Let the fun begin

Here's the deal: I'm in no hurry for Graham to be out of diapers, but I just have this sense that he's ready to be toilet trained. So...here we go, no pressure and no promises. He looks so cute in little undies though!
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Florida: A Sad Goodbye

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.


It wasn't in my plans to be saying goodbye right now. There is such a tension between leaving and going. We are leaving behind many friends, families, and future plans and going back to family and friends - yes, but not in the way that we would like to go back to them, and no grasp on future plans.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
 
The only grasp I have is in holding tight to seeking the Lord - that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3).
 
I know that many of you care for my family, and desire to show that you care by calling or emailing or offering to help - and for that care I am so thankful. Please understand that I cannot email everyone back or share freely what is on my heart. I would prefer also to talk to each and everyone in person. So please keep that in mind if you feel led to contact me - and please do, but I may not share over the phone or email. 
 
Thank you all for your continued prayers and may we all be blessed by the peace of God.

"Growing Beautifully"

That's what the doctor said yesterday about 3 times referring to Graham. It's a wonderful thing to have healthy children, and may I never take that fact for granted. I bless the LORD everyday for the gifts they are.
Here are Graham's stats from his 18 month physical.
He passed all of the tests for development and ranks "Actually quite high" on all counts. He's a driven little guy. He gets it done.
He was 30.2lbs putting him in the 92% for weight and 33inches in the 82% for height.
He's running, jumping, coloring, signing and talking, climbing, shooting baskets, singing, doing puzzles, and generally copying JoeAnna's every move.

He's my happy little man. I love you Graham.

New

This week been full of new, and I owe it all to Rob. Garbage disposal, toilets, bathroom light/fan, bed and sheets! Thank you thank you thank you!

Celebration: Birthdays: Shrimp

Started with Starbucks

Town of Celebration!

JoeAnna found a life-size stuffed dog to love.

I found a little girl to love :)

Endless Shrimp at Red Lobster for Aug/Sept Birthdays!

My favorite trio

The Beginning

The End (Rob & I ate a combined 131 shrimp!)

Team Thompson!

Dessert and a nap!

Sad beginning

Graham's eye and Rob's desk had a run in. I was just about to blog about our plans for today when it happened! Now I'm hoping it's all up from here! Stay tuned :)
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Climber boy!

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Graham wants to graduate!

Graham climbed up into a big chair, sat down, and said "please" (actually he signed it, but you know what I mean). So I gave him and Joe food to share together at the table. He's getting so big!
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Necklace Activity

Lady Bug Necklace JoeAnna strung by herself! Thank you grandma and papa Hemmes!

Grocery assistants :)

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Thanks again for the digital frame!

We are missing family today! The kids camped out at the digital frame for a long time "talking to their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents." We love you guys!!!
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Another trip to Downtown Disney!

August 27th - Family Trip to Downtown Disney (it had been a while, we really enjoyed ourselves. Here are a few pictures!)

Rob and the kids by the awesome dinosaurs of T-REX!

We all enjoyed treats from the candy store! (JoeAnna's lollipop didn't even lose any color, she was sick of it in less than 5 minutes...she's just not that into sweets I guess!)

Graham's first carousel ride!!!

JoeAnna named her horse "Alpha" :) and Graham's "Beta"

Looks like Graham is a pick-pocketer already!!

Woody here is completely made out of Legos - At Lego World!

It didn't matter that this dog was made out of Legos - JoeAnna loved him and named him "Alpha" and would've taken him home in a second!

Testing out my Phone's abilites

His shirt has a picture of a ferocious shark and says "always hungry" - that's right!

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Testing out the new mobile-to-blog technology. Warning: this is only a test. Beep.

Musical Graham

Singing Twinkle, Twinkle

Easy Bake Oven

Thanks to Julie Messer for giving us their Easy Bake Oven! Here is JoeAnna's first cookie: made by, frosted by, and sprinkled by JoeAnna - and eaten by her of course! :)

My Baby Girl is 3 years old today!

Right about now, three years ago, Rob and I were getting drinks and snacks at the 7-11 in Zeeland because we knew they wouldn't feed me once we were settled in our hospital room. To back up though, my water broke around 6:30am but we were not prepared at all! I was only 36 weeks and 5 days along. Her room wasn't assembled or painted...but we were beaming and so excited to meet our baby girl. She was born after 3pm and was 5lb 11oz and 17in. They put her in my arms and Rob put out his hand to touch her and she immediately grabbed his finger and wouldn't let go! We have a picture of it; it was an awesome moment for all of us. We named her JoeAnna Mae Thompson. Once while looking for names, I found that JoeAnna means "God is Forgiving" and we both thought that was a beautiful name and reminder of God's unfailing love. Also Joe Ann Shelton was an important mentor in my life! So we decided to spell her name Joe in her honor. "Mae" is my middle name, my aunt's middle name, and my maternal grandmother's name! Her name carries much significance to us.

Dear JoeAnna,

I am so privileged to be your mother. I am thankful everyday for who God made you to be. You are so unique; God has truly gifted you in special ways. Please trust me when I tell you that I want what is best for you. I promise to train you in godliness. I promise to pray for you everyday. I promise to be with you throughout your whole life - come what may, good or bad, I commit to learning from our God who is unfailing in His love.

As we celebrate your life today, I want you to know that we are celebrating God's gift and provision for us. Look to Jesus, JoeAnna, trust in Him and you will be saved.

I love you Joe-babe.

Mommy

The final night!

Tomorrow Rob and the team from Costa Rica fly home! I can't wait. Hopefully you all understand that I didn't post yesterday because I am still so sick. Boo.

I did get to place a good size book order yesterday though!! You'll have to check out my Book Blog and see what I got! A little fiction, parenting, and homeschooling - I'm super excited.

Well really we haven't been having too much fun around here without Rob and being sick and all, but it hasn't been bad at all either. Sorry I didn't post any pictures from the week on here. Some are on Facebook of our trip to the Kennedy Space Center.

What have you done this week?

Day 5: Feeling Under the Weather

As I was heading to bed last night, I couldn't get rid of my dry scratchy throat. I thought I was just super thirsty. Nope, just getting sick. Joe woke me up at 5:40am and she couldn't go back to sleep. Finally after 6am she said she really had to go to the bathroom. Come to find out she couldn't sleep because she was holding it. I felt bad making her lay down with a full blatter. So in spite of our tired start we managed to still have a good day - other than my increasingly achy throat. The kids and I took things slow today and they are already in bed, not sleeping yet, but at least in bed. :)

I'm going to turn in early myself. Have a great night everyone. Stay safe Rob. Miss you.

Prayer for Baby Kaleb

Dearest Father in Heaven,

We know that we can trust in Your unfailing love. We believe that was has and what will happen is for all our good because we trust in You. We pray now for little Kaleb as he undergoes surgery. We beg you on his behalf to be with the surgeons and the hospital staff. Please comfort Kaleb, his mommy and daddy, his grandma and grandpa, and his whole family. We look expectantly to You as our only true source of hope.

We pray with the Psalmist that you will be near to Kaleb and his family now and forever. Thank you for being a good God.

Psalm 34

NLT

1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.

10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.

12 Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?

13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!

14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.

16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.

17 The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.