All the Good Things...

The words say it all. This is my new prayer song! This song is called, "All the Good Things", by Jill Phillips. Her website is: Jill Phillips Enjoy the words to this precious song:

All The Good Things

Every once in a while the world stops spinning enough
That I can take a step back and get the picture
I see the twists and the turns, I see the patterns they form
I see how perfect they are and I remember

All the good things
All the good things
All the good things You’ve done for me

Though the feeling is real I know it’s fleeting to feel
One day I’ll forget You are here and start to wonder
In that season of doubt, You’ll still be showering me
With blessings I can’t see, that can’t be numbered

All the good things
All the good things
All the good things You’ve done for me

Forgive me for my shortsighted look at this world
Where You keep proving that You know what You’re doing

If I could see like You do with Your perspective view
The fires I’m walking through would look much different
I’d see those difficult days for who they made me become
And I would count them among

All the good things
All the good things
All the good things You’ve done for me

Heart Buddies!

I just had to post these picture of Malachi and his Grampa Mike, who underwent open heart surgery on October 15th. They both have a special bond now, and matching scars! Mike is doing really well. He said every day he feels better and better. Praise the Lord for taking care of our family! Enjoy the cute photos!

Malachi 1 Year Old!!!!

Malachi turned a year old on November 2nd, 2008. I still can't believe it! Many times, when we were stuck in Pittsburgh, it seemed that time was standing still. Now, looking back it has flown by! Much has happened with him. He is now rolling over both ways, and lifting up his head. He is sitting up, until he decides to throw himself backwards and lay on the floor. He is standing and jumping. He is babbling and saying, "Dada," "Momma," "Anana," and "Yeah!" I think "Anana" is his way of saying, "Gramma," Grampa," "Aunt," "Uncle," and pretty much everyone else! He is eating really well. We now only have to feed him five times a day and it is working much better for him. He doesn't vomit nearly as much. He is taking baby food, and likes it.

We have had a couple of scary times when he developed a fever and we had to take him to the ER. Every time it ended up just being an ear infection, but with his heart, and where we were with him a year ago, you can't just "assume" he is alright. He is seeing the GI doctor for his reflux, that we continue to pray for the Lord to completely heal him of. He sees the Cardiologist about every three months to make sure all is good with his heart, and he has a CT scan in December to make sure all is well with his stent. We are being referred to an Orthopedic doctor about his scoliosis, which is a new development in the past few days.

To recap this past year; there have been a lot of times of uncertainty, unknown, anxiousness, fear, sadness, frustration, and hopelessness, BUT God has always remained faithful, even when we weren't. He ALWAYS showed up and showed us what His greater plan was, even though He didn't have to. I am amazed at how much love the Lord has for His children even when we have all but given up hope. (2 Timothy 2:13) I have a tendency to look back and see a lot of the bad, but honestly, there is SOOOOOOO MUCH GOOD! Malachi is alive! He is doing so well, and he is growing and developing. You would never know that he is a heart kid, unless you saw his scarred chest.

A few months ago the Lord gave me Isaiah chapter 43 as a promise. I know that it was written for the Israelites, but I couldn't help but think it was written with us in mind. If you have time to read the whole chapter it is amazing the promises in it, but the part that stuck out the most was verse 19: "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert."

I used to think that it meant that the Lord was going to heal Malachi's reflux, or that He would allow him to sit on his own before he turned a year old, but I realized that the "new" thing was going to be in me. The Lord was going to transform my attitude and give me a peace and contentment in my circumstances. (Philippians 4:11) He was going to change how I would handle things that came about. Malachi may never be healed of his reflux, he will always have heart troubles, and more things could be discovered with his health, but one thing will always remain constant.... the Lord and His plan for us. I still have no idea why He has given us the honor and privilege of having such a wonderful baby boy, but He has. He has chosen us to walk this path of life. And I am convinced that it is all so that we will have a jar full of tears to annoint His feet with. (Psalm 56:8) It reminds me of the woman in Luke 7:36 - 50. She had much to be thankful for, and I always wondered why the Lord would keep our tears in a bottle. I think (my opinion only) that one day He will give them back to us and we will be able to wash His feet with them, as a thank you for all He has done for us. I know that is what I want to do with mine!

It amazes me how far Malachi has reached to touch so many lives. A few weeks ago we had our annual Church Retreat. A lot of people were there that had been praying for Malachi, but had never actually met him. May his life continue to be a testimony of the faithfulness of God! We could NEVER thank everyone enough for their faithful prayers and support for our family.

So in conclusion, I will sum it up: God is Good ALL the time, He is FAITHFUL, He LOVES, and He NEVER LEAVES!

We love you all!

Love,
April for all three

2 Timothy 2:3