straight into his sisters arms. They usually hug so big that they start falling over and they are giggling and tickling all the while. This has been happening since the beginning of school last year and I still look forward to it every school day! It is not the norm and it seems to bring joy to others as well.

What sweet and wonderful grace! I pray that this deep friendship lasts their whole life long! These two little sinners are enjoying so many moments of love, peace, and joy in their relationship. They also have plenty moments that are the complete opposite of love, peace and joy as well. Some days it seems that I all have time to do is break up their fights. But, isn't that to be expected with two sinners?!

What a wonderful gift Jeremy and I have been given in Lane and Ava. It was no accident, no luck, no bit of chance that they are the two of our six children who were born alive. It was and is a miracle from God's kind hand that Ava was born nineteen months to the day after Lane. There are no words that could ever describe the joy that they bring to our hearts. Since we taste the bitterness of sorrow every day, the every day joys just taste that much sweeter.

Play Date with the Parmers

 

Yesterday the Parmers came for a play date. The highlight for both of us Moms was what you see in this picture. Gabe and Ava were having so much fun playing together. At one point Ava climbed up on the chair with Gabe just to sit and snuggle for a while. A little while later Ava was getting a fun ride from Gabe. So dear!

Surprise Snow!

We love snow in this household! The plans that we had made for this evening did not work out and the bonus was that we got to play outside together after nap time. Lane and Ava were thrilled to finally use their shovels. After enjoying our time out in the snow we headed in for dinner, and then a movie with hot chocolate and popcorn. Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful, fun snow for us to enjoy!

Go, Veggie-Eater Ava!

Today after dipping celery for me Ava decided to try a bite for herself. She ate one big bite of celery and went on to eat an entire large baby carrot. I have noticed that as we have allowed her to help cook, etc. she is learning to be quite brave with trying new or previously rejected food. Ava has come a LONG way considering that about 2 years ago she had an occupational therapist for 6 months to help teach her to eat. (We miss you Miss Marcia!) Thank you, God, for bringing us through that scary season! You go, Ava! We are so proud of you!

Ava's One-Liner

Last night we had some friends over for a little football party to watch the NFC & AFC championship games. At least one PA team won! Congrats to all of you Steeler's fans. Fortunately we had Lane and Ava to amuse us after the Eagle's lost. The "one-liner" of the evening was from our little Ava. She was trying to get a piece of gum out of a pack for her big brother and he began to express some impatience. She replied in the sweetest voice, "Just relax, Lane." We all enjoyed that!

Marriage Conference Reflections

This past weekend we attended a marriage conference along with 700 or more other couples from Sovereign Grace Ministries (the ministry that our church is a part of). The conference theme was Marriage and the Mercy of God. It was a wonderful and refreshing time for our souls. Dave Harvey, Paul Tripp, Gary and Betsy Riccucci, and Aron Osborne taught with excellence. We have come away feeling hope for viewing our marriage as a ministry and growing in this ministry because the gospel was so faithfully preached!

The two foundational biblical truths that spoke to us as a couple were: 1) Our relational conflicts are a vertical problem, not a horizontal problem. Meaning: The problem is not that we don't love each other enough, but that we don't love God enough! When we respond to one another with anything other than mercy it is because we are unaware of the depth of God's mercy toward us. He has given us the very opposite of what we deserve. What would happen if were to give to each other what we don't deserve? Instead of responding to sin with sin, how about responding to sin with kindness? 2) Mercy has vision so we must learn to forbear! Meaning: We must look beyond the offense at hand and see Christ transforming the heart of our spouse... trusting Him to do as He has promised! See them not as they are now, but as what they will one day be. What would happen if we could "see" each other as sanctified?

I must also add that Jeremy was such a servant at the conference! He arrived a day early and served for about 2 hours before every session, during every session, and for a short time after each session. He served the entire time with joy in his heart! He is an amazing example to me of what a humble servant should be! I love you, Jeremy!

Lane's Potty Party

I am please to announce that Lane Stoltzfus is now the BOSS of his body!

Lane has worked very hard! He has learned to poop on the potty 4 or more times a week! This may not sound like a big deal unless you know the history behind it. It is a HUGE deal for him (and for Mommy and Daddy)! Day after day, week after week, month after month this is something we have worked toward... for about 2 years and 4 months, actually! To make a long story short, we had tried almost everything to keep him "going"... pull ups, medication, fruit, juice, extra fiber, etc... but nothing seemed to work. He was notorius for holding it for a whole week on a regular basis. I cannot tell you how many times we made this a matter of prayer. Finally (at least a year ago), I came across a children's book that helped to give him the desire to become the "Boss of his body". It is called "It Hurts When I Poop! A Story for Children Who are Scared to Use the Potty" by Howard J. Bennett, M.D. Wonderful book!

Fast forward... Twelve weeks ago we started a potty chart. Lane has done a great job at obeying and having "potty time" after dinner most nights. He has learned to trust God and obey even when he wanted to fear and disobey. He has grown so much through this and has reached his goal!

To honor him tonight we had a Potty Party. (Stole that idea from the Parmers!) He got to choose where he wanted to go for dinner and dessert. So, we had pizza at Ci-Ci's and he got a monster (Sully, as he calls it) sundae at Friendly's. When we came home we had a surprise waiting for him. He got a Geo-Trax train set. Now, that was a priceless moment! I think that Jeremy and I got a little taste of how God feels when he rewards us for following him. What a precious, joy-filled moment for the 3 of us!