Dad turns 60!

My dad's 60th birthday was November 22nd. We decided to have a birthday bash at the church. My parents have many friends at church. I had made dad a shirt that said: Ralph is this many...60!" and I had 60 fingers, my hands, my sister's hands, both my girls hands, Lana's hands and one of Scott's and one of Russ's hands.

I had been working on a montage of pictures for this birthday party. I wanted pictures of my grandparents, who have been gone for many years, pictures of my dad and his sister as children and all their family. Kind of like a "family tree" in pictures. This DVD was a surprise for him. I didn't expect the reaction I got from him. He broke down and cried at the first picture to the last! My aunt sat beside him and cried too! After the video, he stood up with tears in his eyes and thanked everyone for coming and that he was a blessed man! There wasn't a dry eye in the place.

He told me he couldn't thank me enough for the wonderful job I did on the montage. I didn't do it to have him think that I was so creative, I wanted him to have those pictures and memories and be able to watch it. It was just for him. My dad doesn't get many things for himself & I wanted him to have something special that was just for him and about him.

I prayed that my dad would feel so loved and special that day. I think he did!

"...we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has gone."

Psalm 78:4

In the Arms of the angels

It was an unusally warm November day when we laid Addyson to rest. The wind was calm and the sky was completely clear. It was a beautiful day...a day our family will never forget.

That morning started with Addyson's uncle, Timmy, digging the grave for our angel. He wanted to do it.

Family and close friends gathered at the First Baptist Church in Pawnee for a lunch. Timmy had car stickers made for us that said "In memory of Addyson July 30- Nov 2 2007"

As the time grew near to go into the church, things turned quiet. The crying started as the family walked in the church. The slideshow of Addyson's short life was so moving and heartbreaking. We all wanted more time.

But it was time to say goodbye. As the pallbearer came to take this little pure white porsalin infant casket, the guys were shaking and crying. They hesitated for a moment as if to say, "We can't take this baby out of the church like this! Babies should never be carried out of a church in a casket!"

As Timmy, Addyson's uncle, and other family and friends, carried her out and placed her in the hearse, audible cries and sobs filled the air. Timmy said, "I got to carry an angel today!"

At Addyson's grave site, Cory & Lindsay released a dove. As it flew away, people gasped and cried. The little girls release pink and white balloons up to Addy.

Our family lingered at the grave site. It was as if we couldn't leave her there. My aunt said she would just walk home. My aunt said "I just want to hold her one more time, I want to rock her one more time." I thought, but one more time would turn into one more time and one more time...we weren't ready to let her go.

Timmy asked Cory, in a bit of a light hearted moment, said "Hey, Cory, you want to go find that dove?"

Addyson had her pink camoflauge blanket and a bear that she had in the hospital after her surgery. They have placed a nightlight at her grave.

And in the middle of ALL this sadness, God answered my prayer. My prayer was that I would say something encouraging or be an encouragement to my family.

Before Addyson's heart surgery, I had given Lindsay a card with a lot of scripture. She said they tore the house apart looking for that card to use scripture for her slideshow. She emailed me a few days before the funeral and asked for more scripture. I started crying and got on my knees and prayed for the right scripture.

Then at the funeral, my aunt Ginny said, through her tears, "You don't know how much strength you have given us!"

I know that strength wasn't from me, but from God. He just used me. I pray that He will use me like that ALL the time. What a bittersweet day! We will miss Addyson, but we know she is not afraid, she is in the everlasting arms of our Lord! We will see her someday and she will know us and we will know her.

"He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blamesless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I Corinthains 1:8

The face of God

Have I mentioned that Lydia has seen God? Well, she has!

Last Christmas, she and I were rocking in the chair at 2am. She pointed to the kitchen and said, "There is an angel & Jesus. It's SO pretty!" and she blew a kiss to them. I, of course, saw nothing.

Then she says, "Jesus is singing to me." At this point, I was a little freaked out because I didn't know why she was seeing Jesus and an angel!

The next I asked Lydia, who had just turned two, who she saw last night. She said, "Jesus and an angel." I asked her where they were, she ran to the kitchen and said, "They are all gone." I tried to "trick" her and said "The angel was singing to you, right?" She said "NO, Jesus!"



Then just yesterday, she was in the car with Scott and pointed and said "I see my God." He asked where. Lydia pointed and said "Over there," Scott asked what God was doing, she answered "Just standing there."



She talks about "my God". The other day, I told her about baby Addy was with God in heaven. Lydia said, "I miss my God sometimes." Then she said something about baby Addy was in heaven with God and the waterfall. I never said anything about a waterfall.



I don't know why God is reveling Himself to Lydia. I hope it is because He has GREAT plans for her!

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God."

Matthew 5:8

Lydia's third birthday!

November 3rd, 2004, Scott and I were blessed with our first child: Lydia Claire Boyle! Our daughter turns three!! This has been a big year!!

Lydia became a big sister to Caraline on January 8, 2007.

In February, Lydia got glasses.

In March, she started staying home full time with me and gave up the nap!

In May, she had eye surgery.

In July, Lydia's 5th cousin was born, Addyson.

In August, we found out she was allgeric to peanuts, eggs, pears & peas.

In September, Lydia was in Tori & Russ's wedding and got a new cousin, Lana.

In October, Finlee was born, her 6th cousin

In November, the day before Lydia's birthday, Addyson went to be with God.

Lydia loves Dora, Blue's Clues, Curious George & princesses. She likes to sing and being the center of the attention! She likes to pick up her 9 month old sister and hold her and tickle her.

Scott and I love to hear the funny things she says! Lydia is SO much fun, I can't wait to see what the next year holds for our favorite three year old!

This is her favorite Bible verse:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."

Mark 12:30

Our angel Addyson Lane

Last night, November 2nd, we lost our angel baby, Addyson Lane Barrett. She was three months old. She was born July 30th, with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She had half a heart. She had open heart surgery when she was only a few days old. She did wonderfully!! She was home from the hospital in two weeks! She was our miracle baby! God has heard all our prayers and answered "YES" to them, but it was a "Yes, for now. I have other plans." He said.

It hurts so bad to lose her! Our hearts are breaking in a million little pieces! Not only have we lost a beautiful life, but our hopes and dreams for this little girl. But she wasn't ours to keep. God allowed us to have her for three months. My family took such good care of her, but God is the ultimate healer!

She is home in God's arms....and her heart is healed and whole....while ours is breaking and longing to hold her. Someone once said we shouldn't say we lost someone, we know where they are.

Addyson, we know where you are and we will miss you and love you everyday until we see you again. Life will be hard without you, but you are in better hands now.

We love you, sweet baby angel Addy!

"He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart."

Isaiah 40:11

Caraline

Caraline is at a very fun age right now. She is 9 months old. She is SO happy and smiling! She loves to see Lydia and laughs and giggles when she sees her big sister!
She is very determined! Friday, Oct 12, Caraline stood up at a scooter toy. I turned around and she was walking with it across the floor to Lydia! I screamed and clapped!
She is a momma's girl, which is not so cute at 3am when I want to sleep, but she will not have ANYTHING to do with Scott.
I am so glad that I have two little girls. They are so cute together! I know there will be a time when they will "hate" each other and argue, but right now they love being together! They love to hug, kiss and tickle each other.
I want to look back and remember this when they are teenagers!

God has blessed me in so many ways! I pray that He will bless them, and they will be grateful to God for the blessed life they will have.

God answers prayers....even "poopy" ones!

God answers my most interesting prayers in the most perfect time!

Our precious Caraline is sick and teething and not sleeping at night, which means we aren't sleeping at night. Yesterday, she decided she was up for the day at 6am. I was SO tired! I tried rocking her, bouncing her, pacing the floor, feeding her, but she kept crying & fussing.
While, at 7am, Lydia decided it was time to get up. I just started crying! I was exhausted and couldn't handle both of them up so early. I walked...ok, dragged Lydia back to bed and we were both crying at this point. I kept telling her that I loved her, but it was still time to sleep. She stayed in her room.
I put Caraline in the swing and laid on the couch. After 2 hours of crying, Caraline finally went to sleep about 8:15am. I got her out of the swing to put her in bed, but she woke up again. We went to check on Lydia about 8:30 and she was just sitting on her bed and said, "Is it time to get up mom?"

Lydia decided she needed to go potty.

(She has been potty trained in peepee for a while but she will bring us a pullup and say " I need to poopoo in my pullup, mom." But will not poop in the potty!
I had prayed the night before that God would help her poop in the potty.)

She went to the "big" potty and said, "Go, mom." and I heard her push and the "PLOP" of the poop in the potty!! She yells, "Mom, I pooped in the potty!" I was SO excited that I screamed "YES!!" and hugged her SO tight! Then I started crying because I knew God had answered my prayer on what seemed to be the WORST morning ever!

It turned out to be a great day!

So God answers prayers...even ones about poop, so don't you think He can answer YOUR prayers?