How about a Grace and Cole update? Life has returned to as normal of a state as possible. Of course, there really is no such thing as normal, I guess maybe we’ve just settled in to a routine.
If you have been following along with us for a while you probably remember that both Grace and Cole had surgery in January. Grace had a large cyst removed from her sinus cavity, and Cole has a very large lipoma removed from his neck. Both kids did great, all pathology reports were negative for anything abnormal, and they have healed up nicely.
Grace tried out and made the volleyball team for next year. She is excited to add a new sport to her repertoire. She is also full swing into softball season. Softball is her first love and we spend many hours at the ball park. Of course, the park is like a second home to us, so we certainly don’t mind spending time there.
Cole has healed up nicely. His surgery was a bit more extensive than Grace’s. It took him quite a while to really get back to normal. He still has some twinges from the incision site but overall he’s back to normal. He fills his time with Boy Scouts and art. Give that boy paper and a pencil and he’ll occupy himself until the paper is full.
Both of our kids are learning to live with the hole Kayleigh left behind. We work hard to remind them whenever they are sad that Kayleigh is happy. That she is perfect, whole and happy. It’s hard because they miss her, but we often talk about how we would never ask Kayleigh to leave perfect heaven and come back here, not even if we could. I mean really, that would be mean!!
It’s hard as an adult to wrap my head around God is good, His plan is perfect, He loves me – and He didn’t answer my prayers the way I wanted to. As an adult I have a bit more perspective as to how God saying “no” can turn into a good thing, but for children – it’s different. They don’t have the perspective of years to look back on. I pray every day that God will give us the words to teach our children. To help us guide them through grief while keeping a healthy view of God.
Overall, I am thankful. Thankful for our new routines. Thankful for Grace and Cole who I love so very much. And thankful for Kayleigh, who taught me what was important, and made me a better mom for Grace and Cole. I miss you Ducky, but we are going to continue to love each day to the fullest. At least until Jesus calls us home and we get to be together again.
1 Chronicles 16:34
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Deuteronomy 11:19-21
19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.
Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜
Celebrating Grace’s birthday
Cole’s violin recital
Grace up to bat
