Blessings and Birthdays

Many years ago, I worked on a cancer ward.   When I first arrived on the ward, the ward still took on pediatric patients.  I witnessed first-hand the fierce bravery kids with cancer have.  I walked away from the cancer ward seeing the fighting spirit humanity is capable of, the ability to find the beautiful even in the terrifying face of death, the ability to find hope in the hopeless, and the ability to find peace when it appears the fight has come to an end.  I saw this in the children and in the adults alike.

This morning, I want to pass on another blog to you.  Fotini, at Glamorous, Affordable Life, posted a blog encouraging her readers to bring sunshine to a young lady, Liliana, who is fighting her own battle with leukemia.  Liliana's birthday is right around the corner.  On Fotini's post, is a link to send Liliana a birthday card.  It's not expensive.  It take maybe five minutes (unless you play around with the fonts, colors, and message like I did... haha), and you can send the card directly to Liliana.

Please click on Fotini's blog and follow her directions to send a small but beautiful blessing letting her know how much we care and are lifting her up in our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks!  God bless!

Wonder Boy Turns Nine

Yesterday, the most amazing, walking example of God's love for me turned nine years old.  I am not sure where the time is going.  Every year, he seems to be growing faster.   His knowledge, gained from experience, observation, and books, just grows and grows.  His outlook on life, despite his gaining knowledge, remains exuberant, bright, and hopeful.   I look at this child and I see hope.  I see DH and I- only much better versions of ourselves.  (Except in the area of stubbornness- Kiddo is one hundred times more stubborn than either of us...  sigh)

In an effort to celebrate the wonder of our Kiddo, despite the craziness that is our life right now, we were still able to have a small party for him.

Lemon-flavored, Minecraft-inspired cake by Simply Scrumptious Cakery.  It was perfect, though much bigger than I expected it to be.  hehe

Kiddo got to spend some time the past couple of days with his "brother-from-another-mother"--- The two really could pass for brothers, and I know they will both miss each other a great deal.  I sure hope we can keep these two in contact despite the distance.  :)

Kiddo got some new (used) PS3 games from DH and I, as well as a Texas travel mug with all the things he loves most about Texas on it (to include the Alamo, and the Texas Seal.)   He also got some really thoughtful gifts from family and friends.

 

This birthday was nowhere near as planned out or extravagant as many of his previous birthdays.  However, the only thing he said he really wanted for his birthday was the opportunity to visit his favorite places around San Angelo before we move.  We intend to spend our last few days, even as we finish packing up and organizing the camper and settling details with our realtor, visiting those places.  San Angelo has really captured our Kiddo's heart- and I know because of that, San Angelo will always be a place he can call "home."