We came home for the day so that Ethan could go to his Christmas party at preschool. And so that Dave could get back to work, and our kids could have some down-time here at home. I am a bit nervous about being at home by myself but Rachel seems to be doing well. She has been making up for lost feeds bigtime. Yesterday she fed about 10 times before 8pm and many of them were large feeds. (40 mls). It is so good to see her happy and more like herself again. Thank-you everyone for your prayers.
As we drove up this morning, we noticed a Christmas bag on our steps, and Ethan said something like "someone was being sneaky again." Thank-you for the lovely gifts. They really brighten our day!
I have been reading Mary Chapman's book "Choosing to SEE" at the Hospice. I noticed a few interesting details in the book. I am quite sure that Dave and I were at the Beijing International fellowship (church) the same day that Steven Curtis Chapman spoke and sang there in 2004 (along with Luis Palau), also the very same day that he met his little girl "Maria" for the first time! He talked of how he met her after that service and couldn't get her out of his mind.
And today I feel connected to them because of their loss. Who could have guessed that years down the road - we would have this kind of connection to their story. Oh and one more thing, Maria died on May 21st, 2008 - exactly two years before Rachel was born.
oh, I am not glad for what people suffer in this world, but I am glad for books like this to read right now. It helps me to feel less alone. And they remind me that God can and will work beauty from our pain too.
Being at the Flames House has been good for us. We feel so supported there. I have spent some time doing Light-bright with the kids and playing some table games. My brother Kelsey came to visit us yesterday evening and had the kids laughing like crazy with his storytelling and tickles. Abigail was sad about going to sleep at the end of the day. She said "I didn't get enough day". I thought that was pretty cute.
I thought it was interesting, too, when I read that Maria died on the same day of the year that Rachel was born. That day will always hold so much meaning for both of you. I can't believe you heard Steven Curtis that day in China that he met Maria!
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